"We feel we were able to improve ourselves in two different positions by bringing in Esteban and Erik Ammon and then being able to move Matt to center field because he's our best centerfielder," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "When Matt had to go in and catch, we lost our best centerfielder last year after Creighton (Kahoali'i, last year's catcher) got hurt. When Matt Inouye's your three-hole catcher, you're in real good shape depth-wise, if something were to happen to Esteban or Erik."

Inouye started 31 games at catcher and 22 in the outfield last year.

The Rainbows, who open their fourth season under Trapasso a week from today against Alabama, have an ideal set up with Lopez and Ammon. Lopez has two years of experience from Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz., where he was a two-time first-team all-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference selection. He will be the starter for the Rainbows. His experience allows Ammon, a freshman from North Salem (Ore.) High, to ease into the transition from high school to college. Ammon said his biggest adjustment has been hitting.

"Coach Jans (hitting coach Travis Janssen) and Coach Meij (catcher's coach Keith Komeiji) have been working with me defensively, in the (batting) cages, working all sorts of drills to get my hitting to come along," Ammon said. "Everything's so much quicker."

Although Inouye has been doing some catching in intra-squad scrimmages, Trapasso said that was "just to (keep Inouye) sharp and make sure he's catching all the new guys."

"Catching might be the way to go (professionally), but I'll do whatever is good for the team," Inouye said.

Trapasso said Ammon will start at least one game of the three four-game series (Alabama, Pacific and Washington State). Ideally, Trapasso would like to have Lopez rest the third game, which would be the Saturday night game before the Sunday afternoon game.

"You can't catch a guy four games in a row," Trapasso said. "We want to keep both of those guys fresh."

Trapasso likes Ammon's upside.

"He has some work to do and will continue to grow and learn in the offensive area in particular," Trapasso said. "But we're very comfortable with him defensively. Our pitchers like throwing to him. He has a great work ethic and a great knowledge of our pitchers and what we want to do as a staff. He's a good receiver, good blocker, good thrower. His best days are still ahead of him."

If things pan out, Ammon's day as the starting catcher could come next season. Lopez, drafted out of Chandler (Ariz.) High in 2002 in the 49th round by the New York Mets and again last summer out of Yavapai in the 48th round by the Philadelphia Phillies, is eligible for the June draft being that he is a junior.

"I'm just hoping for a chance to play (professionally)," Lopez said.

Baseball runs in the Lopez family. His father, Rigo Lopez, briefly played professionally in Mexico, he said. His three older brothers also reached the college ranks. His oldest brother, Rigo Jr., played catcher at the University of San Francisco after transferring from Arizona Western JC; the second-oldest brother, David, played catcher at Division II Grand Canyon, also after transferring from the same JC; and the third-oldest brother, Emmanuel, played first base at Yavapai. Emmanuel was drafted in the 37th round by Boston in 2001 out of Globe (Ariz.) High.

Lopez admits he was disappointed at where he was drafted last year, but isn't sulking over it.

"Everything happens for a reason," he said. "But I can't complain. This is just a great environment."

Calling all Maniacs: The first five rows of section JJ in the lower level will be reserved for the Manoa Maniacs at Les Murakami Stadium, UH announced.

Season tickets in the lower level are $185, but students who sit in the Manoa Maniacs' section will get a $90 discount. The Maniacs' section tickets are available at the Stan Sheriff ticket office and students must show a valid UH spring semester ID.

Tomorrow: Outfielders