Wahine picked to finish third

Hawaii softball players Stephanie Ricketts and Amanda Taualii were named to the preseason All-WAC team yesterday, and the Rainbow Wahine were picked to finish third.

Fresno State received five first-place votes and is tabbed as the favorite in the conference. Nevada received one first-place vote and was slotted second ahead of Hawaii, which did not get a first-place vote. New Mexico State did get a first-place vote but took fourth. Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Boise State and Utah State made up the rest of the list.

Ricketts, a sophomore pitcher, posted a 22-11 record with a 1.81 ERA last year. Taualii hit .338 with 15 home runs while starting at first base as a junior last season.

Shortstop Amberly Waits of Louisiana Tech was named the preseason player of the year, and Morgan Melloh of Fresno State is the pitcher of the year.

Russell advances in challenger

Top seed Michael Russell and Donald Young were among those who advanced to the quarterfinal round of the USTA Honolulu Challenger at Patsy Mink Central Oahu Regional Park yesterday.

Russell swept Roko Karanusic 6-1, 6-0 and Young rolled over Peter Polansky 6-4, 6-2. Russell will take on Ryan Sweeting today and Young will meet Robert Kendrick. Grega Zemlja, Lester Cook, Kevin Anderson and Kevin Kim also advanced. Kim knocked out UH player Leo Rosenberg, 6-2, 6-4.