The Hawaii baseball team’s once-promising season concludes with a three-game road series beginning today against UC Santa Barbara.
If the Rainbow Warriors sweep the series, they would achieve their first winning Big West season in six years of membership. The ’Bows are 26-22 overall and 10-11 in the Big West.
“It’s been very frustrating the last month,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “When we were playing really well, the pitching staff got decimated.”
In late April, the ’Bows were 7-5 and chasing a title. But then Neil Uskali, Dominic DeMiero and Logan Pouelsen were determined to be unavailable to pitch because of arm ailments. At the time, they had combined for 29 of the ’Bows’ 36 starts.
Since then, Pouelsen has pitched in relief.
DeMiero, who has not pitched since April 22, was a consideration as today’s starting pitcher. But he was sick on Wednesday, and did not travel with the team on the bus ride from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Kash Koltermann is expected to start against the Gauchos today.
Uskali is considering surgery to repair an elbow injury. Freshman Cade Smith, who has started six games, probably will not pitch this weekend while recovering from an injury to his oblique muscle.
“The guys are hanging in,” Trapasso said. “It’s obviously been a shame what’s transpired the last four, five weeks. The guys who have been healthy have been giving their best.”
The ’Bows have allowed 3.29 walks per game, ranking 36th out of 297 Division I teams. In 2017, the ’Bows led the nation in fewest walks per game (2.25).
“We’re still not throwing enough strikes for me,” Trapasso said. “When you keep it in perspective, we’re throwing more than most.”
Jackson Rees, a right-handed junior who is eligible for next month’s Major League Baseball Draft, said he is hopeful for a strong finish.
“This trip is pretty important to me,” said Rees, who will pitch on Saturday. “I always like to end things on a strong note. I’d like to make a statement for this final game and give our seniors a nice little hurrah.”
Center fielder Dylan Vchulek did not play this past Sunday after hitting the outfield wall while chasing a fly ball on Saturday. After being in the concussion protocol, he expects to be cleared to play this series.
“It’s the last three games in this uniform and playing under this coaching staff,” said Vchulek, a senior. “It means a lot. I’m going to be playing every game as hard as I can possibly play. Coming out with a win is as important to me as anything.”
