Posted on: Wednesday, June 1, 2005

UH's Omura, Inouye, Bryant named All-WAC

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i's best finish in the Western Athletic Conference in coach Mike Trapasso's tenure was rewarded with seven Rainbows being selected to the All-Western Athletic Conference first and second teams yesterday.

Second baseman Isaac Omura and outfielder Matt Inouye, both juniors and Mid-Pacific Institute graduates, and senior pitcher Stephen Bryant were named to the first team.

Freshman Joe Spiers (shortstop), JC transfer Esteban Lopez (catcher), senior Nate Thurber (designated hitter) and sophomore Darrell Fisherbaugh (relief pitcher) were second-team picks.

Conference coaches selected the teams, but could not vote for their own players.

Omura led UH in eight offensive categories — batting average (.360), slugging (.568), on-base (.464), hits (76), doubles (19), home runs (6), RBIs (47) and walks (37) — and tied for the team lead with three sacrifice flies. He also had a .971 fielding percentage.

"The type of year he had, we were hoping down the stretch he may even contend for the Player of the Year," Trapasso said. "He was our most consistent player from start to finish. I'm just very happy for him. He deserves it."

The Player of the Year honor went to Rice freshman two-way player Joe Savery, who made the first team as a first baseman and pitcher. Omura was battling Savery (.387) for the league batting title in the last few weeks of the season. Savery won the title, first-team shortstop Anthony Contreras of San Jose State finished second at .373 and Omura placed third.

Bryant, a four-time Pitcher of the Week award winner, also was consistent all season. Bryant (9-3, 3.17 ERA) had UH's only complete game. He struck out 110 batters while walking 37 in 105 innings and 16 starts.

"I was hoping he'd get the WAC Pitcher of the Year because of all the Pitcher of the Week awards he won," Trapasso said. "But (Fresno State's Matt) Garza had good numbers as well. It could've gone either way."

Garza was 6-5 with a 3.07 ERA. But in WAC games, from which the picks are made from Trapasso said, Garza was 5-2 with a 2.62 ERA.

A surprise selection was Inouye, who hit .255 with three home runs and 24 RBIs, which tied for third on the UH team. His WAC batting average was .211. But his selection by the coaches was a tribute to the presence he brought to the Rainbows.

"I told Matt it was voted on by the coaches who are voting on the type of player he is and the energy he brings and the body of work he's done over the last couple of years," Trapasso said.

Despite not hitting as well as he had his first two seasons with UH, Inouye never let up on his fielding, first in center field and later in right.

Lopez got off to a slow start batting, but seemed to find his stroke late in the season. He lifted his overall batting average to .250 by hitting .324 with 20 RBIs in WAC games.

"I told Este he's going to hit well over .300 next year," Trapasso said. "I can just feel it."

Trapasso also likes Lopez's defensive skills.

"The guy can catch and throw," Trapasso said. "He's the best defensive catcher in our league."

Spiers was the only Rainbow to start all 55 games, batting .307, leading the team with 45 runs and leading the WAC with 31 steals.

"Joe had a freshman campaign like a lot that you see, tailed off a little bit toward the end," Trapasso said. "But I don't think you could ask for much more out of a freshman than what Joe gave us. I'm hoping that he gets freshman All-American honors."

Thurber spent the first half of the season on the bench, but when summoned gave the team a boost at the plate. He hit .286 and had a .412 on-base percentage.

"He came on as our leader at a point when we needed him," Trapasso said. "I was very proud of him."

Fisherbaugh was 4-1 with a 1.45 ERA and two saves for UH. In the WAC, he was 3-0 with a 0.81 ERA in 22 1/3 innings.

Trapasso felt Fisherbaugh was deserving of a first-team pick. He has a case as Fresno State's Rudy Quinonez, the first-team pick, was 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA. His WAC-leading five saves might have been what coaches saw.

"His numbers in WAC was head and shoulders above everybody," Trapasso said of Fisherbaugh. "Of all the relievers nominated, he had more innings and gave up less runs."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.