Posted on: Friday, May 7, 2004
No. 3 Rice has a lot at stake this weekend
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
| • | • WHO: No. 3 Rice (16-1 WAC, 34-7 overall) vs. Hawai'i (10-8, 27-16)
• WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium • TICKETS: $6 red and blue sections; $5 adults red section; $4 65 and older red section; $3 students 4 to 18 and UH students in red section • PARKING: $3 • RADIO/TV: KKEA (1420 AM) and KFVE (cable 5) will broadcast all games live • PROBABLE STARTERS: 6:35 p.m. today—RU RH Philip Humber (9-1, 1.41) vs. UH RH Ricky Bauer (7-2, 2.74) 6:35 p.m. tomorrow—RU RH Wade Townsend (9-0, 1.17) vs. UH RH Stephen Bryant (7-3, 2.39) 1:05 p.m. Sunday—RU RH Josh Baker (6-2, 3.06) vs. UH RH Clary Carlsen (6-5, 3.96) |
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"Personally, I love playing in this league because I like going to Hawai'i, I like going to Reno and I like going to San Jose," Graham said. "I'll miss the league, but it's probably more reasonable to have a more regional league."
Graham may love paradise, but don't expect his third-ranked Owls (16-1 WAC, 34-7 overall) to get lost in it. They open a three-game series with the second-place Rainbows (10-8, 27-16), who trail by 6ý games, tonight at Les Murakami Stadium.
"We have to be pretty good because there's a lot at stake for us," Graham said. "We would like to be one of the national seeds (for the NCAA tournament) and that's tough to do."
The defending national and WAC champions are likely to miss 6-foot-9 right-hander Jeff Niemann, who had 13 strikeouts in eight innings in a 5-3 win against UH at Houston on March 19. He has a groin injury, Graham said.
But the Owls still have Philip Humber (9-1, 1.41) for tonight, Wade Townsend (9-0, 1.17) tomorrow and Josh Baker (6-2, 3.06). Humber and Townsend are projected first-round picks in next month's draft (as is Niemann).
"The people who have pitched for us this year have been better than last year," Graham said. "We're happy in general with the pitching because recently, some of the relief pitching we had hoped to develop is pitching a lot better."
Graham is referring to Matt Ueckert, Eddie Degerman and Adam Hale. They combined for five innings of one-hit relief and seven strikeouts for starter Baker (four innings, no runs, five strikeouts) in Wednesday's 4-0 win against McNeese State.
The Owls aren't only about pitching. They have an on-base machine in center fielder Chris Kolkhorst (.493 on-base) and slugging shortstop Paul Janish (team leader with eight home runs and 44 RBIs).
Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso said it is rare for a defending national champion to return as many key players as Rice has.
"We feel our team has a chance to be as good as last year's," Graham said.
A humbling thought for UH, which handed Rice its only conference loss. Graham respects UH's rotation of Ricky Bauer, Stephen Bryant and Clary Carlsen.
"They've really solidified their pitching," Graham said. "They change speeds well, they have enough velocity."
The Owls (2.33) and Rainbows (3.55) lead the WAC in team ERA.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
