honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 22, 2007

ISLE FILE
Andy Irons advances to third round in Chile surf

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kaua'i's Andy Irons, a three-time Association of Surfing Professionals world champion, trailed for most of his second-round heat against Chile's Manuel Selman before pulling out the victory with a 9.7 ride.

PIERRE TOSTEE | Association of Surfing Professiona

spacer spacer

Kaua'i's Andy Irons rode a high-scoring wave in the closing minutes of his heat to advance to the third round of the Rip Curl Pro Search contest yesterday.

The second day of the event was run in 8- to 10-foot waves at Arica, Chile.

Irons trailed for most of his second-round heat against Chile's wildcard entry, Manuel Selman, but received a score of 9.7 (out of 10) for a long barrel ride with three minutes remaining in the heat. Irons won, 13.2-12.0

"I was paddling into the wave and it sucked up like Pipe(line) — it had a nice line to it," he said. "I made sure I was a little behind the peak and I knew I had to get really deep. I needed an 8.5. Right toward the end it got kind of washy and wild but when I came out it was instant relief."

Irons was the only Hawai'i surfer to compete yesterday. The contest was postponed after just three heats of the second round due to deteriorating conditions.

Other Hawai'i surfers still in the contest are Fred Patacchia Jr., Bruce Irons, Pancho Sullivan and Kekoa Bacalso.

The contest is the fourth of 10 stops on the 2007 World Championship Tour.


SOFTBALL

UH FINISHES 12TH, 13TH

A run into the NCAA Super Regionals propelled the University of Hawai'i softball team to a 12th-place finish in one national poll and 13th in the other, the school announced yesterday.

The 50-13 Rainbow Wahine are 12th in the final USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll and 13th in the ESPN/USA Softball poll.

The No. 12 finish is the second highest in school history behind a No. 10 in the 1995 USA Today poll.

The Rainbow Wahine currently stand to lose just two players, first baseman Tyleen Tausaga and second baseman Alana Power.


BASEBALL

WAVES EDGE SURFERS

Brian Anderson's two-run double in the fourth inning put Waimea ahead to stay as the Waves defeated the Waikiki Surfers, 7-6, yesterday in Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League action at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

Caleb Cuevos pitched three scoreless innings and struck out five for the Waves, who share the league lead with the Surfers at 4-2. Josh Powers hit a two-run double for Waikiki.

In other games, Nicholas Hom's RBI double spiced a two-run eighth inning that carried the Hawaii Aliis (3-3) to a 4-3 victory over the Oahu Paddlers (3-3) in a game that was scoreless through five innings; and Michael Rogers' RBI single in a two-run fifth helped the Kamuela Paniolos (1-5) defeat the Kauai Menehunes (3-3), 4-3.