Follow the University of Hawai'i baseball team during its trip to Mesa, Arizona and the 2012 Western Athletic Conference Tournament. The tournament is being held at the beautiful Hohokam Stadium and runs from March 23-27. HawaiiAthletics.com will chronicle the team's trip with the blog, “BATTER UP!".
 
By: John Barry, Assistant Media Relations Director

Day 4: Thursday, May 24
Unfortunately, the events of the day signaled the end of the season and this blog. The Rainbows were eliminated from the WAC Tournament with a 9-6 loss to Louisiana Tech. As with yesterday's game, the 'Bows just didn't seem to bring what it took to win. It was disappointing to say the least, as UH was the first team knocked out of the tournament and happened even before two other teams had played their first game.

It's been a habit of many of the players to remain on the mainland instead of traveling back to Hawaii. Quite a few are mainlanders and many live in the Phoenix area. Only seven players and Associate Coach Chad Konishi will be making the flight home, with the rest of the coaches (and yours truly) returning on Saturday.

The players will now commence with summer league ball and offseason workouts. Several players will be taking their talents to the prestigious Cape Cod League while a handful of others will be playing on the west coast.

Though it wasn't the most successful of trips to the WAC Tournament, it was the team's last. Next season the 'Bows enter the Big West Conference which actually does not have a conference tournament. 

All the best to the seniors and here's hoping the rest of the players have fruitful summers.

Signing off - John Barry

Day 3: Wednesday, May 23
Let's just get right to it. It wasn't a good day for the Rainbow baseball team. In the opening game of the WAC Tournament, they were outplayed by Fresno State and lost, 8-2. UH scored first when Collin Bennett crushed a triple over the centerfielder's head off the green monster. No, they weren't playing at Fenway Park, but Hohokam Stadium has its own version of the green monster out in centerfield.

You had to think pitcher Jarrett Arakawa had on his mind that his last start in the WAC Tournament - well, only other start - was against the very same Fresno State Bulldogs last season, and it didn't end with favorable results. Today's start was quite different, and although Fresno's hitters were hitting him pretty hard, he managed to get through three scoreless innings. But that's when the wheels started to fall off the Rainbow train. The 'Bows allowed eight runs over the next three innings, four charged to Arakawa. For all intents and purposes, the game was out of reach for UH.

There is hope though. Don Robbs reminded us that as recently as 2009, at Les Murakami Stadium, Fresno State LOST its first game then went on to win the tournament. Tomorrow's game time is at 11:00 a.m.. Matt Sisto, Hawai'i's projected starter, said he hadn't pitched a morning game since the 9th grade. So how will he fare in his first morning start in nearly a decade? "We'll all see tomorrow, won't we," said Sisto, exuding a quite confidence.


Day 2: Tuesday, May 22
7:00 p.m.: The Rainbows partook in their final WAC Tournament banquet. Pretty convenient- right in the hotel, good food, slide show, and the WAC all-conference awards presentation. Junior Pi'ikea Kitamura was named First Team All-WAC with Matt Sisto, Collin Bennett, and Zack Swasey garnering second team honors.

The mood among the players and coaches could be verbalized as "Let's get this show on the road!". And that they will do. Bus departs the hotel tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. Game time is 3:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m.: After breakfast, the players gathered their things and headed to Hohokam Stadium for a 10:00 a.m. practice. The temperature was actually just in the 90's and there was somewhat of breeze. Just like Hawai'i in the summer with trade wins...ok not really. 

Hohokam Stadium is the site of the tournament. The park also serves as the spring training facility for the Chicago Cubs and truly is a nice setting. SIDEBAR: UH's esteemed radio broadcaster Don Robbs shared something he read regarding the oldest stadiums named after cooporations. Cubs Park was renamed Wrigley Field in 1925 after Wrigley chewing gum.

The tournament officially kicks off tonight with the WAC postseason banquet. stay tuned... 

 


Day 1: Monday, May 21
The team arrived in Phoenix early Monday morning, and when I say early I mean 1:15 a.m. They boarded the direct flight to Phoenix less than 24 hours after their season finale win over Nevada at Les Murakami Stadium. Slacks, UH Baseball polo, dress shoes...these guys look professional when they travel. Let's hope it transfers over the field.

The team arrived at the hotel in the wee hours of the morning and, after getting a good nights sleep, spent the rest of the day just resting and relaxing. There was little on the docket for the day, just an opportunity hang out and acclimate themselves to the Mesa environment, and by environment I mean the heat....

I would be remiss if I didn't at least point out how hot it is here. Walking outside felt like sitting too close to a roaring campfire except the fire was the sun and there was no hope in moving away from it. The temperature is forecasted to be over 100 degrees through the team's opening game on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. against Fresno State.

With little going on today, let's take a moment to recognize the seniors (pictured below) who will be playing in their final games as Rainbows. Just about all of them made an impact on the success of their teams during their years there, which is always a plus. Matt Sisto, Jesse Moore, and Collin Bennett were members of the 2010 squad that won the tournament, and they'll be doing their best to repeat that feat. Go 'Bows!

Practice tomorrow morning...in the heat...

 





                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                -UH-