Hawaii Winter Baseball returns to Les Murakami Stadium this season, but not to the Neighbor Islands.

The four-team, off-season developmental league announced its schedule for its eighth season, which runs Sept. 27 to Nov. 21. Games will be played primarily at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu, as well as 11 regular season games and the championship at Murakami Stadium. (See www.hawaiiwinterbaseball.com for the schedule.)

Because of field resurfacing construction last year, games were not played at Murakami Stadium with most played at Hans L'Orange. There also were six games played at Iron Maehara Stadium in Wailuku, Maui, and six at Wong Stadium in Hilo. But the league won't play on the Neighbor Islands this year.

"Last year, we wanted to give the players and coaches an opportunity to see the other side of Hawai'i," HWB president Hervy Kurisu said. "We also wanted to lay the ground work to have the Hilo Stars and (Maui) Stingrays come back (in the future). This year, with Les Murakami available, we decided to just stay on this island."

Kurisu added the league is considering increasing the number of games at Murakami from what it has now.

"Fans might not want to drive to Hans because of the economic times," said Kurisu, citing the rising gas prices.

The same four teams are back: the defending champion North Shore Honu, West Oahu CaneFires, Waikiki BeachBoys and Honolulu Sharks. The league will announce coaches and players in the coming months.

Season tickets for games at both sites are $60 for adults, $80 for senior citizens, military personnel, college students with identification and students ages 13 to 18, and $60 for children ages 4 to 12. Season ticket package for the 12 games at Les Murakami Stadium only are half-price of the complete package. For information, call Jim Koishigawa at 587-7067.