Wong doubles in U.S. baseball win

Hawaii's Kolten Wong went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in the U.S. National Team's 5-2 win over Team Canada yesterday in the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.

Wong started at third base for Team USA. Hitting ninth in the order, he drove in the final U.S. run of the game in the ninth inning with his fourth double of his summer tour with the national team.

Wong has started 15 of 18 games and is hitting .222 for the U.S., which plays Germany today. This week's tournament wraps up the national team's summer schedule.

Smethurst shuts out Italy

Former University of Hawaii pitcher Justine Smethurst surrendered one hit and struck out 11 in Australia's 8-0, five-inning win over Italy yesterday in the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City. Australia's win sets up a rematch with the United States in today's championship game.

Smethurst took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and faced just one batter over the minimum. Former UH standout Stacey Porter scored a run for Australia.

Porter and former Rainbow Wahine third baseman Clare Warwick went a combined 0-for-3 in Australia's 8-0 loss to the U.S. earlier in the day. Incoming UH freshman Kaia Parnaby pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up a grand slam.

Waves hold off Paniolos

Ralph Knese went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs to lead the Waimea Waves to a 5-3 win over the Kamuela Paniolos in a Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League game yesterday at Mililani High School.

Kevin Mihalik had two doubles and two RBIs for the Paniolos.

» Erik Wallace struck out nine over six innings and the Kauai Menehune defeated the Oahu Paddlers 8-4.

» Johnathan Erb and Kenneth Socorro drove in two runs each in the Hawaii Aliis' 14-3 win over the Waikiki Surfers.

Wong, Olson lose in AVP final

Punahou graduate Kevin Wong and partner Matt Olson lost to the team of Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal 21-17, 23-21 in the final of the AVP Crocs Slam Manhattan Beach Open yesterday.

Gibb and Rosenthal also defeated the top-seeded team of Sean Scott (Hawaii/Punahou) and John Hyden 13-21, 21-17, 15-12.

Strickland joins UH tennis staff

Bridgette Strickland has been hired as an assistant coach for the Hawaii women's tennis team.

Strickland competed for Utah State the past three years. She was a three-time All-Western Athletic Conference academic selection.

Palolo Gym hosts boxing matches

USA Boxing and the Kawano and Palolo boxing clubs will sponsor amateur matches next Saturday at Palolo District Park Gym.

Bouts begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Boxers ages 8 to 34 interested in competing need to be registered with USA Boxing. For more information, contact Bruce Kawano at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

PACWEST PLACE

UH-Hilo names AD finalists

Three finalists have been selected for the athletic director position at Hawaii-Hilo, vice chancellor and acting athletic director Dr. Luoluo Hong announced yesterday.

The finalists for the job of leading the NCAA Division II program are:

» Dexter Irwin, Dixie State athletic director

» Joshua Doody, Notre Dame de Namur athletic director

» Dr. Troy Franklin, former Mid-Plains Community College Area associate dean of student life and former New Mexico State associate athletic director for student development

The finalists were selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants for the post and will meet with the university community and the public beginning tomorrow.

Those interested in attending public receptions to meet the finalists should contact Audrey Hirayama at 974-7520.