Seven seniors will play their final home games as members of the University of Hawai'i baseball team this weekend with a three-game Western Athletic Conference series against Sacramento State at Les Murakami Stadium.

While they have had their moments, they hope their best is yet to come.

"They're going to be sorely missed," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

EXTREME FIGHTER

Whether it was running from first to third on a single or chasing a fly toward the fence in foul territory, right fielder Matt Inouye knew only one speed: full.

"He's been our emotional leader since he's been here," Trapasso said.

Inouye enters this weekend's series with a career .308 batting average. His 52 career doubles rank fifth in UH history.

Inouye, an Advertiser All-State selection out of Mid-Pacific Institute in 2002, made an impact from the start. He batted .339 and was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America team.

Respect was evident last season, when, despite batting only .255, he still was named to the All-WAC first team. He had that kind of impact on opponents.

The sociology major is the only senior who has been in the program for four years.

"It went by fast," Inouye said "I had fun. It was a good experience in my life and I hope to take everything I can from it and take it from there."

HEALTHY AT LAST

Injuries hampered Robbie Wilder's first two seasons after he transferred from Sierra College. Healthy now, the UH's lead-off batter is doing his job, getting on base at a .503 clip and leading the team in runs with 41.

"He's been able to perform like we knew he was capable all along with an injury-free year," Trapasso said. "Knock on wood."

"I'll remember UH as tons of great memories and lot of learning experiences," said Wilder, who is from Northern California. "The team's playing great and there's a chance to win the WAC title this year and hopefully go on to postseason."

Wilder is majoring in finance and international business with a minor in Spanish. He expects to graduate in spring 2007.

VERY SUPERSTITIOUS

Pitcher Justin Costi junked his original warm-up song, "Non-Partial, Non-Political" by Soja, after two poor starts this season and borrowed a former teammate's one by the Rolling Stones and has been on a roll since. The JC transfer from Sacramento started the season as a midweek starter and pitched so well he has moved into the No. 2 spot.

"We've been real fortunate to have him," Trapasso said.

Costi has started in two of UH's three shutouts, including a combined one-hitter with Darrell Fisherbaugh against UC Santa Barbara.

"I just liked throwing in front of all these fans," said Costi, a sociology major who plans to graduate in spring 2007.

MOST IMPROVED

Luis Avila, a first baseman from Caracas, Venezuela, made dramatic strides to become one of the team's most productive hitters this season.

He leads the team with five home runs, 12 doubles and 41 RBIs, and is batting .324. He hit .227 with no homers and 14 RBIs last year.

"He's been huge for us with his run production," Trapasso said.

"Last year was a disappointment because I had high expectations," Avila said. "But I worked in the weightroom and worked with Coach Meij (Keith Komeiji)."

The travel industry management major plans to graduate in spring 2007.

CATCHING ON

Catcher Esteban Lopez gave UH reliable defense his two seasons since transferring from Yavapai JC in Arizona. He has committed only one error this season, and is batting .264. He is second on the club with 11 doubles.

"It's been a great experience," said Lopez, a sociology major who will graduate in December. "Everyone here has been so helpful."

Trapasso praised Lopez for his defense and how he helped stabilize a pitching staff with a team ERA of 3.77.

"He's been the heart and soul of our club," Trapasso said.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Infielder Adam Roberts has played sparingly, but has accepted his limited role with grace.

"He's been the epitome of a team guy," Trapasso said.

The JC transfer from Edmonds (Wash.) has been the team's best pinch hitter, batting 5 for 9 with four RBIs in such situations.

"The community has been supportive," Roberts said. "We're kind of the main team in town, so you get to be on TV or see your name in the paper."

Roberts plans to graduate in December with a degree in psychology.

Pitcher Dean Turner, a JC transfer from Bellevue (Wash.), has pitched in just 17 1/3 innings in his two seasons. He has taken things in stride.

"It's been good to be a part of a winning team," said Turner, a political science major who will graduate next month with plans of attending law school.

"He'll probably become more successful, make more money than any of us, coaches included, because of the type of kid he is," Trapasso said.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.