The current University of Hawaii baseball team got out of Saturday’s alumni game unscathed after what coach Mike Trapasso described as "a clean game" and a 10-0 win. That’s good news, since UH wants everyone ready when the season opens Friday against Oregon.

It was a little rougher, though, for at least one of the former Rainbows. Howard Dashefsky gave it the old college try, playing catcher for the first time in at least a couple of decades by his recollection.

"I joked with Sam (Spangler) that he wouldn’t make it out of the first inning," Dashefsky said of the alumni team’s starting pitcher, who is also his colleague at KHON, where Dash is a news anchor and Spangler does sports.

As the voice of the Rainbows, Don Robbs, would say, bachi.

A pitch in the dirt hit Dashefsky’s exposed index finger, breaking the nail — and a bone. He tried to stay in the game.

"But then when I caught a high pitch (and) blood splattered all over the ump’s face. He said, ‘Sorry, you gotta go.’ "

Dash ended up at an ER getting stitches and "a good story to tell."

He will be back at work Monday, but "My career as a hand model is in danger."

Trapasso got a look at the ump’s bloody face. "I thought I was watching an episode of ‘Dexter,’" he said.

Chris Walz pitched the last inning for the alumni and hit two batters.

"Coach Trap told me to get them ready for the season, so I plunked a couple of ’em," Walz said, laughing.

Although his pitches were wild, Walz and Tommy Heffernan were again in control in the sense of organizing the alumni and getting 30 former Rainbows to participate in one way or another. This event used to be a big deal. After bottoming out a few years ago, the efforts of Walz, Heffernan, Carl Furutani, Sam Kakazu and others have resulted in a resurgence of interest.

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong wasn’t expected to show up. He did, though, and threw the first pitch before wishing the current ‘Bows good luck and making a quick exit before someone could talk him into playing a few innings.

Sophomore Marcus Doi was another wise holdout. He was still a bit tender from offseason surgery after missing most of his freshman year. The last thing Trapasso wanted was for Doi to hurt himself again before the season even starts.

Junior right-hander Tyler Brashears’ live fastball was impressive, and the Rainbows lineup with six new players is promising.

There’s a basketball alumni game next week; Walz played hoops at UH from 1990 to ’92 and would participate in that, too, except that he starts a new job this month in guest services for the San Diego Padres.

"I’ll come back for the double next year," he said. "I talked to Artie (Wilson, who also played UH baseball and basketball) about it. That would be fantastic.

"We’re all stewards of this program," Walz added. "It’s a special thing to be able to say you wore this jersey."

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.