'Bows staying with starting rotation

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i will stick with its same starting rotation for a three-game series against Wichita State at Les Murakami Stadium.

The starting times will revert to the regular 6:35 p.m. starts for tomorrow and Saturday. Sunday's game is still 1:05 p.m.

The Rainbows (6-1) have a five-game win streak. The Shockers (7-0), ranked 27th by Collegiate Baseball, swept seven games at UH-Hilo to start their season.

Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso said his starting pitchers will be Chris George, Justin Cayetano and Ricky Bauer. George turned in UH's first complete game of the season and Cayetano tossed eight scoreless innings in wins against Sacramento State last weekend. Bauer, however, lasted 1á innings, giving up three runs in a game UH won in the bottom of the ninth.

Through yesterday, Wichita State had not announced its starters.

Meanwhile, the Rainbows have been without two pitchers — JC transfer Colby Summer (elbow tendinitis) and Justin Azze, a 10th-round pick of Montreal last June, awaiting his transfer eligibility. Trapasso said he has talked to NCAA officials about Azze and preliminary indications are that Azze's appeal will be denied. Trapasso said the school has not received the official response to the appeal regarding transfer issue.

"We have to have it in writing from them," he said. "But it doesn't look good."

With the apparent loss of Azze, the Rainbows will be left with only one left-hander on the staff in Cayetano. With Summer also out, it set off a chain reaction of duties for the rest of the pitching staff.

"It forces our hands to use the younger guys," Trapasso said. "Hopefully down the road that will be beneficial."

Tickets

Get them early: The athletic department recommends spectators buy tickets early to avoid long lines entering the stadium.

Tickets are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday at the ticket office of the Stan Sheriff Center. They also may be purchased through TicketPlus at 526-4400.