Rainbows tune up for tournament with Dons

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

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Series facts WHO: San Francisco (3-6) vs. Hawai'i (8-5) WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium TICKETS: $6 blue and orange sections; $5 adults in red section; $4 65 and older, $3 UH students and ages 4-18. PARKING: $3 TV: None RADIO: Only the beginning portion of Sunday's game will be broadcast live by KKEA AM 1420. PROBABLE STARTERS: Friday, 6:35 p.m.—USF RH Kevin Rose (1-1. 3.86) vs. UH RH Ricky Bauer (3-1, 2.42) Saturday, 6:35 p.m.—USF LH Derek Tate (0-1, 2.65) vs. TBA Sunday, 1:05 p.m.—USF RH T.J. Franco (1-1, 5.65) vs. TBA

The Rainbows (8-5) are trying to extend their seven-game win streak. The Dons (3-6) were picked to finish third in the West division of the West Coast Conference, which has two four-team divisions.

After this series, the Rainbows take Monday off before starting play in the First Hawai'i Title Rainbow Tournament, set for Tuesday through Saturday. Chicago State, The Citadel and Oregon State will also play in the four-team tournament that not only dropped "Easter" from the title, but moved up from spring break week.

The Rainbows will be in a similar pitching setup from the past two series. Right-hander Ricky Bauer (3-1, 2.42) starts the opener with Saturday's and Sunday's starters predicated on what happens tomorrow. In the past two weeks, Stephen Bryant (1-0, 2.21) and Clary Carlsen (2-2, 3.70) made starts.

But with only one mid-week game so far, UH has had few opportunities to give other starters a look. Freshman Steven Wright (1-1, 5.59) got the only mid-week call last week against Hawai'i Pacific.

"I want to get our pitching in order," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "I'm glad we're going to be playing a lot of games because we've got to get Steven Wright out there more. We've got to get Keahi (Rawlins, a sophomore) out there more. Guy McDowell. Those guys need to pitch more innings than they have been. That's the negative about having only one mid-week game in the first month."

Although pleased with how Bryant and Carlsen have pitched in their starts, Trapasso said, "I'm almost looking for somebody else to make a jump and battle for a spot to where we might be able to put Bryant back into his relief role because he's so good in that role. I love him coming out of the pen because one time through the lineup, he's just dynamite. So if a Wright or a Rawlins could jump up, that would give us more flexibility in the bullpen."

As for Carlsen, Trapasso likes his flexibility to start and relieve.

"He's pretty much entrenched starting," Trapasso said. "I like seeing him in any role. I just like seeing him out there."

The loss of left-hander Mark Rodrigues because of a detached ligament in his throwing elbow has affected the pitching situation because he was counted as one of the top two starting pitchers.

"With Rodrigues down, I don't know if we'll be able to put (Carlsen) back into the pen."

In the field, although third baseman Creighton Kahoali'i is struggling defensively (seven errors), Trapasso said it is just a matter of him getting more repetitions. Kahoali'i, a catcher at California before transferring here, was a shortstop in high school. Trapasso also likes the fact that Kahoali'i's on-base percentage is .413, despite a .212 batting average. Kahoali'i has six walks plus a team-leading six hit batsmen. He has scored 11 runs, one behind co-leaders Andrew Sansaver and Brian Finegan.

"It's funny, but he's an aggressive hitter early in the count and a patient hitter late in the count," Trapasso said. "On-base percentage to me is more important than batting average.

"I like him out there because he can run. It's another dimension. He'll surprise you how well he runs."

Also, second baseman Isaac Omura said his right ankle is better. He had a mild sprain in the Florida International opener after making a turn around first base after hitting a single.

"Isaac looks like he's ready to go," Trapasso said. "He's been getting around much better."

Outfielder Jaziel Mendoza is still slowed by a pulled hamstring.

Meanwhile, USF is coming off a 7-4 win at California Tuesday. The Dons have four players who played high school ball in Hawai'i. Sophomore right-hander Patrick McGuigan (0-2, 1.59), the team's closer, was classmates with UH's Matt Inouye and Omura at Mid-Pacific Institute. They were members of the Owls' 2002 state championship team.

Other USF players from Hawai'i are infielders Royce Fukuroku (Maui), Cy Donald (Mililani) and outfielder Travis McGaughy (Iolani).

Hawai'i pitching coach Chad Konishi was an assistant for six years at USF before joining Trapasso's staff in 2002.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.