Water polo tournament
gets under way today

Preliminary games begin today in the 33rd annual Hawaiian Invitational Tournament at the University of Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex, and Punahou and Iolani schools' pools.

Games today run 6-9 p.m.

The tournament continues tomorrow through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The championship games will be played Friday and Saturday from 7:50 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UH.

This year's tournament has 96 teams in nine divisions with more than 1,000 people expected to compete. The men's and women's open divisions brought teams from the San Francisco Olympic Club, UC Santa Barbara, Oakland and Fullerton, Calif.

The Hawaii clubs have 24 teams competing. There will also be international competition from New Zealand, England and Canada.

A daily schedule and results will be posted on the Internet at www.tisworld.com. For more information contact David Nickle at 396-2000 (ext. 363).

Metzger, Wong win 3, but lose in final match

After winning three elimination matches to start play yesterday, sixth-seeded Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong of the Association of Volleyball Professionals dropped a three-set match to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Champions from Argentina to place fifth in this week's international event.

Third-seeded Mariano Baracetti and Martin Conde, who captured last week's World Championship in Austria, scored a 21-19, 17-21 and 19-17 decision over the pair from Hawaii.

Maui Broncos grab win in PONY World Series

The Maui Bronco All-Stars won their first game in the PONY Baseball Bronco World Series Friday night by defeating host team Monterey 10-2.

Monterey took an early 2-0 lead, but couldn't hold it.

Maui's next game was last night against Town & Country, a team from Tampa, Fla.

West Oahu 1 win away from World Series

West Oahu defeated Guam 10-2 in the Babe Ruth (11-12 years old) South Pacific Regional final yesterday. The two teams meet again tomorrow in the best of three series. The winner of the series advances to the Babe Ruth World Series at Vincennes, Indiana.

Jayson Yoshimura allowed just 3 hits over 513 innings while striking out 12. West Oahu pounded out 12 hits including four HRs.

Cadiente finishes first at Hershey track

Katherine Cadiente placed first in the 9-10 division of the long jump with an effort of six feet, 11 inches yesterday at the Hershey Youth Program National Track and Field meet held in Pennsylvania.

She was one of seven local athletes to finish in the top six of their respective events. Noela Noga placed third in the 13-14 girls softball throw with a toss of 189 feet, 10 inches.

Kylee Ah Choy also placed third in the 11-12 girls softball throw with an effort of 163 feet, five inches. Kevin Cadiente, Erin Wooldridge, Derek Fainberg and Bronson Tanaka finished sixth in their events.

Hawaii's Own

Benny Agbayani, Mets: The St. Louis and Hawaii Pacific alumnus sat for the third game in a row as New York lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3.

Mike Fetters, Pirates: The Iolani graduate did not pitch as Pittsburgh fell to San Diego 6-2.

Brandon Villafuerte, Rangers: The Hilo native didn't pitch as Texas beat Cleveland 6-5. Worse, he was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma to make room on the roster for outfielder Ruben Sierra. In 5 2/3 innings this season over six appearances, Villafuerte gave up nine runs for a 14.29 ERA, highest on the Rangers' staff. He gave up 12 hits and walked four. He also struck out four.

[TIMEOUT]

Name: Don Meinel

Age: 50

Who: State commissioner for the Amateur Softball Association

Occupation: Chief investigator of corporation counsel at the city attorney's office

Why: "I just like softball. I have good people that help me out and it's good fellowship."

Don Meinel started playing softball in 1978. He's still not quite sure how he ended up as the state commissioner of amateur softball.

"The commissioner at that time was about to retire," Meinel said. "He saw how we ran (our softball club) so he asked me, 'Why don't you come to a meeting?' The next thing I know I'm president of the club. That's how quick it happened. I never got out of it."

And youth softball can be forever grateful for that.

Meinel has been involved in softball at all levels of the game, from coordinating seniors tournaments to organizing leagues for girls under age 10.

He was instrumental in starting the girls fast-pitch junior Olympic program in 1990. In addition to coordinating local tournaments, he helps 2,500 girls qualify and compete in junior tournaments on the mainland.

Meinel was also on the board of directors for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, and he has coached youth baseball.

He especially enjoys working with the children from Special Olympics. Meinel runs clinics for players and coaches.

For Meinel, seeing kids enjoy the sport is the greatest reward for his work. And that is one thing he's sure of.

[WE GET LETTERS]

School acted shamefully

I just wanted to tell you that I go to school in Boston, but I still follow the news about Damien football because my younger brother (Daniel Chaves) plays for them.

I was outraged along with everyone else when their games against St.Louis were canceled.

I'm happy that the Damien administration finally came to its senses by putting the games back on, but let me tell you what I think.

I was an athlete once, and if I practiced hard, worked hard and was determined, and suddenly my coach canceled my game I would feel nothing but shame, thinking that my school thought we weren't good enough to play against a "powerhouse" like St.Louis.

Even rescheduling the games doesn't "right the wrong." I know the Damien football players work their butts off; it's not their fault Damien focuses more on what really counts in life, which is academics, not athletics.

Marie Chaves
Boston, Mass.

[WINNERS & LOSERS]

[WINNERS]

<< Marion Jones: Jones paraded around the track with the flag after winning the 200 meters, and not once did she strike a stupid pose or try to wear the colors as a bathrobe. Maybe the reason she celebrated with such dignity is that she is good enough to know what that winning feeling is like.

Pete Newell: The game has changed and his camp is suffering for it, but for the Shawn Bradleys and Antawn Jamisons out there who aspire to be the antidote to Shaq, there is no one better to turn to than the man who helped create him.

Michelle Wie: Maybe we should just rename this part of the paper "Wies and losers." Ho-hum, the prodigy did it again, this time winning the Stroke Play Championship last week.

[LOSERS]

>> Miles Byrne: Ian Woosnam's former caddy was fired for oversleeping and missing his boss's tee time. Woosnam was forced to find a replacement in the club's dining room, giving Byrne the further indignity of knowing that anyone off the street could do a better job.

Bill Belichick: What is it about this guy that makes players want to stay away? First Joe Panos retired, then Andy Katzenmoyer bolted and blamed a pain in his neck (not Belichick). We don't even want to go into the disappearance of Terry Glenn, but you get the idea.

Wahine volleyball: Barring another setback, Dave Shoji already knows who will be on the floor against Nebraska. But it's hard not to know, when there are barely enough players to scrimmage.