Rainbow tourney opens tomorrow
| • | Ex-MPI pitcher beats UH |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i will try to get back on the winning track starting tomorrow in its own First Hawaii Title Rainbow Baseball Tournament.
• What: First Hawaii Title Rainbow Baseball Tournament • Who: Hawai'i, Chicago State, The Citadel, Oregon State • When: Tomorrow to Saturday • Where: Les Murakami Stadium • Tickets: $7 blue and orange sections; $6 adults in red section; $5 for 65-years-and-older; $4 UH students and ages 4-18. • Discount: Using wrappers from Wonka, Nestle and David products, spectators may get prorated discounts for tournament tickets. Two wrappers equals a $1 discount; four = $2; 6 = $3; 8 = $4; 10 = $5; 12 = free adult ticket. Nestle and Wonka wrappers must be from 1.2-ounce packages or heavier and David's bags from 2.25 ounces or heaver. • Parking: $3 • Radio: KKEA AM 1420 will broadcast the UH games • TV: KFVE channel 5 will broadcast the UH games, except for Thursday and Saturday. • Schedule: Tomorrow — The Citadel vs. Oregon State, 2 p.m.; Chicago State vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. Wednesday — Chicago State vs. The Citadel noon; Oregon State vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. Thursday — Oregon State vs. Chicago State, 2 p.m., The Citadel vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. Friday — Semifinals, 2 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. Saturday — Consolation, 2 p.m.; Championship, 6:35 p.m.
The four-team tournament will run through Saturday with two games a day.
Coming up
Joining the host Rainbows (9-7), who dropped two in a row after taking the opener against San Francisco over the weekend, are the Chicago State Cougars (0-3) of the Mid-Continent Conference, The Citadel Bulldogs (2-4) of the Southern Conference and the Oregon State Beavers (8-1) of the Pac-10.
After years of being held during UH's week-long spring break, the tournament has been scheduled earlier. The reason is to eventually attract nationally ranked teams. By waiting for spring break, which is toward the end of March, most teams are into their respective conference schedules, making it hard to break away for the tournament. Oklahoma State was supposed to be in this tournament, but pulled out after it made a coaching change in the offseason.
For Chicago State and The Citadel, they will play their first games against UH. The Rainbows last played Oregon State in 2001. Hawai'i has a 13-4 lead in the series.
The Citadel (2-4) was a preseason pick to finish fourth in the 11-team Southern Conference. The Bulldogs have lost three in a row, including getting swept on Saturday in their own Homewood Suites Tournament. They lost to North Carolina State, 3-1, and College of Charleston, 5-4, in a Saturday twinbill.
The Bulldogs are led by outfielder Josh Stackley (.400, four doubles) and shortstop Matt Matulia (.261), as well as starting pitcher Jonathan Ellis (1-2, 0.53 ERA). Ellis is coming off a strong outing in the NC State loss. He allowed two runs, both unearned, on three hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts in eight innings.
Chicago State just opened its season at Eastern Kentucky, where it was swept in a three-game series. The Cougars were picked to finish last in the seven-team Mid-Continent Conference. Their starting second baseman/shortstop is freshman Jonathan Sakurai, an 'Aiea High graduate. Sakurai said it was about 40 degrees at Eastern Kentucky, but "warmer compared to where we're from." He said his team had about three outdoor workouts in Chicago before its season opener.
The Beavers suffered their first loss of the season Saturday to future UH opponent, Sacramento State, at the UC Riverside RBI Tournament. But OSU beat Washington, 13-8, yesterday to capture the tournament title.
Oregon State was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Pac-10.
The Rainbows, meanwhile, will use the tournament to get a look at more players. Unlike last year, UH has fewer midweek games. Hawai'i has played only one midweek game to date, on Feb. 17 against Hawai'i Pacific.
Sophomore right-hander Keahi Rawlins (0-1) will make his second start of the season tomorrow against Chicago State. In his only start, he lasted 2 2/3 innings against Texas, giving up five runs — four earned. He has since pitched four scoreless innings of relief.
Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso is undecided on Wednesday's game against Oregon State, while Ricky Bauer is tentatively scheduled to start Thursday against The Citadel.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
