Isle File
UH softball zeros in on Tulsa with another sweep
Advertiser Staff
Desiree Duran and Felicity Witt each shut out Tulsa for the second day in a row to lift Hawai'i to a series sweep yesterday at Sand Springs, Okla. Game scores were 3-0 and 7-0.
"This is the best we've played on the road," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "The whole team felt relaxed. We were in jams that could have changed the complexion of all the games and we kept getting out of it. The kids never panicked."
Despite an eight-game winning streak, the Wahine (42-16) have lost ground to first-place Fresno State in the Western Athletic Conference standings. The 16th-ranked Bulldogs have won their last seven to move to 13-3 in the conference, while UH is 10-4. Every other WAC team has at least nine losses.
Duran (15-4), who hasn't lost in a month, pitched a six-hitter in the opener, striking out eight and stranding 10 runners. The Wahine also left 10 runners on base, but got RBI singles from Michelle Mumaw in the second and fourth innings, and Kate Judd in the fifth.
Witt (20-10) won three games on this trip to become the fourth UH pitcher to win 20 games in a season š the third from Australia. The freshman pitched a three-hitter yesterday, striking out six and allowing just one runner as far as third.
Her teammates collected 13 hits and took advantage of six Tulsa errors. Leadoff batter Natalie Gonzales and cleanup hitter Stacey Porter went 3-for-5, with Gonzales scoring three times and Porter driving in two.
"We were really relaxed, we knew what we had to do," Coolen said. "Unfortunately, Fresno also knew what it had to do. The kids are still in good spirits, they know they're playing well. It was a real good week for us. Hopefully it will carry over next week."
The Wahine close their regular season at home Friday and Saturday against San Jose State. The 48-team NCAA Tournament field will be announced May 13.
AWARDS
• Sporting Goods hero: Edmund Acoba of Kekaha, Kaua'i will be honored as the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) Heroes Award national winner.
Acoba has been involved with youth sports since 1987, when he first became involved with the Kekaha Pop Warner Football Association. He volunteered with the Kaua'i Special Olympics team and the Boys and Girls Club basketball program.
Acoba will be presented the award along with a check for $3,000 tomorrow at the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association's 42nd Annual Awards Banquet. He will also receive a check for $18,000 — $15,000 for Kekaha Pop Warner Football.
The SGMA Heroes award is presented annually to those special individuals who, through their unique commitment and humanitarian spirit, have made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the pursuit of sports excellence, sportsmanship, participation or opportunity within their local community or beyond.
BASEBALL
• Fresno State tops UH-Hilo: Oscar Lopez's two-run single ignited a six-run eighth inning as Fresno State defeated Hawai'i-Hilo, 10-3, yesterday in the opener of a three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Pete Beiden Field in Fresno, Calif.
Nick Garcia's RBI single in the sixth gave the Bulldogs (31-19 overall, 14-11 in WAC) a 4-3 lead.
Nick Moran pitched eight innings, scattering 10 hits and allowing three runs to earn the victory and even his record at 4-4. Ben Fritz worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts.
UH-Hilo's Anthony Bernal (0-10) was touched for eight runs on 13 hits in 7Á innings.
Josh Labandeira had three hits and drove in two runs for the Bulldogs, who pounded out 16 hits.
Billy Rayl had a double and single and drove in two runs for the Vulcans (5-32, 3-20).
Fresno State and Hilo will finish the series with single games today and tomorrow. The Vulcans then start a five-game series at San Jose State on Wednesday.
BASKETBALL
• Vulcans sign two: The University of Hawai'i-Hilo's recruiting efforts have yielded a pair of players from Saddleback College for the 2001-02 season.
Garreth Read, a 6-foot-9 center, and Adrian Aguayo, a 6-4 guard, join 6-3 guard Derek Mgbeke, who signed earlier.
BLOOD DRIVE
• Wednesday at UH: The University of Hawai'i Athletic Department, in conjunction with the Army ROTC, will be having a blood drive Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Stan Sheriff Center main hospitality room.
JUDO
• Two from Hawai'i selected: Taylor Takata and Olympian Amy Tong of Honolulu last night were named to the USA Judo World team to compete in Munich, Germany, in July.
Takata, a 2000 Iolani graduate representing San Jose State, defeated Young An of Spring, Texas, last night to take third place in the men's 60 kilogram (132 pounds) division at the USA Judo Senior Nationals at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Tong won her third straight championship in the women's 78kg (171.6 pounds) division Friday night.
Scott Pak of 'Aiea, wrestling for Shobukan Club, was given the national tournament's Most Inspirational Player award after he defeated Jesus Gallo of Miami on an ippon (the highest throw) to take third place in the men's 66kg (145.2 pounds) division.
Iolani judo coach Neal Takamoto took third place in the men's open division, defeating Wesley Walker of Arkansas. Takamoto was the highest scorer in the men's open division and also may get a place on the USA World team.
In the masters division, Mark Muranaka, head instructor at Mililani YMCA, won the 55kg (121 pounds) and Greg Chow, an assistant instructor for Shobukan, took third at 81kg (178.2 pounds)
MEETING
• QB Club guests: Riley Wallace, University of Hawai'i basketball coach, will discuss his recruiting successes at the Quarterback Club tomorrow.
Joining Wallace are Brian Lee, Iolani School's swim coach; 2001 state swimming champion Hong Zhe Sun; Wade Okamura, Sacred Hearts athletic director and softball coach; and Dave Vinton of Channel 9 sports will also be there.
The program will start at 11:30 a.m. and the lunch will follow at noon at the Pagoda International Ballroom. The public is invited.
TENNIS
• HPU to host regionals: Hawai'i Pacific's men's and women's tennis teams will play host to an NCAA Division II West Regional on May 5 at the Brigham Young-Hawai'i courts in La'ie.
HPU's men, ranked No. 5, will play the winner of the Sonoma State-UC Davis match.
The No. 9 Lady Sea Warriors will play UC San Diego. Times for both matches have yet to be determined.
The winners will advance to their respective national championships (16-team field, single elimination), May 10-13, at the University of West Florida in Pensacola.
