"They basically see us as a regional team," said UH coach Mike Trapasso, who enters his fourth season. "That's where we kind of see ourselves, as far as just starting the season. That's our goal. I don't know if I can look at this team and say it's a regional team because we've got so many new guys that we haven't seen in competition ... (But) that's our expectation."

Last year, the Rainbows (31-24 overall, 13-16 WAC) finished fourth in the conference. After winning the first two games of the home series against Rice, the Rainbows went 2-8 the rest of the way. Hawai'i's last regional appearance was in 1993.

"We're not going to hide from that now," Trapasso said of the prediction. "But at the same time, we were also in a situation where I would say we were probably right in that area, somewhere in the 40s (wins), and regional-bound last year with about three weeks to go and (then) we kind of hit a wall there."

Last week, Baseball America revealed its preseason top 50, ranking UH 42nd.

Besides the prediction, UH players also were mentioned in the preview. A preseason all-conference team listed four players: second-team all-WAC second baseman Isaac Omura, third baseman Rocky Russo, outfielder Matt Inouye and first-team all-WAC pitcher Ricky Bauer.

The preview also listed players with the "best tools." Omura was picked as the "best defensive second baseman" and the player with the "best strike-zone discipline." Outfielder Robbie Wilder, who was hampered by hamstring problems last season, was the "fastest runner." Bauer was listed as the pitcher with "best control" and the "best breaking ball" belonged to Stephen Bryant, an all-WAC second-team pitcher last season.

The Rainbows begin practice Tuesday. Their season opener is Feb. 10 against Alabama.

Hawai'i returns Omura and Russo in the infield, Inouye in center field, first-team all-WAC Greg Kish in right and Wilder in left. The starting rotation returns Bauer and Bryant. The bullpen has Guy McDowell, Darrell Fisherbaugh and Rich Olsen, who missed most of last season with elbow problems.

The Rainbows will have newcomers at catcher, shortstop and first base with Creighton Kahoali'i, Brian Finegan and Andrew Sansaver having exhausted their eligibility. Junior college transfer Esteban Lopez, who was drafted out of high school in 2002 by the New York Mets and again last year out of Yavapai JC (Prescott, Ariz.) by the Philadelphia Phillies, had a strong fall workout at catcher, Trapasso said. Freshman Joe Spiers and sophomore Troy Hanzawa, who rarely played last year because Finegan played in every game, are promising but untested at shortstop. JC transfers Luis Avila, Jordan Ballard and Robbie Nelson are competing at first.

The pitching staff has been bolstered by 6-foot-8 right-hander Colby Summer, out two years recovering from Tommy John (elbow) surgery. Freshman left-hander Myles Ioane (Waiakea High all-state selection) pitched well enough in the fall that if the season were to start today, he would be in the rotation, Trapasso said.

Meanwhile, right-hander Keahi Rawlins and left-hander Mark Rodrigues will miss this season as both recover from Tommy John surgery, Trapasso said.

NOTES

The Division I Baseball Rules Committee has proposed a uniform calendar that would set a Feb. 1 starting date for practice and a March 1 start for games. The issue was raised by schools in cold weather regions, who start workouts, at least outdoors, later than schools in warmer regions. The proposal could move back the College World Series into July. The proposal won't be up for vote until next January by the NCAA Management Council. The earliest implementation would be for the 2007 season.

Trapasso said the later start would affect his team's scheduling non-conference games. By starting in March, UH would lose at least four weekend series. That would mean UH would have to play more midweek games. But most schools are in conference play by March and would be reluctant to travel to Hawai'i to play a midweek game. The problem doesn't affect Mainland schools as much because teams can find nonconference opponents within driving range for midweek games.

Also, the baseball program is having its annual fund-raiser, the UH Baseball Grand Slam Celebration, on Feb. 1 at the Stan Sheriff Center. It runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Food and drinks will be provided by a number of restaurants. There also will be a silent auction.

Cost is $65 or $750 for a table of eight. A portion of the cost is tax deductible.

For information, call 956-6247.