University of Hawai'i right-hander Josh Slaats has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for March 29 to April 4.

Slaats, a junior from San Ramon, Calif., struck out 10 and allowed one hit in seven innings in leading the Rainbows to a 2-1 victory over Gonzaga on Friday.

Slaats pitched his third home outing in a row without giving up a run, extending his home scoreless inning streak to 20.

He also pitched his second 10-strikeout outing in his last three starts, tying a career high. On the season, Slaats is 3-1 with a 1.03 ERA, striking out 41 in 35 innings.

Hawai'i opens WAC play against visiting Fresno State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

UH SOFTBALL

GRIMES HONORED

University of Hawai'i softball player Katie Grimes was named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week yesterday.

Grimes, a senior catcher, hit .556 in a three-game sweep of New Mexico State over the weekend.

This is her first honor of the season and second of her career.

She drove in a team-high eight runs and hit a team-high three home runs for Hawai'i (28-11, 6-0 WAC) in the series.

CLINICS THIS WEEKEND

The University of Hawai'i-Hilo softball program will host clinics Saturday at Waimea Park and Sunday on the UHH softball field.

Slated for players 6-14 years of age, both clinics begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Water and lunch will be provided for all participants.

Participants must supply their own glove, shoes, helmet, bat and jacket. Coaches are encouraged to attend.

Applications and waiver forms are available at the UHH softball office. The registration deadline is tomorrow and the clinic fee is $30.

For more information please contact UHH softball coach Gwen Kagaoan at 974-7703 or kagaoan@hawaii.edu.

UH MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

'BOWS RANKED NO. 5

The University of Hawai'i, fresh off a two-match sweep of UC San Diego, is No. 5 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association weekly poll.

UH, which was No. 4 last week, was overtaken by Cal State Northridge, which was No. 5 last week.

The Warriors are 17-8 overall and 13-7 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

Hawai'i, which has qualified for the league playoffs, will conclude the regular season with matches at UC Santa Barbara on Friday and Saturday.

Stanford remains No. 1 with Brigham Young No. 2 and Pepperdine No. 3.

SURFING

BACALSO DEFEATED

Hawai'i surfer Kekoa Bacalso lost in the second round of the Rip Curl Pro men's surfing contest today.

The second round was run in 2- to 3-foot waves at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia.

Brett Simpson defeated Bacalso, 13.66 to 8.70.

Meanwhile, Hawai'i surfers Andy Irons, Dusty Payne, Fred Patacchia Jr. and Roy Powers won their first-round heats on Saturday and advanced directly to the third round.