ISLE FILE
NCAA denies UH's Kauka another season of football
Advertiser Staff
University of Hawai'i running back Jonathan Kauka, who suffered a severe knee injury last season, was denied an extra playing year by the NCAA, Hawai'i coach June Jones said yesterday.
Kauka requested an extension of his five-year eligibility clock after he sustained the season-ending knee injury at Brigham Young on Sept. 6, 2002.
"We're at the mercy of the NCAA and it didn't turn our way," Jones said. "It's too bad because Jonathan was probably one of the hardest working kids on the team. We were fortunate to have crossed paths with him and we wish him all the best."
Kauka earned enough credits to graduate and earn his fourth year of eligibility in 2002. The Waiakea High School graduate entered the UH program as a walk-on and worked his way into a full-time player on special teams.
He was named the team's Most Valuable Scout as a sophomore and blocked a field goal to help the Warriors defeat Oregon State in the 1999 Oahu Bowl.
MORE FOOTBALL
Blast camp, tryout: The Pacific Blast women's professional football team will be holding a football camp and a tryout.
The camp is from noon to 5 p.m. tomorrow at Central O'ahu Park in Waipi'o Gentry.
The tryouts is noon to 3 p.m. May 4 at the Central O'ahu Park.
Team volunteers also being sought.
For details, call 286-5150.
BASEBALL
Hawai'i Pacific falls: Joe Gevas and Ruben Salazar homered to lead Cal State Dominguez Hills to an 11-5 victory over Hawai'i Pacific yesterday at Carson, Calif.
Grandon Costa, Alika Kuraoka and Casey Onaga each paired hits for the Sea Warriors (23-23) in the losing effort.
Hawai'i Pacific 030 000 011— 5 8 2
CS Dominguez Hills 300 212 30X—11 16 1
Zach Blatteis, Sean Paiva (6), Scott Batula (8) and Shay Hirota. Larry Robles, Aldo Silva (8), Troy Doram (9) and Efren Esparza, Frankie Valle. W—Robles. L—Blatteis.
Leading Hitters: HPU—Grandon Costa 2-3, 2 RBIs; Alika Kuraoka 2-4, double; Casey Onaga 2-3; Hirota double. CSDH—Joe Gevas 3-5, home run; Ruben Salazar 2-5, home run, 3 RBIs; Tony Marquez 2-5; Frank Perez 3-4, double, 3 RBIs; Eric Pringle 2-3, triple; Ricky Eda triple.
WATER POLO
Rainbow Wahine win, lose: Beth Novick scored four goals to lead the University of Hawai'i women's water polo team to an 8-3 win over Pacific in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament yesterday in Stanford, Calif.
With the win, the Rainbow Wahine advanced to play No. 1 UCLA, and lost 12-3, led by Chelsea Garner-Prohs' two goals. Punahou graduate Maureen Flanagan scored a goal for the Bruins.
Hawai'i will face San Diego State today.
SOFTBALL
Hilo loses twice: Montana State-Billings swept Hawai'i Hilo in a Pacific West Conference doubleheader in Billings, Mont., yesterday.
The scores were 6-1 and 4-3.
Leinani Hashida led the Vulcans in the first game with two hits, but Hilo managed just one run on eight hits.
Nancy Vega hit a home run for the Vulcans in the second game, which lasted nine innings, before the Yellowjackets scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
Hilo fell to 27-18, 11-7, Billings improved to 14-15, 5-9.
Hawai'i Hilo 000 010 0—1 8 2
Montana State-Billings 002 022 X—6 8 1
Kristine Kahoali'i and Kayla Kahuli. Megan McCrae and Layne Pavey. W—McCrae. L—Kahoali'i.
Leading Hitters: UHH—Leinani Hashida 2-4. MSUB—Theresa Campbell 3-3.
Hawai'i-Hilo 002 001 000—3 11 1
Montana State-Billings 000 201 001—4 9 5
Tara Martinez and Natalie Fujimoto. Joey Ehnes, Megan McCrae (6) and Layne Pavey. W—Martinez. L—McCrae.
Leading Hitters: UHH—Claresa Asuncion 2-4; Leinani Hashida 2-4; Nancy Vega 2-5, home run; Fujimoto 2-4. MSUB—Sara Hanley 2-4; Teri Lee Ehnes 2-4; Christy Wankel 2-4, home run.
SOCCER
Mililani coach OK: Jeff Yamamoto underwent successful heart bypass surgery Thursday at St. Francis Medical Center and "really looks good," his wife, Deedee, said yesterday.
Yamamoto, 45, was stricken on Monday after his usual lunch-time swim. Double bypass surgery was scheduled for Tuesday, but was postponed to enable him to regain strength. He was to be moved from surgical intensive care into a private room later yesterday.
Yamamoto's Mililani boys teams won the past three state high school championships and he was state boys soccer Coach or co-coach of the Year in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
TENNIS
UH men, women ousted: The University of Hawai'i women's and men's tennis teams were eliminated in the first day of the Western Athletic Conference Championship yesterday at Boise, Idaho.
The UH women won a play-in match against San Jose State, 4-0, before losing to Fresno State, 4-0, in the quarterfinals. The Rainbow Wahine ended the season 10-13. Renata Camargo finished with the team's best record at 12-2.
The UH men (14-13) lost to Fresno State, 4-0, in the opening round. Reginaldo Moralejo finished with the team's best record at 18-8.
BANQUET
UH-Hilo awards: The University of Hawai'i-Hilo All-Sports Award Banquet is scheduled for May 1 at the Nani Mau Gardens.
Doors open at 5 p.m. and the dinner and program follow at 6 p.m.
Awards include male and female athletes and academic athletes of the year as well as the Ramon Goya Team of the Year.
Tickets are $15. Reservations can be made at the UH-Hilo athletic office or by calling 974-7520.
GOLF
Rainbow Warriors 10th: The University of Hawai'i men's golf team is in 10th place after shooting 596 in the second round of the Ping Golf Cougar Classic in Provo, Utah.
Denver and Brigham Young are tied for first with 567.
Martin Laird from Colorado State leads after shooting 8-under-par 136. James Besto and Kellen-Floyd Asao are the low Hawai'i individuals, in a tie for 28th with a 148.
