The Hawaii baseball team is seeking middle ground for today’s road game against Cal Baptist.
Shortstop Maaki Yamazaki is not expected to play because of soreness in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Ethan Lopez, who moved from third to short in Yamazaki’s absence, is ineligible to play today after being ejected for running into Cal State Northridge’s catcher on Sunday. A player ejection, according to NCAA rules, triggers a suspension for the next game.
“We don’t have a lot of choices,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said.
Trapasso said second baseman Jack Kennelly will open at shortstop. Dallas Duarte, who has rotated between catcher and second base, will start at third. Trapasso said left fielder Daylen Calicdan will play second. To replace Calicdan in the outfield, there are two choices: 1) first baseman Alex Baeza plays in left field and Logan Pouelsen plays first, or 2) Jacob Sniffin plays left and Baeza sticks at first.
“We’re still trying to decide on that,” Trapasso said.
Baeza, a sophomore, has played first base exclusively this season, although he was recruited as a two-way player who also can pitch. “He’s athletic,” Trapasso said. “He can play different positions.”
Trapasso said Li‘i Pontes will start against Cal Baptist. “And then we’ll do it similar to what we did last week against San Diego,” Trapasso said.
In last week’s nonconference game, Pontes opened in what was termed a “staff” outing in which it is predetermined several pitchers will be used. In that game, the ’Bows were set to use a pitcher an inning, but when Colin Ashworth faltered in the ninth, a 10th pitcher — closer Dylan Thomas — was beckoned.
“I don’t know if we’ll throw 10 pitchers again,” Trapasso said, “but we could. It’ll be a similar approach.”
The ’Bows will be a facing a free-swinging lineup that has hit 45 home runs and averages a strikeout every 4.3 at bats. Ryan Mota, who began his college career at San Diego State, has swatted 13 homers. Andrew Bash has nine home runs and John Glenn has seven.
“They’re a veteran club,” Trapasso said. “We put together the scouting report, and they’re a good club, and they’re having a good offensive year.”
The ’Bows are trying to rebound after falling to CSUN 6-3 on Sunday. UH, which is at the midway point of a 13-game trip, did not have any baseball-related activities on Monday.
“We’ve got to kick off the disappointment of (Sunday’s) loss and get back to work and focus on (the Lancers),” Trapasso said. “The players will have no problem with that. Players are way more resilient than coaches. That was one of the toughest losses I can remember in a long time for me. And the players feel the way. But after about 10 minutes, the kids are fine. They’re all good. We coaches sit in our hotel rooms and stew over it until there’s another game.”
HAWAII BASEBALL
>> Who: UH (18-22) vs. Cal Baptist (26-17)
>> When: 3 p.m. today
>> Where: James W. Totman Stadium, Riverside, Calif.
>> TV: None
>> Radio: 1420-AM
>> Streaming: CBULancers.com
