Kapolei anticipates
a tough challenge
from Saint Louis
It's still more than four months away, but Kapolei football coach Darren Hernandez is already pumped up for the Sept. 3 preseason game against Saint Louis.The Hurricanes have only been in existence at the varsity level for two seasons, so they'll get a chance to see how they match up against one of the state's winningest football programs.
A year ago, Kapolei won the Oahu Interscholastic Association White regular-season championship, but lost to Aiea in the conference title game and to Damien in the first round of the state D-II playoffs.
"It's a big step up for our program," said Hernandez, whose team moves up from the OIA White to the Red for the first time this season. "We lost some name players last year, but a lot of our young guys have a lot of experience and many of our seniors are three-year veterans. We have a lot of work to do to be ready for that game. It's not going to be easy."
Hernandez, who is an assistant with the Hawaiian Islanders arenafootball2 team, has been lightheartedly discussing the contest with two Islanders players who happen to be in the Crusaders' hierarchy -- quarterback Darnell Arceneaux, who is the Saint Louis head coach, and wide receiver/defensive back Eddie Klaneski, who is a Crusaders assistant.
Mustangs injury report: Kalaheo girls basketball coach Chico Furtado isn't complaining too much, but his team could have been dealt better cards as far as injuries are concerned.
Here's a list of Mustang players with ailments: wing Taylor Smith (broken foot), center Kaiena Huihui (ligament damage to arch in foot), guard Brianne Villarosa (will have surgery on anterior cruciate ligament in knee), post Hali Travis (pulled ACL on one knee last year, hurt ACL in other knee in recent game), guard Malia Samson (tore ACL during volleyball season, is just coming back), and backup point guard Kandice Kinney (still bothered by torn ACL from last season).
Track athletes to watch: At a recent meeting, track and field coordinators of all Hawaii leagues were asked for a few of the names of athletes to watch in the upcoming end-of-season meets. Their selections included Word of Life throwers and sisters Careena and Shayna Onosai, Kamehameha jumper Waika Spencer, Kapaa sprinter Joseph Locey, Seabury Hall distance runner Tia Ferguson, Baldwin sprinter Laura Amano, Hilo thrower Crystal Moore, Kealakehe sprinter Fran Weems, and Waialua hurdler Lorin Millota.
ILH, MIL to square off: The Interscholastic League of Honolulu has only one definite berth to the May 18-21 state baseball tournament at Murakami Stadium. It's a change from last year, when the ILH was awarded two berths.
The change is due to an increase of participating schools in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation. With 13 teams, the BIIF gets three spots in the states.
Like the ILH, the Maui Interscholastic League is guaranteed only one state slot. Both leagues have eight teams.
A state tourney play-in game -- featuring the ILH and MIL runner-ups -- is set for May 15 at Maehara Stadium on Maui.
Younger brother busy, too: Kauai's Kirby Yates, the younger brother of New York Mets right-handed starter Tyler Yates, pitched a two-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader against Waimea last Saturday.
He watched Tyler's major league debut on satellite TV and said, "It was one of the best things of my life."
Kirby could only watch two innings because he had to go to practice.
"I watched him strike out Jose Vidro, who has been in the All-Star Game, so that was really neat," he said.
Kirby said the Red Raiders, who went to the states a year ago, are hitting the ball better this season.
The team, however, is without injured No. 1 pitcher Alec Reichle, who was in a car accident and broke his right ankle prior to the season opener.
Champs seek game in Hawaii: Bellevue High School in Seattle is looking to play a Hawaii football team in 2005.
"We'd love to play a good program, and I think it would be a fantastic trip for our kids," said coach Butch Goncharoff, who has guided the Wolverines to three straight Division 3-A titles. They beat Walla Walla, the state's 4-A (highest division) champion, 35-7 in the regular season last year.
Bellevue, which opens the 2004 season against national power De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), visited Hawaii in 1982 to play against Radford, according to Goncharoff.
Rough Riders make waves: The Roosevelt girls basketball team (6-2) was classified as a Division II team this year, but it has a shot to do some damage in the OIA D-I playoffs.
