UH-Hilo baseball coach Kallen Miyataki has reached out to a few sources to extract a scouting report on the University of Hawaii, but he’s gained little concrete information yet.
“All they say is that it should be interesting,” Miyataki said.
On that same theme, the third-year coach said he knew little about to the pitchers the Rainbow Warriors are set to throw in the season-opening series at Wong Stadium. Junior college transfer Brendan Hornung opposes Vulcans’ ace Jordan Kurokawa (3-4, 3.07 ERA in 2015) at 6 p.m. Saturday, while the Bows will trot out Kyle Von Ruden (2-3, 4.47) against David Moody (14-2, 3.44) at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Coming off a season in which he recorded 68 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings and then earned Golden State Collegiate Baseball League’s Pitcher of the Year over the summer, Kurokawa was the obvious choice as opening day starter. But Miyataki doesn’t want Moody, also a senior, to be sold short, pointing out that he was No. 7 in the Golden State league voting.
“He’s the most experienced and he’s earned the right to start,” Miyataki said. “He’s the complete opposite of Kuro and he’ll have to be crafty.
“Kuro has to pitch (well), because Hawaii is going to be licking their chops with his fastball. It should be interesting to see what happens in a big ballpark.”
The veteran coach admitted that UH’s first visit to Wong since 1994 wasn’t just business as usual. Hawaii is 46-7 in it previous trips.
“For me, I’m excited, and I’m also excited for the kids,” Miyataki said. “It’s been a long time. And it’s a great opportunity.”
Softball: The Vulcans’ bats giveth, the Vulcans’ bats taketh away.
UH-Hilo mustered only one run Friday in getting swept at the Red Storm Classic, losing 3-1 to Western Washington and 3-0 to Montana State-Billings.
In the opener, Chenoa Au’s hit an RBI triple and Victoria Garcia and Cristina Menjivar each finished with two hits.
Danielle Wilson (2-3) took the loss, allowing three hits and three runs in four innings.
“We just have to do a better job of bunching our hits together,” coach Peejay Brun said.
The Vulcans (4-5) did that Wednesday in sweeping Cal State San Bernardino.
In the second game Friday, UH-Hilo (4-5) was shut down by Billings’ Megan Dettling, who tossed a one-hitter with six strikeouts.
“She did a great job mowing down our batters,” Brun said. “Take nothing away from her.”
Billi Derleth (1-3) took the loss, allowing eight hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings.
