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Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, November 10, 2000

Dozen teams
in running for
Oahu/Aloha bowls

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Star-Bulletin staff

The list of possible teams for the Jeep Oahu Bowl/Jeep Aloha Bowl Christmas Football Classic has begun to narrow.

"In the Pac-10, we're looking at UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State and even USC, should USC become bowl eligible. Boston College in the Big East is a very good possibility as well as Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia," said Fritz Rohlfing, executive director of the games.

"In the Atlantic Coast Conference, we're looking at either Maryland, Virginia or North Carolina State with Georgia Tech having an outside chance."

The Jeep Oahu Bowl is Dec. 24 and starts at 3:30 p.m. The Jeep Aloha Bowl is Dec. 25 with a 10:30 a.m. start. Both games are at Aloha Stadium. Tickets can be ordered by calling 947-4141.

Murakami slightly improved

University of Hawaii head baseball coach Les Murakami continues to gradually improve, but remains in critical condition and sedated in the intensive care unit at the Queen's Medical Center.

He has slightly improved the last two days, according to a hospital spokesman.

Hawaii athletic director Hugh Yoshida said Wednesday that assistant coach Carl Furutani would conduct the two-week fall practice that begins Monday to maintain the continuity of the program.

Chaminade tip-off

Chaminade University head coach Aaron Griess will unveil his first Silversword basketball team tomorrow in an exhibition game against Yonsei University of South Korea.

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at McCabe Gym. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students other than Chaminade students, who will be admitted free.

The Silverswords' tentative starting lineup includes returnees Kaweo Feeney and Drew Robinson, redshirt C.J. Cowgill and two transfers from Western Michigan, Bobby Brand and Robert Watson.

Agbayani signing session

Benny Agbayani, fresh from his World Series appearance with the New York Mets, will be at the Jackson Auto Group on Nimitz Highway Sunday to sign autographs from 3 to 5 p.m.

The festivities include a Benny "look-alike" contest in 12-and-under and 13-and-over categories for $500 gift certificates to Pearlridge Center. Hot dogs and popcorn will be served.

UH signs volleyball recruit

Delano Thomas, a 6-foot-6 middle blocker from Kennedy High School in Sacramento, Calif., has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for the University of Hawaii.

He is the first UH recruit signed by head coach Mike Wilton during the early signing period.

Thomas, who also played basketball and soccer, was on the U.S. Youth National Team last summer. UH assistant Tino Reyes was an assistant coach for that team.

"Delano picked up the game just three years ago and is a little inexperienced," Reyes said. "But he is young and boasts tremendous athleticism. He has long arms and can touch 11-foot-6."

Snildal, Ifuku all-star picks

Midfielder Jannicke Snildal and defender Tracie Ifuku of Hawaii Pacific University have been named to the Pacific West Conference first team of women's soccer all-stars.

HPU goalkeeper Yonie Espiritu was named to the second team.

Receiving honorable mention were striker Liane Watanabe and midfielders Natasha Ornellas and Amanda Rodrigues of the Sea Warriors.

Six Wahine in regional run

Hawaii will be well-represented in the 6-kilometer women's NCAA Western Regional Cross Country championships tomorrow at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif.

The University of Hawaii's six-women contingent will be led by junior Cheryl Smith, a transfer from SUNY-Cortland, who won her first four races before finishing third at the Western Athletic Conference championships.

Smith and junior teammate Casey McGuire-Turcotte (sixth in the WAC race) recently were named to the All-WAC first team.

Other Wahine competing in the regional will be seniors Lisa Davis and Sadie Martin, junior Courtney Barlow and sophomore Diane Kohara.

Pac-10 champion Stanford's Victoria Chang, a freshman, could also be a factor in the regional.

Chang, a Punahou graduate who won the Foot Locker National Cross Country title last year, was fifth in the Pac-10 championships.

Sophomore Eri Macdonald, Hawaii's only four-time state prep cross country champion, will represent Oregon.