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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, March 10, 2005

Trapasso hopes hot hitting continues

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Three games don't make a season, but for the Hawai'i baseball team's offense, it's a start.

UH BASEBALL

WHO: Florida State (20-1) vs. Hawai'i (9-8)

WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium

TICKETS: $7 adults in blue and orange sections; $6 adults in red section; $5 65-years-and-older in red section: $3 UH students and students ages 4-18 in red section.

PARKING: $3

RADIO: KKEA (1420 AM) will broadcast all three games live.

TV: KFVE (channel 5) will telecast only tomorrow's game.


PROBABLE STARTERS

FSU vs. UH

Today, 6:35 p.m. — RH Michael Hyde (4-1, 1.78) vs. RH Stephen Bryant (3-0, 1.48)

Tomorrow, 6:35 p.m. — LH Barret Browning (2-0, 1.35) vs. RH Ricky Bauer (1-1, 4.37)

Saturday, 1:05 p.m. — LH Hunter Jones (3-0, 2.49) vs. RH Justin Costi (1-2, 2.13)

Coach Mike Trapasso is pleased with the Rainbows' offensive approach the past three games in which they are 2-1, including a 12-1 romp of nationally ranked Louisiana Lafayette. The Rainbows (9-8) look to continue that in a three-game series against nationally ranked Florida State starting tonight.

"We've played three solid games in a row and that's the first time we've done that this year," Trapasso said. "If we can use that momentum and play with the same confidence we have had the last three games, then it doesn't matter who we're playing.

"Wins and losses will come and go, but our goal is to go out and take care of ourselves. The fact that we're playing a team of the caliber of Florida State gives us an opportunity to gain confidence to play well. But again, that's if we play well."

The Seminoles (21-1) swept a five-game series at UH-Hilo and defeated Division II Hawai'i Pacific, 9-1, last night at Aloha Stadium. Florida State is ranked No. 3 by Collegiate Baseball, No. 8 by Sports Weekly and No. 17 by Baseball America.

The offense has come around despite injuries to catcher Esteban Lopez (elbow and hand) and outfielder Greg Kish (forearm). Freshman catcher Erik Ammon has filled in well for Lopez, who is expected to be available for this series. Ammon is hitting .400 in six games, four as a starter.

Kish has made one pinch-hitting appearance and one start at DH since his Feb. 24 injury. But the outfield depth is paying dividends with JC transfers Jose Castaneda (.286, 8 RBIs) and Jeff Piaskowski (.385) playing well in recent starts.

Meanwhile, there will be some changes in the starting rotation.

Stephen Bryant (3-0, 1.48 ERA) will open the series, moving up from the No. 2 spot. The senior right-hander has won three consecutive decisions, allowing one earned run in 19á innings in that span. He has been named Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week twice in the last three weeks. He was an all-WAC second-team selection last year.

"He's been throwing very well," Trapasso said. "We're going to let him lead off (the series)."

Ricky Bauer (1-1, 4.37), who had been in the No. 1 spot, will move back a day. The senior right-hander, an all-WAC first-team pick last season, has not been up to the standards he established the past two seasons (11-9, 3.40). Bauer gave up four runs in 6¡ innings against Sacramento State and five runs (three earned) on seven hits in 2á innings in a 14-3 loss to Washington State.

Also moving up is JC transfer Justin Costi (1-2, 2.13), coming off an eight-inning outing, allowing a run on four hits in handing Louisiana Lafayette its first loss of the season on Saturday.

"He's just been throwing real well," Trapasso said of Costi.

Colby Summer, who had been the No. 3 starter, likely will pick up the Tuesday game against Winthrop. It is not as if Summer (1-0, 3.91) is struggling. It is more a reflection of the depth of the pitching staff, which has a 3.15 ERA.

"It's a difficult decision because all the guys have been throwing well," Trapasso said. "Bryant's throwing better than anyone right now. Rick (Bauer) has been the guy who hasn't thrown as well as he is capable of, but he's done (well) for three years. We've seen this before; he can come out of it."

Still, the four starters and even reliever Steven Wright (1-2, 0.98) will be in the mix for starting roles come conference play.

"Any combination of three of those five guys can start on the weekends," Trapasso said.

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