‘Bows show they can win, but defense needs work

That new scoreboard can’t get to Les Murakami Stadium soon enough.

The old one had the University of Hawaii leading Albany 26-5 Sunday. It was an error (and we’ve seen enough of those already, haven’t we?).

But the way UH belted the ball, it didn’t seem out of the question the ‘Bows might actually circle the bases that many times.

Maybe they CAN hit, after all … certainly better than in the season-opening series against Oregon the week prior, and double-certainly better than last year, when even the slugging was under .300 and the on-base barely above it.

We now know for sure the 2014 edition can win. It did it four times, without losing, against Albany. The Not-So-Great Danes were shoveling snow last week; this week they were being swept.

In Sunday’s 12-6 series finale, UH pounded out 14 hits and brought the early-season batting average up to .264. That might not seem like a figure to get too excited about, but it’s decent in this small-ball era of college baseball, as well as the spaciousness and thick air at the Les.

Yes, Albany is no Oregon. But UH kicked away a game or maybe two that it could have or even should have won against the nationally ranked Ducks.

The UH defense made more plays this week, but so far can still mostly be described as shoddy. The Rainbows have committed 22 errors in eight games (three Sunday), including five by shortstop Austin Wobrock, who had just one all of last season.

He appeared back to 2013 defensive form Sunday, and believes he has turned the corner.

"I think I’m back to my old ways," Wobrock said.

Hopefully that doesn’t apply to hitting, and that 0-for-4 Sunday that dropped him to .296 signals he’s headed for .236 again.

I don’t think so; he’s a tougher out now, as evidenced by his nine-pitch strikeout that ended the first inning. Although it stranded two runners, it was a tough at-bat, and helped wear down talented Albany starter Stephen Woods. The 33-pitch inning produced just one UH run, but went a long way to forcing the Great Danes to their worn out bullpen.

"A typical Sunday, fourth game of the series," Trapasso said.

And one UH won largely because of its deeper pitching staff — and, other than the first inning, cashing in heavily on offensive opportunities.

The appearance of hard-throwing lefty Andrew Jones was a huge boost, as Jones efficiently notched a five-out save that included inducing a double play with the game still in question in the eighth.

Jones was one of the three key members of the pitching staff lost to injury for all or almost all of 2013.

Another Jones, Juliene, gives the lineup a boost and could be UH’s best offensive middle infielder since some kid named Kolten. Kalei Hanawahine and Kaeo Aliviado are tough as table-setters at the top of the order, which is where they belong.

We can better gauge this team’s potential against Pepperdine this week. The Waves are between the Ducks and the Great Danes in talent.

At least for today, the .500 record looks pretty good — especially considering UH didn’t get to this many wins last year until March 21, when it was 4-15.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. Read his blog at staradvertiser.com/quickreads.