Paddling in
honor of Kukea

GEORGE F. LEE / STAR-BULLETIN
This Hui Nalu Canoe Club men's open team headed for
the finish line yesterday at Maunalua Bay during the
sixth annual Kala Kukea Ironman Challenge. The event
is held in honor of the late waterman/firefighter. For
complete results, please see Scoreboard.

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HPU second best
once again

Star-Bulletin staff

PENSACOLA, Fla. >> For the second straight year, the Hawaii Pacific men's tennis team finished second at the NCAA Division II national championships.

Considering that his Sea Warriors were not expected to be in contention for the title this season, HPU coach Henry Somerville could not fault his team's effort in yesterday's 5-0 loss to Rollins college of Florida.

"It was due to the closeness of the team, that feeling of unity, that put us in a position to get this far,'' said Somerville. "We just ran into a very hot team, one that peaked perfectly.

"We had chances to turn the momentum but all the breaks went their way. The breaks all went our way Saturday (in the semifinal win over No. 1 Drury).

HPU (17-3) fell behind early, losing all three doubles matches. It was the first time since the 1999 tournament that the Sea Warriors had been swept in doubles play.

HPU loses just one player from the team - senior Wojtek Bratek. Among those returning next season is Mikael Maatta, the West Region rookie of the year, who was ranked No. 1 in singles nationally.

The Brigham Young-Hawaii women's tennis team goes for its third consecutive national title today. The Seasiders (36-0) face Lynn (Pa.) today, seeking their 104th consecutive win.

Santos stifles Santa Ana in junior college baseball

Castle High product Reid Santos, a freshman left-hander at Saddleback College, scattered four hits to lead the ninth-seeded Gauchos to a 4-0 upset of No. 1 Santa Ana (Calif.) College Saturday.

Saddleback ended a nine-game losing streak to Santa Ana and became the only the second team to shut out the Dons since 1995.

Santos retired the first nine batters and did not allow a runner past first base after the fourth inning. He had six strikeouts and one walk.

Santos is one of three former Hawaii prep athletes on the Gauchos roster. Also pitching for Saddleback, coached by Kamehameha Schools graduate Jack Hodges, are freshmen Isaac Harbottle (St. Louis) and Kaleo Lopez (Kapaa).

Ballard finishes second in Billabong Pro surfing

Hawaii's Rochelle Ballard finished second to world champion Layne Beachley in yesterday's final of the Billabong Pro in Teahupoo, Tahiti.

Ballard, who earned $6,000, moved from fourth place to second in the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) ratings.

Earlier yesterday, Beachley defeated Hawaii's Keala Kennelly in a semifinal heat. Kennelly, winning $4,000, drop a stop to No. 5 in the world rankings.

Table tennis coming up

The Hawaii State Table Tennis Championships are scheduled for June 9-10 at the Palama Settlement's Weinberg Gym.

Competition begins at 9 a.m. both days. The registration deadline is June 2.

For more information, call Billy Kanae at 247-7194.

Wahine surf event set

The China Uemura's 5th Annual Wahine Surfing Classic is schedule for June 23-24 at Kuhio Beach.

Competition is in longboards, shortboards and bodyboards in age-group divisions from 10-under to 40-over.

The entry fee is $25 by June 16, $50 the day of the event. For more information, call 833-9406.

UOP's Okumura named

University of the Pacific softball player Estee Okumura, a Punahou School graduate, has been named to the District VIII All-Academic team. The sophomore infielder has a 3.54 grade point average.