Every home series, the University of Hawaii baseball team has a promotion known as “fun day.”
This season, it appears every day is a fun day for the ’Bows.
In the locker room before each game, the ’Bows sing and dance, most recently to the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” popularized by the Miami Heat’s LeBron James-led title run in 2013.
“We don’t really have a speaker in the locker room,” relief pitcher Colin Ashworth said, “so we do a little a cappella. … It’s more like a war cry to get everyone pumped up and riled up to go out and win a game.”
UH BASEBALL
>> Who: Hawaii vs. Loyola Marymount
>> Where: Les Murakami Stadium
>> Schedule: 6:35 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
>> TV: Thursday, Friday on Spectrum Sports
>> Radio: Thursday on KHKA, 1500-AM, rest of series on KKEA, 1420-AM
>> Live streaming: BigWest.TV
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The UH player who hits a home run gets to wear the “dinger chain” until the end of the inning or until another ’Bow hits a homer, whichever occurs first.
The chain originally was used to secure second baseman Dustin Demeter’s moped. Third baseman Ethan Lopez told Demeter: “I don’t think it’s going to keep anyone from stealing it. We’re going to turn it into a dinger chain. Hopefully, we can get a lot of guys wearing that.”
Outfielder Adam Fogel has worn the chain twice this season.
“We definitely stole (the idea) from another team,” Fogel said, smiling. “I’m not going to name names. It works for us.”
In the dugout, there is a miniature toilet, which was donated by motivational speaker Jim “Skelly” Skelton.
“It’s like a metaphor,” Lopez said. “You flush the bad at-bats. You flush the bad innings. It’s such a game of next pitch you have to be ready. A pitcher could have a bad inning and he goes in and flushes it and it never happened.”
The ’Bows credit the upbeat atmosphere to coach Mike Trapasso, whose stoic public persona belies a fun-loving side.
“We’re serious, but you’ve gotta have fun,” Trapasso said. “It’s (the players) having a good time and trying to make college baseball fun. We work too hard and they put too much time and effort into this game to where, if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.”
Fogel, a sophomore, said: “We’re building off last year. The senior leadership carried over. That’s a big part of it. It’s easier to play. It’s always fun to be with your friends out there. We’re constantly hanging out after games as a squad, keeping it loose. That’s the most important thing.”
Trapasso also allowed Ashworth, who can play the guitar and piano, to choose the music played between innings at Les Murakami Stadium. “He’s the minister of music on this team,” Trapasso said.
Ashworth said: “I try to inspire music in everyone’s life. Music has been a big part of my life. … Whenever I can incorporate music to the baseball field — have my two worlds colliding — that’s when I’m at my happiest.”
Ashworth created a 200-song playlist for Aaron Custodio, the stadium sound engineer. His favorite is John Hiatt’s “Slow Turning,” which was featured in the baseball movie, “The Rookie.”
What has drawn the most buzz this season was inspired by the program’s past. This past fall, Trapasso looked at Murakami’s jersey and orange-billed cap in the trophy case in the stadium named after the former UH coach.
“I took my phone out, took a picture of it, sent it to Under Armour and said, ‘I want this,’” Trapasso recalled. “They sent me a mockup. It was perfect. I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ The players really love” the retro uniforms and caps.
Trapasso underestimated the popularity.
“I have been crushed with requests for the hats,” Trapasso said. “I made a mistake and ordered enough just for the team to get us through the season. We saw right away, they’re a hit. They’re under lock and key in my office. I only have nine left.”