This Rocky a fighter, too

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i third baseman Rocky Russo, who was named after the famed movie character by his mother, said, "It's pretty cool to have a name like that." Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser HPU vs. UH WHO: Hawai'i Pacific (6-10) vs. Hawai'i (14-7) WHEN: 6:35 p.m. today WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium HISTORY: Hawai'i leads series, 24-2; UH won last meeting, 10-2, on Feb. 17 TICKETS: $6 blue and orange sections; $5 adults in red section; $4 65-years-and-older in red section; $3 students ages 4-18 and UH students PARKING: $3 RADIO: KKEA (1420 AM) will broadcast the game live. TV: KFVE channel 5 will broadcast the game live

And, yes, he is named for the popular character from the Sylvester Stallone movies of the 1970s and '80s.

"I like my name," said the sophomore from Monterey, Calif. "I mean, it's a lot different. It's pretty cool to have a name like that."

It's also appropriate.

For one thing, at 5 feet 9 and 190 pounds, with Popeye biceps and Incredible Hulk calves, Russo is built like a rock.

"He's not the tallest guy, but he's not small," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "He's one of our stronger players on the club. He's got strength and he's got a short stroke that allows him to create bat speed. When you're looking at the power off the bat, you're looking at bat speed."

The name also reveals his resolve. After starting the first four games of the season, Russo was relegated to designated hitter for two games, then to the bench for the next 10, when he made some pinch-hitting appearances. Hitting wasn't the problem — he was batting .333 with four runs and three RBI after the first four games — but fielding was the issue.

Russo admits he was concerned when his playing time was cut.

"I asked the coaches if I was going to get my chance," Russo said. "They kept telling me I'm going to get my chance, don't worry about it. I just listened to what they had to say and tried my hardest."

Trapasso explained to Russo he had to be "locked in" defensively. While Russo had been charged with only one error before sitting, he had only five total chances in the first four games. Not getting to grounders for a pitching staff that thrives on inducing hitters to hit grounders was a problem.

"He's gotten better, and I think he's gotten better because he's worked at it, because he now understands a lot of his playing time is going to be dictated by how he plays defense," Trapasso said.

In the two games Russo started at DH, senior Creighton Kahoali'i started at third. Kahoali'i started stinging the ball and stayed there through UH's eight-game winning streak, which was snapped in the nightcap of a doubleheader against San Francisco. The next day, Russo was inserted at third and went 1 for 4 with an RBI. He stayed at third for the Rainbow Tournament, won by the Rainbows, and batted .471 with two doubles, a home run and a team-leading eight RBIs. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, and on Monday was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

Hitting never a problem

While Russo continues to work on his defense, there has never been doubt about his bat. It was what caught the attention of Trapasso and assistant Chad Konishi when they were recruiting him out of Salinas High.

"The first thing we noticed was that he had tremendous bat speed and he could hit," Trapasso said. "Chad and I both saw him (within) a week to 10 days of each other out on the road. Both (of us) came back saying this guy can flat-out hit. That's what we needed, some guy with pop and punch at the plate. He's been able to deliver that so far."

As a freshman last season, Russo started in 49 of the team's first 56 games. He began the season at third, starting in 22 games at the position, but ended up being the DH, where he started 27 times.

Although Russo batted .253, he was in a three-way tie for the team lead with 32 RBIs. But his 37 walks — second best on the team — gave him a strong .392 on-base percentage. He also had nine doubles and was second on the team with five home runs.

Russo, who also played quarterback and linebacker in football and point guard in basketball at Salinas, said he picked UH over Washington State, Arizona State and Arizona because he was offered a chance to play.

"Anywhere else, I probably would've ended up a red-shirt," he said.

No place like home

While the other places might have been easier to hit home runs, he still likes Les Murakami Stadium, which can humble the best of power hitters because of its wind patterns and heavy, moist air. Even with installation of the closer outfield wall before the 2001 season, home runs don't come cheap. Russo has hit two this season, one behind team-leader Nate Thurber.

"It feels pretty good to hit a home run here because it's really hard with the weather and air and stuff," he said. "But it's real nice."

As for his name, Russo said the "Rocky" movies were his mother's favorites.

"That's what she said when she decided to name me 'Rocky,'" Russo said. "I watched all of them. It's cool."

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