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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, April 1, 2005

Coach's comeback fuels San Jose State

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Last season at this time, Sam Piraro still wasn't sure he would return to coach the San Jose State baseball team this season.

SAM PIRARO

He had missed the 2003 season recovering from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma that is incurable, but treatable. A postseason self-evaluation would determine his return.

"It's always that way in a sense," Piraro said. "I measure it every year. At the end of (last season) I felt good. I still wanted to see how the summer would be. I really had a resurgence and energy in June. I was physically able to really say, 'Wow, these are the things I used to be able to do.' So I was real energetic going into the fall, didn't miss a day. I feel good that I'm able to do the things I used to do."

Piraro's resurgence has apparently carried over to his team, which is here for a three-game Western Athletic Conference series against Hawai'i (13-16 overall, 1-5 WAC) starting tonight. The Spartans (15-9-1, 5-1) lead the conference in wins, yet are a half-game behind Fresno State (3-0) in the standings because of winning percentage.

WAC baseball

WHO: San Jose State (15-9-1, 5-1 WAC) vs. Hawai'i (13-16, 1-5 WAC)

WHEN/WHERE: 6:35 p.m. today, 1:05 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday / Les Murakami Stadium

RADIO: KKEA (1420 AM) will broadcast all games live.

TV: KFVE (channel 5) will televise only Sunday's game live


UH baseball

TICKETS: $6 for blue and orange sections; $5 adults in red section; $4 for 65 and older in red section; $3 for UH students with IDs and students ages 4 to 18.

PARKING: $3

PROMOTION: Season ticket holders of any UH sport can buy one baseball ticket and get one free for the series. But tickets must be purchased from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today only at the Stan Sheriff Center ticket office.


PROBABLE STARTERS

Spartans vs. Rainbows

Today, 6:35 p.m.—RH Brandon Hennessey (3-2, 5.49) vs. RH Stephen Bryant (4-1, 1.74)

Tomorrow, 1:05 p.m.—LH Brandon Dewing (4-1, 2.90) vs. RH Colby Summer (1-2, 3.82)

Sunday, 1:05 p.m.—LH Brad Kilby (5-1, 1.10) vs. RH Justin Costi (1-3, 3.51)

The Spartans, picked to finish tied for last with Louisiana Tech in a preseason poll of conference coaches, have been winning with strong pitching and near flawless fielding. Their 3.85 earned run average is fourth in the WAC, but still below the league average of 4.06. Their .974 fielding percentage leads the league.

When preseason all-WAC pitcher Corey Cabral (labrum) went down, Brad Kilby was moved from the bullpen to the rotation and is 5-1 with a 1.10 ERA. Brandon Dewing was elevated to the Friday starter (but not for this series) and is 4-1 with a 2.90 ERA.

"When we lost (Cabral), we really had to look at each other and say, 'Who's going to step up?' " Piraro said. "We moved Dewing to the No. 1 spot and Kilby was our closer and we put him into one of the starting spots.

"Defensively, we've been very good."

But offensively, the Spartans are batting .267 and average 6.3 runs per game, both fourth-best in the league.

"We're missing two key guys (third baseman Ricky Sauceda and outfielder Sam Hall to injuries)," Piraro said. "Missing one guy can change your lineup. That's why I'm anxious to see the Giants play with (Barry) Bonds not in the lineup. We're not the offensive team I thought we would be, but we still have some players capable of doing well."

Leading the Spartans are center fielder Travis Becktel (.366, 6 of 6 steals) and shortstop Anthony Contreras (.299, seven doubles).

This is a crucial series for both teams. Hawai'i can bunch the conference even tighter by winning the series, or watch San Jose State start to pull away from the pack.

The Rainbows are trying to snap a six-game losing streak. The Spartans, who swept Rice and took 2 of 3 from Louisiana Tech, have won 11 of their past 13.

Hawai'i is struggling offensively, averaging 5.4 runs per game. Only Louisiana Tech's 4.6 is lower.

Second baseman Isaac Omura leads the WAC in batting average at .396 and doubles with 13. Shortstop Joe Spiers leads in stolen bases with 22.

The Rainbows adjusted their starting rotation with Stephen Bryant pitching tonight, Colby Summer going tomorrow with Justin Costi on Sunday.

Piraro expects a battle the rest of the season.

"This is a vicious league in terms of competition," he said. "Rice is the team, but there are a couple of teams scrambling to make a push for it."

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