With a focus on pitching and depth, the Hawai'i Pacific Sea Warriors are geared for their 2008 baseball season.

The Sea Warriors (23-27 last season), an NCAA Division II independent, open their season with a six-game series against Cal State Dominguez Hills starting today at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu. They will play doubleheaders at 4 p.m. today, 1 p.m. tomorrow and 2 p.m. Sunday.

"I can't predict how we'll pan out," third-year coach Garett Yukumoto said. "But I'm confident they'll be prepared."

PITCHING

With three doubleheaders, the Sea Warriors have to find six starting pitchers. Some of the candidates include left-handers Kaimi Mead, a former UH Rainbow, and Daniel Cox; and right-handers Spencer Omalza, Kevin Matsumoto, Turhan Folse and Micah Takahashi. Mead, Omalza and Folse combined for 19 starts last season. Matsumoto, a sophomore, had one start, but it was his only appearance last year, lasting 3 2/3 innings. Takahashi is a freshman out of Kalani.

"With any club that plays a lot of doubleheaders, pitching will be the spot of focus," Yukumoto said.

Right-handers B.A. Garner and Nick Alexander, both JC transfers, will anchor the bullpen. Alexander is 6 feet 5 and 230 pounds.

OFFENSE

The Sea Warriors have an experienced infield with Omalza at first, along with Cheynne Hirota. Omalza, a senior, was one of HPU's big sticks last season, batting .341 with 26 RBIs.

Rounding out the infield is Zackary Parnell at second, Michael Kealoha at shortstop and Danny Lee at third. Lee (.295) was tied for the team lead with three home runs last season. Ivan Fujii and Johnny Gentry also could see action in the infield.

The outfield has Jonah Hobson in center, Jacob Valentine in right and either Makana Kitamura or Paul Nishimura in left. Nishimura (.282) also hit three homers last year.

Returnee Andrew Sramek and JC transfer Aaron Asher will share time behind the plate. Asher was an all-star catcher from 'Aiea who played two seasons at Yavapai JC in Arizona.

"Aaron's a great addition for us," Yukumoto said.

SCHEDULE

With a limited budget, the Sea Warriors have to be efficient in scheduling, hence doubleheaders most of the season. Still, Yukumoto managed to schedule 56 games.

"We worked hard to get that 56-game schedule," Yukumoto said. "That says a lot about our program. It allows us to showcase Hawai'i Pacific University and our players."

HPU has Division II home series with Missouri-St. Louis, Northwest Nazarene, Grand Canyon, Patten and Dixie State. The Sea Warriors also travel to Dixie State, San Francisco State and Grand Canyon.

The Sea Warriors also have Division I opponents, including a home-and-home series with Hawai'i-Hilo, as well as against the Western Athletic Conference's New Mexico State for a single game on April 9.

Yukumoto hopes the schedule is challenging enough and that HPU wins enough to earn a regional bid.

The Sea Warriors will play all of their home games at Hans L'Orange, which was under renovation last year.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.