The Western Athletic Conference coaches' choice for Pitcher of the Year this season is not expected to be ready for next week's season opener.

Hawai'i senior right-hander Jared Alexander, one of three Rainbows picked by conference coaches for the preseason All-WAC team, threw off the mound Monday as he continues to rehabilitate a tender elbow. He has not pitched since May 2, when he beat Sacramento State, 8-3. He went five innings, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out six.

"He threw off the mound yesterday for the first time, so that's a good sign," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

The Rainbows — picked to finish fourth in the seven-team WAC, while receiving one first-place vote — open the season Feb. 20 with a four-game series against nationally ranked UC Irvine. The Anteaters, who took third last season in the Big West, are ninth in Baseball America's preseason ranking.

No timetable has been set for Alexander's return. Trapasso said Alexander will be eased back with a limited pitch count.

"Our hope is that he'll be back at 100 percent by the WAC season," Trapasso said.

Alexander missed the New Mexico State series, a nonconference series against Utah Valley and the WAC tournament last year. But WAC coaches obviously liked what they saw when he did pitch. Alexander was 5-1 in the WAC with a 3.99 earned-run average. One of his wins was a 4-0, complete game against eventual WAC and College World Series champion Fresno State.

Alexander wasn't the only Rainbow receiving preseason honors. Senior catcher Landon Hernandez and sophomore right-hander Josh Slaats also were named to the preseason conference team. Slaats, who pitched in the Cape Cod League over the summer, was selected as a relief pitcher.

Hernandez was an All-WAC second-team selection last season. He hit .301 with 23 RBIs in conference play.

Meanwhile, WAC coaches picked Fresno State to repeat. The Bulldogs received five first-place votes, although one coach gave them a third-place vote. (Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.) San Jose State was second and received one first-place vote. Nevada was picked third, followed by Hawai'i, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech and Sacramento State.

Fresno State junior third baseman Tommy Mendonca was picked as the Player of the Year. The Bulldogs led all WAC teams with four all-league selections. Joining Mendonca are outfielders Gavin Hedstrom and Steve Detwiler, and shortstop Danny Muno, the WAC Freshman of the Year last season.

Nevada, New Mexico State and UH each had three selections, while Sacramento State and San Jose State had one each.

NOTES

Baseball America Online is previewing college baseball this week. Future UH opponent Coastal Carolina (March 26 to 28 at Les Murakami Stadium) is picked to win the Big South.

The new seats at Murakami Stadium are all green, so ticket descriptions are different this year. Individual game tickets are on sale now. Lower and mid-level seats (formerly blue and orange seats, respectively) are $8, the same as last season. General admission for the upper level is $6, down $1 from last season. Senior citizen and student tickets for the upper level remain at $5 and $3, respectively.