Posted on: Tuesday, February 8, 2005
'Bows will lead off against Alabama
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i is two days away from its season opener against the Southeastern Conference's Alabama.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser The Crimson Tide, coming off a 29-26 overall record and 10-20 in the SEC, is picked to finish fifth in the West Division of its conference by both Baseball America and the SEC coaches. It doesn't mean Alabama is in for a down season; its Baseball America preseason ranking was 43, one behind UH.
The SEC is the top-ranked conference according to Baseball America. Last year, nine of the 12 teams received regional berths; the conference is predicted to receive as many again.
The Rainbows (31-24) are picked to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference by Baseball America, but fourth by the league's coaches.
It is the season opener for both teams. Hawai'i is the last WAC team to start the season.
More details on the series tomorrow and Thursday.
Division III tourney
Defending NCAA Division III national champion George Fox is among four teams participating in the Collegiate Baseball in Paradise Tournament Thursday through Saturday at Central O'ahu Regional Park.
The other teams are McMurry University (Abilene, Texas) and the University of Texas at Dallas, both of the American Southwest Conference, and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College (CMS) of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. McMurry is a preseason favorite to win the West Division of the ASC, while Texas-Dallas is picked to finish second in the East Division.
George Fox (Newberg, Ore.), of the Northwest Conference, is ranked 15th in Collegiate Baseball's Division II preseason poll.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps has three players from Hawai'i, all Punahou graduates: Outfielder Kyle Seminara, right-handed pitcher Matt Oda and catcher Robert Kurisu, who played for last year's Buffanblu state championship team. The other teams do not list any players with ties to Hawai'i.
Schedule
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Best record vs. second-best record, 30 minutes after first games
Third best record vs. fourth-best record, 30 minutes after first games
Hawai'i nationwide
University of San Diego second baseman Keoni Ruth (Kamehameha '03) continues his torrid hitting, batting 8 for 15 with two doubles in helping the Toreros take 2 of 3 against UC Riverside over the weekend. Ruth, who has started in 11 of the Toreros' 12 games, has hit safely in 10 games. He leads San Diego (7-4-1) with a .408 batting average.
A pair of UH opponents, Washington State (Feb. 24 to 27) and Sacramento State (March 1 in the Rainbow Tournament), each has players from Hawai'i. The Hornets, who join the WAC as an affiliate member next season, took 2 of 3 from the Cougars over the weekend. Washington State third baseman Zach McAngus (Kamehameha '02) was 5 for 12 with a home run, while Sacramento State outfielder Jim Strombach (Moanalua '02) was 3 for 12 with a steal in the series. It was the season-opening weekend for both teams.
Pepperdine right-hander Kea Kometani (Punahou '01) accounted for the Waves' only win in a three-game series against UC Santa Barbara over the weekend. Kometani, the ace of the staff, went five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in an 8-4 win in Friday's season opener.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
It will be the first time the two schools will meet. The four-game series runs Thursday through Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium. Game times are 6:35 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.
Mike Trapasso's team will open the season with four games against the SEC's Alabama.
