Posted on: Wednesday, May 14, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Kekahuna an instant hit with Cal softball program
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
One year after helping her high school softball team to a state championship, University of California freshman first baseman Sanoe Kekahuna is again in the forefront as the Bears begin their quest for a national title at this weekend's NCAA Division I Softball Regionals.
As a Baldwin High senior, Kekahuna was named to The Advertiser's All-State Team after batting a staggering .688. Baldwin was 35-0 in the Maui Interscholastic League between her sophomore and senior seasons.
Despite receiving scholarship offers from other schools, Kekahuna decided to join Cal as a walk-on.
Kekahuna surpassed expectations, starting 63 of the Bears' 64 games this season, with a team-high .324 batting average. She had 59 hits, eight home runs, 46 RBIs and 32 runs scored. Kekahuna has committed just four errors and has a .989 fielding percentage, among the team's leaders.
"She works really hard. I love her work ethic and composure. Sanoe works hard every day to improve her game," Cal coach Diane Ninemire said.
Kekahuna's hard work paid off as she earned a scholarship in the spring.
"She shocked all of us when she came back after Christmas," Ninemire said. "She caught fire from the get go."
Cal (40-24), which is making its 23rd consecutive postseason appearance, will meet San Diego State (43-15) Friday in the first game of the Fresno Regional.
Kekahuna is a cousin of former Cal center fielder Kaleo Eldredge, who also starred at Baldwin before heading to Berkeley.
Other schools with Hawai'i ties in the 64-team NCAA field include: East Carolina, Tennessee, Creighton, Brigham Young and Purdue.
East Carolina (36-28), of Conference USA, meets Louisiana-Lafayette Friday in the Baton Rouge, La. Regional. The Pirates feature infielder Cristen Aona (Punahou '06 of Kapolei) and utility players Charina Sumner (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) and Kaui Tom (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua). It is ECU's second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and first via at-large berth.
Tennessee (47-14), of the Southeastern Conference, is hosting the Knoxville, Tenn. Regional and meets Winthrop Friday. Tennessee, which has sophomore infielder Anita Manuma (Campbell '06 of 'Ewa Beach), advanced to the College World Series by beating Hawai'i in the Super Regionals last season.
Creighton (43-15), of the Missouri Valley Conference, meets Long Beach State Friday in the Iowa City Regional. The Blue Jays, who are making their 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, have junior outfielder Lau Emmsley-Chang (Kamehameha '05 of Kailua).
Brigham Young (42-18), of the Mountain West Conference, meets North Carolina tomorrow in the Chapel Hill, N.C. Regional. The Cougars, who feature senior outfielder/catcher Emi Snow Willing (Kamehameha '03 of Mililani) and freshman outfielder/catcher Brittany Tokunaga (Kailua '07), are making their fourth straight tournament appearance.
Purdue (34-21), of the Big-10 Conference, plays Nevada Friday in the Los Angeles Regional. The roster of Boilermakers, who are making their first-ever appearance in the tournament, includes junior middle infielder Liane Horiuchi (Kamehameha '05 of Wahiawa). Horiuchi, who transferred from Tennessee after last season, is redshirting this year.
MORE SOFTBALL
Eastern Kentucky infielder Shyenne Hussey (Kailua '07 of Waimanalo) wrapped up her freshman year with a team-high .393 batting average with 53 hits, nine home runs, 48 RBIs and 28 runs scored. She was named first team All-Ohio Valley Conference.
BASEBALL
Kansas sophomore pitcher Wally Marciel ('Iolani '06 of Kailua) had season-ending Tommy John surgery "about a month ago," said Jayhawks associate media relations director Mike Strauss. "Wally had been our No. 1 starter, then he had a rough outing at Texas and wasn't getting as much velocity. Then, at Ohio State, they tried to bring him in in relief, he pitched a third of an inning and he said it wasn't feeling right." Because he played in more than 20 percent of KU's season, Marciel cannot apply for a medical hardship.
