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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, April 28, 2005

Thurber is back in swing

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Somehow, it is appropriate that Hawai'i's Nate Thurber wants to investigate missing persons as a California state sheriff after college. After all, he had been missing, at least from the starting lineup for most of the baseball season, until about four weeks ago.

Nate Thurber, center, has started 13 of the past 14 games after being used sparingly early in the season.

Advertiser library photo • May 13, 2004

Thurber, who tied for the team lead with five home runs and was fourth in RBIs with 25 last season, spent the first half of this season mostly watching from the bench.

In the first 29 games, he was 2 for 5 in pinch-hitting appearances. But since a pinch-hit double on April 2 in a 6-2 loss to San Jose State, the senior outfielder/designated hitter has started in 13 of the past 14 games either as the left fielder or designated hitter. He is batting .283 with an on-base percentage of .421 on the strength of 10 walks and a hit batman in 58 plate appearances.

But what is most impressive is how Thurber persevered.

When the season started, it appeared Thurber's involvement was going to be limited because his approach to hitting wasn't conducive to success at Les Murakami Stadium.

He didn't complain. Instead, the senior became a model teammate. He'd be the first out of the dugout to congratulate a teammate for advancing a runner. He encouraged teammates, even if they were the same ones he was competing for playing time.

"It was important that guys could see he was in every game and that it didn't bother him, at least by the way he portrayed it," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "I'm sure it bothered him that he wasn't playing every day early, but the fact that he was here every day, working hard, he gained a huge amount of respect from his teammates."

Thurber knew he had to be patient and make the most of his few opportunities. It was just a matter of time.

"I just came to the field ready to play, thinking I was going to get in," Thurber said. "If I didn't (play), my whole mindset stayed the same and I just tried to get the team up and going every inning. I finally got my chance, took care of it. Now I'm playing consistently and I'm happy."

Nevada (20-17, 9-6 WAC) vs. Hawai'i (21-23, 8-10)

WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium

TICKETS: $6: blue and orange sections; $5: adults in red section; $4: 65-years-and-older in red section; $3: students age 4-18, UH students.

PARKING: $3

RADIO: All games live on KKEA (1420 AM)

TV: All games live on KFVE (channel 5)

PROBABLE STARTERS

Nevada vs. UH

Tonight, 6:35 — RH Tim Schoeninger (4-5, 4.58) vs. RH Stephen Bryant (6-3, 2.78)

Tomorrow, 6:35 p.m. — RH Ryan Rodriguez (8-3, 5.13) vs. RH Colby Summer (2-4, 4.82)

Saturday, 6:35 p.m. — RH Travis Sutton (2-3, 5.23) vs. RH Justin Costi (1-4, 3.53)

But it was more than a positive attitude that got him back in the batter's box. It took a season, but he made an adjustment to his hitting approach.

Thurber arrived in Hawai'i last season after a 19-homer career at Northeast Oklahoma A&M College. The stadium there had about the same dimensions and an even deeper power alley than Les Murakami Stadium. But there was no wind to impede hard-hit fly balls by a pronounced pull hitter, such as the right-handed hitting Thurber.

As all power hitters who come here learn, Murakami Stadium is unforgiving to right-handed pull hitters, who have seen drives that feel like they would be out at most parks, end up in the left or center fielder's glove in medium depth because of a cross wind blowing in from Manoa Valley.

"The biggest difference between junior college and here is that our field didn't have the wind," Thurber said. "We had wind that was right to left, so it was a pull-happy yard. At the time, I was a pull guy. I came here and I'd pull the ball and go, 'What's going on?' I was too stubborn last year to change my swing."

Therein is the difference between the Thurber who sat and the one who starts these days. Instead of trying to pull everything to left, Thurber has discovered fair territory in center and right fields. Of his four extra-base hits, two doubles went to right-center, one to dead center and his only home run was to right-center. He said assistant coach Keith Komeiji played a vital role in helping him make the adjustment.

"He said the biggest key was putting my foot down and letting the ball travel (closer to the plate to see it longer)," Thurber said. "Last year, I was out in front in a lot of stuff. He worked with me on hitting the ball to right field. It works. I'm a middle-to-right-field hitter now. They changed my swing to fit the yard. That's been the biggest key, hitting the ball to right field."

Said Trapasso: "That's one of the reasons he's playing now. He's just done a great job with that."

Thurber will complete his eligibility this season, but return to UH in the fall to resume his studies. He still has another year to complete his degree in sociology.

Thurber, who is from Riverside, Calif., will then put his diploma to work by applying at the California state sheriff's academy.

"I want to do missing persons in Los Angeles County," he said. "I think I have a knack for that."

Notes: The box office will open a half an hour earlier than the normal 5:30 p.m. time for tomorrow's game. As part of the "Perfect Attendance Promotion," students in eighth grade and under who have not missed a day of school this academic year will be admitted free for the game against Nevada. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

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