Posted on: Tuesday, March 1, 2005
Tourney on deck for 'Bows
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Two nationally ranked teams, a future Western Athletic Conference member and a possible first-round draft pick will be a part of the First Hawaii Title Rainbow Baseball Tournament, which starts today.
WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium TICKETS: $7 blue and orange sections; $6 adults red section; $5 65-years-and-older red section; $3 UH students and students ages 4-18 red section. RADIO: KKEA (1420 AM) will broadcast today, tomorrow and Friday UH games live.
TV: KFVE (channel 5) will broadcast only today's UH game vs. Sacramento State live.6:35 p.m.—Louisiana Lafayette vs. Hawai'i Among the top players in the tournament is Wichita State junior right-hander Mike Pelfrey, who beat UH in 2003 as a freshman when the Shockers came here for a three-game series. Pelfrey pitched six scoreless innings of four-hit ball. Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso was his pitching coach last summer for Team USA.
"He's a top four, five player who will be picked in the draft," Trapasso said. "He's an incredible talent and a great kid."
The tournament also reunites Trapasso with South Florida coach Eddie Cardieri, who is in his 20th season with the Tampa school. Cardieri hired Trapasso as his pitching coach in 1992.
"He took a chance on a young kid, gave me my first break in the business," Trapasso said of Cardieri.
Meanwhile, the Rainbows have issues to deal with in the tournament. Outfielder Greg Kish, who was the designated hitter Sunday after spraining his right forearm Thursday, might miss several games in hopes of a complete recovery.
"He's not near a hundred percent," Trapasso said. "Every time he swings, he aggravates it."
Second baseman Isaac Omura, who left Saturday's game and missed Sunday with a strained knee, might be able to play.
"I talked to him (yesterday) and he says he feels pretty good," Trapasso said. "He says he's going to be OK, so that makes me feel better."
Omura is Hawai'i's team leader in batting average (.421) and RBIs (9).
"Injuries are part of the game, so even if we don't have Kish or Isaac, we have to make the best of it," Trapasso said. "That will give other guys the opportunity to step up."
Still to be determined is tonight's starting pitcher for UH against Sacramento State. Ricky Bauer wants to pitch, Trapasso said. Bauer went 2 2/3 innings Thursday against Washington State, using 60 pitches. Otherwise, freshman left-hander Myles Ioane or JC transfer right-hander Larry Ellenbrook are the alternatives. Whoever pitches tonight, the other will start tomorrow against UC Davis. The rest of the rotation of Stephen Bryant, Colby Summer and Justin Costi will stay on track for Thursday through Saturday, respectively.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
Joining host Hawai'i (7-5) are Missouri Valley Conference favorite Wichita State (11-0), ranked 15th by Collegiate Baseball and 24th by Sports Weekly/ESPN, Sun Belt Conference favorite Louisiana Lafayette (10-0), ranked 21st by Baseball America and 22nd by Collegiate Baseball, independent Sacramento State (5-6-1), which joins the WAC as an affiliate member next season, Conference USA's South Florida (8-5) and provisional Division I UC Davis (6-6).
WHAT: Rainbow Baseball Tournament
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| Sacramento State Hornets
Affiliation: Independent Note: Joins WAC next season as an affiliate member in baseball only Record: 5-6-1 Coach: John Smith Players to watch: RHP Ethan Katz (1-2, 4.64 ERA), RF Jim Strombach (.267, 3 doubles), 1B Brian Blauser (.306), 3B Brian Conradi (.297, 4 of 4 SBs).
Affiliation: Independent Note: Provisional D-I status Record: 6-6 Coach: Rex Peters Players to watch: 3B Daniel Decalso (.388, 3 doubles, 14 RBIs), SS Brandon Oliver (.353, 10 runs, 4 of 5 SBs), CF David Huffman (.268, 3 of 3 SBs), RHP Dave McKae (3-1, 1.66 ERA, 21 K in 21á IP), RHP Vince DeCoito (1-2, 3.32, 22 K in 21 2/3 IP).
Affiliation: Conference USA Note: Has four-game win streak; picked to finish sixth in 12-team conference. Record: 8-5 Coach: Eddie Cardieri Players to watch: 3B Jeff Baisley (.404, 2 HR, 19 RBIs), C Brian Baisley (.327, 6 doubles), 1B/DH Matt McHargue (.278, 4 HRs), OF Bryan Hierlmeier (.200, 4 doubles, 2 triples, HR), RHP Casey Hudspeth (2-0, 2.31 ERA, 32 Ks, 3 Ws in 23¡ IP), RHP Chase Lirette (1-1, 4.08 ERA, 15 Ks, 2 Ws in 17á IP).
Affiliation: Missouri Valley Conference Note: Preseason pick to win conference. Ranked 15th by Collegiate Baseball and 24th by Sports Weekly/ESPN. Record: 11-0 Coach: Gene Stephenson Players to watch: C Joe Muich (.250), SS Nick McCoola (.405), OF Phil Napolitan (.421), LHP Kris Johnson (3-0, 1.20, 16 Ks in 15 IP), RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-0, 0.90, 18 Ks in 20 IP).
Affiliation: Sun Belt Conference Note: Preseason pick to win conference. Ranked 21st in Baseball America, 22nd by Collegiate Baseball. Record: 10-0 Coach: Tony Robichaux Players to watch: 1B Philip Hawke (.313, 2 HRs, 14 RBIs), RHP Kevin Ardoin (3-0, 0.86 ERA, 23 Ks in 21 IP), 3B Jefferie Tatford (.455, 8 RBIs), OF Josh Landry (.351, 12 RBIs). TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Today
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