Trapasso hands Wu-Yelland the ball for opener

After Monday night’s practice, Hawaii baseball coach Mike Trapasso had seen enough.

“We reached that law of diminishing returns, and it could not have been a better situation for us,” Trapasso said. “We had our best practice of the entire spring on Monday night when we scrimmaged. We had 10 guys throw, and they threw very well. We had great at-bats. It was our best practice. That showed we’re good, we’re ready, let’s stop practicing and play.”

The Rainbow Warriors begin their 18th season under Trapasso with tonight’s game against Portland at Les Murakami Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

Right-hander Dylan Thomas, who previously was announced as the opening-day pitcher, will be held out of the four-game series while being treated for a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. The blister has impacted the movement of his slider, Thomas’ best pitch.

Jeremy Wu-Yelland, a left-handed sophomore, has been tabbed as tonight’s UH starting pitcher. During the offseason, Wu-Yelland made two significant changes.

“My mom’s family name is Wu,” he said, a reference to only using Yelland as a surname. “I wanted to reflect my mom’s side, too. This last summer, I got it done. I got it legally changed.”

Wu-Yelland also changed his delivery, tightening his motion when he cycles the baseball from his glove to the release point. “Just a little shorter with my arm action,” Wu-Yelland said. “I can get a little long sometimes. As far as the physical side of things, that can make a difference, for sure.”

In preseason scrimmages, Wu-Yelland’s previously untamed 95 mph fastball consistently found the zone. The southpaw also has mastered a slider he built from scratch. Most of all, he is pitching with purpose and peace.

“Coach has been helping me realize all I have to do is be myself,” Wu-Yelland said. “I don’t have to over-do anything.”

Trapasso said: “It’s a matter of executing and going out there and having fun. Go out and trust. Trust is the big word we use with our pitchers. When you get to this point … now trust all the stuff you’ve worked on and go out there and push a button and throw a pitch.”

Aaron Davenport, a freshman right-hander, is embracing his start in one of the games in Saturday’s doubleheader. “I kind of put things into perspective,” Davenport said of his college debut. “The mound is still 60 feet, 6 inches away. That’s not changing. I’ll be playing in front of a lot of people. I’m going to use that to fuel the fire.”

Davenport relies on a four-seam fastball that cuts, a two-seamer that runs, and two types of curveballs. Like most under Trapasso’s guidance, Davenport also has honed a changeup.

Davenport has been passionate about pitching since he first picked up a baseball. “Ever since coach-pitch (leagues), I wanted to pitch instead of the coaches,” he said.

In addition to pitching drills and weight training, Davenport’s preparation involves mirror time. He uses those moments of reflection to ensure his motion does not tip pitches.

“I’ll go through visualization with all my pitches to make sure nothing is different, arm slot is the same, things like that,” Davenport said.

Davenport’s breakthrough came during a fall scrimmage. “I hit a batter,” he said. “I finished that inning going inside to the same batter. You have to bounce back. … You have to establish the zone.”