Posted on: Sunday, March 7, 2004

Hawai'i baseball claims tourney

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

If anything, the First Hawaii Title Rainbow Tournament might have cleared two roles for Hawai'i's pitching staff.

Clary Carlsen pitched seven strong innings and freshman Darrell Fisherbaugh finished with two impressive innings to lead the Rainbows over nationally ranked Oregon State, 7-3, last night to capture the tournament championship before 1,568 at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Rainbows (5-0 in the tournament, 14-7 overall) have won five in a row. They have a single game Saturday against Hawai'i Pacific before starting Western Athletic Conference play March 19 at defending conference and national champion Rice.

"It feels great," said UH's Matt Inouye, named the all-tournament catcher, but played center field last night for the injured Robbie Wilder (hamstring). "The team's finally starting to get going. If we can keep this going on the road, there's no telling what can stop us."

But last night belonged to the pitchers. Carlsen (3-3), who was pegged as the team's closer at the outset, affirmed his role as a starter. In seven-plus innings, he scattered 10 hits and a walk with seven strikeouts while allowing three runs, but only one was earned.

Fisherbaugh, meanwhile, inherited runners at first and second in the top of the eighth with UH holding a four-run lead. He struck out Aaron Mathews and got Tony Calderon on a fly to center. After walking pinch hitter Mike Hass to load the bases, Fisherbaugh struck out Tony Richie to foil the Beavers' hope of a rally. He struck out the side in the ninth for his second save of the tournament and season.

Because of Fisherbaugh's emergence from the pen and Carlsen's demonstrating durability as a starter, UH coach Mike Trapasso said Carlsen's earlier role as a closer for the first two games of a three-game series and starter for the third if doesn't have to close will be more defined. Carlsen will start and Fisherbaugh will close.

"That's what we're going to do for now," Trapasso said.

Fisherbaugh mixed his fastball with his change in striking out five of the seven batters he faced. He also had five strikeouts in two innings in getting the save against The Citadel on Thursday.

"It's awesome," Fisherbaugh said of inheriting pressure situations. "The intensity is all there."

Fisherbaugh said he eventually wants to be a starer.

"There's next year and the year after, but I like this role right now," he said.

Carlsen was lifted after 112 pitches, the highest number for a UH starter this season.

Andy Baldwin (2-2) was charged with seven runs, but only three earned, on nine hits and three walks with five strikeouts for the Beavers (2-3, 10-4), who are 20th in Collegiate Baseball's rankings.

Rocky Russo, who led all UH hitters with eight RBIs, was named the tournament Outstanding Player and Ricky Bauer, who pitched in a 6-3 win against The Citadel on Thursday, allowing two runs in seven innings, was named the Outstanding Pitcher.

Russo batted .471 with two doubles and a home run in the tournament.

Other UH players named to the all-tournament team were first baseman Andrew Sansaver, outfielder Greg Kish, DH Nathan Thurber and pitcher Steven Wright.

Next year's six-team field will include Wichita State, South Florida, Louisiana- Lafayette, Sacramento State and UC Davis.

• The Citadel 11, Chicago State 3: Josh Stackley and Chip Cannon drove in three runs apiece to lead the Bulldogs (2-3, 5-6) to third place.

NOTE: Chicago State's starting pitcher from Friday's game against UH was Jonathan Duncan, instead of Ravell Moss. The players switched jerseys and the team did not report the change.

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