Bulldogs are coaches’
choice to win WAC
softball crown

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The Western Athletic Conference softball coaches selected Fresno State to win the WAC regular season title, with Hawaii and Tulsa finishing in a tie for second place in the annual preseason poll.

Last season was the first time in seven years that the Bulldogs didn't receive the honor, the nod going to UH's Rainbow Wahine. Fresno State did go on to win the WAC, and is back on top as the preseason No. 1.

Last year's player and pitcher of the year, Hawaii's Kate Judd and Fresno State's Jamie Southern, respectively, are picked to repeat. UH also landed Stacey Porter and Denise Dahlberg on the preseason all-WAC squad. Fresno State and Tulsa also had three players picked for the honor by conference coaches.

UH opens play Feb. 6 at the Chevron Paradise Classic.

Kaiser names Ho as baseball coach

Peter Ho, a former standout athlete at Kaiser High School, returns to his alma mater as head varsity baseball coach this season. Ho is a physical education teacher at McKinley, where he was the head baseball coach from 1986 to 1992.

"His being a teacher will help our program," Kaiser athletic director Ricky Shimokawa said. "We had several applicants for the job and he was the best."

Ho replaces Duke Chinen, the Kaiser coach since 1999.

The Cougars head coaching positions are now filled, said Shimokawa, who took over the AD post for retired Bill von Arnswaldt last year.

Adolph Samuels was named girls varsity soccer coach and Craig Okazaki girls junior varsity soccer coach recently.

Kahuku's Peters nets Gatorade honor

Tuli Peters of state champion Kahuku has been named the Gatorade Hawaii High School Volleyball Player of the Year.

State winners are the latest inductees into the Gatorade Circle of Champions and are finalists for the national player of the year award, to be announced Jan. 28.

Grand Slam helps non-profit organization

Non-profit organization Ready To Learn reports that it recently raised more than $6,800 in conjunction with the 2002 PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Poipu, Kauai.

The Grand Slam, which features the winners of golf's four major championships, pairs with a non-profit organization each year. Ready To Learn provides school supplies to needy children statewide. For more information, see www.readytolearnhawaii.org.