Although relegated to primarily late-inning defense or pinch-hitting duties, Waylen Sing Chow is enjoying the best of both worlds in Reno, Nev.

The 2007 Kamehameha Schools graduate returns home this weekend as a reserve outfielder for the Nevada Wolf Pack, who will play a Western Athletic Conference series against Hawai'i at Les Murakami Stadium.

"I'm excited," Sing Chow said in a telephone interview after practice yesterday. "It will definitely be good to play in front of family and friends."

When Sing Chow was looking for college, he wanted to find a place where he could study to become a physical therapist. If he could continue playing baseball, too, that would be even better. After consulting with his high school coaches, Vern Ramie and assistant Al Kam, he narrowed his choices to three, he said.

"Southern Utah and Portland were among them based on what I wanted out of school," Sing Chow recalled. "After I looked at the school, baseball was the second thing I looked at."

Still, baseball was no guarantee for Sing Chow, an Advertiser second-team All-State outfielder as a senior. He had to walk on and try out during the fall at Nevada. But the good news came sometime after Thanksgiving, when he was told he made the team.

Sing Chow, a reserve outfielder, has played in 23 games, starting in two. He is hitting .238 with one RBI. He has seven walks and has struck out only twice. Despite limited playing time, he enjoys his role.

"I'm fine with it, being able to contribute to the team in any way possible," Sing Chow said. "We've been playing good so far. I'm fine with my job."

The Wolf Pack arrive tomorrow with the best overall record among WAC teams at 21-14. At 8-4 in the conference, they are in third place, a game behind first-place Fresno State and a half-game behind Sacramento State. They lead the Rainbows (8-8) by two games, making this series crucial for both teams.

Besides reuniting with family and friends when he returns, Sing Chow also will get to see his former teammate and classmate from Kamehameha. Pitcher John Worthington is redshirting this season for the Rainbows.

Playing in Reno, Sing Chow has had to adjust to a new climate. Twice games have been canceled by snow. The Wolf Pack just swept a four-game non-conference series from Utah Valley State at Peccole Park, the campus ballpark.

"It was weird," Sing Chow said. "This past weekend was 78 degrees and we were playing Utah Valley State. I woke up (yesterday) morning and it was 32 degrees."

It "warmed" to 50 by the afternoon, when the team held workouts, he said. But being away from home in a different environment is part of the life experience he wanted.

"The weather is a lot different, a lot colder," he said. "But it's collegiate baseball, something I've always wanted to play. It's a new experience, but fun at the same time."

NOTE: Sing Chow is among four players from Hawai'i on WAC teams. Infielder Taylor Watanabe ('Aiea 2003) and catcher Brett Tanigawa (Moanalua 2003) play for Sacramento State, which plays here May 2 to 4. Also, infielder Brett Hasegawa ('Iolani 2006) is redshirting this season at San Jose State.