HONOLULU — The season began with a question: Could a roster comprised heavily of homegrown talent be competitive in Big West baseball?
The answer came back Saturday the same way it had any number of times during the 2022 season – with a shaka and a “chee-hoo” from Hawaii’s animated head coach.
UH, rocking its throwback green and orange uniforms, closed out the 2022 season with a 6-4 win over Cal Poly to put a cap on a year of progress under its new leader Rich Hill. The Rainbows earned a winning overall season (28-24), their first above-.500 campaign in their decade in the Big West (19-11), and took the figurative podium for the first time with sole possession of third place.
As players, their families and fans mingled on the Les Murakami Stadium field following the traditional senior ceremony for Scotty Scott, Cole Cabrerea, Andy Archer, Buddie Pindel and Matt Wong (the last of whom is expected to remain for next season), Hill, the ex-longtime San Diego coach, was asked what proved most striking to him about his first season in Manoa.
“The way that these kids improved,” he answered without hesitation. “I have never seen that in 35 years (of coaching). A ton of great players. As a player, playing since I’m 8 years old, (I’ve) never seen a group collectively improve the way that we did. We were 8-16 at one point and we went 20-7 or something (actually 20-8) after that.
“I wish the season started today. I wish we had more time.”
Upon his arrival last June to replace the fired Mike Trapasso – under whom the program had languished in the difficult Big West – Hill did what he could to furnish the roster in a reduced recruiting time frame. That involved stocking it with an unusual number of local players, 20, from nearly all the Hawaiian Islands. Many of whom had not proven themselves at the college level.
UH resolved to play small ball – bunts, walks and steals were emphasized – early in the year to make the most of its tools at hand. The results were mixed.
Gradually, the power arrived and UH was able to match most opponents in extra-base hits.
UH batted .269 as a team, fifth in the Big West, and had a team pitching earned-run average of 4.65, ranked sixth. But those figures improved considerably in conference games – .278 and a BWC-best 3.29.
“University of Hawaii can ball. We’re trying to bring this program back on the map, where it should be,” said the center fielder Cabrera, a Punahou alumnus who ended his college career with the final putout of 2022 against his former team of four years. “Can’t thank (Hill) enough for giving me the opportunity to come here and play baseball and finish my career here.”
A question now: What will happen to Li‘i Pontes and Halemanu, the team’s primary starters by season’s end? Both have a year of eligibility remaining, should they want it, but either could decide the time is right to go pro depending on their draft stock.
Hill remarked after Friday’s loss that Pontes, with his 2.94 earned-run average this season, will be the Friday night man in 2023, should he return.
After picking up the win with 5 2/3 effective innings Saturday, Halemanu (4-5) acknowledged he had an up-and-down season (4.69 ERA) as the team’s Opening Day starter. By comparison, his ERA was 3.60 in 2021.
“To end it off this way is huge going into the offseason,” the Pearl City native said. “Hope for the best with the draft. Hopefully that works out, and we’ll see what happens.”
Scott, the feisty, undersized left fielder from Cypress, Texas, also has a year of eligibility left, but there was no doubt that Saturday was his last game as a ‘Bow. Scott plans to get a second Tommy John surgery on his injured elbow this summer to effectively end his playing days, but he intends to become a coach immediately.
Scott was more often than not the only mainland-born player in the starting lineup, yet after deciding to take his name out of the NCAA transfer portal after last season and return to UH, he was unquestionably the face of the team.
Kids chanted his name all season and, after the finale, made a beeline to him for autographs. Saturday was an all-around emotional day for him as he woke up with 5 a.m. with tears about the final game of his career. He was the first ‘Bow to the ballpark in the early hours.
When he lined out in the eighth in his final at-bat, he took a little extra time to walk off the field as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
“For the community to welcome me, it’s really been a blessing,” Scott said. “My message to all the keiki out here is play with heart. If you’re not very big, not very fast, not very strong, play with heart and hustle harder than everybody else. You can be a Rainbow Warrior, too.”
The right fielder Wong, infielder cousins Jordan and Kyson Donahue, catcher Dallas Duarte, second baseman Stone Miyao, first baseman Jacob Igawa, third baseman Aaron Ujimori are projected returnees with extensive starting experience. Naighel Calderon, Bronson Rivera and Nainoa Cardinez saw plenty of time as spot starters. All are local.
Hill said 1-on-1 meetings with players were to take place Sunday before returnees head to the mainland to play summer ball.
“It’s a huge deal for our players’ development,” Hill said. “We want to get them on the mainland, get them with their host families. Get them playing in a minor league environment so they can really start to develop.”
As for his staff, recruiting is now paramount, he said.
Hill was asked what the accomplishments of the Hawaii-born players meant for UH recruiting going forward.
“This is Hawaii’s team. We’ve said that repeatedly,” he said. “The state of Hawaii, not just Oahu. It’s the Neighbor Islands; they’re very dear to me too. You really can’t express it enough what the local boys have done and the excitement that’s in the high schools now, in the youth leagues, in our camps. It’s like a mushroom cloud that’s happening. It’s just so cool.”
Some extra senior tribute photos and videos:
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.