ISLE FILE
HPU, Hilo beaten at softball regionals
Advertiser Staff
Top-seeded Humboldt State held off eighth-seeded Hawai'i Pacific, 3-2, yesterday in the opening round of the West Regional Softball Tournament at Bakersfield, Calif.
Also yesterday, third-seeded San Francisco State defeated sixth-seeded Hawai'i-Hilo, 3-2.
Jennifer Baron hit a solo homer, Kara Wedemeyer had three hits and Kellie Nishikida added two hits, including an RBI double in the fifth that helped HPU close to 3-2.
Clerisse Lemke pitched a five-hitter with four strikeouts and one walk for the Sea Warriors, who play fifth-seeded Cal State Stanislaus today in an elimination game.
"We played well, and I'm very proud of the ladies," said HPU co-head coach Howard Okita. "(Humboldt) had a couple of bleeders fall in to extend (a two-run) third inning, but that's what softball is all about."
Meanwhile, Hawai'i-Hilo — which sent the game into extra innings with two runs in the top of the seventh — lost in the ninth on a grounder that scored a runner from third with one out.
"I knew it (three weeks of non-play) would show for a while, but you know they came back," said UHH coach Callen Perreira, whose team plays Seattle in an elimination game today. "The spirit was there and they played hard. We've got to bounce back tomorrow."
San Francisco State's Sonja Garnett (29-6) pitched a seven-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Chelsea Osborne and Miki Asamura each had two hits for Hilo.
FOOTBALL
JONES PULLS SWITCH
KGMB9 yesterday was awarded the rights to produce and televise a weekly show featuring University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones, UH athletic director Herman Frazier announced in a news release.
The shows will air Sundays at 10:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 2, with KGMB sports director Liz Chun serving as host and sports reporter Steve Uyehara as special commentator.
The shows will be replayed Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Jones' show aired on KHON last year, when Emmis Communications owned both KGMB and KHON. Before the sale of KHON was finalized, Rick Blangiardi, who was general manager of both stations, resigned at KHON to work full time at KGMB.
"On a personal note, I'm disappointed for Kanoa (Leahey)," Jones said, referring to the KHON host of last year's show. "Kanoa did an unbelievable job, and he took the show to different level. He's a good honest guy. But I'm happy for Liz. She's out there every practice. She does the work."
Jones, who will not be paid an appearance fee, said the entire rights fee will go to the UH athletic department. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
TENNIS
BYUH ADVANCES
Buoyed by a sweep of the three doubles matches, the second-ranked Brigham Young-Hawai'i women's tennis team swept sixth-ranked Abilene Christian, 5-0, yesterday to reach the semifinals of the NCAA II National Tournament at Kansas City, Mo.
Julia Ustyuzhanina and Tetyana Bula earned singles victories to close out the match for the Seasiders, who play third-ranked West Florida today.
