With a cast dotted with pros, former pros and players less than a year removed from their last season of baseball eligibility, the Alumni might be at its strongest in recent memory when they take on the 2008 University of Hawai'i Rainbows 1 p.m. tomorrow at Les Murakami Stadium.

"By looking at the Alumni team, shoots, there's going to be more talent we'll be playing against on Saturday in the other dugout than maybe in a couple of our series we'll play during the course of this year," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "It should be great. It should be a lot of fun."

Among Alumni scheduled to play are catcher Matt Inouye (White Sox), infielder Isaac Omura (Athletics), third baseman Justin Frash (Athletics), first baseman Kris Sanchez (Mariners) and pitcher Mark Rodrigues (Indians). Former pros include Kenny Harrison, Tim Montgomery, Paul Ah Yat, Matt Apana and Clary Carlsen.

The Rainbows open the season Feb. 15 when they host a three-game series against UH-Hilo. The two officially start the NCAA Division I season, the first with a uniform starting date. The rest of the country begins Feb. 22; the UH teams have an exemption to start earlier.

Meanwhile, the Rainbows (34-25 in 2007) want to get a look at as many players possible. Because the pitching staff is already paced out, Matt Daly, the projected Friday starter, Jayson Kramer, Nicholas Rhodes and Harrison Kuroda are not expected to pitch tomorrow. The four will pitch in a scrimmage today. Among those scheduled to pitch against the Alumni are JC transfer right-hander Jared Alexander, 6-foot-5 freshman left-hander Josh Slaats and freshman right-hander Joey Parsons.

"But I'm going to move some other guys up as well," Trapasso said. "So we'll pretty much have everybody else available."

Trapasso was uncertain who would start but it would be one he felt needed to get 80 to 90 pitches, the pitch-count ceiling at this juncture of the season.

All eligible position players are expected to play. The Rainbows lost three of their four starting infielders when their eligibility ran out. Fifth-year senior Jon Hee is the lone returnee at second base. He'll play alongside freshman shortstop Greg Garcia.

Other returning starters or those who had considerable playing time include outfielders Brandon Haislet, Evan Zimny and Derek DuPree, corner infielders Kevin Macdonald and Vinnie Catricala, and catcher Landon Hernandez.

TURF UPDATE

Cost of the newly installed artificial surface at Murakami Stadium was just over $1 million.

In an e-mail from UH interim athletic director Carl Clapp, the materials and construction cost approximately $1,020,000. Gov. Lingle approved $2 million for the stadium improvement project.

Clapp said the cost does not include the tarps for the mound and home plate area, as well as a cart that will be used to groom the field. The tarps are used to cover the dirt areas from rain. Clapp estimated about $800,000 will be used to replace seats, which are the original ones from when the stadium was built 25 years ago. There is no timetable for replacing the seats.

There are other issues regarding the stadium. There are some openings in the roof on the first-base side of the grandstands. According to Clapp, UH's facilities department is arranging to make repairs, which are not considered an athletic department item.

Other repairs, such as non-functioning sinks and wash towel dispensers held together by duct tape in the men's restrooms, will be addressed "through other avenues," Clapp noted in the e-mail.

There is an eight-year warranty for the artificial grass by Domo Sports & Leisure Turf. Besides baseball, other events can be held on the turf, but Clapp says the school will be selective because the use should be in accordance with the manufacturer's warranty.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.