The nationally ranked University of Hawai'i softball team opens the 2008 campaign with a good nucleus, but big voids to fill.

The Rainbows, ranked 15th in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll in preseason, will host the four-team Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium starting Thursday. While it is the regular-season opener for the Rainbows, it's not for the visitors: Central Florida (3-2), Long Beach State (2-2) and Kentucky (2-2).

The Rainbows (50-13 last year) are coming off their second-highest season-ending ranking (12th) while falling a game shy of advancing to the College World Series. With seven returning starters, UH was picked to win the Western Athletic Conference in a preseason voting by the league's coaches.

But for the defending WAC regular-season champions, that won't be an easy task. The Rainbows have to do without 19-game winner Justine Smethurst, who is skipping her junior season to play for her native Australia national team.

Also gone is WAC Player of the Year Tyleen Tausaga and her team-leading .402 batting average, as well as her 15 home runs and 52 RBI.

PITCHING

"We have to establish our pitching rotation now that we've lost Justine Smethurst," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "That's the No. 1 key for us, to establish some kind of rotation that we had last year."

But back is preseason All-WAC Player of the Year Kate Robinson. The league's double-threat led UH with 19 home runs and 72 RBI at the plate, while going 17-1 with a 2.01 earned run average.

Joining her in the circle are right-handers Courtney Baughman (5-2, 3.04) and freshman right-hander Melissa Gonzalez. Another right-hander, senior Jessica Morton (9-1. 1.81) will pitch out of the bullpen.

OFFENSE

Besides Tausaga's slugging, the Rainbows lost the steady hitting of second baseman Alana Power (.281). Both players are done with their eligibility.

Robinson swings the big stick for the Rainbows at first base when she is not pitching. She will hit cleanup with center fielder Kaulana Gould in front of her and left fielder Brandi Peiler behind her in the order.

Gould hit .320 with 10 doubles and three home runs with 31 RBIs, while Peiler hit .287 with nine doubles, nine home runs and 42 RBIs.

"I know we have some question marks with the middle of the lineup, losing Tyleen Tausaga, but I think we'll be OK when it comes down to producing runs," Coolen said.

Right fielder Tanisha Milca (.270) who had 11 walks and was hit by pitches seven times will lead off, followed by third baseman Clare Warwick (.375). Milca also provides some pop from the top of the order, as she hit 13 home runs last season.

Valana Manuma (.250) will play shortstop and hit sixth with Audrey Andrade (.217) to follow as the designated player.

Katie Grimes (.265) will catch and hit eighth with Richie-Anne Titcomb (.253) to play second, batting ninth.

The Rainbows were a prolific offensive force last season, when they averaged 1.33 home runs per game, which was seventh nationally. They also were 11th nationally in scoring at 5.95 runs per game.

Coolen is hoping the Rainbows can repeat their offensive feats from a season ago.

"Once we go against good Division I pitching, we'll find out," Coolen said. "A lot of good hitters were successful against good DI pitching (last year). There's a lot of confidence coming back. It's just a matter of how the lineup jells."

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Thursday—Long Beach State vs. Central Florida, 4 p.m.; Kentucky vs. Hawai'i, 6 p.m.

Friday—Kentucky vs. Long Beach State, 1 p.m.; Kentucky vs. Central Florida, 3 p.m.; Long Beach State vs. Hawai'i, 5 p.m.; Central Florida vs. Hawai'i, 7 p.m.

Saturday—Games from 10 a.m.

Sunday—Games from 10 a.m.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.