Posted on: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Pirates softball coach finds treasure in Hawaii
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Four years ago, East Carolina softball coach Tracey Kee got a call at 2 a.m. that would pay dividends for years to come.
"They called and said 'I think I left my sweatshirt,' and I was thinking couldn't this have come at a different time?" Kee said. "Then they told me they wanted to play here, they all committed at the same time ... so it was welcomed good news."
"They" are Cristen Aona, a Punahou graduate from Kapolei, Charina Sumner, a Kamehameha graduate from Kailua and Kaui Tom, another Kamehameha alumnae. All three are 2006 graduates and formerly members of the Pearl City Pearls softball club.
"The summer before their senior year, my assistant and I saw them play in Colorado in an exposure tournament," Kee said. "We offered them on the spot after we saw them play about 10 games in 11 days or so. We just liked their athleticism, how hard they work and how much they pay attention to detail ... we felt that if we got one, we would get all three."
Kee's prognostication was right on. The trio played right away as freshmen and settled in around the Pirates' infield. Sumner starts at second base, Aona at third and Tom at shortstop.
"We knew that we needed to go after kids that could play right away and make an impact as freshmen," Kee said. "They fit the mold, they're all intelligent kids with high softball IQ's and they've proved us right."
Kee added another local product this season in outfielder Marina Gusman-Brown, a 2006 Pearl City graduate.
"All our Hawai'i girls would talk about how good a player she was because they're in the same (high school) class," Kee said. "It's been a great addition. Since she stepped onto campus in January, she's done great things. She's just been a solid player."
The foursome has become an integral part of the Pirates' success this season. ECU is 38-13 overall and in first place in Conference USA at 19-5.
Sumner is batting .261 with 40 hits, 31 RBIs, 27 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 51 starts. Aona is hitting .248 with 36 hits, 31 RBIs, 23 runs scored and six stolen bases. Gusman-Brown has made 50 starts with 34 hits, 23 RBIs, 21 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Tom has started 49 games with 21 hits, 18 RBIs, 10 runs scored and five stolen bases.
"We pretty much expected this (success) because we are so upperclassmen-heavy at this point," Kee said. "We basically returned a starter at every position."
The Pirates conclude the regular season with non-conference games against Campbell and Virginia Tech this weekend. The Conference USA Tournament is May 7-9 at El Paso, Texas.
MORE SOFTBALL
Purdue junior infielder Liane Horiuchi (Kamehameha '05 of Wahiawa) helped the Boilermakers to a pair of wins over Penn State in a Big Ten series last week. Horiuchi, who played shortstop and batted leadoff, broke the single-season school record for stolen bases in a 2-0 win Saturday. Horiuchi stole her 36th and 37th bases of the season and scored a run. Her late-inning heroics lifted Purdue to a 3-2 win Sunday as she belted a go-ahead, solo homer in the top of the seventh inning to break a two-all tie.
Mississippi State freshman left fielder Ka'ili Smith (Kapolei '08) batted 4 for 9 with three RBIs and two runs scored in a three-game series against Kentucky Friday and Saturday.
Utah senior shortstop Sharee Fonoti (Kamehameha '04 of 'Ewa Beach) batted 4 for 6 with an RBI and two runs scored in a two-game series against Southern Utah last week. Sophomore first baseman Shannon Lum (St. Francis '07 of Kane'ohe) went 3 for 9, including a home run with three RBIs in Wednesday's 8-7 win for the Thunderbirds.
Redlands (Calif.) senior second baseman Dory Baga (University High '05 of 'Aiea) batted 3 for 5 with a triple, two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored in a two-game series sweep of Whittier (Calif.) Friday. Freshman shortstop Kai Masutani ('Iolani '08 of Honolulu) had an RBI and scored a run for Redlands while sophomore outfielder Kellie Canida (Kamehameha '07 of 'Aiea) went 3 for 3 in game one and doubled and scored a run in game two for Whittier.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
UC Irvine senior libero Brent Asuka ('Iolani '05 of 'Aiea) had a team-high 11 digs in a four-set, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament quarterfinal win over UCLA Saturday.
USC sophomore setter Riley McKibbin (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) had 69 assists, 16 digs and two kills to lead the Trojans to a five-set, MPSF Tournament quarterfinal upset of Stanford Saturday. Sophomore outside hitter Tri Bourne (Academy of the Pacific '07 of Honolulu) hit .400 with 16 kills and five digs for the Trojans. Stanford junior setter Kawika Shoji ('Iolani '06 of Honolulu) had 61 assists, five digs and five kills while freshman libero Erik Shoji (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) came up with 15 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Spencer McLachlin (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) recorded 12 kills with 15 digs, and freshman outside hitter Brad Lawson ('Iolani '08 of Honolulu) added 15 kills for the Cardinal. Kawika Shoji was named first-team All-MPSF last week while Erik Shoji earned second-team honors, and McLachlin and Lawson were both third-team members. McKibbin earned honorable mention.
Brigham Young freshman middle blocker Futi Tavana (Kaua'i '05 of Kalaheo) hit .500 with nine kills, three block assists, two digs and two assists in a four-set, MPSF Tournament quarterfinal loss to Cal State Northridge Saturday. Tavana was named second-team All-MPSF.
BASEBALL
Penn State senior second baseman Landon Nakata (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) batted 2 for 5 with a triple and three RBIs in an 11-5 loss to Illinois Saturday.
Southern Utah senior first baseman Chester Wilson (Saint Louis 0'05 of Honolulu) batted 9 for 13 with six RBIs and four runs scored in a four-game series against Oakland last week. Junior designated hitter Bucky Aona (Punahou '06 of Makakilo) batted 3 for 4 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored in Friday's series opener, a 13-6 win for the Thunderbirds.
Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) senior right fielder Kaohi Downing (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) went 3 for 5 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in a 13-7 win over Cal Baptist Thursday.
Steven Dannaway (Punahou '06 of Honolulu), a junior third baseman for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) batted 3 for 5 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored in an 11-8 win over La Verne (Calif.) in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday. Junior second baseman Travis Nishioka ('Iolani '06 of Honolulu) went 3 for 4 with an RBI, stolen base and a run scored for the Stags. In the second game — a 15-9 loss — Dannaway went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored and senior first baseman Andrew Blomberg (Moanalua '05 of Honolulu) went 3 for 5 with a homer, double, two runs scored and three runs driven in for CMS.
Oregon Tech junior second baseman Ryson Mauricio (Kamehameha '06 of Mililani) was named Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Week after he had 10 hits — including six doubles and a homer — with 18 RBIs and eight runs scored last week in a four-game series against Patten. Mauricio has 21 doubles, 14 homers and 140 total bases this season — all school records.
Willamette (Ore.) junior pitcher Scott Martin (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) threw three scoreless innings in an 8-1 win over Pacific (Ore.) Saturday. Martin allowed two hits and struck out one.
GOLF
San Francisco senior Kurt Nino (Damien '05 of Honolulu) birdied two of the last three holes in the final round of the West Coast Conference Championships at the Hiddenbrooke Golf Course in Vallejo, Calif. two weeks ago. Nino tied for 12th at even-par 216 to help the Dons win their 10th WCC title.
UCLA freshman Stephanie Kono (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) tied for 16th at the Pac-10 Conference Championships last weekend at the Stanford Golf Course. Kono finished seven-over 220 (72-75-73) and the Bruins finished third. Stanford senior Mari Chun (Kamehameha '05 of Pearl City) finished at 12-over 225 (72-72-81) and in a seven-way tie for 24th. Arizona senior Amanda Wilson (Waiakea '04 of Hilo) tied for 31st after she finished at 14 over 227 (79-77-71). Oregon State freshman Elyse Okada (Maui '08 of Kahului) finished at 24-over 237 (80-83-74) and in a two-way tie for 40th.
Santa Clara sophomore Miki Ueoka (Kaua'i '07 of Lihu'e), coming off a second-place finish at the West Coast Conference Championships, qualified for the NCAA West Regionals next week in Tempe, Ariz. Ueoka is the first Bronco to earn an NCAA berth.
Cal State Northridge sophomore Ashlee Nagamine (La Pietra '07 of 'Aiea) tied for 12th at last week's Big West Conference Championships at the San Luis Obispo Country Club. Nagamine finished 21-over 237 (78-80-79) as the Matadors finished sixth as a team.
Pacific (Ore.) sophomore Max Bonk (Hawai'i Prep '07 of Kamuela) won his second consecutive Northwest Conference Championship after he shot a 36-hole score of one-over par 145 at the Tokatee Golf Club in McKenzie Bridge, Ore., last weekend.
Willamette (Ore.) senior Whitney Ueno (Hilo '05) tied for second at the Northwest Conference Championships last weekend with a 36-hole score of 15-over par 163 at the par-74 Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima, Wash. Puget Sound sophomore Natalie Nakamine (Roosevelt '07 of Pearl City) tied for fifth (173) while Pacific's Valerie Kitamori (Waiakea '07 of Hilo) was seventh (174), Jasmine Ching (Waiakea '06 of Hilo) 11th (183) and Tami Park (Waiakea '07 of Hilo) 25th (197).
WOMEN'S WATER POLO
Stanford sophomore goalkeeper Kim Hall (Punahou '07 of Kane'ohe) made five saves in Friday's 13-6 win over San Diego State in the quarterfinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex last week.
Pacific (Calif.) sophomore Dara Tawarahara ('Iolani '07 of Honolulu) scored a season-high five goals, but the Tigers dropped a 14-8 decision to UC Santa Barbara in the first round of the Big West Conference Tournament Friday in Stockton, Calif. She added three goals in a 7-6 loss to Long Beach State Saturday.
UC San Diego sophomore attacker Hanalei Crowell (Kamehameha '07 of Kailua) scored a goal in the third period of a 14-4 win over Cal State Monterey Bay Saturday in the Western Water Polo Association Tournament in Santa Clara, Calif. Crowell also scored a goal in Sunday's 14-9 consolation championship win over Colorado State.
Occidental (Calif.) sophomore Karie Nickle (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) scored a goal with two assists and three steals in a 6-5 win over Redlands (Calif.) Sunday for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. The Tigers earned a berth to the Division III National Championships this weekend.
TENNIS
DePauw (Ill.) sophomore Janelle Arita (Punahou '07 of Mililani) won at No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles in Sunday's Southern Collegiate Athletic Association championship match against Trinity in North Little Rock, Ark. Arita won 6-0 and 7-5 in singles and 8-2 in doubles to lead the Tigers to a 9-0 win and a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Championships next week.
HONORS
Cal State Northridge sophomore Brooke Doane (Kamehameha '07 of 'Ewa Beach) and doubles teammate Evgeniya Vertesheva were named to the All-Big West Conference first team. They finished with a 19-2 record — all at No. 1 doubles. Doane is 38-4 in two seasons with the Matadors.
Colorado School of Mines sophomore outfielder Nick Wong (Roosevelt '07 of Honolulu) was named to the Academic All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Honor Roll. Wong, a civil engineering major, has a 3.366 GPA.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2404.
SEND US PHOTOS
If you know of any athletes deserving recognition, give us their names, high schools and graduation years, colleges and sports. Photos are also welcome. E-mail us at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or contact Kalani Takase at 535-2404.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
