The Honolulu Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • 26

1SLAHD EDIT10IJ Tm Homhih Advertiser Thursdav, July 29, 2004 D3 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TELEVISION Kanoa Leahey will join KHON sports wrf. y.v with the people over there, including Joe Moore, and particularly in the sports department with John Veneri and Wailele the following years. The position has been vacant since Alema Harrington left A noncompete agreement will keep Leahey off the air for three months. Leahey has extensive background in the business, starting radio play-by-play for high school girls basketball while a senior at Iolani School. He also was a play-by-play announcer for University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball for two seasons.

Leahey will be allowed to pursue radio opportunities while at KHON. Leahey is the son of Jim, longtime voice of University of Hawai'i sports for K5, and grandson of Chuck, who was voice of Hawai'i sports in the 1960s and 70s. "A lot of people assumed that my dad coached me at a young age," Leahey said. "To tell you the truth, it's only been in recent years that my dad has bought into the fact I'm in the same business as him. "As far as tradition goes, I consider my grandfather and father, in their era, the standard setters in sports broadcasting in Hawai'i And I'm just trying to do as much as I can and hopefully, (I'll) continue to bring respect to the Leahey name." Leahey played on Iolani's state championship basketball team in 1994.

The team was led by Todd King and Adam Wong. "My career was injury plagued," he said. "I was destined for the media league." Leahey, along with former UH guard Lance Takaki, led ITTV to the title in the media league, which was administered by the Asian American Journalists Association-Hawai'i chapter. 3rd-generation Isle sportscaster leaves KITV after 5 years Advertiser Staff Kanoa Leahey, 26, a third-generation sportscaster, will leave KITV to become sports anchor and sports director at top-rated KHON. A weekend anchor for KITV for the past five years, Leahey will make his final broadcast for the station on Saturday.

"It's a tremendous honor, and I look forward to teaming up BASEBALL K. Leahey Sallas," Leahey said. "KITV was a great experience and great learning ground. "Now, it's time to move on and take another step forward in my career." Leahey will receive a three-year deal, starting at about $70,000 and escalating each of Ruth became instant hit as San Diego freshman HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Afoa head coach at Kamehameha's Big Island campus Advertiser library photo Kamehameha graduate Keoni Ruth wielded a big stick last season for the University of San Diego, where he batted .342. BY WES NAKAMA Advertiser Staff Writer Former University of Hawai'i and San Diego State assistant Ulima Afoa has been named head coach of Kamehameha-Hawai'i Campus' first varsity football team, athletic director Bob Wagner announced last night Kamehameha-Hawai'i, in Kea'au (nine miles south of Hilo), will enter varsity competition for the first time this falL The school is in its third year of existence and has no seniors.

Afoa, 45, Afoa was a standout lineman at Saint Louis School and San Diego State and spent 18 years as an NCAA Division I assistant coach, including 16 at San Diego State. He coached the defensive line at UH in 1995 and 1996 and also was Punahou School's defensive coordinator in 1994. Afoa coached special teams at Steel Canyon High School in San Diego last season. "I've already done the Divi- GOLF I ii INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL TOURNAMENT BY STACY KANESHIRO Advertiser Staff Writer In more than 100 years of Major League Baseball, there has been only one player named "Ruth." Perhaps, in about three or four years, there will be another. Keoni Ruth's dream of playing pro ball was delayed when he attended class at the University of San Diego about 11 months ago.

The 2003 Kamehameha Schools graduate The Advertiser's high school Player of the Year was drafted in the 17th round by the Kansas City Royals last year. But when he could not reach an agreement on a bonus, he opted for USD, where he had signed a letter of intent "It was tough," he said of his decision. "I definitely wanted to play pro ball. I talked it over with my family and we felt going to school was a better thing to do." Instead of dwelling on what might have been had he signed the pro contract, Ruth went on to have an impressive freshman season for the Toreros, who finished 35-2L He was in the team's top five in six offensive categories. He led in steals with 14 (in 15 attempts), batted 342 (fifth), and had two triples (tied for second), five home runs (fifth), 77 hits (third) and 47 runs (fourth).

"I just had to get adjusted to seeing good pitching every day," Ruth said of his success. "Once I started being more disciplined, I started seeing the ball better, started to use the opposite field a little bit and then I started getting hits." Ruth started in 55 games, all at second base. He was primarily a shortstop during high school, but smoothly made the transition. "Actually, I liked it," he said. "I feel comfortable at second base.

You can take a little more time on ground balls." One of Ruth's highlights came early in the season in a tournament hosted by San Diego State at Petco Park, the San Diego Padres' new stadium. Ruth broke a 3-all game with a solo home run to left-center in the Torero's 7-3 win against then-No. 8 Long ISLE FILE Associated Press Troy Percival, right celebrated his 300th career save with first baseman Damn Erstad before being mobbed by his Angel teammates. Percival earns 300th career save with Angels Closer finishes off Lackey's 3-hitter to beat Rangers, 2-0 Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif. Troy Percival and John Lackey teamed for another history-making night for the Anaheim Angels.

