Rainbows wallop Louisiana Tech

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

A pair of freshmen helped the University of Hawai'i celebrate Mother's Day and seniors' day with an 11-1 rout of Louisiana Tech yesterday as the Rainbows took the Western Athletic Conference baseball series.

Freshman Matt Inouye, who hit a three-run homer, received several lei following UH's final home game yesterday. The Rainbows play their last four games on the road. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

"That was a very significant game for our program," said UH second-year coach Mike Trapasso. "For our kids to win another series, to do it on the last home game, to do it on Mother's Day, to do it for our seniors ... I think where our program is and where we're heading, to clinch a .500 season with four to go, I think that's really significant. I'm proud of our kids because they really made some strides. It's because of these kids we've been able to build a foundation for our future."

Rawlins, a 6-foot-5 right-hander from Moloka'i, allowed a run on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts to improve his record to 5-4. Clary Carlsen pitched a perfect seventh, and seniors Justin Cayetano and Bryan Lee finished with one inning each.

Inouye was 2-for-3, including a perfectly placed bunt single down the third-base line in the third inning that loaded the bases and set up fellow freshman Isaac Omura's sacrifice fly. Inouye's three-run shot, his second homer of the season, widened the margin to 9-1 and pretty much opened the substitution door for the senior reserves.

But he was more pleased that most of the non-starting seniors got a chance to play.

"I wanted the world for these guys," Inouye said. "They're good seniors and I wanted everyone of them to play today."

Trapasso managed to work in six of the eight seniors in the home finale in front of 1,226 at Les Murakami Stadium. Chris George was the starting pitcher Saturday night while infielder Julian Russell could not play because he was not on the WAC eligibility list required for each conference series.

But third baseman Brent Cook (2-for-2, four runs), catcher Brian Bock (1-3, RBI) and designated hitter Kevin Gilbride (1-4, double, RBI) started, and center fielder Arthur Guillen had a pinch-hit double and scored a run in the seventh.

Rawlins echoed Inouye's sentiment for the seniors.

"The seniors have been great to me," he said. "They've helped me along my freshman year. I had a little struggle here and there and I owe the seniors a little something and tried my best today. Like Bock, he really helped me. Just little things that helped me out in pitching."

Keahi Rawlins

"It was an all-around good day, a good year, a good career," said Bock, whose parents Jim and Brenda Bock flew in from Bakersfield, Calif. "It's just too bad it's coming to an end."

"Some of those younger guys stepped up for us," Cook added. "Keahi, Matt getting those big hits. (It was a ) nice effort all around, a nice way to finish up our careers here."

The seniors appreciated the fans.

"The fan support and love they have for us is unbelievable," Cook said. "You build a lot of relationships and friendships here. I'm going to miss these people for their support these last couple years. It's just amazing what they've done for us."

Bock added: "I think the fans make the game."

The seniors were introduced and received plaques with a team picture and their individual photos after the game.

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