"Everybody's making my job easier because everybody's pretty much doing their thing," said Bauer, who figures to be the ace of the staff.

Bauer and senior first baseman Andrew Sansaver were picked as team captains by the players, UH coach Mike Trapasso said. Both players agreed the Rainbows are improved because of their depth.

"Whoever we have (in the lineup) I'm confident in all of them," Sansaver said. "I think we're going to do real well this year. I don't see where we could go wrong. We've got depth."

Both players did their part trying to become better players in summer leagues. Bauer pitched in the prestigious Cape Cod League.

"The Cape was a great growing experience, just getting away from home," said Bauer, who pitched for the Brewster White Caps. "It helped me mature a lot more. It got me more innings (against) better competition."

Bauer, UH's most effective starter in the second half of last season, said the Cape isn't about learning new techniques.

"When you go up there, they kind of work with what you have," he said. "They don't really change you or teach you new stuff. It's more of a showcase kind of a deal than a coaching and learning experience."

Sansaver played for the Salinas Packers of the California Coastal League. He said he worked more on the mental aspects of his game.

"I just tried to get more of a feel for the game, to get a little more game savvy and just recognizing people and the way they play," Sansaver said.

The Rainbows return 15 players from last year's team that went 30-26. Only Colby Summer, a 6-foot-8 right-handed pitcher, did not play last year because of an arm injury and isn't expected to play this season while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. The JC transfer from a year ago will have one season of eligibility left if he returns for the 2005 season. UH would have to petition for an extra year for an injury hardship.

The Rainbows open the season Jan. 30 in a three-game series against the fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns, the 2002 College World Series champions, at Les Murakami Stadium.

The annual alumni game is set for 1 p.m. Jan. 24.

• Another commitment: Catcher Esteban Lopez, a sophomore at Yavapai JC in Prescott, Ariz., has committed to UH for the 2005 season, according to his coach, Sky Smeltzer.

Lopez was drafted in the 49th round by the New York Mets out of Chandler (Ariz.) High as a draft-and-follow, Smeltzer said. He will be batting cleanup at Yavapai, which plays in a league that uses wooden bats.

Yavapai also has several players who played high school ball in Hawai'i. One who will start is shortstop Gered Mochizuki, a 2003 graduate of Baldwin. Mochizuki, drafted in the 49th round by the Kansas City Royals last year, will be batting leadoff for the Roughriders.

• Celebrate: The second UH baseball Grand Slam Celebration will be held Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The program starts at 5:30 p.m. Besides pupu and drinks, there will be silent and live auctions for trips and baseball memorabilia.

Tickets are $69, of which $26 is tax deductible.

For information, call 956-6247.