Dixie State picked to win baseball title
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
In a vote of Pacific West Conference baseball coaches, Dixie State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the five-team league, it was announced yesterday.
During the PacWest baseball media day, league commissioner Bob Hogue revealed the Preseason Coaches Poll and All-PacWest Conference Team.
The Red Storm, which finished 33-19 in 2009 and won the PacWest Little World Series, received four first-place votes. Grand Canyon was the only other school to earn a first-place vote and is tied with Hawai'i Pacific for second. Hawai'i-Hilo was picked to finish fourth and Academy of Art was fifth.
Dixie State outfielder Brett Adams and HPU pitcher Caelan O'Meara Headline 1d the Preseason All-PacWest Team. Adams, a senior and two-time all-league performer, was named Player of the Year. He is one of four from Dixie State on the team. The others are third baseman Tony Nelson, catcher Drew Oldfield and pitcher Preston Grimes.
O'Meara, a junior left-hander, is joined by fellow Sea Warriors Sean Winston (second base) and Blake Amaral (outfield) on the team.
Preseason All-Pacific West Conference Baseball Team
Released yesterday
Pos.—Name, School Yr. Ht. Wt. B/T
C—Drew Oldfield, Dixie St. Sr. 6-0 180 S/R
1B—Andy Caniezo, AA Fr. 6-5 220 R/R
2B—Sean Winston, HPU Sr. 5-9 175 R/R
3B—Tony Nelson, Dixie St. Jr. 6-1 180 L/R
SS—Shane Kessell, UHH Sr. 6-2 195 R/R
OF—Brett Adams, Dixie St. Sr. 6-4 215 R/R
OF—Blake Amaral, HPU So. 6-1 185 R/R
DH—Chris Vargas, AA Jr. 5-11 245 L/R
P—Caelan O'Meara, HPU Jr. 6-3 180 L/L
P—Kekoa Lee, UHH Jr. 5-9 185 R/R
Pitcher of the Year: Caelen O'Meara, HPU.
Player of the Year: Brett Adams, Dixie State.
SOFTBALL
DIXIE RANKED NO. 4
The Dixie State softball team is expected to be among the nation's best, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
The Red Storm, which compiled a 41-13 record and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance last year, is ranked fourth in the NFCA Division II Preseason Poll.
Defending league champion HPU was the only other PacWest team to receive votes. The Sea Warriors, who went 42-12 last season, did not make the Top 25, but earned 21 points. Alabama-Huntsville is No. 1.
BASKETBALL
BYUH RANKED NO. 8
Two Pacific West Conference teams appeared in last week's first NCAA Division II Men's Basketball West Regional poll of the season.
Dixie State (12-4, 6-1) landed at fifth while BYU-Hawai'i (10-5, 4-2) is No. 8.
The Red Storm is currently in second place after dropping its first league game Saturday against Grand Canyon. The Seasiders, who began the season ranked No. 1 in the country, have won their last three games and are third in the PacWest.
Seattle Pacific topped the poll with Western Washington at No. 2, followed by Alaska-Anchorage and Cal-State San Bernardino. Humboldt State is No. 6, Montana State-Billings is seventh and Central Washington and Cal Poly Pomona round out the poll.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Player of the Week: Hawai'i Pacific senior forward C.J. Jackson has been selected PacWest Player of the Week for the second time this season. Jackson averaged 22.5 points, 14.0 rebounds and 5.5 blocks in two victories — 103-99 in overtime over UH-Hilo and 85-60 over Academy of Art.
Yesterday's games: Rory Patterson scored 23 points, including four of the team's 12 3-pointers, and host Brigham Young-Hawai'i shot 69 percent (36 of 52) from the field to blitz Notre Dame de Namur, 92-48. Virgil Buensuceso added 12 points as 11 of the 12 Seasiders who played scored. Bennie Murray led NDNU with 15 points. Also, Andrew Gipson scored 18 points and host Hawai'i-Hilo shot 58 percent (31 of 53) from the field to rout Academy of Art, 84-59. Lavell Shipman added 14 points as 11 of the 12 Vulcans who played scored. Hunter Hayden led Academy of Art with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Last week's results
Friday
Dominican 70, Notre Dame de Namur 59
BYU-Hawai'i 99, Chaminade 74
Saturday
Grand Canyon 82, Dixie State 80
HPU 85, Academy of Art 60
Yesterday
BYU-Hawai'i 92, Notre Dame de Namur 48
UH-Hilo 84, Academy of Art 59
This week's games
Friday
Dominican at Notre Dame de Namur
BYU-Hawai'i at Chaminade
Saturday
Dixie State at Grand Canyon
Academy of Art at HPU
Monday
Academy of Art at UH-Hilo
Notre Dame de Namur at BYU-Hawai'i
Statistical Leaders (through Sunday)
Scoring—Mike Helton (HPU) 20.9; Steven Bennett (CU) 18.9; Austin Bryan (DU) 18.8; C.J. Jackson (HPU) 16.5; Justin Smith (UHH) 16.4; Bryan Ngo (UHH) 15.8; Tom Whitehead (DS) 15.4; Virgil Buensuceso (BYUH) 14.9; Bennie Murray (NDNU) 14.8; Donovan Plunkett (DS) 13.9; Ray Murdock (HPU) 13.7; Anthony Reilly (BYUH) 13.7; Shane Hanson (CU) 12.4; Norman Wells (HPU) 12.2; Marques Whippy (BYUH) 11.7.
