Warriors miss
Ramie at practice

Kamehameha has played without head baseball coach Vern Ramie for one week.

Ramie, now in his 15th year at the helm, suffered an injury to his left eye during batting practice last week and was hospitalized until Friday. He underwent another exam yesterday to determine the extent of his injury.

"They're going to determine if there's damage to the retina," assistant coach Al Kam said. "He's starting to see some shapes and colors again out of that eye."

Ramie, a former UH standout who also played some pro ball, was optimistic.

"Thanks to everyone for their prayers and concern," he said. "I'm anxious to get back to practice."

Coach Kuo, indeed: Call Mason Kuo "coach," and it takes him a few seconds to register the title.

Kuo, the former University of Hawaii setter, has been an assistant coach for a couple of years. As of this week, he's the head coach of the Mid-Pacific boys volleyball program. Kuo started his coaching career with the junior varsity girls at McKinley. Last season, he helped with the boys varsity team.

"I guess I just like being around the game," said Kuo, who was recommended to the job by former head coach Vernon Yoshida.

"Vernon agreed to stay on as an assistant. There needs to be some consistency, and by the time they come up from intermediate and JV to varsity, they don't have to learn new terminology and everything," Kuo said. "Vernon built up the program and gives it stability. I don't plan on changing anything."

Kuo's passion for the game hasn't waned.

"For a while I wanted to play more than coach, but I'm getting older. The body's not the same way it used to be," said Kuo, who is employed at the University of Hawaii as an analyst in the vice chancellor's office.

Mid-Pacific athletic director Bill Villa beamed about his new coach.

"We are thrilled to have Mason join our volleyball program and share his valuable knowledge and experience," Villa said. "We have the same philosophy and vision for the volleyball program and are excited about the future."

For the record: According to John Pape, father of Star-Bulletin Mr. Basketball Kyle Pape, tuition at Colorado School of Mines is $21,000 per year.

In last Sunday's story about Kyle and the Fab 15 selections, tuition to the highly-regarded school was listed at $25,000 to $30,000, according to Kyle.

Either way, the Iolani senior is happy and proud to help his parents save on college costs.

KS-Hawaii lands in poll: Kamehameha-Hawaii stepped into the Star-Bulletin Baseball Top 10 yesterday for the first time.

The team's coach is Tony DeSa. If that surname sounds familiar, there's a reason. Tony is a second cousin to the late Joey DeSa, to whom a field in Lanakila is named after.

"The DeSas all come from Honomu," Tony said. "Joe's family was the one that branched out to Oahu."

The Warriors are making a name for themselves despite being an all-underclassmen squad. They upset Waiakea last week, creating a logjam atop the Big Island Interscholastic Federation standings.

Waiakea fell out of the poll as KS-Hawaii stepped in.

Like another ranked Neighbor Island team, Baldwin, Oahu teams know little about KS-Hawaii. The Warriors were 3-1-1 in nonconference play, all on the Big Island.

More honors for Buffanblu: Punahou sophomore Jeremiah Ostrowski, the No. 2 pick in the Star-Bulletin boys basketball Fab 15, got the attention of Scholastic Sports magazine last month.

The magazine named Ostrowski to its preseason All-American team.

Athletes of the week

BOYS

Travis Fernandez, Molokai baseball: Went 17-for-22 with three home runs and four triples over a four-game span.

GIRLS

Fran Weems, Kealakehe track: Won the 100, 200 and 400 races at Konawaena.

Honor roll

BASEBALL

Bucky Aona, Punahou: Hit a homer and double and drove in four runs against Pac-Five.
Andrew Blomberg, Moanalua: Homered, doubled, drove in four runs and was the winning pitcher against Kaiser.
Aaron Chilcote, Pac-Five: Went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs vs. Punahou.
Nick Freitas, Kamehameha: Went 2-for-4 with five RBIs against Maryknoll.
Kevin Fujii, Roosevelt: Hit a homer and a triple with three RBIs vs. Kaiser.
Ethan Haiole, Kahuku: Went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs against Kalaheo.
Jarren Hirasaki, McKinley: Went 3-for-5 with a homer, triple and two RBIs against Farrington.
Shaun Kauleinamoku, St. Louis: Went 3-for-4 with two RBIs against Kamehameha.
Cameron Kawai, Kohala: Threw a five-hitter and hit a game-winning, inside-the-park homer in the Cowboys' 2-1 win over Hilo.
Kasey Ko, Punahou: Went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs against Damien.
Jayson Kramer, Mid-Pacific: Went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs vs. Iolani. He also earned the save.
Alex Mendoza, Farrington: Hit a grand slam and scored three times against Kaimuki.
Stuart Mikami, Kalani: Went 3-for-3 with a double against Kailua.
Corey Morihara, Kaimuki: Hit a homer and double and scored four runs, while driving in three against Farrington.
Kimball Niumatalolo, Kahuku: Went 3-for-5 with a homer, five RBIs and three runs scored against Kalaheo.
Jefferson Okada, McKinley: Went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored against Farrington.
John Olley, Leilehua: Went 3-for-4 with three RBIs vs. Campbell.
Andrew Ontai, Leilehua: Went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and was the winning pitcher vs. Campbell.
Jared Pate, Punahou: Fired a six-hit shutout against Iolani.
Bronson Ponciano-Ahue, Kahuku: Went 3-for-4 with a homer, double and two RBIs against Kalaheo.
Swaine Seto-Mook, Kaimuki: Went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs against Farrington.
Micah Takahashi, Roosevelt: Fired a four-hit shutout vs. Kalani.
Clayton Uyechi, Waianae: Homered with three RBIs and pitched a shutout vs. Waialua.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Tiara Dole, St. Anthony: Scored 19 and 27 points in two games vs. Lanai.
Courtney Gaddis, La Pietra: Scored 20 points with 17 rebounds against St. Andrew's.
Kaliko Kepa, Kalaheo: Scored 12 points with 10 rebounds against Farrington.
Elizia McGuire, La Pietra: Scored 14 points with eight steals against St. Andrew's Priory.
Analee Viena Lota, Kamehameha: Scored 18 points with 13 rebounds and four blocks against Sacred Hearts.

GOLF

Heather Manini-Hewlen, Roosevelt: Shot a 72 to win the OIA East girls tourney.
Randy Yadao, Moanalua: Shot a 74 to win the OIA East boys tourney.

TRACK AND FIELD

Jessica Brown, Honokaa: Won the high jump and long jump (16-5) at Konawaena.
Cheynah Farley, Castle: Won the OIA East 100, 200, 400 and high jump.
Joshua Fial, Pearl City: Set an OIA West record with a time of 15 seconds in the 110 hurdles.
Marina Gusman-Brown, Pearl City: Won the OIA West 100, 200, long jump and triple jump.
Sarah Nicolaisen, Ka'u: Won the 100 and 300 hurdles.
Careena Onosai, Word of Life: Won the discus and shot put at the ILH Relays.
Jonovan Santos, Mililani: Won the OIA West 100, 200 and long jump.
Brashton Satele, Word of Life: Threw the discus 180-3 at the ILH Relays.
Redmond Tutor, Kahuku: Won the OIA East 400, long jump and triple jump and ran with his winning 4x400 relay team.

To nominate ...

To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com

Warriors miss Ramie at practice