Gray tips White in Sugar Mill game

In the heat of a pitching duel, clutch hitting and defensive gems in the Sugar Mill Baseball Classic made at least two college coaches happy.

Right fielder Arlie Johnson of Kamehameha showed Hawaii-Hilo coach Joey Estrella what a big arm can do. With his Gray team up 1-0 in the sixth inning, Johnson raced after a single by Reyn Matsuki and fired a laser to his cutoff man, Kinohi Kelly-Paleka, who hit catcher Tyler Young to nab baserunner Tyler Hanzawa.

That helped preserve a 1-0 win for the Gray team over the White in the long-standing postseason exhibition at historic Hans L'Orange Park.

Estrella, sitting alongside fans in the first-base bleachers, flashed a big smile.

“;I hit the relay guy. It was a good relay and a good tag at home,”; Johnson said.

Earlier, in the top of the sixth, it was Kaiser's Bryce Marcouiller who came up big for the Gray squad. He smacked a triple to the right-field corner on a first pitch from Kaimi Haina (Waipahu), scoring Jordan Queja (Mililani).

“;I was just looking to hit. Everybody only had one at-bat,”; said Marcouiller, who was also a standout in football for the Cougars. He may walk on at Southern Utah, where former islander Boy Eldredge is coach.

It was the lone run in an otherwise dominant performance by pitchers. Both teams had six hits. There had been some talk before the game of the seniors using wooden bats, just as the underclassmen did in a scrimmage on Saturday.

“;If it was wooden bats, it would've gone 18 innings,”; White assistant Blane Muraoka (Punahou) joked.

Tramontin wins local qualifier

Rick Tramontin of Kamuela on the Big Island won local qualifying for the U.S. Open golf tournament yesterday at Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Tramontin shot a 1-under 71 on the Kings' Course. He finished one shot ahead of Kukio Golf and Beach Club assistant pro and 2009 Kona Open champion Eric Dugas and two strokes ahead of Tadd Fujikawa.

Tramontin moves to sectional qualifying at Tumble Creek Country Club in Washington in pursuit of qualifying for the U.S. Open, June 18-21, at Bethpage Black in Farmington, N.Y.

Rainbow Wahine sailors finish 10th

The Hawaii sailing team's season ended yesterday after its 10th-place finish in the ICSA Women's National semifinals.

The Rainbow Wahine missed an appearance in the finals by one spot, as the top nine teams advanced for two more days of competition. Hawaii, making its ninth nationals appearance in the last 11 years, was four points away from ninth place with two races remaining.

Eckerd College (Florida) held off UH with 109 points to the Rainbow Wahine's 119 to take ninth place.

The Rainbow Wahine were led by sailors Hannah Tuson-Turner, Tahnee Allman, Darla Baldwin, Becky Mabardy, Jaclyn McLoughlin and Jesse Locke.