FG %—C.J. Jackson (HPU) .642; Justin Smith (UHH) .617; Marques Whippy (BYUH) .566; Jonathan Burnett (AAU) .563; Tom Whitehead (DS) .531; Nick Storment (NDNU) .520; Anthony Reilly (BYUH) .514; Andy Palmer (DS) .493; Zachary Wilde (UHH) .493; Donovan Plunkett (DS) .490.
Rebounds—C.J. Jackson (HPU) 12.2; Marques Whippy (BYUH) 9.1; Chandler Pearson (CU) 8.7; Justin Smith (UHH) 7.9; Zach Robbins (DS) 6.5; Ray Murdock (HPU) 6.4; Justin Wesolowski (GCU) 6.2; Norman Wells (HPU) 6.1; Matt Cousins (CU) 5.9; Bennie Murray (NDNU) 5.9.
Assists—Steven Bennett (CU) 5.8; Ray Murdock (HPU) 5.3; Xander McNally (DU) 5.1; Adam Ross (DS) 4.1; Andrew Gipson (UHH) 3.6; Norman Wells (HPU) 3.4; Jeremiah Barnes (DS) 3.4; Mike Helton (HPU) 3.3; Lance Olivier (AAU) 3.3; Virgil Buensuceso (BYUH) 3.3.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Player of the Week: Hawai'i Pacific senior forward Genesis Lewis has been named PacWest Player of the Week. Lewis had 11 rebounds and nine points in a 65-51 win over UH-Hilo and recorded 16 points with 11 rebounds in a 79-57 win over Academy of Art.
Yesterday's games: Hina Kimitete scored 18 points and blocked a 3-point attempt as time expired, lifting host Hawai'i-Hilo to a 67-64 victory over Academy of Art. Kirsty Imai added 15 points, including two free throws with six seconds left that put the Vulcans ahead 67-64. Also, Laura Zasly had 24 points, and Pilar Mullins added 10 points and 14 rebounds as Notre Dame de Namur beat host Brigham Young-Hawai'i, 65-57. Richelle Fenenbock scored 16 for BYUH.
Last week's results
Friday
Notre Dame de Namur 96, Dominican 68
BYU-Hawai'i 54, Chaminade 51
Saturday
Grand Canyon 78, Dixie State 67
HPU 79, Academy of Art 57
Yesterday
UH-Hilo 67, Academy of Art 64
Notre Dame de Namur 65, BYU-Hawai'i 57
This week's games
Friday
Dominican at Notre Dame de Namur
BYU-Hawai'i at Chaminade
Saturday
Dixie State at Grand Canyon
Academy of Art at HPU
Monday
Academy of Art at UH-Hilo
Notre Dame de Namur at BYU-Hawai'i
Statistical Leaders (through Sunday)
Scoring—Samantha Murphy (GCU) 19.1; Alisha Flaaten (DU) 14.6; Laura Zasly (NDNU) 14.0; Hina Kimitete (UHH) 13.3.; Johnna Brown (DS) 13.0; Richelle Fenenbock (BYUH) 12.8; Katie Zasly (NDNU) 12.2; Mana Hopkins (HPU) 12.2; Sondra Stilwell (AAU) 12.1; Jazzmin Awa-Williams (HPU) 11.9; Samantha Saito (CU) 11.6; Genesis Lewis (HPU) 11.4; Lorraine Etchell (AAU) 11.1; Paris Gravely (HPU) 11.0.
FG %—Johnna Brown (DS) .551; Deanna Daniels (DS) .541; Kia Gibson (GCU) .530; Jazzmin Awa-Williams (HPU) .521; Genesis Lewis (HPU) .506; Verity Peets (AAU) .496; Jessica Nolan (AAU) .473; Mana Hopkins (HPU) .472; Lynnette Dalle (CU) .470; Jennifer Dreessen (NDNU) .463.
Rebounds—Genesis Lewis (HPU) 8.3; Jessica Nolan (AAU) 7.8; Laura Zasly (NDNU) 6.8; Katie Zasly (NDNU) 6.5; Verity Peets (AAU) 6.4; Jazzmin Awa-Williams (HPU) 6.3; Johnna Brown (DS) 6.2; Deanna Daniels (DS) 6.1; Mahina Gago (BYUH) 5.8; Jennifer Dreessen (NDNU) 5.7.
Assists—Samantha Saito (CU) 4.2; Taylor Craig (HPU) 4.1; Shareka Purnell (GCU) 3.9; Sondra Stilwell (AAU) 3.9; Dara Tompkison (BYUH) 3.7; Samantha Murphy (GCU) 3.4; Jessica Nolan (AAU) 3.4; Mackenna Karasawa (HPU) 2.9; Hina Kimitete (UHH) 2.7; Tammy Brawner (DU) 2.7; Katie Zasly (NDNU) 2.7.
