University High School has hired Larry Sakamoto as its new head softball coach. Sakamoto to coach
softball for Jr. ’BowsBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comSakamoto takes over for Willard Gilbert, who retired after 13 seasons with the Junior 'Bows.
"I'm excited," Sakamoto said. "I'm just trying to bring a different style of softball, trying to teach softball to these kids and hopefully they'll enjoy themselves along the way."
Sakamoto previously worked with the Pac-Five baseball program and coached the junior varsity softball team at Iolani and the intermediate squad at Kamehameha. He has also coached in community leagues with the Pearl City Pearls.
Practice for Interscholastic League of Honolulu teams starts on Monday and the regular season opens Dec. 11. Sakamoto said he will keep the Junior 'Bows' preseason schedule to a minimum as he implements his system.
"I'm familiar with a few of the girls, but not a lot of them," he said. "I'm looking at it as we're starting from scratch. Everybody starts on even terms, there's no returnees, everyone's new to me."
Sakamoto said the school's annual Thanksgiving Softball Classic will not be held this year due to the transition, but may be resumed in the future.
In his tenure as coach, Gilbert led University to the ILH Division I title in 1996 and state tournament appearances in 1990 and '96. Nine of his players went on to earn NCAA Division I scholarships.
Change at the top: Moanalua will soon begin the search for a new football coach after the school's administration decided not to renew the contract of Jose Guevara.
Guevara, an educational assistant at Moanalua, had coached in the Menehune program for 14 years, the last eight as head coach. Moanalua posted a 1-7 record in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's White Conference this season.
Moanalua athletic director Dana Dias said coaches are hired on a year-to-year basis and the decision to change coaches was made during the program's postseason evaluation.
"We appreciate Coach Guevara's years of service for our student-athletes, but we're looking for a new direction," Dias said. "He wants what's best for the program, unfortunately that sometimes means making changes and he's fully aware of that."
Dias said recent disputes between the coaching staff and team parents did not factor into the decision. She said she did receive a petition signed by 18 parents calling for Guevara's removal as coach in late September.
Dias said the school will advertise the position in the coming weeks with a deadline set for early December.
Keep on rolling: The OIA individual bowling titles will be decided tomorrow at the league's championship matches at Schofield Lanes.
The OIA team championships are Nov. 5, also at Schofield Lanes.
Aiea has won the last four boys team titles. Pearl City is the defending girls champion.
HHSAA renews with HSN: The Hawaii High School Athletic Association has reached an agreement to extend its television deal with Hawaii Sports Network through the 2004-05 school year.
"We're pleased to extend our relationship with HSN and look forward to their continued great coverage of our state tournaments," HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said.
HSN is scheduled to broadcast 15 state championship events this school year starting with the girls volleyball title match on Nov. 16 from Hilo.
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Athletes of the Week
BOYS
>> Akamu Aki, Baldwin football: Caught 10 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' 40-0 win over Lahainaluna.
GIRLS
>> Alicia Arnott, La Pietra volleyball: Recorded 28 kills and two aces in La Pietra's 15-1, 15-13, 14-16, 15-5 win over Hawaii Baptist.
Honor Roll
AIR RIFLERY
>> Stephen Alcoran, Leilehua: Won the OIA boys individual title with a score of 266.
>> Tricia Warashina, Kapolei: Captured the OIA girls individual title with a score of 241. She won a tiebreaker with McKinley's Diane Lui.
>> Lorrance Majewski, Pearl City: Led the Chargers to the OIA championship by shooting a 265 against Kapolei in the league's boys finals.
>> Chelsey Villanueva, Kapolei: Shot a 240 in the Hurricanes' victory over Waipahu in the OIA girls championship match.
>> Vicci Yau, Punahou: Recorded a total of 535 to win the ILH girls individual title.
>> Eric Okamoto, St. Louis: Won the ILH boys individual title with a score of 543.
BOWLING
>> Jesse Cummings, Pearl City: Rolled a 246 in the Chargers boys team's 2-1 win over Kapolei.
>> Jodi Ann Gum, Pearl City: Bowled a 234 for the Chargers girls team against Kapolei.
CROSS COUNTRY
>> Kari Tanimoto, Pearl City: Won the girls race at the OIA Western Division championships with a time of 12 minutes, 27 seconds.
>> Ehren Ching, Mililani: Finished first in the boys race at the OIA West finals with a time of 16:51.
>> Pippa Macdonald, Punahou: Won the girls race at Saturday's ILH meet with a time of 11:50.
>> J.B. Bolson, Kamehameha: Ran three miles in 16:55 to win the boys race at the ILH meet.
FOOTBALL
>> Matt Bell, Farrington: Ran for 176 yards and two TDs in a 41-8 win over Leilehua.
>> Nate Adams, Mililani: Made a leaping catch of a Sean Fujimoto pass to score the winning TD with eight seconds left in a win over Nanakuli.
>> Billy Barbour, Mililani: Rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Nanakuli.
>> Ikaika Asinsin, Nanakuli: Rumbled for 185 yards in the Golden Hawks' loss to Mililani.
>> Isaiah Iaea, McKinley: Caught four passes for 146 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' 27-7 win over Waipahu.
>> Michael Donahoo, Baldwin: Threw five touchdown passes against Lahainaluna.
>> Justin Cabansag, St. Louis: Rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the Crusaders' 35-3 win over Iolani.
>> Kahe Santos, Kamehameha: Racked up 198 total yards in a 28-7 win against Pac-Five.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
>> Nathan Kurohara, Christian Liberty: Had 11 kills, 11 digs and three blocks in a BIIF win over Laupahoehoe.
>> Campbell boys team: Earned its first ever trip to the state tournament with a 13-15, 15-3, 15-6 victory over Kalaheo in the OIA tournament quarterfinals.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
>> Patti Hardimon, Moanalua: Hammered 11 kills in 12 attempts in the Menehunes' 15-2, 15-11 win over Nanakuli in the quarterfinals of the OIA playoffs.
>> Tamari Miyashiro, Kalani: Hit .455 in putting down 11 kills and leading the Falcons to a 15-8, 16-14 win over Kalaheo.
>> Ashley Kau, University: Averaged 14 kills and 12 assists in the Junior 'Bows' victories over St. Andrews, Sacred Hearts and Maryknoll to win the ILH consolation tournament.
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday: To nominate ...
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
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