Posted on: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Nohara finds early success on softball field
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Most student-athletes are not expected to make much of an impact in their freshman year, just don't tell Randolyn Nohara.
Hoku, as she is known to most, isn't your typical freshman.
The 2007 graduate of Kamehameha from Waimanalo competed in wrestling, softball and judo for the Warriors while also setting numerous weightlifting records.
She won four state championships in wrestling, two state titles in judo and was named first-team All-State in softball last season by The Advertiser.
Nohara, who is a first baseman for the New Mexico State softball team, went 2 for 9 in three games against Hawai'i this week.
Nohara, who has started 38 of the Aggies' 39 games, is batting .212 and slugging .424. She has 25 hits in 118 at bats with five doubles, a triple, six home runs and 19 RBIs. Defensively, she had committed just four errors with a .984 fielding percentage entering last night's game.
Monday's 4-1 win over the Rainbow Wahine marked the Aggies' first-ever win over a top-25 team.
Nohara was named the Most Valuable Player of the Troy Cox Classic, Feb. 22 to 24 at Las Cruces, N.M. She went 8 for 13 with two homers, a triple, two doubles, four runs and nine RBIs. For her efforts, Nohara earned her first WAC Player of the Week award.
New Mexico State is 17-21 overall, 1-1 in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Aggies return home today for a weekend series against Nevada. The WAC Tournament is May 7 to 10 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
MORE SOFTBALL
Tennessee sophomore outfielder Anita Manuma (Campbell '06 of 'Ewa Beach) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs in a 8-0 first-game victory in the opener of a double-header against Lipscomb yesterday. She went 0-for-1 in the 4-1 second-game win.
East Carolina sophomore infielder Cristen Aona (Punahou '06 of Kapolei) batted 5 for 12 with seven RBIs over the weekend. The Pirates (23-13) won two games and dropped three in the Stanford Invitational II at Palo Alto, Calif. Sophomore outfielder Charina Sumner (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) went 2 for 3 and scored a run in a 7-3 loss to Wisconsin Sunday. Sophomore shortstop Kaui Tom (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Pacific sophomore second baseman Kelly Nishitomi (Castle '06 of Kane'ohe) went 2 for 3 with a stolen base in a 3-2 win over Tufts College Saturday. Nishitomi was 2 for 5 with a stolen base and run scored in a 6-5 win over Elmhurst and swiped another bag and was hit by a pitch in Monday's 4-1 win over Cal State East Bay.
BASEBALL
Colorado School of Mines freshman shortstop Nick Wong (Roosevelt '07 of Honolulu) hit a two-run homer in an 8-6 win over Colorado Christian Thursday. Wong had a double, RBI and walk in Friday's 6-4 win.
Willamette pitcher Kelsey Nakata (Mililani '06 of Mililani) gave up three runs on four hits over eight innings with six walks in a 6-2 loss to Pacific Lutheran Friday.
SWIMMING & DIVING
UCLA freshman Brittany Beauchan (Punahou '07 of Kailua) finished 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.50) at the Pac-10 Championships. She was also 12th in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:16.32)
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Cal State Northridge senior outside hitter Isaac Kneubuhl (Kamehameha '03 of Pukalani) had 19 kills in a five-game victory over the University of Hawai'i last night.
Johnson & Wales (Denver) junior libero Hapaki Kaululaau (Kahuku '05 of La'ie) had a team-high 23 digs in a five-game win over Warner Southern Saturday.
GOLF
Oregon freshman Sean Maekawa (Honoka'a '07 of Pa'auilo) finished in a tie for 46th at the Oregon Duck Invitational at Emerald Valley Golf Course in Creswell, Ore. Maekawa shot rounds of 78, 75 and 78 to finish at 15-over 231.
New Mexico sophomore Britney Choy (Leilehua '06 of Wahiawa) shot a 10-over 154 to finish third in the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational in Austin, Texas. Yesterday's scheduled third round was canceled due to inclement weather.
Willamette junior Whitney Ueno (Hilo '05) won medalist honors at the Willamette Invitational in Woodburn, Ore. Ueno shot a 160 to win the 36-hole tournament by three strokes.
TRACK & FIELD
Willamette senior Carly Killam (Punahou '03 of Kailua) finished eighth in the 1,500-meter run at the Oregon Preview Saturday in Eugene, Ore. Killam clocked 4:41.53.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Pacific University sophomore Lilia Lee (Kamehameha '06 of Waimanalo) scored three goals in a 14-4 win over Dallas Thursday. Sophomore Mimi Takamune (ASSETS '06 of Mililani) added two goals for the Boxers. Takamune and Lee scored three goals apiece in a 22-20 loss to Oberlin Monday.
COMMITMENTS
'Iolani junior Chelsea Hardin has given a verbal commitment to play volleyball at Cal Poly.
Kalaheo senior midfielder Lauki'i Cheng has signed to play soccer at Wisconsin-Parkside. The Rangers, who finished 11-6-1 last season, compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (NCAA Division II). Lauki'i joins her sister Kahili, a sophomore, at the Kenosha, Wisc. campus.
Ka'u senior Larissa Edwards has signed with Wyoming to compete in track and field. Edwards was second in last year's 100-meter hurdles at the state championships.
HONORS
UC Irvine senior swimmer Chelsea Nagata (Maui '04 of Kahului) was named the Anteaters' Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Big West Conference.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
