Here is a look at the seniors:

Ricky Bauer

Bauer will go down in the program's history as coach Mike Trapasso's first recruit.

"Rick's special because he was our first guy we signed," Trapasso said. "He's been here through our revitalization of this program. He's been a huge part of that."

Bauer suffered through the growing pains the program did in 2002, his freshman year and Trapasso's first season. But last year, Bauer enjoyed his best season, going 8-4 with a 3.60 ERA, garnering first-team all-WAC honors, a nice accomplishment when one considers the strength of WAC pitching headed by Rice's three first-round picks last season.

"That's saying a lot when you're on the all-WAC team when you're beating out some of those guys at Rice," Trapasso said.

Bauer was drafted in the 39th round by the Boston Red Sox out of Mid-Pacific Institute in 2001. But when Trapasso was hired to succeed Les Murakami, Bauer was intrigued with the coach's background in pitching. And after watching Bauer pitch in a summer tournament game, Trapasso was also intrigued by the slender youngster and offered him a scholarship.

Although Bauer was passed over in last year's draft, he hopes for a chance this time around. Trapasso said an organization with patience will benefit from Bauer's untapped potential.

"He's an interesting one in that I think if he's playing pro ball and someone would give him the opportunity to pitch on a regular basis and just stay with him for a couple of years, I think you'll see him develop arm strength and you'll see him pitching in the 90s (mph range)," Trapasso said.

If a pro career doesn't materialize, Bauer said he will return to school to finish his degree in sociology. He is a year shy of graduating.

"It will be sad (to leave), but I'm also looking forward to what's after college," Bauer said.

Schafer Magana

Along with Bauer, Magana is the only other senior who has been in the program since the Trapasso era began. He came by way of Dixie College, but ended up with a medical redshirt in 2002, giving him three years officially as a Rainbow.

Magana started as a utility infielder, but has emerged as the starting third baseman. He is among the team's leaders in batting at .288 and is second with 22 RBIs.

"You look at where he came from and where he is now and he has been a model of consistency for us," Trapasso said.

Magana, an art major, has made an art form of getting hit by pitches. He leads the team with nine plunks, usually from dropping his left arm into inside pitches. Of course, his tactics don't always work. He estimates he has been called back to the batter's box about six times when the umpire felt he leaned into a pitch.

"I try to do anything to get on base," he said. "I'll take one for the team, or whatever you want to call it. Sometimes (opposing catchers) get mad."

Even his teammates are amused.

"Sometimes, some of my teammates give me a hard time," Magana said.

Magana, who is from Utah, said he is about a semester shy of graduating. He plans to finish his degree at Brigham Young University because it's closer to his home. He wants to become a firefighter.

"He deserves all of the credit because he has just battled," Trapasso said. "He's gotten stronger and bigger. He just willed himself into a good hitter. He's forced us to put him in the lineup. I respect him for that and admire him for the work he's done."

Greg Kish

After two seasons at Oklahoma, Kish transferred to UH for the 2004 season and made an immediate impact, leading the team in batting at .358 and making the all-WAC first-team.

However, injuries (elbow and rib cage) have kept him in the dugout for the last month, putting a damper on his senior season. Still, Kish considers himself fortunate to be a Rainbow.

"It's really been enjoyable and a lot of fun," Kish said. "I couldn't imagine a better program. This is a great place to be compared to where I was (Oklahoma)."

Ironically, his transfer here sort of reunited him with Trapasso. While an assistant at Georgia Tech, Trapasso recruited Kish out of Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach, Calif. But Trapasso had to withdraw a recruiting visit when another player committed. When he became available, Trapasso was ready to take him for UH.

Kish, a co-captain along with Bauer, leaves his all on the field. He injured his ribs while diving for a fly ball during the San Jose State series in early April. He tried to play through the pain, but when the injury started affecting his breathing a week later at Nevada, he pulled himself out of a game.

"It was hurting so much I couldn't breathe," Kish recalled. "I had to stop."

He would like to play pro ball, but admits the injury doesn't make it likely. "That's why I tried to play with the pain," Kish said.

Trapasso is proud of the effort.

"I admire him for what he's been through this year," Trapasso said. "But I'm not convinced we've seen the last of him. We're being careful of getting back out there for us because he's been our team leader."

Kish is a business management major and will return to complete his degree by next year.

Stephen Bryant

Bryant came to UH last season from Feather River Community College and quickly established himself, going 8-4 with a 3.52 ERA to earn second-team all-WAC honors. This season he's developed into the team's No. 1 pitcher in a three-man rotation. Bryant is 6-3 with a 3.04 ERA with at least three more starts left. He has been named WAC Pitcher of the Week three times.

"I'd hate to think where we'd be without Stephen the last two years," Trapasso said. "He's been as consistent as the day is long. He's given us a great effort every single time out. He's one of the most competitive pitchers I've been around."

"It's a good baseball environment," Bryant said. "You couldn't ask for a better place, baseball-wise. I'm glad to be here."

Bryant hopes for a chance at pro ball and Trapasso hopes someone will take a chance on the 5-foot-10, 190-pound right-hander.

"His height is going to be a disadvantage to him in getting signed," Trapasso said. "But I hope it's going to happen for him because I know that he can be successful."

Bryant said he will return to complete his sociology degree, which he hopes to attain in a year. If baseball does not pan out, he wants to be in law enforcement.

Nate Thurber

After playing in 48 games last season following his transfer from Northeast Oklahoma A&M College, more than half of Thurber's senior season was spent on the bench. But he never lost his enthusiasm for the game or his teammates.

When Thurber wasn't playing, he cheered his teammates and worked hard in practice. When his time came to play, he was ready. Thuber's .304 batting average is third-best among starters and his .443 on-base percentage is second-highest.

"Thurbs has been our leader with Kish being injured," Trapasso said. "He emerged as our leader on the field and in the locker room. I'm happy to see him go out and get some big hits."

Thurber is thrilled that he was given an opportunity to play at the Division I level. The native of Riverside, Calif., said he has felt welcomed since he arrived here.

"I was real fortunate," he said. "Everything worked out. It's a great family atmosphere here. We're far away from home. This is like my second family over here."

Thurber plans to complete his sociology degree in about a year. He wants to become a Los Angeles County sheriff, specifically to search for missing persons.