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Hawaii Beat
The Single-A Bakersfield Blaze, managed by Hawaii's Lenn Sakata, clinched the California League North Division second half baseball title last weekend with a 9-1 victory over the San Jose Giants. Sakata, Blaze clinch
Just eight days earlier, the Blaze trailed Visalia by 4 games.
"Everyone's pretty happy right now," Sakata was quoted in the Bakersfield Californian.
"The confidence level is high and we're playing pretty good."
Sakata, a former Kalani High School player, played in the Major Leagues for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers.
In other minor league baseball news, Jerome Williams, the former Waipahu High School pitcher, was promoted from Single-A San Jose to the Double-A Shreveport Captains.
Ballard advances in surf
In a battle of two Hawaii surfers, Rochelle Ballard defeated Megan Abubo yesterday to advance to the semifinals of the Billabong Pro surf contest at the Cavaliers surf break in Anglet, France.Australia's Layne Beachley, Brazil's Tita Tavares and the U.S.'s Lisa Andersen also surfed into the semifinals.
Due to small waves early today, competition was postponed.
If wave-size doesn't increase tomorrow, contest officials may move the venue to nearby Mundaka, Spain.
Aikau first in surf contest
Zane Aikau took the first place prize of $500 in the Vans Pro Division in the Hawaiian Style Hana Hou! Challenge surf contest last weekend at Kuhio Beach.The event wrapped up the 200O Ocean Club series.
Other winners in various divisions were Kelli Heath, Pinoi Makalena, Ben Kealoha Jr., Patrick Fukuda, Kiva Rivers, Tommy Chun-Ming, Robert Snelling, Bob Kim, Gabby Makalena, Jamie Ballenger and Kevin Meyer.