The University of Hawaii baseball team hopes its fever-hot starting pitching continues to be staff infectious.
In the recent four-game trip, the UH starting pitchers had two complete games, including Neil Uskali’s shutout, relinquished three walks in 35 innings, and produced an earned-run average of 1.64 and walks plus hits per nine innings of 0.97.
“When you’re pounding the (strike) zone and pitching ahead in the count and not walking guys, that’s usually conducive to a quality start of seven or more innings,” coach Mike Trapasso said.
Trapasso said he plans to go with the same rotation — Dominic DeMiero, Brendan Hornung, Uskali and then Jackson Rees — for the next two four-game series, beginning with Thursday’s opener against Sacred Heart at Les Murakami Stadium. Hornung and DeMiero were 1-2 in the rotation for the first two series, but switched spots last week to take advantage of the left-handed DeMiero’s matchup against Minnesota’s lefty-heavy lineup.
“Just from a days-rest standpoint, we’ll go with this order this weekend and next weekend,” Trapasso said.
Trapasso said he is trying to find work for the bullpen. Three relievers combined for three innings — none in stress situations — on the trip. After the ’Bows returned from Minnesota on Monday afternoon, several relievers threw bullpen sessions that evening.
“We still need to get some of these relievers out there and get them involved,” Trapasso said. “It’s just the way it goes. When your starters are doing well, you leave them out there. Who knows how it’ll go this weekend? The relievers need to be ready.”
For now, two potential starters — Colin Ashworth and Matt Richardson —will remain as relievers. Logan Pouelsen, who has been used at first base, is not in the immediate plans to pitch. Pouelsen is nearly a year removed from Tommy John surgery on his right (pitching) elbow. He recently experienced some tenderness in that arm, which is not unusual during a comeback. “If he throws later in the season, that’s great,” said Trapasso, noting Pouelsen is valued as a left-handed batter. “Right now, we’re focused on his rehab and building up the arm strength again.”
Trapasso, who returns from a scouting trip today, said he will have more information on first baseman Eric Ramirez’s availability for this coming series. Ramirez aggravated his left knee in Thursday’s game against Minnesota. “We’re definitely going to be more cautious on this one because he tweaked it,” Trapasso said.
