Maybe, before they introduce the University of Hawaii baseball team at next season’s opener, the fans ought to stand up and clap for themselves. 

And the players and coaches should join in, too.

It would be a much deserved ovation because it is a rare place in college baseball where the ticket numbers are ranked in the Top 25 and the home team isn’t.

In fact, Les Murakami Stadium was one of just two places where a team with a losing record (21-32) this season finished among the national leaders in attendance. 

The other was Mississippi State’s Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium. 

And, let’s face it, that hardly counted. I mean, what else is there to do in Starkville (population: 24,775) — tongue-in-cheek referred to as “StarkVegas” — during the baseball season? 

Certainly not as much as there is here, where the Rainbow Warriors’ games are often shown on television.

Yet, the final Division I annual baseball ticket averages, reported Tuesday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, ranked UH 16th at 3,265 per game, based upon tickets distributed. 

UH was ranked 18th for total attendance, which included the postseason for schools that hosted conference tournaments or NCAA regional and super regional playoff games. 

The average attendance was a three-year high for the ’Bows and a point of pride as the highest among schools west of Texas. In the process UH out-drew even Big West champion Cal State Fullerton (1,998), which is College World Series bound.  

“I was very pleased with the attendance numbers,” said athletic director David Matlin, a former administrator for the Houston Astros. “I think people in Hawaii obviously really enjoy their baseball and, I think, we had a lot of competitive games and an exciting product. “

The ’Bows’ six-game conference winning streak and best Big West finish (12-12) in three seasons of membership boosted the box office. The resulting $419,620 in ticket revenue being no small matter at the financially-challenged school.

Playing a competitive schedule year in and year has helped bring fans to Murakami Stadium.

“Obviously, as the team continues to improve, there is more upside there,” Matlin said.

Now it just has to be realized. That, then, is Job One for the near term, improving on this year’s fifth-place finish by giving the loyal legion of followers a team that can get to the postseason and contend for conference championships.

It has been five seasons since UH last appeared in an NCAA regional and a lot longer since the ’Bows last claimed to lead the nation in average attendance (1992) or total attendance (1986).

The growth in college baseball stadiums — seven schools averaged bigger crowds than UH can shoehorn into 4,312-seat Murakami Stadium — means UH is unlikely to lead in total attendance again. But a winner is something UH could really celebrate.  

DRAWING A CROWD
2015 average attendance

Source: NCBWA/Wichita State.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.