Kailua Bay challenge
this Saturday

Kailua Canoe Club will hold its seventh annual Kailua Bay Men's Iron Challenge on Saturday. Registration is at 8 a.m. with the race scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

The start of the race is a LeMans style at Kailua Beach Park. That means that crew members will be on the beach and have to run to their canoes and begin paddling.

The race is approximately 9.5 miles. It is called an iron race because there are no crew changes during the competition. There will be six divisions, including men's open and men's malia open.

"The Kailua Bay Challenge can be a very grueling race, which is one reason why so many crews come out to participate," said race director Carlene Ornelas.

The overall winners receive a perpetual trophy for one of the more difficult events in the racing season.

"If the surf is up, it can be very tricky maneuvering between the Mokulua Islands," course official Mike Willett said. "We set up the course so crews have to do a figure-eight around the two islands and that can be tough going."

Ultimate Frisbee comes on Labor Day weekend

A first-ever "Kona Ultimate Sunfest" ultimate Frisbee tournament is set to fly Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1 and 2, at the Old Airport fields in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tournament, sponsored by Kona Brewing Company, is a co-ed hat tournament designed for players of all levels, including beginners.

Teams are created by sorting players by approximate skill levels, putting players' names in a hat and drawing them out. Four pool-play games are planned on Saturday, and a single elimination tournament based on seedings from the previous day will wrap up the event on Sunday.

The weekend event kicks off with a registration party Friday evening at Kona Brewing Company from 6 to 10 p.m. Gourmet pizzas, salads, sandwiches and Kona Brewing Company's hand-crafted ales and lagers will be available at regular cost. Saturday's Frisbee play runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Following the games, registered players are invited to the Sunfest party at Kona Brewing Company from 6:30 to 11 p.m., featuring free pizza, beer and entertainment. Registration for the tournament is $50 and will be accepted in advance, during the registration party or on the first morning of the tournament.

Hawaii's Own

Benny Agbayani, Mets: The St. Louis School and Hawaii Pacific alumnus started his second straight game, going hitless in two at-bats but walking twice in New York's 6-5 win over Los Angeles.

Mets manager Bobby Valentine started Agbayani even though his left fielder came into the game hitless in eight at-bats against Los Angeles starter Chan Ho Park. He earned a walk with a pair of runners on in the fifth. Agbayani was stranded when Jay Payton struck out.

Agbayani had more of a chance in the seventh, when he stepped to the plate against Giovanni Carrara. Agbayani was 1-for-1 lifetime against Carrara but did not get a chance to put the ball in play, walking with the bases empty and one out. Agbayani was stranded that time too, when Payton grounded into an inning-ending double play two batters later.

Mike Fetters, Pirates: The Iolani School product got in some mop-up work in Pittsburgh's 12-2 loss to the Astros yesterday, pitching an inning and giving up two runs. Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon may have put Fetters in just to get the shelling out of the way. Fetters had not pitched in four days and had surrendered nine runs in 3 2/3innings this year after taking off more than three days in a row.

Chris Truby, Astros: The Damien product replaced Jeff Bagwell at first base in the eighth inning of Houston's 12-2 win over Pittsburgh yesterday, recording a putout in his first chance in his first action in the position in the majors. He got his first major league at-bat since May 14 a half-inning later, grounding into a fielder's choice against Scott Sauerbeck with two runners on. Truby advanced to second on an Orlando Merced single but was doubled off second base when Glen Barker lined out to second to end the inning.

Astros' general manager Gerry Hunsicker said the Astros recalled Truby, a right-handed hitter, to give them more options from that side of the plate off the bench and in the middle infield.

"Right now, we've got several good left-handed options off the bench and not as many right-handed options," He told the Houston Chronicle.

Truby believes his three-month exodus to the minor leagues may have been beneficial to getting on track at the plate.

"I feel like I'm a better player now than when I left," he said.