UH BASEBALL
Haislet WAC-ed LaTech pitching
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Hawai'i center fielder Brandon Haislet had a weekend that landed him Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.
But his performance at the plate was really symbolic of the way the whole Rainbows' offense played in sweeping a doubleheader Saturday at New Mexico State to split the four-game series.
For a change the hitters, who play half the time in the best pitcher's park in the conference in Les Murakami Stadium, got to take their hacks at home-run haven Presley Askew Field.
Haislet, a senior, batted 11 for 17 (.647) with 12 RBI, eight runs, two doubles, a home run, a steal and was hit by pitches twice.
Hawai'i also could have made a case for the weekly honor for senior shortstop Jon Hee. He was 13 for 20 (.650) with 11 runs, 5 RBI, a double, two home runs and was hit by a pitch once.
"He did a great job of finding ways to get on to get things going," Haislet said of Hee.
Right fielder Jeff Van Doornum was 7 for 17 (.412) with a double, home run and six RBI. Not showing up in the stats was Van Doornum's amazing catch to steal a home run from Leo Aguirre that would've given the Aggies a 14-12 lead in the bottom of the sixth of the second game of the doubleheader. Earlier, Aguirre hit a grand slam.
"It was a routine pop," said Haislet of his vantage point in center field. "He just jumped up and brought it back in."
Not all Rainbows did their damage in chunks.
Haislet's award was the first for a Rainbow hitter this season. Nick Rhodes and Matt Daly won Pitcher of the Week honors.
Next up ...
The Rainbows (26-27 overall, 18-14 WAC) close out the regular season with a non-conference three-game series against independent Utah Valley State starting Thursday. Nine seniors will be honored after Saturday's series finale.
Hawai'i can finish no lower than third and with the help of San Jose State, can tie for second with Nevada and earn the second seed in the WAC tournament because UH took 3 of 4 from the Wolf Pack last month. The Spartans play the Wolf Pack this weekend, but Nevada trails conference leader Fresno State by one game. The Bulldogs are playing Sacramento State this weekend.
Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso said his team will play to win. But he also must find that balance between keeping the starters sharp, while giving their minds time to get refreshed for the WAC tournament May 22 to 25 in Ruston, La.
"We'll try to play a lot of guys," Trapasso said. "We're going to try to play to win, no question. But these guys have been through a lot the last couple weeks because of travel, so we're going to take advantage of being out of conference a week before the tournament. We'll try to let the regulars stay sharp, yet recharge their batteries at the same time."
The players are in finals and will practice only tomorrow.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.
