In a cost-cutting measure reflective of the financial crisis, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association will play doubleheaders in baseball and softball starting this season.

League baseball coordinator Glenn Nitta said the doubleheaders will reduce expenses for renting buses. An average bus rental ranges from $140 to $150 per roundtrip, according to the OIA.

The OIA, which plays a double round-robin, will play 10 regular season games over six weekends. There are two weekends in which SATs will be administered, so only single games will be played on those days, Nitta said. Those would be the only weeks when there would be weekday games. All of the doubleheaders will be played on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. with each team taking turns being the designated "home" team. There will be a 30-minute break between games.

Postponements will be made up during weekdays.

"The focal point will be on the pitching staff," said Nitta, Mililani's athletic director and former baseball coach. "They'll have to develop more than two pitchers."

Perennial contenders appear to have taken the news in stride.

"That's a plus for us," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said. "We usually face everybody's ace."

When games were played on weekdays and weekends, it was not uncommon for frontrunners to face the top pitcher of each team.

"My assessment is at least we'll be facing some No. 2s (second pitcher in the rotation)," 'Aiea coach Ryan Kato said.

Both coaches agreed teams will have to develop pitching depth, which should prepare them for postseason. Kato added there also is a mental aspect in that players will now have a week to dwell on their past game while preparing for the next, instead of the usual three or four days between games.

Ishigo said playing doubleheaders beats another alternative.

"The state needs money," Ishigo said. "Anyway we can do it without cutting a sport is always all right with us coaches."

Nitta said the baseball and softball coordinators adjusted the schedules for schools that have baseball and softball diamonds sharing a common outfield. He said if one sport is playing at home, the other will be on the road.

The OIA baseball season starts March 7. Practices start Monday.