Randy Kitagawa scored the tying run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch and pinch hitter Scott Hiramoto singled in Kaohi Downing with the winning run as Kalani defeated California, 7-6, yesterday at the American Legion Western Regional.

Downing allowed one unearned run over the final two innings for the victory at Las Vegas.

Kasey Ko and Kitagawa each had two hits for Kalani.

TENNIS

'AIEA'S LAJOLA LEADING, BUT MATCH DELAYED

'Aiea's Dennis Lajola had his Boys 16 singles quarterfinal suspended by rain yesterday at the U.S. Tennis Association National Championships at Kalamazoo, Mich.

Lajola, the top seed who trains in Florida, is leading sixth-seeded Dennis Nevolo of Illinois, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0. Earlier, Lajola defeated ninth-seeded Jared Pinsky, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, in the Round of 16.

Lajola is also seeded first in doubles. He and partner Nathaniel Schnugg, from Medford, Ore., won their quarterfinal over sixth-seeded William Guzic and Mateusz Kecki, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

BASKETBALL

BROOKS WILL ASSIST RAINBOW WAHINE

Lacole Brooks, a veteran coach and former Oregon State player, has been hired as an associate coach of the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team, according to head coach Jim Bolla yesterday.

Brooks joins associate coach Pat Charity as the second assistant to join the staff since Bolla's arrival in 2004.

"Lacole's arrival has been a year in the making," Bolla said. "The timing is finally right and we're happy to have her on board."

A native of Berkeley, Calif., Brooks has an array of experience, coaching on the high school, junior college and Division I levels. She has served as an assistant coach in several collegiate conferences — the Ohio Valley (Tennessee-Martin, 2004-05), Pac-10 (Oregon State, 1989-91 and California, 1994-96), Southland (Texas State, 1997-2002), and now, the Western Athletic Conference.

TICKETS

UH FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL FOR INDIVIDUAL GAMES

Individual game tickets for University of Hawai'i football and Rainbow Wahine volleyball will go on sale at 8 a.m. on Monday to the general public.

The Rainbow Wahine open their home schedule against No. 7 USC, Sept. 1.

The Warrior football team opens with No. 1 USC, Sept. 3 at Aloha Stadium.

Tickets are available at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, the UH Campus Center, Rainbowtique Ward Center, the Aloha Stadium box office, Windward Community College, online at hawaiiathletics.com or by calling 944-2697.

SWIMMING

TAPARRA FINISHES 2ND IN 100-METER EVENT

Kekoa Anthony Taparra placed second in the 100-meter long course event with a time of 1:09.80 yesterday at the Western Zone Championships in Salt Lake City.

Taparra, 14, also finished third in the 200 breaststroke in 2:33.14 in the 13-14 age group.

Also, Brittany Beauchan finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.28 at the Speedo Junior Championships at Irvine, Calif.

The time qualifies her for the USA Olympic Selection meet.