Makaula changes commitment

Punahou senior Kimo Makaula is apparently headed to the Northwest.

Makaula, who verbally committed to UH in the summer, has since changed his committment to Washington. Washington recently hired former USC assistant Steve Sarkisian as head coach.

Makaula played quarterback, tight end and defensive end and handled punting duties for the Buffanblu, who captured the school's first state title last year. He was recruited by UH as a defensive end.

Committments are non-binding until recruits submit a signed national letter of intent. The signing period for football begins Feb. 4.

PACWEST PLACE

Grand Canyon beats visiting Hilo

Brandon McGruder led five players in double figures with 18 points as host Grand Canyon beat Hawaii-Hilo 84-81 in a PacWest men's basketball game last night in Phoenix.

John Smith and Jay DeMaestri each scored a game-high 21 for the Vulcans.

The Antelopes improved to 7-7 and 2-1 in the conference. Hilo fell to 8-7 and 2-3.

» Brigham Young-Hawaii jumped three spots to No. 5 in the latest Division II men's basketball poll. It is the highest ever for the Seasiders (11-1, 4-0 PacWest) in these rankings.

BYUH leads the nation in field-goal percentage (53.4), three-point field goal percentage (43.9), and rebound margin (12.7).

Senior guard Trenson Akana leads the nation with a 54.9 3-pointer percentage.

WIRED

Phillies, Victorino avoid arbitration

The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies avoided arbitration with center fielder Shane Victorino, pitcher Joe Blanton and reliever Ryan Madson yesterday. Victorino agreed to a $3,125,000, one-year contract, Blanton got a $5,475,000, one-year deal, and Madson a $12 million, three-year deal.

Victorino, a Maui native, hit .293 with 14 homers and 58 RBIs last season. He scored 102 runs, stole 36 bases and won his first Gold Glove award. Victorino thrived in the postseason. He hit a grand slam off Milwaukee's CC Sabathia in Game 2 of the NL division series and a tying, two-run homer in the clinching game of the NLCS against Los Angeles.

  Meanwhile, Ryan Howard and the Phillies could be headed toward another messy arbitration hearing.

The 2006 NL MVP asked for $18 million in salary arbitration Tuesday, the third-highest figure submitted since the process began in 1974. Philadelphia offered him $14 million, a raise of $4 million.

  » All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon took a one-year deal to avoid arbitration. He could be in the same position next year.

The Boston Red Sox right-hander agreed yesterday to a contract worth $6.25 million, but he didn't get to follow teammates Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis in agreeing to a long-term deal.

» Erik Bedard and the Seattle Mariners agreed on a $7.75 million, one-year contract that gave him a raise of $750,000 and avoided salary arbitration.

» Relief pitcher C.J. Wilson agreed to a $1.85 million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, though the left-hander may no longer be the team's primary closer.

» Right fielder Xavier Nady agreed to a $6.55 million, one-year contract with the Yankees, and center fielder Melky Cabrera accepted a $1.4 million, one-year deal shortly after exchanging proposed arbitration figures with the team.

» Heath Bell, who will replace Trevor Hoffman as the San Diego Padres' closer, avoided salary arbitration when he agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,255,000.

» All-Star catcher Russell Martin and reliever Jonathan Broxton avoided salary arbitration with the Los Angeles Dodgers by agreeing to one-year contracts.