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Local boxing legend dies

Boxing great Frank Mehia Fernandez of Wailuku, Maui, died Wednesday at Hale Nani Nursing home.

Fernandez, 82, might have been Hawaii's greatest fighter to never challenge for a title, preferring to stay home to ply his trade after turning professional. He went 15-9-1 with 8 KOs from 1946 to 1954, rising into the top 10 among welterweights despite fighting all but four of his contests in Honolulu.

"He was typical of a lot of Hawaiian kids," said Bobby Lee, who lost to Fernandez by TKO in the third round of an amateur bout. "Frankie could have made it real big, but he didn't want to leave home. ... I thought he could have become a world champion. He just didn't care about such stuff."

Fernandez's amateur career, however, was spent representing Hawaii all over the country. The closest he came to a national title was in the AAU championships in San Francisco in front of more than 7,000 fans in 1939, when he finished second to Hawaii's Jose Mercado in the lightweight division. It was the first national title for a Hawaii boxer.

One of his most memorable fights was at Honolulu Stadium in 1948, when he knocked out Tommy Bell in the 10th round, putting the visitor in the hospital. He also fought Chico Varona, Livio Minelli, Beau Jack and Bernard Docusen.

Fernandez later became a lineman for Hawaiian Electric.

"We always used to hand out the fighters' checks at noon the day after a fight," Lee said. "We would have long lines of hungry fighters wanting their money, but Frankie would never pick it up until a week later. I asked him why and he said: 'I was only going to put it in the bank anyway.' "

Services will be held Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. and Mass at 11 a.m. with burial to follow at Diamond Head Cemetery.

Rainbow Wahine look to move over .500

Hawaii softball coach Bob Coolen expected some rough spots going into this season after losing three top sluggers from last year's team that won the Western Athletic Conference.

But he did not expect his Rainbow Wahine to be 18-19 going into tonight's WAC-opening doubleheader against visiting Texas-El Paso (5 p.m. start at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium).

"We haven't found the right lineup yet," said Coolen, whose team is batting .240. "We only have two players over .300 (Stacey Ritter at .348 and Tyleen Tausaga at .307). I knew we'd struggle at the plate trying to get consistent. We've played some good games, then play some really bad games."

Last year's pitching ace, Melissa Coogan, has been hurt by the lack of steady offense. She is 6-10 with a 2.24 ERA. Shannon Tabion, who will share starting duties with Coogan tonight and in tomorrow's doubleheader, has fared better with a 12-6 mark, including a perfect game and a 1.87 ERA.

As for UTEP, the Miners are 7-25 and 0-2 in the WAC in their first season.

"They're experiencing first-year experiences," Coolen said. "They have a couple of good hitters, but their team ERA is over 4.00. That goes with the territory for a first-year program, but they'll come out hard."

Seasiders win 88th straight tennis match

Anna Lewis lost her first singles match of the season, but the Brigham Young-Hawaii women's tennis team beat Ouachita Baptist 8-1 at Pensacola, Fla., to run its winning streak to 88.

Lewis, who is ranked No. 25 in the country, lost to Inga Ziemina 6-4, 6-0. It was the first time this season, which is 22 matches old, that a Seasider has lost a singles match. The Seasiders won the other singles matches in sweeps, including Amy Sun's 6-0, 6-0 dismantling of Casey Danner.

BYUH men start different streak: The No. 3 BYUH men's team lost its second straight match yesterday, falling 5-4 to No. 12 Ouachita Baptist.

The Seasiders lost two of the three doubles matches and couldn't do better than split the six singles matches.

Jan Krejci, Hong Tae Kim and Dorian Porada won their matches and Dillon Porter, Leon So'onalole and Jeff Rice lost their matches.

Sea Warriors drop series opener in California

Greg Benoit went 3-for-3 at the plate, but pitcher Kai Austin gave up six earned runs in seven innings and the Hawaii Pacific baseball team dropped a game to Cal State San Bernardino 7-5 yesterday.

The Sea Warriors loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but allowed Coyotes closer Darren Koshko to strike out Kyle Stanley and Ikaika Dupont to end the threat.

HPU dropped to 18-18, while CSSB improved to 22-13. It was the first of a four-game series at Arrowhead Credit Union Park in San Bernardino.

Aloha Section PGA now accepting applications

The Aloha Section PGA is accepting applications for the 2004 Aloha Section Junior PGA Championship on June 17-18.

The 12-and-under tournament will be at the Naniloa Country Club in Hilo. The 13-17 age groups will compete at The Turtle Bay Resort Fazio Course.

Winners in the 13-17 age division will advance to the national Westfield Junior PGA Championship July 14-17 at Westfield Center, Ohio.

Junior golfers can get entry forms at their local junior golf associations or may call the Aloha Section PGA at 593-2230.

Waikoloa kicks off youth program with tourney

Waikoloa Beach and Golf Resort kicks off its 2004 Junior Golf Program with a two-person team tournament April 17 on its Kings' Course.

Teams will consist of one adult and one junior, with a nine-hole alternate-shot scramble formula. Teams will be divided into 10-under, 11-12 and 13-older junior-golfer formats.

Cost is $50 per team for non-Waikoloa members and $25 per team for members. The fee includes lunch, and junior winners will receive prizes.

For information, call Brett Buchanan at (808) 886-6060.

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