Hawai'i believed in Kris Sanchez when other schools didn't.

Hawai'i continued to believe in him even when he struggled at the plate last season.

Now, he's making believers out of everybody.

Sanchez batted 7 for 11 (.636) over the weekend to help the Rainbows take 2 of 3 from Santa Clara in the season-opening series. Better yet, the left-handed hitting first baseman dispelled any myth that he couldn't hit left-handed pitching. He doubled and walked against Broncos' portsider Matthew Wickswat, a freshman All-American last season, on Friday. On Sunday, he singled off left-hander Sean O'Neill, who was specifically brought in to face Sanchez.

"I was happy for him," UH hitting coach Keith Komeiji said. "I was proud of him. He was aggressive. I told him it was a mind thing, I think, (about) left-handed pitching and left-handed hitting. You still gotta hit the ball because it comes over the plate. Hopefully, this past weekend will give him the confidence that he can hit left-handed pitching, which I think it did."

It was all about believing for Sanchez.

During his sophomore season at Central Arizona JC, Sanchez tore an ACL. Long Beach State and other schools that had been on his recruiting trail severed ties upon hearing of the injury.

"Hawai'i was the only one that stuck with me," Sanchez said.

Last season, he ran into some bad luck. He was the opening night starter, but pulled a hamstring during the second game of the season while legging out a single to shortstop. He missed 10 starts, making three pinch-hitting appearances during that span. When he returned, it was as the designated hitter.

Sanchez was projected to be a middle-of-the-lineup hitter, but batted .250 with five doubles and nine RBIs. Meanwhile, his successor at first, Luis Avila, earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors after batting .326 and leading the team with eight home runs and 58 RBIs.

But Komeiji did not give up on Sanchez. Toward the end of the season, he offered some suggestions to adjust Sanchez's swing. During his stint in the Hawaii Collegiate League, Sanchez tried to incorporate some of the advice. But it wasn't until he returned to UH in the fall that Komeiji really got to work with Sanchez.

"We overhauled his whole swing," Komeiji said.

But it was Sanchez's belief in his coach that made a difference. Sanchez said he trusted Komeiji, knowing of his background in professional baseball (six years in the Seattle organization and two seasons in Italy). Over the years, a number of players have credited Komeiji with their hitting success. Komeji deflects the credit.

"A lot of it is just the kid himself trusting in what I try to tell him and trusting himself to do what he's supposed to do," Komeiji said.

Sanchez said he widened his stance and stride.

"The main thing that he stressed to me was to have my hands come through the hitting zone," Sanchez said. "The open stance allows me to have a more consistent line and makes me have a consistent swing that results power-wise on the ball. I like what it's doing so far."

While one weekend doesn't make a season, it is something Sanchez can build on.

"It was real important, especially facing the lefty opening night, getting a good quality hit off him and when they brought in the lefty that faced me on Sunday (for the single)," Sanchez said. "I took pride in that, getting the job done. So I'm feeling good at the plate and hopefully can keep going."

NOTES

Second baseman Jon Hee (subluxed left shoulder) is expected to be out 2 to 4 weeks, while outfielder Derek DuPree (knee) is likely out 3 to 4 more weeks. UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

Trapasso added that pitcher Derek Tarapacki, a transfer from Yavapai JC, will not be eligible for the season.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.