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UNLV junior and Moanalua graduate John Oda was named a first-team All-American and rolled to a decisive win in his match at the NCAA Division I men’s golf championship on Tuesday in Sugar Grove, Ill. But the eighth-seeded Rebels’ season ended with a 3-2 loss to top-seeded Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals at Rich Harvest Farms.
Oda won the first five holes against Vanderbilt’s Will Gordon and closed out a 6-and-5 win on the 13th hole to give UNLV its first point. The Rebels led 2-0, but the Commodores evened the match and advanced to the semifinals thanks to a birdie on the final hole of the decisive match.
Oda was also named a Division I Ping first-team All-American on Tuesday. Oda is the first UNLV golfer to make the 10-player first team since current PGA Tour member Ryan Moore in 2005. Oda and Punahou graduate PJ Samiere, a San Diego State junior, were named to the Ping All-West region team Saturday.
Saito, Gunter help Cal Lutheran win D-III title
Senior Trey Saito had six hits to help the California Lutheran baseball team beat Washington & Jefferson twice on Tuesday to win the NCAA Division III championship in Appleton, Wis.
Saito, a Mid-Pacific graduate, batted 4-for-5 in a 12-4 win that forced a third game in the championship series. In the finale, Saito was 2-for-4 with two runs and a double and senior Gabriel Gunter, a King Kekaulike alum, doubled in two runs in a 7-3 win. Freshman Ryne Yamashiro (Mid-Pacific) is also on the Kingsmen (40-11) roster.
Cantillo named Gatorade player of the year
Senior pitcher Joey Cantillo of Kailua High School has been named the Gatorade Hawaii baseball player of the year.
The left-handed pitcher went 5-1 for the Surfriders this season with a 1.24 ERA. He helped lead Kailua to a 14-4 record and the Division I state quarterfinals. At the plate, he hit .534 with two home runs and 23 RBI.
Cantillo is now a candidate for Gatorade national baseball player of the year. Rated as the No. 2 prospect in the state, Cantillo has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at the University of Kentucky.
3 from UH make academic All-MPSF
Three members of the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team have earned Mountain Pacific Sports Federation all-academic scholar-athlete honors.
Middle blockers Patrick Gasman and Dalton Solbrig and opposite hitter Stijn van Tilburg all earned the award in their first years of eligibility.
To qualify for all-academic honors, athletes must have a 3.00 or better cumulative grade-point average, have played in at least 50 percent of their team’s competitions, and be at least a sophomore in academic standing.
UH sailors in 12th in national semis
The University of Hawaii sailing team sits in 12th after Day 1 of the Gill Coed Dinghy National Championships in Charleston, S.C., the third and final national championship event.
Hawaii sits three spots off the cut in the Eastern semifinals, as the top nine teams advance to the finals. UH has a total of 93 points and are 15 points behind ninth-place Rhode Island. The semifinals continue today.
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