Dark clouds hovered over Les Murakami Stadium for the Hawai'i baseball team's first practice for the 2007 season.

Not all of them were weather-related.

The Rainbows are counting on left-handed pitcher Mark Rodrigues for this season. But he is not allowed to practice with the team until paperwork petitioning for a sixth season of eligibility clears, he said.

"We're hoping to have it by the end of the week," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

Although it should have been known by school administrators since last season that Rodrigues needed to petition for a medical redshirt after missing the 2004 and 2005 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery, papers weren't filed until last month. Trapasso declined further comment on the matter.

Bill Bryant, UH assistant athletics director for compliance, did not immediately return a phone message.

The 2001 Kaua'i High graduate pitched at Los Medanos College (Pittsburg, Calif.) for two seasons before transferring to UH. But he sat out the 2004 and 2005 seasons recovering from the elbow surgery. He used a regular redshirt year for the 2004 season with 2005 counting as his third year. When he pitched last year, he was technically a third-year senior (although he was listed as a junior on rosters). A petition is needed for a sixth season in a medical hardship case, which applies to Rodrigues.

Meanwhile, since the end of last season, Rodrigues has been doing everything to prepare as if he were eligible, except that he can't do it with the team. Last year was a breakthrough for Rodrigues, finally getting to pitch for the Rainbows. He went 4-2 with a 4.46 earned run average. He made 15 appearances, 12 of them starts.

Rodrigues pitched for the Eau Claire (Wis.) Express of the Northwoods League during the summer, logging 55 innings, he said. Before heading home, he stopped in Las Vegas to visit his brother, whose girlfriend is a physical therapist. Rodrigues said he was introduced to some new stretching exercises for his shoulder.

"It added two, three miles (per hour) to my fastball," said Rodrigues, adding he is up to 88 to 90 now.

While Rodrigues may be healthy, returning starting center fielder Derek DuPree is recovering from a knee injury sustained in a mo-ped mishap over the summer. A hand-brake handle broke and he felt he was about to tip over while going about 15 mph. He tried to use his legs to stop and hurt his knee in the process. In August, he had an allograft performed, where a medial collateral ligament from a cadaver was used to replace his torn MCL. He started rehab the next day, he said.

"I can run about 60 percent," he said. "It's mental. I could probably get up to 80 percent, but my mind just won't let me do it. Hopefully, in the next three weeks or so I'll be pretty close."

Speed is an integral part of DuPree's game.

"His game is defined by his speed and quickness: running down balls in the outfield, stealing bases, beating balls out at the plate, laying down a bunt," Trapasso said.

DuPree, a redshirt junior, is coming off his best season, batting .313. He hit his first career home run, which was a grand slam, against Nevada. He also made the all-tournament team at the NCAA Corvallis (Ore.) Regional.

"It's very disappointing," he said. "I guess it's just something that happens. I'd like to start playing by the middle of February."

He is able to work out with the team and he can take batting practice.

Not on the team this year after two injury-riddled seasons is left-handed pitcher Myles Ioane. He said he is still feeling discomfort from a fractured elbow. The Waiakea High graduate is back on the Big Island, where he said he is working. He said he might continue his education at UH-Hilo.

Also out is right-handed pitcher Rich Olsen, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery he had near the end of last season. Trapasso said Olsen has been doing fine.

"Olsen is way ahead of schedule," said Trapasso, adding he could be back by midseason.

Trapasso said he will leave it up to Olsen if he wants to return this season. If Olsen sits out this season, UH will have to file a petition for a sixth season for next year.

NOTES

Season ticket prices: Blue and orange levels $185, plus $80 premium seating fee*; Red level adult $145; Red level senior citizens $120; Red level students (ages 4 to 18) $100; Red level UH students $100; UH Manoa Maniacs (UH students only, first two rows, section JJ) $95

*Portion of fee is tax-deductible students only, first two rows, section JJ) $95

*Portion of fee is tax-deductible

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.