Twitter proves costly for Ching

HOUSTON » Houston Dynamo forward and Kamehameha graduate Brian Ching was fined $500 by Major League Soccer yesterday for criticizing the officiating in a recent match through his Twitter account.

Ching didn't play in Houston's 2-1 loss in Seattle on Saturday because he was playing for the United States at the Gold Cup. Ching watched the Dynamo on television.

Houston led 1-0 when Seattle's Fredy Montero fired a shot in the 32nd minute. Dynamo defender Mike Chabala kicked the ball away near the goal line, but linesman Emiliano Monje said the ball crossed the line and awarded the tying goal.

“;Ref in seattle just cheated the dynamo,”; Ching tweeted. “;What a joke. Not even close. Ref is a cheat.”;

He apologized in two Twitter posts the next morning, blaming “;the heat of the moment.”;

McInerny joins Warriors staff

Tony McInerny, who has coached at the local high school level for nearly 20 years, has joined the coaching staff for the Hawaii men's volleyball team as a volunteer assistant.

McInerny's experience includes seven years at Punahou, his alma mater, at various levels. He's also been the head boys varsity coach at Kaimuki and University, and the varsity coach at La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls.

McInerny played at San Diego State.

Wong, U.S. drop series to Japan

Hawaii's Kolten Wong walked and scored a run, but Team USA dropped an 8-7 decision in 11 innings in the final game of the 37th USA-Japan Collegiate Championships at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo yesterday.

Wong scored in the top of the ninth to help the U.S. take a 7-4 lead. Japan rallied to tie in its half of the inning, then used two errors in the bottom of the 11th to take the deciding game in the best-of-five series.

Wong is hitting .220 for the U.S. in 14 games. The team next competes at the World Baseball Challenge in British Columbia.

Top ODKF award to Fujiyama

Recent Kamehameha graduate Nanea Fujiyama was the top scholarship recipient at the annual Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation luncheon.

Fujiyama, an all-star water polo player and swimmer for the Warriors, will use the $10,000 Duke Kahanamoku Ambassador of Aloha scholarship to help attend Occidental College.

ODKF awarded $191,000 in scholarships and grants to 60 Hawaii athletes and organizations. Complete list on Page 58.

Waikiki beats Kauai in HCBL

The Waikiki Surfers took a two-run lead in the first on run-scoring singles by Mark Anderson and Brent Ohrman en route to a 5-1 victory over the Kauai Menehune in a Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League game yesterday at Central Oahu Regional Park.