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SHORT HOPS | PAGE 3B B SPORTS ONLINE KEALAKEKUA — Playing in an extremely rare away game at its home park, Konawaena defeated Kealakehe 7-3 at Gabby Inaba Field on Thursday. The Waveriders (1-5) are playing every home game on the road this season while their field is being renovated. The game opened with a pitching battle between Wildcat pitcher Kolu Alani and Kealakehe’s Toby Estrella. Both pitchers shut down the opposing offenses for the first two innings. As the third inning came to an end, the score was tied at 1-1. In the top of the fourth, Konawaena (6-3) took advantage of a few walks with some timely hitting to break the game open. Boaz Ayers and Tevin Canda led off the inning with a pair of singles and moved up a base. With runners on second and third, Stevie Texeira hit a grounder to short, which caught Canda off base and in a pickle. He reached third, which forced Ayers to leave the bag and head home. He was tagged out near the plate. Texeira stole second and Seau Amor walked to load the bases. Kaiya Leleiwi singled to left, scoring Canda and Texeira. Amor advanced all the way around to third. Leleiwi moved to second on the throw. Alani followed with a deep sacrifice fly to right field. The fielder made the catch but fell backwards on the play, allowing Amor and Leleiwi to cross the plate for a 5-1 lead. On the Hill, Alani ran into a little trouble in the bottom of the fourth when Makana Kalua’u beat out a bunt single and stole second. Dennison Joaquin singled to right with one out and Kalua’u tried to score on the play, but Ayers, the Wildcats right fielder, threw him out at the plate. Joaquin was then thrown out at second by the Konawaena catcher, Tyler Kitaoka, to end the inning. “Our pitching was good, our defense is getting better and the bats came alive at the right time today,” said Konawaena head coach Adam Tabieros. “Overall, they did a pretty good job and we got the runs when we needed them.” The Wildcats didn’t need any more runs to get the victory, but they did not stop scoring in the fourth. In the sixth inning, Konawaena pushed two more runs across the plate. AJ Allred opened the inning with a single TODAY’S GAMES • Virginia (28-7) vs. Iowa State (23-11), 1:10 p.m. • Wisconsin (22-12) vs. Notre Dame (23-11), 1:27 p.m. • Syracuse (21-13) vs. Gonzaga (28-7), 3:40 p.m. • North Carolina (30-6) vs. Indiana (27-7), 3:57 p.m. “Living the dream!” Become a PADI Scuba Instructor Next Session: May 9-19, 2016 www.jacksdivinglocker.com 808-329-7585 Since 1981 RANI HENDERSON RUNNIN’ WITH RANI Browns sign RG III as latest FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 | WEST HAWAII TODAY quarterback project Q & A with the Wedeman(n) Brothers Everyone knows that when it comes to racing in Hilo two things are almost always a guarantee: Rain and the Wedeman(n) brothers. At Sunday’s 19th annual Big Island International Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and 2-mile run/walk events, nearly 1000 participants were doused by an early morning downpour - toeing the line with muddied, rain soaked shoes. But if you ask Bob Wedeman and Joe Wedemann about Sunday’s rainy conditions they would say, “it’s just normal Hilo weather.” As brothers, best friends, and race directors for two of Hilo’s most popular racing events — Bob, with the Big Island International Marathon (BIIM), and Joe, with the Hilo Triathlon — both have taken on an integral role within the community that has helped to transform the race scene along the Big Island’s windward side. Bob, who is retired, took over the helm for the Hilo footraces when longtime race director, Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph passed away in 2013. While Joe, a Fire Equipment Operator for the Hawaii County Fire Department began Hilo’s first Triathlon in 2014 — an Olympic Distance event of a 1.5K swim, 40K bike, and 10K run. In addition, Joe organizes his fun and free Decimal Man Sprint Series that consist of a .24-mile swim, 11.2-mile bike, and 2.6-mile run to introduce beginner athletes to triathlon, and has served as President for the BIIMA from 2013 to present. Whether they are volunteers, participants, board members, and over the last few years, race directors, their active involvement with virtually all swim-bike-run events on the east side has Name: Joe Wedemann Age: 51 Occupation: Fire Equipment Operator, Hawaii Island County Fire Department Race Director: BIIM 2013, Hilo Triathlon 2014 – 2016, President of BIIMA 2013 - present ONLINE BIIF softball: Kamehameha beats Waiakea in battle of BIIF unbeatens Brothers Bob Wedeman, left, and Joe Wedemann, right, work together to bring the Big Island firstclass race events. COURTESY PHOTO SEE RANI PAGE 2B VOLLEYBALL The list of junior division winners at the Haili Volleyball Tournament included the familiar East Hawaii clubs. The Piopio Bears and Keaukaha Cuzins won two age groups apiece, with each denying the other a third. Pilipaa was represented as well, as was Nawahi Wiwoole. But don’t forget about Milolii-Ka’u. Yes, the South Hawaii club is NCAA BIIF BASEBALL TOURNAMENT Lahela Hanoa of Milolii-Ka’u digs a ball Wednesday against the Keaukaha Cuzins during the 8-and-under championships at the Haili Tournament. HOLLYN JOHNSON/HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD Milolii-Ka’u on the rise at Haili tourney SEE HAILI PAGE 2B BY MATT GERHART HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD Oklahoma runs past A&M, into Elite Eight THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Oklahoma Sooners proved they can thrive quite nicely in the NCAA Tournament even if Buddy Hield isn’t going off. Because of that, the Sooners are one win away from returning to the Final Four for the first time in 14 seasons. Jordan Woodard scored 22 points and Hield had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the second-seeded Sooners to a 77-63 romp over third-seeded and cold-shooting Texas A&M in the NCAA West Regional on Thursday. It was a nice display of teamwork by the Sooners (28-7), who had five players in double figures as they advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2009. They’ll play SEE NCAA PAGE 2B Name: Bob Wedeman Age: 63 Occupation: Retired Race Director: BIIM 2014, 2015, 2016 Konawaena’s Tevin Canda slides safely under the tag of Kealakehe shortstop Dennison Joaquin (front left), while second baseman Markus Degrate backs him up on a stolen base attempt at Gabby Inaba Field on Thursday. RICK WINTERS/WEST HAWAII TODAY Konawaena roughs up rival Kealakehe SEE BIIF PAGE 2B BY RICK WINTERS WEST HAWAII TODAY rwinters@westhawaiitoday.com


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