University of San Francisco Athletics

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - After a wet and wild weekend filled with rain delays, suspended games and ultimately a 3-1 record, the Diamond Dons are set for a little island sunshine. USF will start a four-game set with Hawaii on Thursday at 8:35 p.m. PST. And while it can be seen as a working vacation for a vast majority of the team, for associate head coach Troy Nakamura, it's a homecoming.

Nakamura is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, where he graduated from Iolani High School (as did current USF freshman infielder Matt Campos). While there he lettered in both football and baseball.

"It's always a blessing to be able to come home and see family and friends," Nakamura explained. "Competing against the Rainbow Warriors is a unique experience in college baseball due in large part to the aloha spirit and the passion that the local people support the team with. It's a special atmosphere of competitiveness and sportsmanship that you don't find in many places. The program is rich in history and tradition, and for a youngster growing up in the 80s the Rainbow Warriors were your idols."

Even the venue Nakamura will be coaching in is one of sentimental value to him. "Coming back to play at Les Murakami Stadium brings back so many fond memories," he said. "During my college career I spent a summer playing with the Island Movers, and then returned with USF to compete here against some of the guys I grew up with in the late 90s."

While Nakamura is glad to be back, he's just as happy for fellow Iolani Raider, Campos and also not surprised that Iolani and USF have a connection.

"I'm really happy that fellow Iolani High School alumnus Matt Campos gets to return home, as well, and compete in front of his family and friends," Nakamura said. "The tradition and culture at Iolani of 'One Team' fits extremely well with our DONS culture on the Hilltop. Matt has worked very hard at his game and he's going to be an integral part of USF baseball for years to come."

While fun times lie ahead for Nakamura, Campos and the rest of the Dons (3-1, 0-0 WCC), there is still a tough task ahead in the form of the Rainbow Warriors (1-2, 0-0 Big West).

"Hawaii was good last year," head coach Nino Giarratano said. "They beat us two out of three. They got a lot of guys back offensively from what was a good club. Pitching wise, they've got a lot of talent and they just played a very good North Carolina State team. I'm looking forward to a great series. They always play us really well."

With another four game series, it will give the Dons a chance to keep having their four starters compete for the top three spots come conference play. USF will trot out, in order, Grant Goodman, Thomas Ponticelli, Daniel Slominski and Sam Granoff.

It was Goodman and Slominski who impressed the most in the opening weekend against Northern Colorado. Goodman got the ball for game two and spun a six inning, one run, four hit, four strikeout gem that earned he and his team the win.

Slominski took the ball to start game four and tossed seven innings of two run ball while giving up only five hits and striking out six.

Granoff and Ponticelli both out-pitched their numbers which can always be deceiving after just one game. Both were able to pitch five innings and strikeout five. For Ponticelli, his powerful fastball seemed to be in a good place, especially for the first game of the year. And Granoff seemed very comfortable on the mound in his first start back from Tommy John surgery which cost him all of 2016. All in all, the pitching staff was very encouraging coming out of the opening weekend.

"I was really pleased with the four starters this past weekend," Giarratano said. "Each guy went least five (innings) deep in their first start. I'm really excited about the starters right now."

While the pitching was solid against the Bears, the offense stole the show, scoring 28 runs in the series. After four games, six different Dons are hitting over .300 led by Ross Puskarich (who is on a 21-game hitting streak) and Dominic Miroglio at .462. Miroglio, Allen Smoot (who leads the team with 5 RBIB) and Matt Sinatro all lead the team in runs scored with four. The Dons as a team smacked 12 doubles in the opening four games, paced by Brady Bate who tallied three.

While all of the slugging numbers are impressive, so too is the Dons patience. USF managed 25 walks on the weekend which helped them to a team on-base percentage of .433.

"I was really pleased with what we did offensively," Giarratano stated. "I really like the number of pitches we're seeing per at bat right now, we're really battling. I really like the way we are running the bases too."

That base running coach speaks of rewarded the Dons to the tune of nine stolen bases this past weekend. The team leaders in steals are on the opposite ends of the spectrum as far as games played in their college careers, too. Senior Harrison Bruce and Freshman Tyler Villaroman each have a team leading three steals. Sinatro chipped in two of his own and Bate had one.

After the island getaway, the Dons will return home to host Utah Valley State on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. You can but tickets to that game by clicking here. Then it will be off to South Carolina to participate in a tournament hosted by reigning NCAA Champion Coastal Carolina, who the Dons will play twice.