National softball team
returns for U.S. Cup

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The USA Softball national team returns to Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium this weekend to defend its title in the second annual U.S. Cup.

The round-robin portion of the tournament runs Thursday to Saturday with the finals set for Sunday afternoon.

Australia, China, Canada and Japan join Team USA in the tournament. The U.S. squad defeated China 4-0 in the finals of last year's inaugural event.

Team USA's roster includes two-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Fernandez and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Stacey Nuveman of UCLA. The team is coached by Arizona's Mike Candrea, who was selected to coach the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

Australia's roster includes former Hawaii standouts Felicity Witt and Brooke Wilkins.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and can be purchased at the gate or by calling 595-8763. Tickets are also available at www.hawaiiasa.com.

The tournament schedule (all games at RWSS) follows:

Thursday -- USA vs. Canada, 10 a.m.; China vs. Australia, noon; USA vs. Japan, 3 p.m.; Canada vs. Australia, 5 p.m.

Friday -- Australia vs. Japan, noon; Canada vs. China, 2 p.m.; China vs. Japan, 5 p.m.; USA vs. Australia, 7 p.m.

Saturday -- Canada vs. Japan, 3 p.m.; USA vs. China, 5 p.m.; Fifth-place game, 7 p.m.

Sunday -- Third-place game, 1 p.m.; Championship, 3 p.m.

Mustang and Bronco states at Waipio

Two state PONY Baseball titles will be decided as the Hawaii Region tournaments for the Mustang (ages 9-10) and Bronco (11-12) divisions run Thursday to Monday at Central Oahu Regional Park in Waipio.

Both tournaments are eight-team double-elimination affairs.

The state Mustang champion advances to the West Zone tournament Aug. 2-6 in Chino Hills, Calif. The Mustang World Series is Aug. 8-13 in Irving, Texas.

The Bronco tournament winner moves on to the West Zone Tournament, Aug. 1-5, in Whittier, Calif. The Bronco World Series is Aug. 7-14 in Monterey, Calif.

The Hawaii Region Pony (ages 13-14) Tournament is July 19-23 at Pililaau Community Park.

Shipman picked for U.S. archery team

Phyllis Shipman of Haleiwa has been selected to the United States Archery team, which will participate in the XVII World Field Archery Championships in Canberra, Australia, Sept. 9-14.

Shipman, a former principal at Mililani Uka Elementary School, won her division at the U.S. Field Archery Championships held June 21-23 in Spokane, Wash. She is also ranked 10th in the country among Olympic-style archers.

Bown shines, but U.S. volleyball team loses

Former Hawaii volleyball standout Heather Bown's team-high 14 points couldn't save the U.S. women's national team from a 3-1 loss to Italy on Sunday in Sandy, Utah.

Italy avenged last Friday's loss to the Americans with a 25-16, 16-25, 25-21, 25-18 victory in the second of a four-match series.

Bown, who had 10 points in the series opener, posted 12 kills and two blocks in Sunday's loss. The teams meet again tonight.

Willoughby ends with a loss: At Tijuana, Mexico, Kim Willoughby scored eight points as the U.S. women's national volleyball training team was swept by Argentina on the final day of the Pan American Cup on Sunday.

Willoughby had five kills, two blocks and an ace in the 25-23, 25-20, 25-16 loss. The U.S. finished sixth.