Other Rainbows picked were outfielder Greg Kish, third baseman Rocky Russo, starting pitcher Stephen Bryant and relief pitcher Darrell Fisherbaugh.

"It's an honor to be recognized," said Bauer, UH coach Mike Trapasso's first recruit four summers ago. "I'm glad because it also recognizes all the hard work I've done up until now."

However, the conference coaches were less kind than Baseball America, which picked UH to finish second. The WAC coaches tabbed UH to finish fourth behind defending champion Rice, Fresno State and Nevada. Bauer said the team looks forward to the challenge of living up to the preseason hype cast by Baseball America.

"It's nice to be recognized by people, but the pressure's on little bit," Bauer said. "We have to perform to how people expect. But it's also good because it's going to push our team to work to try to get the job done, so I'm looking forward to (the season)."

Bauer (8-4, 3.60 ERA) said he was rested during fall workouts because the coaches felt he carried a heavy load, which included 65· innings for the Madison (Wis.) Mallards of the Northwoods League during the summer. (He was 7-2 with a 2.60 ERA in 10 appearances, nine of them starts.)

The right-hander, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 39th round out of Mid-Pacific Institute in 2001, was not drafted after his junior season.

"I was a little disappointed," Bauer said. "Anybody would be. But the bright side is I get to come back and I hope this is the year we win the WAC championship and then go to a regional. That's something I've always wanted since I came to UH."

Junior center fielder Matt Inouye was not recognized by the WAC coaches nor Baseball America, yet, he is on the watch list for the Wallace Award for national player of the year honors.

For the second consecutive year, Bauer was named team captain. The other captain is Kish.