Steelers keep ‘Fu’

The Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday secured the rights to Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala by matching the New England Patriots' offer to the restricted free agent running back.

The St. Louis School graduate agreed to a one-year, $700,000 offer with the Patriots last Friday.

"Either way I would have been happy. At New England I would have had a chance for more playing time, but I'm comfortable at Pittsburgh," said Fuamatu-Ma'afala, home for the funeral of his brother, former McKinley star Nick Ma'afala.

Services for Nick Ma'afala, who died April 7 of leukemia at age 33, are tonight at Borthwick Mortuary with the doors opening at 5. Burial is tomorrow at Hawaiian Memorial with services at 10 a.m. and noon.

Wahine to host Vikings

Outfielder Kiauna Anderson leads Portland State into Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium tonight and tomorrow as PSU (17-21, 3-2) meets Hawaii (34-15, 5-3) in Western Athletic Conference doubleheaders.

Anderson paces the Vikings in hitting (.361), homers (4) and RBIs (16).

Morgan Seibert, with a WAC-leading 157 strikeouts, is 12-13 with a 2.71 ERA.

The Wahine, led by WAC reigning Pitcher of the Week Desiree Duran and Player of the Week Natalie Gonzales, are coming off a road trip in which they split six games with nationally ranked Pacific and Fresno State.

Yesterday, UH coach Bob Coolen said he has received letters of intent from two local players -- Iolani infielder Noelle Izumi and Baldwin pitcher Shannon Tabion.

"She's going to bring us middle infield stability," Coolen said of Izumi.

Tabion, the Star-Bulletin Player of the Year, led Baldwin to the state championship in February.

"She's physically imposing and we're excited about what she will achieve with more repetitions," Coolen said.

UH has one partial scholarship remaining, as pitcher Melissa Roberts, an early commitment, has decided to forego UH for medical school in Australia.

Sunday is senior night

It's senior night at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex as Hawaii's water polo women meet San Diego State University in the last conference game of the season this Sunday at 6 p.m.

No. 5 Hawaii (18-7, 2-6) takes on No. 16 Pacific (6-17, 0-9) tomorrow night before the matchup with No. 8 SDSU (18-12, 4-5) on Sunday. All three teams are jockeying for position in next week's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament.

Hawaii seniors Rebecca Angus, Mandy Crawford, Eko Lapp, Amy Morrow, Andy Nishioka and Sarah Shepard will take their senior float following Sunday's match.

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[BASEBALL]

Jerome Williams allows no hits in season debut

WICHITA, Kan. >> The only thing that could stop Jerome Williams last night was a 50-pitch limit imposed by his own coaches.

Williams, the Sheveport Swamp Dragons (Double-A) right-hander from Waipahu, started and allowed no runs, no hits and one walk in three innings against the Wichita Wranglers. He struck out four.

Williams said his fastball and change-up were especially effective, and he spotted his curve for strikes.

Shreveport won, 9-5, with a five-run ninth inning rally.

"My arm feels awesome," said Williams, one of the San Francisco Giants' top prospects. "I could go out and throw another 75 pitches. It's just a relief to get out there on the mound again. Finally I'm there. I didn't even pitch in a game in spring training."

Williams missed much of spring training to be home in Hawaii for the funeral services for his mother, Deborah. He was physically OK, but came off the disabled list this week.

His next start is set for Wednesday, when Shreveport hosts El Paso.

Mets set to activate Agbayani on Tuesday

St. Louis School alumnus Benny Agbayani, who has been on the disabled list with a broken bone on his wrist, was expected to play for the New York Mets in an exhibition against the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides, last night. Results were not immediately available.

The team expects to activate Agbayani, as well as fellow outfielder Timoniel Perez on Tuesday.