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Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, March 15, 2000

Strong basketball
field for Maui
Invitational

November's Maui Invitational college men's basketball tournament will feature one of the strongest fields in the 17-year history of the event.

All seven Division I teams competing in the Nov. 20-22 tournament have qualified for this year's NCAA tournament. Participating will be Arizona, Connecticut, Dayton, Illinois, Louisville, Maryland and UNLV, as well as host Chaminade, a Division II team.

The 2000 Maui Invitational will have six of its games televised on ESPN and ESPN2. Tournament pairings and game times will be announced in August.

Garcia advances in meet

Hawaii's Sunny Garcia continued his destructive path yesterday in the Billabong Pro at Queensland, Australia, winning a much-anticipated surf match-up against California's Taylor Knox.

Garcia took advantage of the newly implemented jetski assistance program. It allows a surfer to be towed back out into the lineup and dropped off at a designated area after a long ride, therefore increasing the chances of more actual surfing.

WAC honor for Wakakuwa

University of Hawaii second baseman/catcher Kenn Wakakuwa has been named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week for March 6-12.

The senior from Hilo batted .563 (9-for-16) and scored six runs to help the Rainbows win four WAC games against Rice and TCU.

Fresno State's Hans Smith was named Pitcher of the Week.

Softball sweep for HPU

Jennifer Woodard and Suzie Schoales pitched four- and five-hitters as Hawaii Pacific swept a softball doubleheader with Texas Women's University, 4-0 and 2-0, yesterday at Kaneohe.

The sweep improved the Sea Warriors' season record to 16-7. The Pioneers slipped to 16-5.