Percival earned his 300th career save, all with the Angels, and Lackey allowed three hits over 8W innings, leading Anaheim to a 2-0 victory over the Texas Rangers last night. They also collaborated in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series, with Lackey getting the win and Percival closing it to secure the Angels' first championship. "It's just an honor to be involved in this game with him getting to 300," Lackey said. "He's such a professional and such a great guy to play with. I have no idea how many of my games he's closed out, but most of the time when he comes in, it's pretty much over." Percival became the 18th member of the 300-save club, striking out Alfonso Soriano and getting Mark Teixeira to ground out to end the game.

"All of us know it is a pretty good milestone I mean, only 18 people have done it thus far Percival said. "I was out there when my teammates needed me 300 times, and I'm real proud of that It was good to get it out of the way so that we could just concentrate on winning ballgames." ORIOLES 4, RED SOX 1 BALTIMORE Dave Borkowski (2-2) allowed three hits in seven-plus scoreless innings, and Javy Lopez hit two homers off Curt Schilling (12-5) to lead Baltimore past Boston. BJ Ryan completed the four-hitter, but gave up a homer to David Ortiz in the ninth. BLUE JAYS 3, YANKEES 2 TORONTO Vernon Wells homered in the 10th inning and Carlos Delgado had a tying RBI double in the eighth to lead Toronto over New York. Yankee Gary Sheffield reached the fifth deck of SkyDome with a first-inning homer off Miguel Batista.

A'S 3, MARINERS 2 OAKLAND, Calif. Mark Kotsay singled home Scott Hatteberg from second in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Mark Mulder (14-3) gave up eight hits in pitching his fifth complete game of the season as Oakland handed Seattle its 1 5th straight road loss. Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 20 games, the longest in the majors. TWINS 5, WHITE SOX 4 CHICAGO Jacque Jones hit a go-ahead single in the top of the 10th inning right after Chicago shortstop Jose Valentin dropped his foul popup with two outs, and Minnesota completed a three-game sweep of Chicago to move 3Vi games ahead of the White Sox in the AL Central. INDIANS 5, TIGERS 4 CLEVELAND Scott Elarton (1-2) allowed four runs and six hits in a season-high seven innings, and Casey Blake's two-run homer In the seventh inning erased a 4-3 deficit and led Cleveland over Detroit.

DEVIL RAYS 10, ROYALS 1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Mark Hen-drickson (8-8) gave up four hits in his second complete game in three starts, and Jose Cruz Aubrey Huff and Tino Martinez homered, helping Tampa Bay hand Kansas City its sixth straight loss. Sorenstam hoping history repeats itself sion I thing, and I think the two most fun years I've had coaching was when I was coaching high school ball," said Afoa, who will work at Kamehameha-Hawai'i as an athleticsfitness coordinator. This is a great opportunity for me this is a great place and Pm happy to be back home.

We've got good athletes and good, quality students, so I would like to build this program and see where it goes." Kamehameha-Hawai'i, with an enrollment of 432, will be classified as a Division II team in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation this season. "We're very excited to have somebody of Ulima's caliber, not just because of his experience but also because he's a really good person," said Bob Wagner, who was UH's head football coach from 1987 to 1995. "We've got a good corps of athletes and our JV team went undefeated last year, but like I told our kids today, it's a big jump to varsity. So we're very fortunate to have someone like Uluna." Reach Wes Nakama at wnaka mahonoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. would mean.

"I have tried so many times to do well here. I had been second here three times (before it became a major)." Women's Open champion Meg Mallon said Sorenstam's streak of consistent performances was her most amazing achievement. "The longevity of this incredible streak -1 don't think any golfer's done this in history at the level she's played," said Mallon, who has won four majors in 18 years on tour. "You have seen Tiger (Woods) through four years or Karrie (Webb) through three. But six years? Sorenstam has 52 career titles, including seven majors, and has finished second at the Women's Open and last week's Evian Masters in France.

"I feel like I'm playing better this year than last time we were here," Sorenstam said. She is coming off a stunning loss to Australia's Wendy Doolan at the Evian Masters, where Doolan made up six shots in 12 holes for a one-stroke victory. "Oh, I'm over it," Sorenstam said. "I got outplayed by her. She had a wonderful stretch in there in which she eagled and birdied and eagled and there's not much I can do there." Sorenstam, a five-time runner-up in majors, also wants to make up for her poor performance the last time the Open was at Sunningdale, three years ago.