BYU junior first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05 of Kailua) batted 1 for 3 with a two-run double and scored a run in a 10-4 win over San Diego State Friday.
Aztecs' senior shortstop Troy Hanzawa (Mid-Pacific '03 of Wahiawa) went 2 for 5 with an RBI and run scored in the game. In Sunday's series finale, Hanzawa slugged three doubles, drove in a pair of runs and scored another. SDSU won, 9-5.
Hanzawa went 0 for 4 last night when Long Beach State beat San Diego State, 10-0, on a one-hitter.
Sacramento State senior second baseman Taylor Watanabe ('Aiea '03) went 1 for 4 and scored a run in a 6-5 loss to Nevada Saturday. Watanabe was 2 for 3 with a run in the nightcap, which Sacramento State won, 13-4.
Southern Utah junior second baseman Keli'i Zablan (Saint Louis '05 of 'Ewa Beach) went 7 for 13 in a four-game series with Centenary last weekend. Zablan also hit a homer, drove in four runs, scored four times, drew a pair of walks and stole a base in the series, which the Thunderbirds won 3-1. Junior outfielder Nick Freitas (Kamehameha '05 of Honolulu) went 2 for 4 with a double, three stolen bases and four runs scored in Sunday's finale. Sophomore first baseman Bucky Aona (Punahou '06 of Makakilo) batted 4 for 4 with an RBI and run scored and junior corner infielder Chester Wilson (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and scored a run in Friday's game. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Alec Reichle (Kaua'i '04 of Koloa) won his second decision this season, going six innings, giving up one run on five hits with two strikeouts against five walks in Sunday's game.
City College of San Francisco sophomore Matthew Ko (Pearl City '06) earned second team All-Coast Conference honors after going 5-5 on the mound with three complete games. In 80 innings pitched, he struck out 29 with a 4.35 ERA. Ko also batted .423 at the plate.
Sophomore infielder Andrew Ontai (Leilehua '06) was also named to the second team after batting .289 with 27 RBIs and 25 runs scored. He was 23 of 24 on stolen-base attempts.
Central Arizona sophomore outfielder C.J. Johnson ('Iolani '06) was named to the Arizona Community College Athletic Association All-Conference Team after finishing the regular season with a .387 batting average. In 48 games, he had 63 hits, including 22 extra-base hits, 36 RBIs and 36 runs scored. He did not commit an error and had seven outfield assists. Johnson was also named to the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, Regional I second team. The ACCAC is one of the collegiate leagues that uses only wooden bats.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Cal State Northridge freshman Brooke Doane (Kamehameha '07 of 'Ewa Beach) finished her season with a 14-5 overall singles record and was 17-2 in doubles, earning her second-team All-Big West Conference honors.
WOMEN'S WATER POLO
Occidental (Los Angeles) freshman utility Karie Nickle (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) was named second-team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after setting a single-season school record with 66 steals. She started all 30 games for the Tigers and scored 40 goals with 43 assists.
HONORS
LeTourneau (Texas) senior outfielder Ethan Cravalho (Ka'ahumanu Hou '04 of Honoka'a) was named to the American Southwest Conference Academic Honor Roll for the spring.
COMMITMENTS
Maryknoll senior gymnast Kahoku Palafox has signed a letter of intent to attend Arizona State. Punahou senior Courtney Fukuda has committed to Yale. Palafox will be on full scholarship, while Fukuda will receive financial assistance as Yale does not offer athletic scholarships. Both are members of the Kokokahi Gymnastics Club.
Moanalua senior midfielder Donn Almeida has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Northwest Christian College (Eugene, Ore.). The Beacons compete in the NAIA's Cascade Collegiate Conference.
Kalani senior gymnast Tracie Tamashiro has signed a letter of intent to attend Eastern Michigan. Tamashiro is a member of the Hawaiian Island Twisters Gymnastics club.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
