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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, April 4, 2006

ISLE FILE
Rainbows' Peiler honored by WAC

Advertiser Staff

Brandi Peiler, a sophomore outfielder for the University of Hawai'i softball team, yesterday was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

Peiler, a 2004 Kamehameha Schools graduate, went 7 for 8 to lead the Rainbow Wahine to doubleheader sweeps of Grambling State and San Jose State.

UH coach Bob Coolen credited Peiler's recent success to improved "pitch selection. In the beginning (of the year), she was attacking anything and everything. She wasn't really in her zone. She was pressing too much. Now she's coming into the hitter we thought she was."

Coolen said he did not have any scholarship money to offer Peiler last year. She attended Hawai'i Pacific University, where she was named the Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Year. Last July, she asked Coolen about the possibility of transferring.

After securing a release from her HPU scholarship and a one-time exemption, which allowed her to transfer without sitting out a season, Peiler enrolled at UH in August. She now starts in left field, batting third in the lineup.


BASEBALL

UH'S COSTI NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK

University of Hawai'i right-handed pitcher Justin Costi, who struck out 15 batters in 13 innings, has been named Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.

Costi, a senior from Elk Grove, Calif., beat UC Santa Barbara on Monday, pitching 6 1/3 innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts in a 3-0 victory.

On Saturday, Costi pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs in a 6-5 13-inning victory.

It was Costi's second career WAC Pitcher of the Week honor. He is the third UH pitcher to receive the honor this season.

Fresno State shortstop Christian Vitters, who hit .538 (7 for 13) in three games against New Mexico State, was the WAC Hitter of the Week.


VOLLEYBALL

WARRIORS REMAIN NO. 3 IN COACHES' TOP 15

For the fourth consecutive week, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team is No. 3 in the CSTV/AVCA Division I-II top-15 poll.

UC Irvine (23-3) is No. 1, receiving 15 of the 16 first-place votes from the panel of head coaches.

Brigham Young is No. 2 despite being in third place, behind UH, in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, the nation's top conference. UC Irvine has defeated BYU twice and split with UH.

The Warriors (19-4), who have won 15 in a row, a streak that precedes Valentine's Day, received the other No. 1 vote.

The Warriors host UC San Diego on Friday and Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.


RUNNING

HONOLULU MARATHON BEGINS ONLINE SIGNUP

Online registration for the Honolulu Marathon will begin tomorrow at www.honolulu marathon.org.

The marathon is Sunday, Dec. 10.

A total of 4,394 paper entries were received as of last weekend, according to marathon officials, nearly 900 more than at the same time last year.

Fee for local residents is $60 until Oct. 27. Out-of-state fee is $95. Fees go up starting Oct. 28.

The Honolulu Marathon drew 28,048 entries last year. A total of 24,643 started the race and 24,261 finished.


GYMNASTICS

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Gymnasts from O'ahu, Maui and the Big Island competed at the Junior Olympic Optional-Level Hawai'i State Championships, March 18 and 19 at Kailua High School.

A total of 78 gymnasts competed in the event, which had levels from 7 and 8 (intermediate) to 9 and 10 (advanced).

The level 10 all-around winners were: Brianne Nakamura (16-plus division), Rebecca Cardenas (15) and Keolamau Yee (14-under).

The level 9 all-around winners were: Dayle Akamine (13-older), Jenna Frowein (12) and Tamara Rapp (11-under).

The level 8 all-around winners were: Nikki Kumura (13-older) and Chancey Gaspar (12-under).

The level 7 all-around winners were: Lynsey Montell (13-older), Kristine Felix (11-12), Brittany Chen (10) and Makeala Cachola-Waialae (7-9).


GOLF

KA'ANAPALI NORTH CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS

Ka'anapali Golf Courses' Tournament North Course will be closed until November for renovations.

The project, headed by designer Robin Nelson, includes re-grassing. Tifeagle Bermuda grass will be used on the putting surfaces. The tees, fairways and rough will be converted to a hybrid Bermuda variety, according to a press release from Billy Casper Golf, which manages the course.

Last year, the South Course underwent renovations and redesign, also headed by Nelson.


FOOTBALL

PICO NAMED HEAD COACH AT MAUI'S PAC-3

Charlie Pico has been named head football coach of the Maui Interscholastic League's Pac-3, which includes players from St. Anthony, Seabury Hall and Ka'ahumanu Hou.

Pico, 47, takes over a program that went 0-10 last season.

Pico is a 1976 graduate of St. Anthony.