Posted on: Tuesday, February 22, 2005
UH's Bryant named WAC Pitcher of Week
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
After taking most of the summer off from baseball, Hawai'i pitcher Stephen Bryant was ready for his senior season.
Bryant (1-0) had a career-high 10 strikeouts in a 10-2 win against Pacific on Friday. In 5á innings, he allowed three walks and just one hit — an RBI triple, the only hard-hit ball among those put in play by the Tigers. Hawai'i won 3 of 4 games in the series.
Bryant said he was scheduled to pitch for Spokane (Wash.) of the Pacific International League last summer, but instead went to work for his father in construction.
"I thought it was good to have a little bit of a break," he said. "I came back strong this fall. My arm feels good."
In August, he married his high school sweetheart, Lara.
Thursday — Washington State, 6:35 p.m.
Friday — Washington State, 6:35 p.m. Saturday — Washington State, 6:35 p.m. Sunday — Washington State, 1:05 p.m. Easter Tournament
March 1 — UC Davis vs. South Florida, 10:30 a.m. Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Wichita State, 2:30 p.m.
Sacramento State vs. Hawai'i, 635 p.m.
March 2 — South Florida vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 10:30 a.m. Wichita State vs. Sacramento State, 2:30 p.m.
UC Davis vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m.
March 3 — Sacramento State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 10:30 a.m. Wichita State vs. UC Davis, 2:30 p.m.
South Florida vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m.
March 4 — Sacramento State vs. South Florida, 10:30 a.m. Louisiana-Lafayette vs. UC Davis, 2:30 p.m.
Wichita State vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m
March 5 — UC Davis vs. Sacramento State, 10:30 a.m. South Florida vs. Wichita State, 2:30 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Hawai'i, 6:30 p.m.
March 10 — Florida State, 6:35 p.m. March 11 — Florida State, 6:35 p.m. March 12 — Florida State, 1:05 p.m. March 15 — Winthrop, 6:35 p.m. March 16 — Winthrop, 6:35 p.m. Bryant came to UH from Feather River College (Quincy, Calif.). San Francisco and UC Irvine, as well as a number of Division II schools, came calling. But he took UH's offer.
"Competition-wise, this was the best," Bryant said of his decision to pick UH. "The WAC's a pretty good conference."
Out of Pleasant Valley High in Chico, where he lettered in baseball and football, most of his offers came from junior colleges.
Last season, Bryant pitched 87 innings for the Rainbows. He was 8-4 with a 3.52 earned run average. He started the season in the bullpen before moving into the starting rotation. He was rewarded with all-WAC second-team honors.
Bryant said he hopes for a chance at pro ball. If not, he said he wants to be a California Highway Patrol officer.
Meanwhile, the Rainbows (5-3) are gearing for a four-game series against Washington State (5-5) starting Thursday. The Cougars split a four-game series with Portland over the weekend.
The Cougars have one player from Hawai'i in junior third baseman Zach McAngus (Kamehameha '02), who leads his team with a .410 batting average. This is actually his second time facing the Rainbows. He played against UH as a freshman with the Air Force Academy three seasons ago.
UH-Hilo
The Vulcans (1-17) were swept in a five-game series against Nebraska (5-0) last weekend.
It doesn't get any easier for the Vulcans, who play Missouri Valley Conference favorite Wichita State (6-0).
The Shockers also will play in the UH-Manoa tournament, March 1 to 5.
Hawai'i Pacific
The Sea Warriors (8-5) split a six-game series against No. 20 Sonoma State (7-6) in Division II baseball over the weekend at Ke'ehi Lagoon.
Hawai'i Pacific doesn't play again until March 9 against Florida State, which then plays the Rainbows March 10 to 12.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound right-hander was named Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced yesterday. It was the first weekly award for the native of Chico, Calif., and the first for a Rainbow this season.
"I've known her practically my whole life," he said. "Our families are close. We've been together six years. I just thought it was the right time (to marry)."
RAINBOWS SCHEDULE
