The depth of the University of Hawai'i softball team can be found in the number of contingency plans.

There is a backup plan if the Rainbow Wahine's best player, Tyleen Tausaga, is severely limited because of the second injury to her left knee in a six-month period.

There is another if Courtney Baughman or Kate Robinson fails to seize the No. 2 spot in the all-right-handed pitching rotation behind ace Justine Smethurst.

And yet others if shortstop Valana Manuma or second baseman Alana Power struggle.

"We have many options," said coach Bob Coolen, who hopes to explore them in the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic, which opens tomorrow.

The Rainbows solved one area when John Nakamura rejoined as an assistant coach. He "retired" at the end of the 2005 season.

The Rainbows lost two players from last season — catcher Kristi Yoshizawa, now the team's student manager, and reliever Paula Blanning.

Kaulana Gould moves from center field to catcher.

The Rainbows did not recruit a pitcher to replace Blanning. Instead, senior Jessica Morton, who collaborated on one of four perfect games last season, will be the primary reliever.

After competing on Australia's 23-and-under national team during the offseason, Smethurst is expected to improve on last season's performance (16-12, 1.99 earned-run average). She also threw two perfect games.

Coolen said Smethurst has added 2 or 3 mph to her riser, which she throws at up to 68 mph (the equivalent of a mid-90-mph fastball in baseball).

Coolen said Baughman was "hot and cold" as a freshman last season, never developing an out pitch. She has worked extensively on her screwball.

"That could be her strikeout pitch," Coolen said.

Coolen said the goal is for the No. 2 pitcher to reach 15 victories. Baughman was 9-5 last season.

Robinson, who threw a perfect game, is prepared to compete for the No. 2 spot. "We need her to emerge," Coolen said.

Robinson also doubles as the starting first baseman, replacing Tausaga.

Tausaga was picked as the preseason Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year after leading the Rainbows in hitting (.373), hits (59), doubles (12), home runs (10), RBIs (34) and slugging percentage (.639) in 2006. Tausaga will open this season as the designated player.

Last summer, she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. She fully recovered from that injury. But two weeks ago, she suffered a torn meniscus in the same knee while performing a shuttle drill.

Tausaga is a candidate for a medical hardship if she does not play in more than 20 percent of UH's games this year.

"I don't want to think about those options," said Coolen, who is counting on Tausaga to be the cleanup hitter.

Amanda Taualii, a freshman, is available as a power-hitting first baseman.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.