Rainbow baseball team will have different look with 22 new players
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
After last year's season of transition, this year is truly the new era of University of Hawai'i baseball for second-year coach Mike Trapasso.
When the Rainbows make their 2003 debut in the Feb. 1 Alumni game, Les Murakami Stadium fans will see 22 new players to go along with the 12 returnees.
Moreover, the team will be occupying the first base dugout after spending years behind third base. The move is to keep the players out of the setting sun, Trapasso said.
There will be 11 mid-week games, seven of them at home. This should give players more opportunities to develop.
Mostly, Trapasso said fans should expect to see a better product than last year's team that finished 16-40, the worst record in the school's Division I history. Hawai'i was last in the six-team Western Athletic Conference in nearly every offensive category, in earned run average and fourth in fielding.
"The truth is we've improved at every single position," Trapasso said.
With a full year to recruit players to his liking, Trapasso has bolstered the team in all areas. Five recruits were selected in the last big league draft; all opted to play for UH.
The players are stronger. Strength coach Tommy Heffernan put the players through a weight training program and Trapasso said he has already noticed results.
"They got bigger and stronger," he said.
Here's how the Rainbows look by positions. Of course, assignments are subject to change after spring workouts, which start tomorrow, also the first day of the spring semester.
Pitching
Trapasso said one recruit already establishing himself is junior Justin Azze, a 6-foot-3, 203-pound left-hander from Orange Coast JC. He was picked the highest among the five drafted recruits, when Montreal picked him in the 10th round.
Another JC transfer who looked strong in fall workouts was Colby Summer, the tallest member of the team at 6-8, 225. The right-hander, who transferred from Mount Hood JC in Oregon, was a 38th-round selection by Seattle out of high school in the 2000 draft.
Right-hander Chris George (6-6, 5.91 ERA), the ace of last year's staff, is one of the 12 returning players.
Sophomore Ricky Bauer (1-9, 5.79), Trapasso's first recruit after being hired in May 2001, also will be battling for a spot in the rotation.
Trapasso said he was impressed with his freshmen pitching recruits — Moloka'i's Keahi Rawlins, Saint Louis' Guy McDowell, Iolani's Rich Olsen and Woodbridge's (Irvine, Calif.) Michael Peck. All are right-handers.
"I like the projectability they have," Trapasso said of the four freshmen. "They've been pretty impressive from where they were when they started and how far they've come in the fall. You can use these guys in a lot of different roles. If somebody's struggling, you can get somebody up in the bullpen right away."
The Rainbows never had a true closer last year, although Bryan Lee started the season as one. The specialty role could again vary.
Trapasso said Edmonds JC transfer Clary Carlsen "has the ability to be dominant against right-handers."
Trapasso said that Summer, as well as McDowell and Rawlins, also could do the job because they are hard throwers.
Mililani High graduate Justin Cayetano sat out last year after transferring from Washington State. He could have multiple roles because he is the only other left-hander aside from Azze.
Catchers
Senior Brian Bock is not expected to shoulder the load he did last year (started 50 of 56 games), but enters spring as No. 1. His backups are freshmen Matt Inouye out of Mid-Pacific Institute and Drew Jackson of Standley Lake High in Westminster, Colo. Inouye was a 41st-round pick by Boston.
Infielders
Right-handed hitting Nick Ponomarenko was recruited as a pitcher — he still could log some innings — but has hit well enough to play first base. His left-handed complement is Delta JC transfer Andrew Sansaver, a good fielder, Trapasso said.
Freshman Isaac Omura, out of Mid-Pacific, could get the bulk of playing time facing right-handed pitching. He could be in a platoon role with Brent Cook or Shafer Magana. Trapasso said he likes Omura's defense.
Cuesta JC transfer Brian Finegan has made an impression at shortstop.
"He's someone we're really excited about, defensively in particular," Trapasso said.
Cook could be back at third base, although freshman Rocky Russo "will play a lot," Trapasso said. "He had a great fall and swung the bat well. Another freshman at third is Tyler Wightman.
Outfielders
The versatile Cook might see time in left field, but Delta JC transfer Jaziel Mendoza was a hot hitter in the fall. Also, pending clearance, Nate Jackson might figure in the mix. He is recovering from December heart surgery.
Returnee Tim Montgomery had a strong second-half of summer ball and played well in the fall and is pegged for center field.
"He has the tools to be a solid draft choice," Trapasso said.
Montgomery, who set the school's single-season record with 61 strikeouts in 2001 and struck out 55 times last year, has shown an improvement in pitch recognition, Trapasso said.
Josh Green, a JC All-America pick at Feather River College, has the inside track in right field. He could bat third or fourth in the order, Trapasso said. Kevin Gilbride, who started 39 games last year, will back Green.
Designated hitter
Virtually a position of flexibility open to all versatile players who can hit.
Ponomarenko, Drew Jackson, Cook or Russo could fill the role.
Notes
The season opener is a three-game series against UCLA Feb. 7-9. This is the ninth consecutive year the Bruins are playing here. Last year, the Rainbows swept a three-game series; it was the only series they won.
The cancelation of Arkansas for the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 2 allowed UH more flexibility in scheduling mid-week non-conference games, especially on the road.
The Rainbows also will play UH-Hilo four games on three separate occasions, as well as one with Hawai'i Pacific.
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