Incoming Kamehameha-Hawaii senior outside hitter Kaiulani Ahuna captained the USA Red team to gold in the junior women’s international division and Aloha Region Select Black finished second out of 24 teams at last week’s USA Volleyball High Performance Girls National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ahuna’s team defeated Iowa 25-27, 25-17, 25-23, 23-20 in the final.
Aloha Region Black Select, coached by Jenic Tumaneng and John Ing, lost in the gold-medal match to Team Florida, 19-25, 24-26, 25-20, 25-20, 15-13.
Team members were Braelyn and Keonilei Akana, Lexis Akeo, Kaylie Akiona, Isabelle Bauer, Shelby Capllonch, Makana Eleneki, Kamaleikuhalia Krug, Aria McComber and Paris Oliveira.
The Aloha Region Select Red team was 14th out of the 24 teams.
In the Girls National Youth division, the Aloha Region team placed 12th out of 14.
Manoa 12-U wins at Ripken World Series
Austin Teixeira pitched a two-hitter with six strikeouts and also batted 3-for-3 as Manoa beat Charles County, Md., 6-0 in the Cal Ripken (12-U) World Series on Monday at Aberdeen, Md.
Kainoa Holt had a two-run double in Manoa’s five-run sixth inning.
Punahou 15-U prevails at Ruth regional
Kahi Bisho allowed one run with four strikeouts in a complete-game performance and Slater Pang drove in three runs as Punahou beat Somerton, Ariz., 6-2 in the Babe Ruth (15-U) Pacific Southwest Regional on Monday at Surprise, Ariz.
Punahou’s Ryan Nishi batted 3-for-3 and Asa Kurasaki, Jake Tsukada 2-4 and Kyson Donahue each had two hits.
» Blake Hirai allowed no earned runs over six innings as ‘Io Ikaika beat Hamilton, Ariz., 5-2 in the Babe Ruth (14-U) Pacific Southwest Regional on Monday at Riverton, Utah.
‘Io Ikaika’s Jonah Miyazawa batted 2-for-3 with a double and Shaydon Kubo drove in two runs.
Punahou’s Ryan Nishi batted 3-for-3 and Jake Tsukada, Asa Kurasaki and Kyson Donahue each had two hits.
» Jordan Botelho, Caleb Markwith and Richie Vidal each had two hits and an RBI as Saint Louis beat Reedley, Calif., 9-7 in the Babe Ruth (13-U) Pacific Southwest Regional on Monday at Fresno, Calif.
Saint Louis’ Kaipo Panui allowed two runs in four innings for the victory.