Squier, ‘Bows stop alumni

A record number of alumni came together to give the Hawaii baseball team a bit of a challenge Saturday afternoon.

In the end, youth won out as the Rainbows scored three times in the eighth inning to pull away for a 6-1 victory in the alumni game at Les Murakami Stadium.

Sophomore Scott Squier pitched seven shutout innings and first baseman Marc Flores hit a two-run double for Hawaii, which opens its season on Friday against No. 6 Oregon.

"It was a blast to be out on the field playing with these guys," said Squier, who allowed four hits and struck out five, throwing 83 pitches.

Squier is in contention to start Friday’s opener, with junior Jarrett Arakawa out for the season with a torn labrum.

Lawrence Chew allowed a run on two hits in the eighth inning, and Jon Flinn worked the ninth, getting Sam Spangler to foul out to third to end the game.

"We wanted to get (Squier) up to 90 pitches to build his pitch count and get him ready," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "I don’t think as a team we played very well, but we got our work in. We’ll get some other pitchers who have to get to 90 pitches some work (today) and then gear up for the opener Friday."

With alumni dating all the way back to the mid-1970s, the game had a different feel this year.

The visiting bullpen was crowded with nearly 60 alumni — many returning to play in the game for the first time.

After it was over, the group gathered in the Bud Light bullpen out in right field to hang out with family and friends and enjoy live music.

"It was an amazing showing of alums and I can’t thank those guys enough," Trapasso said. "These players here that were wearing green today are playing in this great stadium in front of great crowds because of what those guys over there in white T-shirts did before them.

"I can’t thank Chris (Walz) enough — him and Tommy (Heffernan) and Carl (Furutani) for leading the charge."

Pitcher Matt Sisto, who was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the MLB Draft last summer, kept the alumni from getting shut out.

Tied for second in school history with 55 career starts, Sisto never had an official at-bat in his four-year UH career.

In his only trip to the plate Saturday, he delivered a leadoff single and scored from third on a sacrifice fly to left.

"We weren’t getting shut out — that’s not acceptable," Sisto said. "Yeah, I left (third base) early, but (catcher) Alan (Baldwin) was blocking the plate and I had to score."

Eight different players pitched for the alumni, including Scott Karl, who won 54 games over six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies and Anaheim Angels.

UH started six newcomers: Kalei Hanawahine in center, Adam Hurley in left, Flores at first, Austin Wobrock at shortstop, Punahou alumnus Tyler Young at catcher and freshman Andre Real at designated hitter.

The Rainbows didn’t put the game away until the eighth inning on a two-run single by Conner George and an RBI single by Max Duval.

Current pros Breland Almadova, Jon Hee and Kolten Wong started at the top of the lineup for the alumni.

Sisto and Blair Walters, who will pitch in the minors this season, worked an inning apiece, showing off the recent influx of talent that has helped Hawaii win conference titles in two of the past three years.

"(Trap) does a good job of getting guys to the next level," said Hee, who spent most of last season at Triple-A Pawtucket in the Red Sox’s minor league system. "There’s a lot of talent out here and you’re starting to see it at the big league level."

Five UH alums have been invited to spring training this year. Pitcher Steven Wright (Red Sox), catcher/designated hitter David Freitas (A’s), shortstop Greg Garcia (Cardinals), Wong (Cardinals) and third baseman/first baseman/left fielder Vinnie Catricala (Mariners) will all report in the next week.