You could marvel at the degree of difficulty of the University of Hawai'i's baseball schedule and come away with the distinct impression that somebody was trying to get rid of head coach Mike Trapasso.

Except that it is a schedule of Trapasso's making. And, remarkably, nobody waved the business end of an Easton Titan BZ270 bat at his head to get him to do it.

I mean, this is the pivotal year on Trapasso's expiring contract and here the Rainbows are playing yet another — and maybe even toughest to this point — in a lengthening series of nationally ranked teams. Tonight it is 18th-ranked Coastal Carolina (18-4) providing the opposition in a four-game series that opens at Les Murakami Stadium.

In that the Chanticleers have a lot in common with other UH opponents this season. As of this week's rankings, 29 of the 56 games on the 'Bows' schedule are against teams that are or have been ranked in the major polls this season. Hardly the Twinkies to ensure a contract rollover.

"We really did try to make it (demanding)," Trapasso said.

And, it worked. Perhaps even more than he imagined since Minnesota (13-6) and New Mexico State (20-3), which had started the season unranked, have vaulted into the polls at Nos. 25 and 24, respectively, this week.

The 'Bows' schedule to date has been rated in the top 20 for strength of opposition and boosted their Ratings Percentage Index, a key indicator of a team's quality used by the NCAA selection committee, to No. 21.

Moreover, the 'Bows have already played nine non-conference games on the Mainland, half of them against teams that have been or are ranked. The first time that has happened this early in school history.

That 12 of UH's first 21 games have been against current or formerly ranked opponents and the 'Bows have come through it with a 13-8 record says a lot about the team and its coach.

It says that Trapasso apparently believed enough in this team from early on to disdain the easy way out and undertake a challenging schedule in a year when he awaits a contract extension.

It suggests that if the 'Bows survive it they should be in good shape not only when WAC play opens next week but the conference tournament — and the automatic NCAA bid available to the winner — comes to Manoa May 20 to 24.

Should the 'Bows make the NCAA Tournament as a champion or at-large pick, they can say their arrival was, well, right on schedule.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.