Sports

HPU softball splits season opener 6-5, 1-3

Get ready softball fans, the season is here. HPU women’s softball is back for an action-packed season that is expected to be better than ever. Softball enthusiasts can look forward to a young team full of raw talent and speed, in addition to the power for which the Lady Sea Warriors have traditionally been known. [More]

Tough schedule ahead for HPU baseball

by Kaylee Noborikawa

Coming off a 24-20 record in the Pacific West Conference in 2006, the HPU men’s baseball team opened its 52-game 2007 season on Feb. 1 in the first of a six-game series against third-ranked Chico State University.

It was not an auspicious beginning. HPU struggled against the Wildcats, who took the series in a five-game sweep (one game was cancelled due to rain).

This year will be a challenge for the Sea Warriors, who lost nine players from last year, including four starters. Head Coach Garett Yukumoto, who enters his second year coaching at HPU, has recruited nine players for this season.

“ I think this year we’ve got a little more depth all the way around,” said Yukumoto. “This year we brought in a lot of young players to fill up our roster,” Yukumoto added, noting that 17 of HPU’s players are from Hawai‘i.

The new players include: Andrew Burer, Desmond Centro, David Chow, Tripper Chung, Ivan Fujii, Anthony Ganigan, Nicko Garibay, Johnny Gentry, Jonah Hobson, Kevin Keogh, Shane Koga, Chase Masuda, Daniel McDonald, Kaimi Mead, Kyle Moloney, Jacob Moreno, Zackary Parnell, Jason Shimizu, and Mark Veneri. The returning players consists of: Turhan Folse, Dillon Guzman, Cruz Hatanaka, Mike Kelley, Michael Kealoha, Aaron Kent, Danny Lee, Kevin Matsumoto, Brandon Muser, Paul Nishimura, Spencer Omalza, Geoffrey Say, Colton Silva, and Andrew Sramek.

“ We have an interesting season being that we have a very difficult schedule. Playing more teams that are ranked in Division II West Region makes it a lot tougher for us,” Yukumoto added.

Last year the Sea Warriors played home games at Hans L’Orange Field, but since the park is undergoing renovations, their home field will be at Central O‘ahu Regional Park (CORP) in Waipahu.
HPU (0-5) looks to improve their record in a four-game series against Patten University on Feb. 26-27 at 4 p.m. at CORP field #4.

......................................................................................................................................................

Miracle shot breaks losing streak, HPU wins 65-64

Ryan Walker didn’t start, but he definitely ended the game. With three seconds left on the clock, Walker rebounded a missed free throw, dribbled down the court and sank a desperate three-point shot at the buzzer, lifting the HPU men’s basketball team over the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo, 65-64. [More]

HPU season recaps

In their fourth conference game of the year, the Sea Warriors could not slip past the Vulcans of the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo in a 84-66 loss on Jan. 11. Although HPU out-rebounded and gave up fewer turnovers, the Vulcans shot an efficient 60 percent for the game, compared to 38 percent by the Sea Warriors. Kamron Alborz and Patrick Towne led HPU with 15 points apiece. [More]

Women’s basketball falls short to Vulcans, 83-59

Following a heartbreaking loss to Chaminade University two nights earlier, the HPU women’s basketball team couldn’t recover, falling to the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo, 83-59, at Kaiser High School’s gym on Feb. 3. [More]