Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Kai scores again for U.S.
Former Kahuku and University of Hawaii standout Natasha Kai scored a goal in the 80th minute to help the United States defeat Canada 2-0 in an exhibition match yesterday.
After Abby Wambach's penalty kick gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead, Kai clinched the match when she streaked through the Canadian defense. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod stopped her first shot, but Kai kicked in the rebound from 4 yards out for her fifth goal in her eight-game career.
Kalani wins American Legion championship
Mark Factora drove in five runs on his way to picking up Most Valuable Player honors as Kalani defeated Castle 14-2 yesterday in the American Legion state tournament championship game at Hans L'Orange Field.
Kalani advances to the Western Regional in Albuquerque, N.M., which opens Aug. 10. The regional winners qualify for the American Legion World Series, Aug. 18-22 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Kalani took control early, going up 6-1 after two innings, and added six more runs in the fifth.
Factora went 3-for-3 with a double to lead a 16-hit Kalani attack. Cameron Bayne went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Colby Ho went 3-for-3 and scored four runs. Scott and Andrew Uyehara combined for five hits. Micah Takahashi picked up the win for Kalani.
» Jordan Shibata and Kyle Kanaeholo drove in two runs each to lead the Hawaii Island Movers to a 7-1 win over Osaka Gakuin University yesterday at Les Murakami Stadium. The Movers swept a doubleheader against Osaka Gakuin on Saturday, winning 10-5 and 3-0.
Hawaii Select reaches final 4
Winning four games in four days has the undersized Hawaii Select girls basketball squad in the semifinals of the Vision Sports National Youth Basketball Championships in Las Vegas.
Hawaii Select, behind a fierce full-court press, routed Team Fort Worth (Texas) 65-38 in the quarterfinal round yesterday. Shanadee Canon led Hawaii Select with 14 points and Analee Viena Lota added 10.
Defense sparked Hawaii Select. Reserves picked up the slack when center Jamie Smith (Iolani) got into foul trouble.
"We were up eight or nine when she picked up her third foul. Then we went with a lineup that was Jamie Ronolo (Moanalua), Pualei (Alexis Furtado of Kamehameha), Dianna Zane (Roosevelt), Chelsie Sato (McKinley) at the 4 and Ana at the 5," coach Chico Furtado said. "That group caused so much defensive disruption, it was incredible. That group of five built the lead to 23."
Hawaii Select will play in the semifinal round today, but getting past the team from Fort Worth was satisfying.
"This was a pretty good team from Texas. We just played extremely well. They played earlier in the day because they were second in their pool, and they beat a team from Oregon. We saw them hit 12 3-pointers," Furtado said.
"They had a point guard who hit six 3-pointers, so Nicole Fu shut her down. The kids are really putting in gear right now," he added.
Hawaii Select closed pool play on Saturday by defeating Kansas Dream 64-38. The team went 3-0 in pool action.
Hawaii players help U.S. win gold
Sydney Yogi (Punahou) was named the tournament's Best Libero and Kanani Herring (Kamehameha) the Best Receiver as the U.S. Girls Youth National Team swept the Dominican Republic 25-13, 25-22, 25-13 yesterday to win the gold medal at the NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Volleyball Championship at Gainesville, Fla.
"After yesterday's match, we watched the video and made all the adjustments we needed," said Yogi, referring to Saturday's pool-play match against the Dominican Republic that the U.S. won in five. "We were so well prepared and it showed."
Yogi had 11 digs in yesterday's win. Herring added four kills and two blocks. Jordan Meredith (Kamehameha) played in all three games but did not score.
"We wanted to make a statement and dominate them in three games," said Herring, a co-captain. "We took care of business right from the start. It was a great effort by all our team and coaches."
Chow takes first at judo U.S. open
Chrissy Chow won her division and four other Hawaii judokas earned medals on the first day of the Junior U.S. Open in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Chow took the gold at 53 kg juvenile A. In juvenile B, Tani Ader finished second at 57 kg and Taylor Ibera third at 44 kg. All three females represent Hawaii Tenri.
In male juvenile A, Anthony Kwon of Hodokan Judo placed second at 48 kg. David Terao of Shobukan Judo was second at 36 kg.
The U.S. leads the 13-country competition with 225 points and 87 medals after the first day. The Dominican Republic is second with 18 points and six medals.