As a junior, this is his so-called "money year" because he is eligible for the big league draft in June and can use his senior season as leverage in negotiations. Inouye was drafted in the 41st round by the Boston Red Sox in 2002 out of Mid-Pacific Institute. But he has other goals in mind.

"I'm not so much looking for a big year for myself, but for the team," Inouye said. "I think this year, we have a pretty solid team and we have a pretty good chance at being good in the WAC."

Flanked by returnee Greg Kish in left and newcomer Jose Castaneda in right (or Robbie Wilder in left and Kish in right), the Rainbows should have one of the better outfields in the Western Athletic Conference.

Kish, an all-WAC first-team pick last year and a preseason favorite this year, led the Rainbows with a .358 batting average last year. Inouye batted .326, but led the team with 20 doubles, 48 RBIs, 32 walks and 15 hit batsmen. He also shared the team lead in home runs with five (with returning DH Nate Thurber) and in steals with 13 (with Brian Finegan).

Possibly because he shared time at catcher and the outfield, Inouye was not mentioned in preseason all-conference teams. Yet, it isn't as if he isn't noticed. He is on the watch list for the Brooks Wallace national player of the year award.

"I played a lot of center field this summer," Inouye said. "I felt I got pretty good reads on ball. Catching's a lot of fun, too. Hopefully, I can get a couple of games catching."

UH coach Mike Trapasso said Inouye will get opportunities to catch, but he hopes not out of necessity because of injuries. He thinks Inouye is capable of having solid season.

"Even if he does what he did last year, it's a great year," Trapasso said. "What we want out of him is more consistency. I think we may be able to get that from him in the outfield than when he is catching because he won't wear down. If that's the case, then we keep him fresh."

Inouye is the second UH player that Trapasso has sent to the Cape Cod League over the summer; pitcher Ricky Bauer went two summers ago. Inouye said he struggled in his stint with the Hyannis (Mass.) Mets, batting .137 with four RBIs. The league uses wooden bats and he faced some of the best college pitchers.

"I don't know if it was the wooden bats or the good pitching because mentally, I wasn't giving myself a real good shot at the plate because I was always down," he said because of being homesick and not feeling comfortable in the area. "So I think it was more of a growing experience ... I'll be able to cope with things a lot better."

Trapasso is pleased with the outfield depth.

A healthy Wilder — limited to 30 games because of shoulder, hamstring and nose injuries — gives the Rainbows speed on defense and on the base paths. Wilder batted .193 with seven steals, third-highest on the team.

Castaneda, a transfer from Orange Coast College, also has experience playing center field.

"You're looking at some pretty good outfielders, defensively, who can cover ground and run balls down," Trapasso said of the four outfielders. "It's what you have to have in this ball park."

Trapasso added that freshman Ryan Asato (Mid-Pacific) is showing potential.

"He'll be a regular for us before his career is over," Trapasso said.

Other outfielders who figure into the mix are JC transfers Jeff Piaskowski and Kyle Thomas, who also will pitch, and redshirt freshman Derek Dupree.

Meanwhile, Inouye likes the makeup of the team, which has been picked to finish fourth in the WAC by the league's coaches, but second by Baseball America.

"So far, our practices have been running a lot smoother than the last couple of years," he said. "I just think this year's team, we've got some bats and our pitching looks better. We're a lot more solid than the last two years.

"I'm not predicting we'll win the WAC, but we'll make a good run at it."

The Rainbows haven't won the WAC since 1992.

Notes

Hawai'i, usually one of the first teams to start the collegiate season, will be the last WAC team to open the year. Fresno State opened last weekend. Louisiana Tech, Rice, San Jose State and Nevada open this weekend. Fresno State went 0-3 against Stanford. The Rainbows open Thursday against the Southeast Conference's Alabama ... UH's captains for this season are outfielder Greg Kish and pitcher Ricky Bauer, who is getting the opening night assignment for the second consecutive season.

Tomorrow: Infielders