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Rainbow Wahine's Hittle continues to improve

Tara Hittle, the sophomore outside hitter for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, continues to recover from a grade-2 sprain of her right ankle and has shown improvement daily, according to UH trainer Tara Humphreys.

X-rays taken Monday showed no fracture. Hittle has not practiced since suffering the injury in the waning moments of Friday's practice.

Humphreys said the rehabilitation for a grade-2 sprain is 1-2 weeks. The Rainbow Wahine open the season on Aug. 26 against preseason No. 1 Nebraska in Omaha, Neb.

Trampoline gymnasts win national titles

Two Hawaii trampoline gymnasts won titles at the U.S. Elite Championships and four others won championships at the Junior Olympics held recently in Houston.

Matt Moniz, an incoming senior at Aiea High, and Nani Vercruyssen, an eighth-grader at Kaimuki Middle School, were both victorious at the Elite (Level 11) competition. Moniz was first in boys 17-18 double mini-tramp and Vercruyssen was first in girls junior elite tramp.

The two were named to the U.S. team, which will compete in the International Age Group Games in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, next month. Also named to the U.S. team was Spencer Dupio, a freshman at Roosevelt, who won the boys 13-14 double tramp title at the Junior Olympics.

Other Hawaii J.O. champions were: Kelsen Onigama, Mia Vercruyssen and Dorothy Sanidad.

The Hawaii contingent to The Netherlands includes head coach Max Vercruyssen and assistant Donna Mah.

Wisconsin's Raiola named to Rimington list

Wisconsin senior Donovan Raiola, a Kamehameha graduate, has been named to the Fall 2005 Rimington Trophy Watch List.

The Rimington Trophy is awarded annually to college football's top center. Raiola's brother Dominic, now with the Detroit Lions, won the inaugural Rimington Award while playing for Nebraska in 2000.

Other Hawaii opponents on the Rimington watch list include San Diego State's Jasper Harvey, USC's Ryan Kalil, Michigan State's Chris Morris and Fresno State's Kyle Young.

Hawaii still unbeaten in Babe Ruth series

Hawaii remained unbeaten in pool play (4-0) in the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series at Abbeville, La., with a 5-0 win over Jefferson Parish West (New Orleans).

Hawaii's Matthew Suiter had three two-out RBIs and pitcher Harrison Ishida earned the win.

» At Taylor, Mich., Pearl City improved to 3-0 in pool play at the Little League Junior (ages 13-14) World Series yesterday with a 10-0 win over St. Joe Central of Fort Wayne, Ind. Pearl City plays Tarpon Springs, Fla., today.

Haynie qualifies for USGA Senior Amateur

Gary Haynie shot a 37-38--75 on Tuesday to win a USGA Senior Amateur Championship Sectional at Oahu Country Club.

Haynie advances to the USGA Senior Amateur next month at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, Ga.