Posted on: Friday, December 3, 2004

ISLE FILE
HPU signs Kailua's Kessell in softball

Advertiser Staff

Three-time Advertiser All-State pitcher Courtney Kessell of Kailua High School has signed a national letter of intent to play softball for Hawai'i Pacific University beginning next fall.

Kessell, a right-hander who was the 2003 Advertiser Player of the Year, also was recruited by Baylor, Dayton, Jacksonville and Siena.

"Mostly it was the fact that I wanted to stay home, and that I'm comfortable with Coach (Howard) Okita," Kessell said of the Sea Warriors' head coach, who also coached for many years at Kailua. "I've known him since I don't know when."

Kessell led the Surfriders to the 2003 state championship by posting a 0.25 earned run average and striking out 131 batters in 83 innings. Last season, she pitched four no-hitters and struck out an astounding 177 batters in 99 innings in helping Kailua finish second in the state.

As a freshman, Kessell went 8-3 with 76 strikeouts and led a Surfriders team with only one senior to the state title game.

Kessell's mother, Lisa Buen, said University of Hawai'i coach Bob Coolen did not have any more scholarships available for pitchers. HPU also signed utility player Krystal Plunkett from Pearl City High School and Ciera Senas, an outfielder from Mililani High School.

• Horiuchi to Tennessee: Kamehameha All-State infielder Liane Horiuchi has signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Tennessee beginning next fall.

Horiuchi was named to The Advertiser's All-State first team as a second baseman the past two seasons. She batted .471 last season with two doubles, two triples, two home runs, 11 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 14 runs.

PADDLING

Registration still open for Look benefit

Hundreds of canoe paddlers from around the state are expected to participate in a benefit race for Leighton Look tomorrow.

Look is a longtime paddler and coach for Hui Lanakila Canoe Club. He has been in Kuakini Medical Center for nearly two months because a diving accident led to a severe case of the bends. He is paralyzed from the neck down.

The race course will run from Hawai'i Kai to Magic Island. Paddlers can race on one-person canoes, two-person canoes, six-person canoes or surfskis.

"The response has been unbelievable," said Bill Pratt, one of Look's paddling friends. "It'll be a full house on the water. Everybody is coming through for Leighton."

Entry fee is $30, and includes lunch and a T-shirt. All proceeds will go to the "Friends of Leighton Look" account.

Registration will begin at 7 a.m. near Maunalua Bay. The race will begin around 10 a.m.

Donations will also be accepted at the start and finish sites.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

UH women sixth; men 10th in Texas

The No. 19 Hawai'i women's swimming and diving team is in sixth place with 94 points after the first day of the University of Texas Invitational yesterday in Austin, Texas.

The No. 18 UH men's team is 10th with 26 points. The Texas men (266 points) and Arizona women (281.50) lead the three-day invitational.

Hawai'i's QiongJie Huang and Rui Wang finished first and second, respectively, in the 3-meter springboard. Huang totalled a school-record 536.30 points.