Sports Update
UH coach von Appen fires offensive coordinator
Don Lindsey spent his last day as the University of Hawaii defensive coordinator watching the second round of the United Airlines Hawaiian Open with his daughter.He knew Friday afternoon that he would slide over and replace Wally English as the offensive coordinator, whom head coach Fred vonAppen finally fired Friday night.
"As a coach, you feel bad when something like this happens," Lindsey said. "But I'll do whatever Fred wants me to do."
Rumors of English's departure have been circulating through vonAppen's camp since the day after the Notre Dame game. But the third-year head coach wanted to wait until after recruiting was over before addressing the changes he made with his staff.
Tom Williams replaces Lindsey as defensive coordinator and graduate-assistant Troy Thomas becomes a full-time defensive coach.
"You're never entirely happy when changes come about, but I don't want to taint the promotions we made from within," vonAppen said last night.
"Tom Williams' contribution to recruiting and the technical aspects he brings to the field have been outstanding. I believe he's an up-and-coming superstar. It's an excellent opportunity for him.
"As for Coach Lindsey, we need a teacher, who can convey to the offense what he has done for our defense the last two years. He can coach anything or anybody. We want to strive for more continuity on offense."
Lindsey will be the fifth offensive coordinator in as many years for the Rainbows, who have gone from an option offense, to a West Coast offense, to a dropback offense the past three seasons.
Kalaheo takes fifth OIA title in a row
Years from now, if someone looks back at the box score for the 1998 Oahu Interscholastic Association basketball championship game, they'll see Kaleo Morton scored only two points.What they won't remember is that Morton, a 5-foot-11 junior who came off the bench in the second quarter, was the real hero of Kalaheo's 54-45 victory over defending two-time state champion Moanalua before about 1,500 fans Friday night at the Blaisdell Arena.
What Morton did in helping the Mustangs take their fifth straight OIA title was to cool off Ramsey Williams, the most dangerous streak shooter in postseason play the past two years.
Rainbows turn the tables on the Seminoles
The No. 20 University of Hawaii Rainbows turned the tables on the No. 18 Florida State Seminoles at Rainbow Stadium Friday night.After a first inning that forecast disaster for a third consecutive night, the Rainbows (12-3) used the FSU (6-4) formula of solid pitching and timely hitting to pound out a 9-6 victory before 1,397 fans.
Junior left-hander Troy Yoshimasu managed to weather a five-run, Seminole first inning. Then, with more trouble on the horizon, the Rainbows turned their first triple play since 1986 to abruptly end the second inning.
"I kind of got frustrated with the balk call (in the first inning). I couldn't find the strike zone," Yoshimasu said.
"After the second inning, I found my arm slot (angle) to throw lower strikes. I adjusted to the umpire too. He was a bit high and his zone was a little small, but you can't fight the ump."
Asked which pitches were working well for him, Yoshimasu answered, "Actually nothing. I just had a fastball that I could keep low and get ground balls."
When he went to his change-up or slider he wasn't able to throw either for strikes.
"He just threw strikes. He was around the plate, not all over the place. He kept the ball down except for the first inning," UH head coach Les Murakami said.