San Francisco freshmen honored
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of San Francisco's Royce Fukuroku (Maui '01) and Cy Donald (Mililani '01) received honorable mention on Collegiate Baseball newspaper's Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America team.
Fukuroku, who batted .316 for the Dons, was among 50 outfielders honored and Donald, who hit .325, was among 70 infielders.
Earlier, Fukuroku was named second-team All-West Coast Conference and Donald got honorable mention. Donald batted .352 in conference games and hit .391 when leading off an inning.
Nine previous Freshman All-Americans for USF include infielder Gregg Omori (Iolani) and pitcher Chris Gossert (Waiakea), both in 1998. Omori transferred to Hawai'i, where he completed his eligibility this spring, while Gossert developed arm problems.
JUDO
U.S. National Team
Taylor Takata (Iolani '00) of Wahiawa won a silver medal (second place) in the 60 kg (132-pound) division last weekend at the Benito Juarez Championships in Mexico City.
Takata helped the USA win the men's five-person team competition as well.
BASKETBALL
Cal State-Los Angeles
This just doesn't happen to a freshman at a four-year college, especially on a team with a record-setting senior all-star.
Cal State-L.A. coaches selected Monica Tokoro (Iolani '01, of 'Aiea) as the team's Most Valuable Player.
"She did everything out there on the floor," coach Marcia Murota said. "She's the one making the decisions; she has the ball in her hands most of the time.
"She did not back down from anybody. She was the one making our team go with her energy and spark, the way she can distribute or take it to the hole. And she does it on both (offense and defense)."
Tokoro averaged 14.0 points and 5.5 assists per game and was named first-team all-conference.
Tokoro went to Cal State-L.A. as a walk-on, but will get "basically a full ride effective in the fall," Murota said.
The all-star senior, center Jurate Orinaite of Lithuania, who set a school record in blocked shots, received the Outstanding Player Award. "Our coach felt this was a proper way to recognize both of them," sports information director Chris Hughes said.
BASEBALL
Los Medanos (Calif.) JC
In Carl Fraticelli's third year as head coach at the East Bay area community college, the 1984 Kalaheo High grad reconnected with his roots with three decorated players.
Fraticelli's first three players from Hawai'i were starting pitcher Mark Rodrigues (Kaua'i '01), who was drafted last Wednesday by the Oakland Athletics; 2001 Hawai'i high school Player of the Year Kawika Kekaula (Kailua); and 2000 first-team all-state outfielder Derek Costigan (Mililani '00).
Right-hander Rodrigues went 7-3 with an ERA of 3.76 in 12 starts and 78¡ innings. Chosen in the 37th round (the 1,118th player) of the Major League draft, Rodrigues said he will return to Los Medanos and will sign after next season "if I have another good year." Oakland retains the rights to sign him until a week before next year's draft.
Kekaula platooned at third base, batting .354 (23-for-65) against left-handers, with an on-base percentage of .463.
Costigan started in center field and hit .338 (54-for-160). "He did a great job as a leadoff man," Fraticelli said. "He got us going (.454 on-base average), and he drove in 23 runs." Costigan led the team in stolen bases with 14.
Costigan will play this summer for the Decatur Blues in the Central Illinois Collegiate League.
Los Medanos is located in Pittsburg, "45 minutes from San Francisco, 40 minutes from the Oakland Coliseum and 50 minutes from Pac-Bell Park," Fraticelli said.
AND FINALLY
No wonder they call him Duke: The real first name of Pepperdine infielder Duke Sardinha (Kamehameha '98, of Kailua), who was drafted Tuesday by the Colorado Rockies, is Kalikoleipulama.
