Big West coaches voted the University of Hawaii softball team fourth in the conference’s preseason poll released Thursday.
The Rainbow Wahine received 33 points in the poll of the league’s eight coaches. UH went 23-27 overall last year and tied for seventh in the Big West at 7-14.
Three-time defending Big West champion Cal State Fullerton received six of eight first-place votes and topped the poll with 62 points. Long Beach State, which received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament last season, came in second with 55 points and one first-place vote, followed by UC Davis (34 points, one first-place vote). UH was followed by Cal State Northridge (32 points), UC Riverside (30), Cal Poly (26) and UC Santa Barbara (16).
The Wahine play their alumnae game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium and open the season Thursday against Georgia State in the Paradise Classic.
No. 18 Chaminade men down Biola
Tyler Cartaino scored 24 points and Grant Dressler added 17 as the No. 18 Chaminade men’s basketball team defeated Biola 82-58 on Thursday at McCabe Gym.
Cartaino finished 10-for-12 from the field for the Silverswords (15-4, 9-4 PacWest).
Levi Auble scored 18 points for the Eagles (10-9, 6-7).
>> Destiny Castro scored 17 points, but the Chaminade women’s basketball team lost to Biola 67-57.
The Silverswords fell to 4-13, 3-10 PacWest.
Brenna Khaw finished with 21 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles (9-10, 7-6).
Marathon early-entry deadline Sunday
Hawaii residents can register for Honolulu Marathon weekend’s three events at discounted rates through Sunday.
The early-entry fee for the marathon, set for Dec. 8, is $54 and includes an “In Training” shirt. The promotion ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Local residents can also enter the Start to Park 10K for $45 and the Kalakaua Merrie Mile (Dec. 7) for $28.
Registration is online only at honolulumarathon.org.
