Hawaii picked to finish sixth in Big West

The University of Hawaii baseball team was picked to finish sixth out of nine teams in a Big West preseason coaches poll released Thursday.

Hawaii is coming off a disappointing 16-35 season, matching its lowest win total in coach Mike Trapasso’s 12 seasons.

UH finished in seventh place last season with a conference record of 11-16, ahead of UC Riverside, Pacific and UC Davis.

Cal State Fullerton, ranked No. 1 in the country in two major preseason polls, was picked to finish first, followed by Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and Long Beach State. After Hawaii is UC Riverside, Cal State Northridge and UC Davis.

The Rainbows open the season Feb. 14 at Les Murakami Stadium against Oregon.

Sawada, Kua seek Asian Tour player cards

Reigning Manoa Cup champion Jared Sawada bolted into ninth after Thursday’s second round of the Asian Tour Qualifying School’s first stage in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Sawada shot a 3-under-par 68 and is at 5-under 139 midway through at Imperial Lakeview Golf Club.

There is a four-way tie for first at 7 under.

Reigning Mid-Pacific Open champ TJ Kua dropped from 13th to 47th after shooting a 76, which leaves him at 146. Spencer Shishido, an ‘Iolani graduate who won an NCAA Division II national team championship at Sonoma State in 2009, is tied for 55th at 74–147.

Kauai’s Cory Oride, who played with Sawada and Kua at the University of Hawaii, missed the cut at 80–159.

Zumba class to benefit Goods-Fernandez

Former Rainbow Wahine basketball player Hedy Liu is putting together a Zumba fitness master class Feb. 8 to benefit former Wahine volleyball player Cia Goods-Fernandez. The 38-year-old mother of five was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

The class will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School (615 Auwaiolimu St.). Tickets are $10. All proceeds go to the family to help with medical expenses.

For more information, contact Liu at 808-348-3495 or zumbahedy@yahoo.com, or visit eventbrite.com/e/ team-cia-tickets-10284738931.

Tatupu-Leopoldo scores 32 in BYUH loss

Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo had seven 3-pointers and 32 points as Brigham Young-Hawaii (2-15, 2-10) fell to Azusa Pacific (12-5, 10-1) in a Pacific West Conference women’s basketball game Thursday in Laie, 86-71.

» Kamille Diaz hit four of eight 3-pointers and scored a game-high 20 points to lead California Baptist (9-7, 7-5) over host Hawaii Hilo (3-15, 3-9), 69-62.

In men’s play:

Reserve Pablo Coro scored a game-high 23 points as BYU-Hawaii (10-8, 8-4) beat Azusa Pacific (10-7, 6-5) 105-82.

UH tops Santa Clara in water polo opener

Paula Chillida Esforzado scored six goals as the sixth-ranked Hawaii women’s water polo team opened its season Thursday with a 13-8 victory over Santa Clara in Santa Clara.