Hawai'i pummels Hawai'i Pacific, 10-2
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
After a little tune-up, Steven Wright found the right stuff.
The freshman right-hander pitched one-hit ball over five innings, allowing two walks with four strikeouts to lead Hawai'i over Hawai'i Pacific, 10-2, last night.
The Rainbows won their fourth consecutive game to even their record at 5-5 before a gathering of 726 at Les Murakami Stadium. The Division II Sea Warriors fell to 5-5.
Wright (1-1) lasted 1á innings in his first collegiate start Feb. 8 in an 8-1 loss to Cal State Northridge. He was charged with five runs and six hits.
"I had a flaw in my mechanics," Wright said of the difference in his performances. "Me and Coach K (Chad Konishi) and Coach Trap (Mike Trapasso) went over it. I was opening up a little too early and that was leaving my fastball up, so what I did was I fixed my posture and it helped me get on top of the ball."
His outing was crucial not only for his confidence, but possibly for the long run this season. Junior left-hander Mark Rodrigues, who was counted on as one of the starting pitchers this season, said he is likely out for the year because of a detached ligament in his throwing elbow. He said he injured the elbow the week before the Texas series.
But Trapasso said UH doctors will look at Rodrigues before deciding if he will be out for the season. The team is hoping Dr. Lewis Yocum, who did Tommy John surgery on UH pitcher Colby Summer last year, is available to work on Rodrigues, who has twice been drafted, once out of Kaua'i High in 2001 and after his first year at Los Medanos College.
Trapasso said Rodrigues could red-shirt the season if he does not play. Summer red-shirted last year.
"We were counting on him to be one of our Friday or Saturday guys," Trapasso said. "Obviously, injuries are part of the game and I feel bad for Mark. It necessitates us having to go into every series the way we did last weekend."
That means Ricky Bauer on Friday and to-be-announced for the rest of the series against UH-Hilo.
But last night was the kind of performance UH had hoped for from Wright, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 26th round out of Valley High in Moreno Valley, Calif.
"We were expecting a lot out of him and we look for him to pitch like he did tonight each time he goes out there," Trapasso said. "It was a great way for him to get things going, get his first collegiate victory. I think we'll be seeing some special things out of him for the next few years."
Trapasso set Wright's pitch count at 90, so he left after five innings, throwing 91 pitches.
That would enable Wright to start over the weekend, if necessary.
"I could see no problem pitching him in Sunday's game, if Clary (Carlsen) has to come in and close on Friday and Saturday."
Wright admitted he did not have his best stuff. He worked out of jams with runners in scoring position in the second, third and fifth innings. In the fifth, he gave up a lead-off double to Alika Kuraoka, but stranded him there.
"I just put the ball in play and trusted my defense," Wright said.
The Rainbows backed Wright with a 12-hit attack. Robbie Wilder, Matt Inouye and Josh Green each had two hits. Inouye led the way with three RBIs, followed by Nate Thurber's two.
Sea Warriors' starter David Zamarano (0-2) allowed three runs on five hits in 3á innings. The Rainbows tagged reliever Josh Ervin for six runs in 2á innings.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
