Posted on: Wednesday, June 4, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
HOMEGROWN
Lester still a hit for Lewis-Clark baseball
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Ikaika Lester is far removed from his days at Moloka'i High, but winning hasn't stopped for the 2002 graduate from Kaunakakai.
Lester, who just completed his senior season at Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho), was a member of the Farmers' 1999 and 2000 state championship teams.
After playing for the Hawai'i Ali'i's of the Hawai'i Collegiate Baseball League last summer, Lester started 50 of the 52 games he appeared in this year for the Warriors. He batted .363 with 65 hits in 179 at-bats, nine home runs, 18 doubles, 57 RBIs and 43 runs scored.
Lester started at first base and batted 1 for 3 as Lewis-Clark State beat Lee (Tenn.) Friday to claim its 16th NAIA National Championship.
Lester batted 9 of 27 (.330) in six games at the tournament. He was 4 of 5 with two doubles and a homer in a 19-0 win over Embry-Riddle (Ariz.). He followed with a 1-for-5 effort with a walk in a 9-5 win over Oklahoma City and went 3 for 5 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs in a 9-4 win over Spring Arbor (Mich.).
Lester was one of five Warriors on the all-tournament team.
The Warriors, who finished with a 58-7 record, were tabbed in November of last year as preseason favorites to win their third consecutive national title.
MORE BASEBALL
Long Beach State junior Kip Masuda (Mid-Pacific '05 of Kane'ohe) went 0 for 2 with an RBI as the designated hitter in a 9-2 win over California at last weekend's Long Beach (Calif.) Regional. The Dirtbags went 1-2, dropping games to Fresno State and San Diego to complete their season with a 38-21 record.
Cal State Fullerton advanced out of its regional with a 5-4 win over UCLA in Monday's deciding game. The host Titans (41-20) went 3-1 over the weekend and meet Stanford (37-22-2) in the Super Regionals, Friday through Sunday. CSUF senior infielder Shevis Shima (Baldwin '04 of Wailuku) did not appear in any games.
Central Arizona sophomore outfielder CJ Johnson ('Iolani '06) batted .435 (10 of 23) with two homers, three doubles and nine RBIs at last week's Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. Johnson started four of the five games he appeared in, helping the Vaqueros go 3-2 in the tournament before being eliminated by an 8-7 loss to eventual-champion Grayson College (Texas).
Point Loma Nazarene (San Diego) junior right fielder Kaohi Downing (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) was named to the Rawlings NAIA Gold Glove Team. Downing, who also pitches for the Sea Lions, had a .975 fielding percentage with 106 putouts and nine assists against three errors. Offensively, he hit .339 (64 of 189) with eight homers, nine doubles, four triples, 35 RBIs and 49 runs scored. He also stole 35 of 37 bases and held a .442 on-base percentage.
MEN'S GOLF
Oregon freshman Sean Maekawa (Honoka'a '07 of Pa'auilo) finished 24-over-par 240 at last week's NCAA Championships in West Lafayette, Ind. Maekawa shot rounds of 78, 82 and 80 to help the Ducks tie for 27th.
SOFTBALL
Missouri Valley junior shortstop Kimberly Fuller (Roosevelt '05 of Honolulu) has been named to the NAIA's All-Region V Team. Fuller led the Vikings to a 16-27 record, 8-12 in the Heart of American Conference.
Redlands (Calif.) junior second baseman Dory Baga (University High '05 of 'Aiea) was named First Team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after she batted .366 (48 of 131) with four homers, 11 doubles and 25 RBIs in 45 games played. Her .447 on-base percentage and .542 slugging percentage were third-best on the team.
TRACK & FIELD
Westmont (Calif.) sophomore Lorin Milotta (Waialua '04) placed 10th in the 100-meter hurdles at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in Carbondale, Ill. Her time of 14.77 seconds was a school record and personal best. She was named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Westmont's Runner of the Year and was given the Carleton Smelley Integrity Award.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
