Jobe's patience pays with belated prep All-America honor

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Good things happened to St. Louis University freshman Ikaika Jobe (Punahou '01) of Wailupe Peninsula in February, even if one of them was eight months tardy.

Jobe, a two-time Hawai'i high school singles tennis champion, was named the Billiken Athletics Male Student-Athlete of the Month for his 5-2 record, including two straight-set victories in Conference USA matches.

"It's been coming around good for me," Jobe said. "My shoulder has healed (he had a rotator cuff injury last year) and I'm getting my serve back."

He has a 4-1 record since being promoted to No. 1 singles.

Jobe also learned he has been accepted to the Park Aviation School at St. Louis and will begin pilot training in the fall. That was one of his major academic goals and was aided by first semester grades of 4 As and a B. He will continue to play tennis.

Lastly (and very late), Jobe was informed that he had been included among the best 40 boys high school players in the nation last school year by the National High School Tennis All-American Foundation. He was selected on the All-America team in June but he didn't know it until the certificate was delivered last month.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

• Concordia (Irvine, Calif.)

Senior Aina Kohler (Lahainaluna '98) yesterday received honorable mention on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I Women's All-America Team.

Kohler averaged 14.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, with a career-high 34 points. She set Concordia's season blocked shots record of 59 in the 2000-2001 season, when she averaged 15.2 ppg. She was a two-time Golden State Athletic Conference selection.

• Bethel (Ind.)/ Pacific (Ore.)

Although a huge brace on her right knee because of a strained medial collateral ligament (MCL) slowed sophomore Mayumi Stevens (Moanalua '2000) this season, she still had Bethel's best 3-point percentage (.419). Stevens averaged 10.8 minutes and 3.4 points in 28 games. "Her minutes were down but her attitude was awesome," coach Jody Martinez said.

Stevens' Moanalua classmate, Kim Morikawa, averaged 6.9 minutes and 1.2 points in 21 games for Pacific.

BASEBALL

• Nebraska

The numbers keep growing for All-America pitcher Shane Komine (Kalani '98) of Kaimuki.

Komine won his 15th consecutive decision since last March, recording double-digit strikeouts for the 20th time in his career, and improved his career record at home to 17-0 Friday as Nebraska defeated Texas A&M, 6-4.

Komine allowed three hits in eight innings, equaled his season high of 14 strikeouts, and allowed one earned run. He is 4-0 with a 1.22 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 37 innings this season. Opponents are batting .133 against him.

"His pitches were breaking all over the place," coach Dave Van Horn said.

Komine's explanation, as usual, was simple: "It's up to the pitchers to go out and put a zero on the board."

Baseball America Online called Komine, ". . . the best challenger to (Rutger's Bobby) Brownlie's claim to the title of nation's best pitcher" and noted Komine's "low 90s fastball plus a power breaking ball and split-finger fastball."

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

• Santa Barbara (Calif.) JC

Freshman Clint Torres (Leilehua '01) "can, and has, played every position — setter, middle, opposite, swing hitter and outside," coach Melody Parker said. "He's a diamond, a fantastic passer and defensive player."

Libero Dustin Chun (Hilo '00) and 6-foot-2 setter Kanani Leite-Ah You (St. Joseph '00) are both starting for the second year on a team that reached the state community college final four last year. Sophomore Tyson Takiue (Hilo '00) is overcoming a shoulder injury and subs on defense sometimes.

Chun "is a dynamic player. I think he'll be an excellent libero in Division I," Parker said. Lately he has subbed for an injured teammate as outside hitter. Leite-Ah You is smart with the flex and runs a fast offense, she said.

SOFTBALL

• Adams State (Colo.)

Redshirt freshman Nina Richardson struggled through 21 futile at-bats before she got the first hit of her college career. But when it came, her hit had historical significance.

Richardson singled home the winning run in the bottom of the eighth to lift Adams State to a 7-6 victory over Southern Colorado that gave coach Penny Graves her 200th victory at Adams State.

Richardson, who attended Kaiser and Iolani (2000 graduate) and is from Kalama Valley, was making her eighth start at catcher or in left field.