The reality is, Dustin Richardson's game is baseball.

But before the North Shore Honu left-handed pitcher became a prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization, Richardson had a part in the reality television series "Knight School."

"Knight School" was a six-part series on ESPN in which Texas Tech students competed for a spot on coach Bob Knight's Texas Tech basketball team as a walk-on for the 2006-07 season.

Eventually, it came down to Richardson and Tyler Hoffmeister with the latter winning by default.

"Absolutely," said the 6-foot-6, 215-pound Richardson when asked if he should've won. "Reality shows, don't believe everything you see. There's a lot of cut and paste. They did a great job with the show. I couldn't walk-on and be with the team at practice every day."

The harsh reality was Richardson was on Tech's baseball team. Since the seasons partially overlap, there was no way he could miss either squad's workouts.

Richardson knew the consequences, but couldn't resist the chance to see what it would be like to play for the volatile Knight, whose controversial coaching career has been well-documented.

"I didn't know exactly what it was, but it dealt with coach Knight and playing some basketball," Richardson said. "I was just going in for the fun of it. It was a chance to get on the court with coach Knight. Turned out to be a good experience."

With hoops in his past, Richardson is having a great experience in Hawaii Winter Baseball. Used solely in relief, he is 0-1 with a 2.12 earned run average in 17 innings from 11 appearances. He has struck out 24 and walked six. Boston's fifth-round pick in 2006 out of Texas Tech has gotten by with his 90-mph fastball.

In his first pro season, he was 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA at short-season Single-A Lowell (Mass.), striking out 44 while walking 13 in 39 2/3 innings.

In 2007, he split time between Low-A Greenville (S.C.) and High-A Lancaster (Calif.), combining to go 9-7 with a 3.23 ERA, striking out 123 and walking 52 in 122 2/3 innings.

Armed with just a fastball, reality set in at Double-A Portland (Maine), where he was 7-10 with a 6.33 ERA, striking out 114, but walking 51 in 106 2/3 innings. It was time for Richardson to expand his repertoire.

"Mostly developing my secondary pitches," he said when asked what he wanted to accomplish here. "Getting ahead of hitters, getting my breaking ball over the plate."

Although he still loves basketball, Richardson said his focus is on baseball. But that doesn't mean he's lost his touch when it comes to trash talking.

Richardson isn't the only one with a basketball history, albeit brief and made-for-television. Unlike Richardson, Waikiki BeachBoys pitcher Andrew Brackman was allowed to play baseball and basketball at North Carolina State. The 6-10 Brackman played two seasons of hoops for the Wolfpack.

"If it ever came down to it, one-on-one, I think I'd take him," joked Richardson with a smile.

With a lot of great athletes in HWB, Richardson said there's some talent to form a decent basketball team. He knows his first choice.

"Lot of speed here, that's for sure," Richardson said. "A lot of great athletes. Brackman definitely would be my choice."

PERSONNEL NOTES

Roosevelt and Hawai'i Pacific alumnus Kaimi Mead has moved into the league lead in earned run average at 1.45 (minimum .4 innings pitched per team game).

Mid-Pacific and Hawai'i-Manoa alum Matt Inouye was transferred from the Honolulu Sharks to the West Oahu CaneFires on Sunday, the league announced. The CaneFires have some depth issues at catcher. Inouye has played on three of the four HWB teams over two seasons. Last year, he played with the BeachBoys.

Another Roosevelt alumnus, Mike Lum, is in town. He is the hitting coordinator for the Milwaukee Brewers farm system. He was hitting coach for the Honu in 2006. The Brewers have three pitchers and two position players on the CaneFires.

GAME NOTES

Thursday's makeup games at Hans L'Orange Park from a previous rainout have been canceled, the league announced.

There are just four games left in the regular season. Games are today and tomorrow at Hans L'Orange. After an off-day Thursday, play resumes at Hans L'Orange and Les Murakami Stadium Friday and Saturday nights.

Sunday's championship between the East and West champions is set for 1 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.

THE CHAMP

St. Anthony alumnus Shane Victorino of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies will be honored at Saturday's game at Les Murakami Stadium. The center fielder from Maui recently won his first Rawlings Gold Glove award.