Baseball 'Bows still
in the playoff picture
FRESNO, Calif. -- Les Murakami played a hunch that failed miserably, but could still pay bigger dividends than 100 original shares of IBM stock.
Sitting in the stands at last Tuesday's practice, the University of Hawaii head baseball coach decided not to use his top starter against U.S. Olympic and All-America pitcher Jeff Weaver of Fresno State.
Instead of sending Daven Hermosura to face a pitcher who rarely loses at home, Murakami gave Jay Spurgeon a chance to show his stuff. He didn't last two innings, but amazingly, it didn't matter.
That's because the Rainbows battered and bruised Weaver Friday night for nine runs in eight innings en route to a 13-6 blistering of the Bulldogs before an overflow Beiden Field crowd of 4,021.
"If you would have told me we would score nine runs off Weaver, I would have said you were crazy and not bet a dime," Murakami said after the game.
It was the Rainbows' eighth victory in 10 games to raise their Western Athletic Conference record to 10-11 and overall mark to 18-29.
West Division leading San Jose State also helped Hawaii's cause by knocking off San Diego State, 9-4. The Rainbows trail the Aztecs by only 11/2-games for the sixth and final spot in next month's WAC postseason tournament.
Punahou girls overcome
Iolani to remain unbeaten
Punahou used a big final period, outscoring Iolani 22-13, to remain unbeaten in Interscholastic League of Hoinolulu girls' basketball last night with a 50-47 victory at the Red Raiders' gym.
The Buffanblu (8-0) had 19 points from Onaona Miller and 10 from Kii Spencer Vasconcellos to turn back Iolani (5-3).
Erin Stovall scored 21 points for the Red Raiders and Jamie Liu added 10.
University High 49, Sacred Hearts 45, OT: Kasey Tabar scored four of her 17 points in overtime as the Junior Rainbows beat the Lancers. Sacred Hearts (1-5) came back from a seven-point deficit after the first quarter to tie the game at the end of regulation on a jump shoyt by Iris Hamachi with 18 seconds left. University High (4-3) then put the game away behind Tabar and Brooke Wilson, who scored all of her three points in OT.
Maryknoll 40, Mid-Pacific 25: Michelle Gabriel scored 14 second-half points to lead the Spartans over the Owls. Gabriel finished with 18 points as Maryknoll improved to 2-6. Clayreen Song hit three 3-pointers and added 13 points for the Spartans. Melissa Chee led MPI (1-7) with 8 points.
Campbell, Waiplahu
in tie for first place
Campbell and Waipahu remained tied for first place with 8-1 records in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Western Division girls' basketball race with victories last night.
However, Waianae slipped to second after an upset loss.
Campbell 75, Nanakuli 47: At Campbell, Jena Marie Fisher led the Sabres' offense with 20 points, 11 coming in the first half when the hosts took a 35-27 lead. Jenalyn Domingo sparked Campbell's 22-point third quarter with six of her 10 points. Franchesikah Ako led the Golden Hawks (3-6) with nine points.
Waipahu 41, Aiea 38: At Aiea, the Marauders held off the Na Alii upset bid with a big third quarter. Trailing 21-17 at the half, Waipahu outscored Aiea, 16-7 in the third quarter as Narita Meana scored six of her team-leading 12 points. Aiea was led by Carissa Manangan's 16 points.
Mililani 45, Waianae 32: At Mililani, Kristen Anderson scored 23 points as the Trojans (4-5) upset the Seariders (7-2). Anderson had 14 points in the first half to help Mililani to a 28-14 lead. Shauntay Fletcher led Waianae with 11 points.
Radford 48, Pearl City 33: At Pearl City, Meleana Kauo scored 11 points, 10 in the second quarter, and Charity Galon had 10 points to lead the Rams. Elizabeth Pacheco paced the Chargers with nine points.,
Leilehua 43, Waialua 23: At Waialua, Te-hina Ickes scored all six of her points in the third quarter to help the Mules rally from a 14-12 halftime deficit. Layren Favre led Leilehua with 17 points. Kayla Kahuli was the high scored for the Bulldogs with nine points.
