Frank Degele was set to come back for a 45th year as coach at Pahoa, but he won’t have the chance. ADVERTISING Frank Degele was set to come back for a 45th year as coach at Pahoa, but he won’t
Frank Degele was set to come back for a 45th year as coach at Pahoa, but he won’t have the chance.
The Daggers are dropping their softball program, for a season, athletic director Hoku Fernandez said, citing a lack of participation.
“The commitment was a struggle for a lot of the girls,” Fernandez said. “We won’t have a team this season, but we are building for the future.”
Degele has been a fixture in Daggers’ dugouts for more than 40 years. He coached the baseball team for 33 years, until the program was dropped, and he coached softball the past 11.
Pahoa had a nice run of success after Degele took over, reaching the HHSAA Division II tournament three consecutive years from 2007-09.
But numbers have waned in recent years.
In 2015, with the threat of the lava flow forcing students to attend Keaau High, Pahoa had to forfeit a handful of BIIF contests. Last season, Pahoa played some games with as few as nine or 10 players.
“There are a lot of challenges,” Fernandez said, “but also many opportunities to be successful.”
Pahoa’s withdrawal means the six remaining teams in Division II as well as four in D-I will play a nine-game round-robin schedule. The season starts next week.
Business Canoe Race is April 9
Kamehameha Canoe Club along with radio stattions KWXX and B97 will host its 34th annual Business Canoe Race at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 9 at Hilo Bay. Deadline for entries is the week of March 26.
Businesses or organizations may choose to paddle in the Business, Intermediate or Open Divisions. Descriptions of each category and other information will soon be available on-line at the club’s website: www. kcchilo.org.
Email questions to gkekua@yahoo.com with Business Race as the subject.
34th Annual Business Canoe Race
Kamehameha Canoe Club-Hilo along with Radio Stations KWXX and B97 will host their 34th Annual Business Canoe Race at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 9 at Hilo Bay. Deadline for entries is the week of March 26.
Businesses or organizations may choose to paddle in the Business, Intermediate or Open Divisions. Descriptions of each category and other information will soon be available on-line at the club’s website: www. kcchilo.org.
Email questions to gkekua@yahoo.com with Business Race as the subject.
Softball sihn-ups
The Gummy Bears softball team will hold open practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Ainaola Park softball field starting at 4:30 p.m.
The teams is looking for players for the 12-and-under and 14-and-under divisions.
The Pirates Organization affiliate is looking for girls interested in participating in the sport. To participate bring along shoes, a glove and water.
For more information, contact coach Malia Naukana at 937-5281.
