The good thing about next week's Western Athletic Conference tournament is that it gives teams a second chance.

That's why there is still hope for the eight seniors on the Hawai'i baseball team, which closes out the regular season starting tomorrow night in a three-game series against Fresno State at Les Murakami Stadium. Win the tournament, they're off to the regionals. From there, anything can happen. In other words, they hope the highlight of their UH careers is yet to come.

Senior relief pitcher Tyler Davis said the highlight of his was making the regionals last year.

"But I hope the highlight of my career hasn't happened yet and that we make it to Omaha this year," Davis said in reference to the city in Nebraska where the College World Series is held.

Seven of the eight seniors are relative newcomers to the program having transferred from junior colleges. Infielders Justin Frash, Eli Christensen and Kris Sanchez, outfielder Jorge Franco and pitchers, Davis, Jeff Soskin and Ian Harrington all came over two years ago. Only starting pitcher Mark Rodrigues spent the equivalent time of a freshman recruit having been in the program four years after transferring from Los Medanos JC. Tommy John elbow surgery kept him on the sidelines his first two years of eligibility.

Rainbows coach Mike Trapasso said this class of seniors is special because it helped get the program to its first regional since 1993 last year.

"These guys really put the exclamation point on our building this program, getting us in the postseason (and) the top 25 last year," Trapasso said. "A lot of success we've had the last couple years goes to them."

Besides helping return the program to prominence, the seniors have helped themselves. Six are a year or less away from picking up their diploma;. Rodrigues and Harrington graduated this semester. They missed graduation because the team was in Nevada last weekend.

"But we still have our senior day," Harrington said of Monday's farewell game. "That's like our commencement."

ELI CHRISTENSEN

Affectionately known as "Pops" because at 25 years old, the shortstop is the elder statesman on the team. He spent two years on a Mormon church mission before playing ball at Salt Lake City Community College, where he transferred from two years ago.

Christensen has provided a steady glove up the middle and a hot bat down the stretch for the second consecutive year. He was an all-WAC second-team selection last season.

The Utah native said the best thing about Hawai'i is "probably playing for the fans and being on a good ball club."

The finance major is targeting next spring to graduate.

TYLER DAVIS

The transfer from Santa Barbara (Calif.) Community College started establishing himself as a reliable reliever when WAC play started last year. His 0.98 ERA in conference earned him first team WAC honors. He has been the team's closer this season.

The right-hander hopes a pro career beckons, otherwise he plans to graduate with a degree in sociology in December.

His best memories of playing here are his teammates.

"Everyone gets along off the field," he said. "We're good friends and these friendships will last forever."

JORGE FRANCO

Although his playing time was limited to spot starts, pinch hitting and defense in the outfield, coming to Hawai'i helped Franco grow as a person. The transfer from Los Angeles Harbor JC admitted to being homesick his first year.

"But then after meeting the guys, it felt like home," the native of Gardena, Calif., said of his stay in Hawai'i. "It's a great place to be at."

He has grown to like it here so much that he plans to look for work here after he graduates with an economics degree in December.

JUSTIN FRASH

The transfer from Santa Barbara (Calif.) JC made a smooth transition to Division I. While it is tough enough to draw as many walks as one strikes out, the left-handed hitting third baseman's ratio is 47 walks to 24 strikeouts. His .346 batting average (and .359 last year) says he isn't a passive hitter either. The economics major (Winter '07) hopes those skills will lead to a career in pro ball.

Besides baseball, Frash said living here has helped him as a person.

"Out here, I was the minority," he said. "It was cool meeting different people. (Junior second baseman) Jon Hee is one of my best friends now. It's so true what they say about you come to college and meet your best friends."

IAN HARRINGTON

The left-handed pitcher, who transferred from Bellevue (Wash.) JC, has won 16 games and counting in his two seasons. But it is the experience of playing here that isn't reflected in his stats.

"I really felt like I grew as a person here," he said. "It's a great experience, coming from Seattle. I learned so much about the culture here and being away from home."

Harrington graduated with a degree in sociology. He was drafted in 2004 by the Baltimore Orioles after his first season at Bellevue. He is hoping to get picked again. If not, he plans to pursue a career in law enforcement.

MARK RODRIGUES

The left-handed pitcher grew up a Rainbows fan, watching games on K5 from Koloa, Kaua'i. So it was a dream come true when he finally got to don the Rainbows jersey last season.

"Staying home was big, being close to my family," he said. "Playing on the team was quite an opportunity."

Although he could not play for two years as he rehabilitated his elbow, Rodrigues didn't waste the time off the field. He obtained his sociology degree this past semester.

Drafted twice already — once out of Kaua'i High in 2001 and in 2002 out of Los Medanos — Rodrigues hopes for another opportunity in next month's draft.

Rodrigues is only the sixth baseball player to win the school's prestigious Jack Bonham Award, which is given annually to the top male and female senior athletes who exemplify the ideals of athletic excellences, academic achievement, public service, leadership and character.

KRIS SANCHEZ

After a frustrating first year hampered by a hamstring injury early in the season, the JC transfer from Central Arizona returned this season with a scalding bat that has led to two WAC Hitter of the Week awards. Entering the weekend, he leads the team in a number of offensive categories. The finance major is five classes shy of a degree, which he will obtain whether it's delayed by a pro career or not.

But for the left-handed hitting first baseman, who leads the team with 10 home runs and 63 RBIs, baseball was just a part of his experience in Hawai'i.

"We've built strong relationships," he said. "When we're at home, we're always doing something together whether it's just hanging out at somebody's house or going to the beach. We're always together."

JEFF SOSKIN

Although the left-handed pitcher's playing time was limited, the JC transfer from Chabot College said he still enjoyed his stay.

"It's been great, living in Hawai'i, going to school here," said the native of Alameda, Calif. "The spirit of aloha is wonderful. The camaraderie of the team, the diligence of everyone's hard work has been great."

The sociology major plans to graduate in December, but is looking to attend graduate school near his home to study marine biology.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.