"I did not play well last time and I want to improve on that and see what happens." said Sorenstam, who tied for 32nd, 10 shots behind winner Se Ki Pak younger. SCHEDULE: Today-Sapporo vs. Osaka Gakuin, 2:30 p.m.; San Mateo vs. Movers, 6 p.m. Rest of the schedule depends on previous day's outcomes, but Island Movers will always play the 6 p.m.

game. Sunday's schedule is based on the records from the previous games. on his consistency and plate discipline. "The power will come a little later," he said. "Right now, I just have to be a consistent hitter." Ruth is keeping his skills sharp by playing for the Island Movers.

They will host the International Goodwill Tournament, which starts today. The Movers will play San Mateo (Calif.) at 6 tonight. The Movers will then host the Hawai'i International Baseball Championship Tournament, Aug. 5 to 8, against teams from Japan and a team from O'ahu featuring former pro and college players. The Movers are 10-5-3.

Earlier this month, they played games in Japan and South Korea. Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshirohonoluluadverti ser.com or 525-8042. Olympics (449) in a tight battle for the cup. Mari Chun, Kayla Morinaga, Kimberly Kim and Kelly Nakashima make up the Hawai'i team. Their individual scores were not available.

Toyama slips to 15th after third-round 78 Kane'ohe's Travis Toyama fell to 15th after yesterday's third round of the 36th Annual Independent Insurance Agent Junior Classic at Dornick Hill Country Club in Ardmore, Okla. Toyama, an incoming freshman at the University of Hawai'i, shot a 7-over-par 78. The defending champion is at 223, 13 strokes behind leader Ji Ho Moon, of Ellicott City, Md. Moon holds a four-stroke lead heading into today's final round. LIhu'e's T.J.

Kua is tied for 55th with a 234. Miki Ueoka, also from Lfliu'e, missed Tuesday's cut. WHO: Island Movers, San Mateo Sapporo (Japan), Osaka Gakuin (Japan). WHEN: 2:30 and 6 p.m. today through Saturday; 1 p.m.

and 4 p.m. Sunday. WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium TICKETS: $3 adults, $2 ages 5-18. free for children 4 and Beach State. It was his first collegiate home run.

"It was awesome," Ruth said. "In fact, it was good because my family came up for the weekend. I got a hold of that one pretty good. I knew I had it. I was real fortunate." His blast turned out to be in one of the toughest parks to hit a home run in the major leagues.

Despite his success as a freshman, Ruth said there is room for improvement, especially if he wants to better his stock by the end of his junior season, when he becomes eligible for the draft again. Tm working hard to have that happen," he said. "I'm trying to make myself a well-rounded player, to try to not have any weaknesses in my game and show the scouts that Tm getting better, getting stronger, getting faster." Ruth said he wants to work Brazil has the two top-ranked men's teams and the second-and third-ranked women's teams. Americans Misty May and Kerri Walsh make up the top-ranked women's team. Americans Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs are fourth.

The men's and women's Olympic tournaments will be played in a pool-play format followed by a single-elimination final round. GOLF Hawaii girls drop to third at America's Cup Team Hawai'i shot a combined 230 yesterday, falling back to third going into today's final round of the Girls Junior America's Cup at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia. Team B.C (447) took over the lead from Hawai'i, followed by San Diego (448) and Hawai'i Metzger ranked No. 11 for She would match Wright's mark with British Open win BY ROBERT MILLWARD Associated Press SUNNINGDALE, England A year after completing a career grand slam at the Women's British Open, Annika Sorenstam needs to repeat to match Mickey Wright's record-setting success in majors. With a victory at Sunning-dale Golf Club this weekend, Sorenstam nas a cnance ioi to tie xl right's record ot ae-fending her title in all four ifl majors.

Wright, a Hall ofFamer Sorenstam wno retired in 1980 with 82 titles over 35 years, won the US. Women's Open in 1958-59, the LPGA Championship in 1960-6L the Titleholders Championship in 1961-62 and the Western Opens in 1962-63. Her career victory total is second to Kathy Whitworth's career record 88 wins. Sorenstam won the LPGA Championship last month for the second straight year. She won the U.S.

Women's Open in 1995-96, and the Nabisco Championship in 2001-02. She is keenly aware of Wright's record. "I'm trying not to think about it," said Sorenstam, a four-time winner this year. "I don't want to put too much pressure on myself but, obviously, I'm aware of what a win here Advertiser Staff Hawaii's Stein Metzger is ranked 11th with beach volleyball partner Dax Holdren for next month's Games in Athens. The official Olympic ranking for the 24 men's teams and 24 women's teams was released last Friday by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FTVB).

According to FIVB regulations, a maximum of two teams per country can qualify for the Olympic Games. Metzger, a Punahou graduate, and Holdren, from Santa Barbara, finished 11th overall in qualifying with 1,980 points. They are the No. 2 men's team from the United States, following Dain Blanton and Jeff Ny-gaard, who were ranked seventh after earning 2,296 qualifying points. Former Rainbow Nik Berger is ranked 10th with his teammate Clemens Doppler.

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