Sports Update
Most of the time, Darren Blakely enjoys smiling for the camera. Rainbows' win
By Paul Arnett
comes with a price
Star-BulletinBut last night's photo shoot in the University of Hawaii training room was one he could do without.
The talented outfielder for the Rainbows was plunked on the kneecap in the seventh inning by Nevada-Las Vegas pitcher Luke Anderson, eventually forcing Blakely to leave the game.
While Hawaii was busy putting the finishing touches on a 15-4 series-opening win over Western Athletic Conference opponent UNLV, Blakely's kneecap posed for a couple of pictures.
"They don't think anything's broke," Blakely said to family and friends after returning to Rainbow Stadium on crutches. A UH trainer was reticent to read the results of the X-rays in his hands, but it appears it's not a season-ending injury.
It's certainly one UH head coach Les Murakami can do without. Blakely's pain threshold will likely determine whether he plays over the next two days.
The Rainbows also will be without outfielder Neal Honma -- who strained a hamstring -- and could lose Daren Masanda as well. He went 3-for-4 and scored three runs before tweaking his knee rounding first base.
"I'm going to go put some ice on it right now and see if I can get myself ready for (tonight's) game," the senior second baseman said. "I don't know why we have all these injuries. But winning makes it easier to live with the pain."
Yes, the Rainbows won again. They are 3-9 in West Division play and 11-27 overall. Perhaps more importantly, Hawaii is 5-5 over its last 10 games.
STOCKTON, Calif. -- The topography lesson continues for the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team. There can be no more dips into the valleys of defeat if the Rainbows want to continue their climb up toward a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoff berth. UH keeps hopes alive
Staff and wire reportsHawaii kept its postseason hopes alive last night with a 17-16, 15-6, 13-15, 15-6 win over Pacific at the Spanos Center. The ninth-ranked Rainbows (16-9 overall, 8-8 MPSF) meet the No. 10 Tigers (13-9, 6-9) again at 7 tonight in a match Hawaii has to win to stay in the playoff picture.
The Rainbows finish the regular season next Friday and Saturday at the Special Events Arena against Southern Cal. The Trojans (12-9, 9-7) and Hawaii are among the five teams with legitimate shots at the four remaining MPSF playoff berths.
"We've got to get it done (tonight) then get back for some home cooking," said Hawaii coach Mike Wilton. "I think if we win our next three, we're a lock at 11-8. If we're only 10-9, then it's pretty sketchy."
Anthony DiIeso is the latest recruit to commit to the University of Hawaii football program. Rainbows get a JC fullback
By Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinThe Glendale (Ariz.) Junior College standout is a 5-foot-10, 225-
pound fullback, who was named the most valuable player in the Valley of the Sun junior college championship bowl game.
''He is the real deal, let me tell you,'' UH assistant coach Doug Semones said of DiIeso. ''Anthony has good size and speed. To be MVP in the game is a really big deal. He'll join us in August.
DiIeso is the 20th junior college recruit to commit to the program and the 30th player overall. Hawaii has signed more than 25 players because not all of them may become academically eligible this summer.
EARLY KICKOFF ANNOUNCED: UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida announced the season-opening kickoff between Hawaii and Minnesota will be moved to 3 p.m.
There have been several studies conducted about moving kickoff times from 7 p.m. to an earlier part of the day to see if it would help with sagging attendance figures.
Hawaii Pacific University needed to win both games to qualify for possible selection to the NAIA Far West Sectional Baseball Playoffs next month and did just that. Sea Warriors win key games
Star-Bulletin SportsThe Sea Warriors (19-14) ended their regular season by defeating the University of Hawaii at Hilo, 3-0 and 3-2, last night at Hans L'Orange Park.
Gerrard Gier scattered 10 hits to win the opener and tie the school record for victories in a season with eight and set a record for winning percentage (.889, 8-1).
DUARTE WINS: At Las Vegas, Maui's Myron Duarte rode Itchy Twitchy for 79 points and won $2,500 on day two of the Bull Riders Only Wrangler's World Championship yesterday.
TSUNAMI OPEN SEASON: The Hawaii Tsunami professional soccer team begins its 1997 season with a preseason match against the Portola Valley Soccer Club from San Francisco tonight at the Kaiser High School field.
The match starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 299-8383.
VULCANS SWEEP SEASIDERS: Jennifer Medel scattered two hits over five innings and Rayne Tomasso's run-scoring double highlighted a five-run fourth as the University of Hawaii at Hilo shut out Brigham Young-Hawaii, 9-0, in the first game of a Hawaii Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at the BYUH campus field.
The Vulcans completed the sweep with a 7-1 victory in the second game. UHH improved to 21-12 while BYUH fell to 2-21.
Narita Meana and Lani Gatoloai each scored 14 points as the Waipahu Marauders defeated the Leilehua Mules, 47-26, in an Oahu Interscholastic Association girls' basketball game last night at the Marauders gym. Marauders over Mules
Star-Bulletin StaffWaipahu got a quick start with a 13-3 first-quarter run and built the lead to 23-5 at halftime.
Moevasa Moele added 10 points for Waipahu.
Leilehua was led by Jamie Harlor's 10 points.
Waianae 47, Pearl City 36:
The Iolani Raiders jumped out to a 25-6 halftime lead and never looked back in defeating the Mid-Pacific Owls, 51-21, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls' basketball game at the Raiders gym. ILHbasketball
Lisa Glendenning, Tiffany Ahuna and Karyn Fitisemanu all scored 10 points for Iolani.
Ashley Watamura led Mid-Pacific with eight points.