The Rough Riders automatically qualify for D-I if they finish in the East's top four.
"We'd rather stay up in Division I," Roosevelt coach Bobby Keanini said. "It's a powerful league we're playing in, but we're playing some tough ball."
Sophomore forward Tati Beasley and junior ballhandler Chelsie Kadota are two of the team's sparkplugs.
Two more Cardinals sign: St. Joseph girls volleyball players Lindsey Lee and Jazmin Pa'akaula joined Ashley Hanohano by signing national letters of intent to play for Fairfield University (Conn.). Lee is a 5-foot-5 middle hitter and Pa'akaula is a 5-10 outside hitter, while Hanohano is a 5-7 setter.
Diver to junior nationals: St. Andrew's Priory diver Aleia Monden is going to Austin, Texas, this weekend to compete in a junior national tournament.
Monden broke a 21-year-old record in the 1-meter event at the state meet in February with a 471.65.
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Athletes of the Week
>> Tristan Bailey, Campbell baseball: Pitched a two-hitter to knock Leilehua from the unbeaten ranks.
>> Mei Li Nickles, Mililani track and field: Captured six gold medals at the OIA Relays. She won the high jump, long jump and triple jump and was part of three winning relay teams.
Honor Roll
BASEBALL
>> Kirby Yates, Kauai: Pitched a two-hitter to beat Waimea.
>> Jared Keyes, Baldwin: Hit a homer in the bottom of the seventh to beat Lahainaluna.
>> Shaun Kiriu, Punahou: Struck out eight batters in a 6-0 shutout of Saint Louis.
>> Ryan Asato, Mid-Pacific: Went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer and five RBIs in a win over Pac-Five.
>> Peter Kirst, Maryknoll: Pitched the Spartans to their first win of the season, against Damien.
>> Randy Kitagawa, Kalani: Pitched a one-hitter to beat Moanalua.
>> Ryan Rodrigues, Kailua: Hit two home runs in a loss to Farrington.
>> Andy Uehara, Kaiser: Drove in five runs in a win over Kaimuki.
>> Ryan Tsutsui, Mililani: Pitched a complete game and went 4-for-4 in a win over Waianae.
>> Marc Nobriga and Johnny Gentry, Saint Louis: Nobriga pitched a three-hitter and Gentry went 4-for-4 in a win over Iolani.
>> Rex Yamaguchi, Pearl City: Drove in five runs in a win over Waialua.
>> Ranson Silva, Waianae: Hit a game-winning, two-run single against Kapolei.
>> Reyn Kimura, Kaiser: Pitched a three-hitter to beat Castle.
>> Kalani Yoshimura, Roosevelt: Pitched a two-hitter to beat Farrington.
BASKETBALL
>> Taryn Fukuroku, Maui: Scored 33, including 23 of 34 free throws, in a win over King Kekaulike.
>> Jasmine Vieira, Mid-Pacific: Hit a runner at the buzzer to beat Kamehameha for the first time in the school's history.
>> Eryn Chun and Christine Takara, Punahou: Chun had 10 steals and Takara added eight in a win over Sacred Hearts.
>> Tammie Andres, Maryknoll: Scored 21 in a win over Sacred Hearts.
>> Joanne Czumalowski, Radford: Scored 16 points in a win over Waipahu and scored the go-ahead free throw in an overtime win over Pearl City.
>> Kira Nakasono, Waialua: Scored 26 in a loss to Campbell.
>> Randi Farstad, Kalaheo: Hit two pressure free throws with 4.9 seconds left to beat Farrington 31-29.
GYMNASTICS
>> Amanda Yee, Punahou: Won the girls vault, bars and beam in an ILH meet at Kamehameha.
>> Michael Ono, Punahou: Won the boys vault and pommel horse.
>> Ryan Kahanu, Kamehameha: Won the boys P-bar and floor.
TRACK AND FIELD
>> Lauren Pochereva and Anna Hildebrand, Punahou: Both pole vaulted 9 feet, 4 1/2 inches at the ILH Relays.
SAILING
>> Martin Sterling and Lisa Manuzak, Maryknoll: Finished as the top team in an ILH regatta.
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