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Maui copes with
loss of state berth

Maui baseball coach Lee Yonamine was somber after a parents meeting Monday night. With league officials present, players and parents learned that the Sabers are not eligible for this week's state tournament because a player falsified grade checks for seven of the team's wins.

Maui was 13-3 in regular-season play and lost to Baldwin in a tiebreaker for the Maui Interscholastic League title last week. The Sabers went from title contention to an abrupt end to the season in the span of a few days.

Yonamine said his players knew better, and for the most part, they came through.

"After third quarter, we had eight or nine kids on academic probation," he said.

"I made it clear to them that nobody should falsify grades. I made it clear to them, and that makes it hurt more."

With their dream of playing in the state tourney shattered, the Sabers are trying to stick together.

"Emotions are high, and that's our focus now, to help our seniors control their emotions and move on from here. Talking to them and looking at their faces, it was hard," Yonamine said.

"Hard for me to take, and especially hard for them."

Diamond sighting: Talk at the Big Island Interscholastic Federation baseball coaches meeting last week included discussion of two new teams next season.

Laupahoehoe, which has been in and out of the league recently due to low enrollment numbers (140), may return.

The more intriguing possibility is Makua Lani, a tiny private school on the slopes of Hualalai Summit in Kona.

"We have about 13 players. A lot of them already play in an age-group league," Makua Lani athletic director Page Alapai said. Those players are on an age-group team coached by Dustin Bauer, an eighth-grade teacher on campus.

The school has a high school enrollment of 85, which means commitment from the student-athletes is paramount.

"We're trying to grow our sports program and we have a lot of help from the community," Alapai said.

Fast neighbors: Highlighted by Kealakehe's Fran Weems' sweep of the 100, 200 and 400 meters, neighbor island runners took all the individual sprint events except the boys 100 meters at last week's Island Movers Track and Field Championships.

Waimea's boys and Baldwin's girls added to the haul with wins in the 4x100 relays.

The wins by the KIF sprinters -- which also included Kapaa's Joe Locey's repeat in the 200 -- are especially impressive since Kauai has only dirt and cinder tracks. That situation may be remedied in time for next season; construction is scheduled at Vidinha Stadium for an all-weather, rubberized track equipped for automatic timing.

Island movers: Mykah Norville, the 1,500 meters state champion from Hoala, will run track and cross country at Santa Clara. ... Two-time state champion high jumper Jennifer Lindsey of Kapaa plans to join the University of Hawaii track and field team and walk on to the volleyball team. ... Former Mililani girls head track coach Shane Akamine will take the reins of the Trojans cross country teams this fall. Boys track coach Chad Miyamoto, who was the head cross country coach, will continue as an assistant.

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Athletes of the week

BOYS

Mikey Lim, Punahou tennis: Won the individual title and led the Buffanblu to the team title at the state tourney.

GIRLS

Fran Weems, Kealakehe track: Won the 100 (12.43), 200 (25.38) and 400 (57.04) at the state meet.

Honor roll

BASEBALL

Steven Dannaway, Punahou: Socked a three-run homer at Mid-Pacific.
Ikaika Duyag, Maryknoll: Went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs against Saint Louis.
T.J. Esclito, Damien: Went 3-for-4 with a double against Pac-Five.
Brett Hasegawa, Iolani: Went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
Shaun Kauleinamoku, Saint Louis: Drove in four runs against Maryknoll.
Brian Tabata, Maryknoll: Went 4-for-4 with a triple and a double against Saint Louis.
Ronel Trias, Maryknoll: Went 3-for-4 with a triple against Saint Louis.
John Worthington, Kamehameha: Went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs at Iolani.
Kelii Zablan, Saint Louis: Went 3-for-3 with two doubles.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Tati Beasley, Roosevelt: Scored 13 points against Farrington.
Shanadee Canon, Kalaheo: Scored 18 points against Radford.
Nicole Fu, Maryknoll: Scored 14 points against Mid-Pacific.
Leilani Galdones, Kamehameha-Hawaii: Scored 20 points against Hawaii Prep.
Mindy Hirokawa, Kaimuki: Scored 14 points against Castle.
Nicole Isemoto, Kalani: Scored 15 points against Aiea.
Jodi Kamemoto, Hawaii Baptist: Scored 28 points at La Pietra.
U'i Kelekoma, Kauai: Scored 20 points at Waimea.
Nicole Lehner, Kaiser: Scored 26 points against Roosevelt.
Ashley Medcalf, Christian Academy: Scored 21 points against Iolani II.
Ashley Moi, Kaimuki: Scored 12 points against Castle.
Keri Oyadomari, Iolani II: Scored 24 points against Christian Academy.
Hennasea-Sue Tokumura, Iolani: Scored 11 points against Maryknoll.
Jamie Smith, Iolani: Scored 15 points against Maryknoll.
Jasmine Vieira, Mid-Pacific: Scored 13 points against Maryknoll.
Artevia Wily, Kahuku: Scored 12 points and directed her team to an OIA title win over Kaiser.

GOLF

Christine Kim, Waiakea: Shot a two-round total of 153 to lead Waiakea to the girls state team championship. She also won the individual crown.

TENNIS

Brooke Doane and Lauren Shin, Kamehameha: Won the girls state doubles championship.
Kalei Gora, St. Francis: Successfully defended her state singles championship.
Andrew Maui and Will Grosswendt, Punahou: Won the boys state doubles championship.

TRACK

Lauren Ho, Hawaii Baptist: Won the 800 (2:16.54),1,500 (4:44.93) and 3,000 meters (10:35.67) at state track.
Jeremy Kamaka'ala, Kamehameha: Won the 3,000 meters (9:16.45) for the Warriors' only event win on the way to team state title.
Sarah Nicolaisen, Ka'u: The sophomore won the 300 (45.98) and 100 (16.09) hurdles at the state meet.
Careena Onosai, Word of Life: The junior won the shot put (39-8) and discus throw (130-8) at states.

WATER POLO

Natale Rigg, Punahou: Scored five goals in the state final victory against Kahuku and was named tournament MVP.

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