Take a good look at the University of Hawai'i baseball team when the Rainbows open their Western Athletic Conference season tomorrow at Les Murakami Stadium.

In fact, make it a good, looooong look these next two weekends because the Rainbows won't be around much after that.

Following next week's San Jose State series, the 'Bows will play 17 of their next 23 games — the balance of the regular season — on the road. And what a long road it is: Sacramento, Calif., Stockton, Calif., Fresno, Calif., Tempe, Ariz., Las Cruces, N.M., Hilo and Reno, Nev.

"I think we're home one weekend the entire month of April," notes UH coach Mike Trapasso. "And one in May."

It is the kind of back-loaded schedule that behooves the 19-8 'Bows to make the most of these two home-opening weeks of their WAC season.

Over the course of three games each with Nevada this weekend and San Jose State the next, the 'Bows have an opportunity to build momentum and open some breathing space in the standings for what figures to be a tight conference title run.

Which isn't to say they can't win on the road, of course. To their credit, the 'Bows were 21-7 in games away from Manoa in the 45-17 season of 2006. As Trapasso likes to say, "I've looked through the rules periodically and still haven't found a rule that says you're not allowed to win on the road."

But neither is there a rule that says the 'Bows can't make it easier on themselves from the beginning. Nothing that prevents them from jumping out to a fast start and sparing themselves the late-season drama and Tums-popping of recent years.

That would be something of a hoped-for novelty for the 'Bows, who have, at least in Trapasso's five-year tenure, not won a WAC-opening series. Coincidentally, perhaps, they have not won a WAC championship in that span, either. Last year they came the closest of the past 14 seasons, finishing a half-game back of Fresno State when they were unable to make up a game that had been snowed out in Nevada.

This year, for the first time, UH is picked to win a share of the conference title. In a preseason poll of WAC coaches, the 'Bows and Fresno State were co-favorites. The schedule — beside sparring them snow — sets up nicely for a regular-season pennant showdown with Fresno at UH from May 19 to 21. Provided everybody takes care of business, that is.

After finishing the regular season away from home each of Trapasso's five seasons, the 'Bows finally get to close things here. This could be the one they've been waiting for. Imagine the scene if the 'Bows were able to clinch their first WAC championship in 15 years that final weekend at a rocking Murakami.

A quick start here these first two weekends would sure help to get the ball rolling.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.