MEDIA RELEASE

The University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball hosts Hawaii Pacific University in their Pacific West Conference opener this weekend in Hilo, Hawaii.

Doubleheaders will be played at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 13 and 3 p.m. Sunday, February 14 at Wong stadium. A noon doubleheader is scheduled for Monday, February 15 at the UHH Stadium.

The Vulcans (3-3) are currently hitting .275 as a team with a team ERA of 5.37. Cody Barrett (Sr., St. Louis HS, Oahu) leads the Vulcans with a .375 batting average with Josh Wong (FR. Kamehameha-Oahu) at .364, Jeff Hanna (Sr., Bellevue CC, WA) at .357, Ronel Trias (Sr., University HS, Oahu) at .348, and Shane Kessel (Sr., North Thurston HS, WA) at .333.

The pitching staff is led by Sheldon Otsuka (Jr. Waiakea HS, HI) with two saves and a 0.00 ERA. Also seeing early success are Tyler Simao (So., Hanalani HS, Oahu) with a 1.29 ERA and Ronnie Loeffler (Jr. Waiakea HS, HI) at 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA. Loeffler has been honored by the Pac West Conference as Pitcher of the Week for his outstanding 2-1 victory over Northwest Nazarene on opening day, scattering 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and only one walk.

Hawaii Pacific (0-0) finished the 2009 season at 30-19 and a second place finish in the Pac West conference (14-10). The offense will be led by returning Pac West Conference Freshman of the Year Blake Amaral, a Kamehameha Schools-Keaau graduate. Amaral hit .385 a year ago with 46 runs batted in.

The HPU pitching staff will be led by pre-season Conference Pitcher of the Year Caelan O”Meara, who posted a 7-2 record with 3.79 ERA in 59.1 innngs pitched.

“We expected HPU to have another fine team, one that should challenge for the conference title,” said Vulcan head coach Joey Estrella. “But, I believe we are ready for the challenge and expect to play well at home…especially in front of our baseball fans.”

For ticket information, call UHH at 974-7702