'Bows face tough opponent in opener

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

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UH BASEBALL WHO: No. 8 Texas at Hawai'i WHEN: 6:35 p.m. Tomorrow and Saturday, 4:35 p.m. Sunday WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium RADIO: Live on KKEA 1420 AM; Sunday's game will be joined in progress because of the Super Bowl. TV: Saturday's and Sunday's games live on KFVE channel 5 Hawai'i vs. Texas PROBABLE STARTERS Tomorrow — LH J.P. Howell (UT) vs. RH Ricky Bauer (UH) Saturday — RH Sam LeCure (UT) vs. RH Rich Olsen (UH) Sunday — LH Justin Simmons (UT) vs. RH Keahi Rawlins (UH) TICKETS: $6 for blue and orange sections; $5 for adults in red section; $4 for 65-years-old-and-older in red section; $3 for students ages 4-18 and UH students in red section. Call 944-BOWS or www.etickethawaii.com. PARKING: $3

The University of Hawai'i opens its 2004 season against the University of Texas tomorrow night at Les Murakami Stadium.

"It's opening weekend," UH third-year coach Mike Trapasso said. "We're excited to get started. It's exciting to see where we are. Obviously, from my stand point, it's important to make sure our guys understand that we play these games to win them, that's why we schedule them. We also have to understand that it's three games out of 56. It's a great situation. If you win, you're off on a good start. If you don't, it tells you what you need to work on. You have 53 more games to go. It's all about getting us prepared for the conference season because that's really what could make or break (the season)."

The Rainbows (30-26 in 2003) will face its stiffest pre-conference test against the 2002 College World Series champions (50-20), ranked eighth by Baseball America.

Yet, to Texas coach Augie Garrido, the all-time winningest NCAA Division I coach with 1,430 victories in 35 seasons, the series is as much a test to his players as it is to UH's.

"We've got six different changes on defense and seven different changes on offense," he said. "We're looking forward to seeing how our kids respond in a competitive environment," Garrido said.

The Longhorns have three juniors expected to be taken in the June draft. Right-hander Huston Street (8-1, 15 saves, 1.33 ERA), left-hander J. P. Howell (10-2, 2.52), tomorrow's probable starter, and first baseman Curtis Thigpen (.311).

They also return Big 12 Freshman of Year in catcher Taylor Teagarden (.315, 41 RBI).

Texas also is looking for improvement from left-hander Justin Simmons (5-6, 4.29), who was 16-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 2002.

The Longhorns are preseason favorites to win the Big 12 by a vote of conference coaches, as well as by Baseball America.

Meanwhile, the Rainbows will start three right-handers — Ricky Bauer, Rich Olsen and Keahi Rawlins — against a projected starting lineup with two left-handed hitters and one switch hitter.

Rawlins has been pitching without pain since resting his sore elbow from summer ball, Trapasso said.

Doubtful for the weekend is leadoff hitter and center fielder Robbie Wilder, who left the Alumni Game early after aggravating his hamstring. Josh Green will start in center. Jaziel Mendoza, who also had hamstring problems, is expected to start in left. He has practiced this week. Oklahoma transfer Greg Kish will start in right.

The infield is the same as last year with Andrew Sansaver at first, Isaac Omura at second, Brian Finegan (who will move to leadoff) at shortstop and Rocky Russo at third.

Matt Inouye will catch and junior college transfer Nate Thurber will DH.

In Saturday's Alumni game, the Rainbows were held to three singles (two infield and one blooper). Trapasso is confident that is not the performance his batters will bring this weekend.

"If these were all new guys that haven't been out there, that would definitely be something to worry about," he said. "That's the one area we have all the experience. Every guy that's out in the field has been out there before. So it's time to start playing and quit talking and having some fun."

Notes: The UH athletic department is asking fans to purchase their tickets for the Texas series early. Gates will open at 5 p.m. for tomorrow's game. Personal checks will not be accepted, the school said ...Stadium manager Glenn Nakaya said five ticket windows will be open plus a window for will call ... Texas coach Augie Garrido last coached against UH in 1982 when he was at Cal State Fullerton. It was at the original Rainbow Stadium ... UH leads Texas, 1-0, in the series. The only meeting came in the 1980 Regionals championship at Texas that allowed the Rainbows to make their only CWS appearance ... Texas pitching coach Tom Holliday was Mike Trapasso's pitching coach when he pitched for Oklahoma State.

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