Tyler Yates remembers himself as a pitcher who picked up a ball and just threw during his time at UH-Hilo, where he sharpened his rough edges enough to chase his dream of making it to the major leagues.

Ocean Gabonia, a 2019 Hilo High graduate, signed a free agent contract Sunday with the New York Yankees, according to a Facebook post by his father, Ronald Gabonia.

It took a while, a little longer than he wanted, but Kalai Rosario was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth and final round of the Major League Baseball draft on Thursday, making eight straight years a player with Hilo ties has been selected.

Recent Waiakea graduate Kalai Rosario put himself on Major League Baseball’s radar last summer when he won a home run derby at the Area Code Games.

More than two decades ago, Booker Waugh was a 6-foot-5 forward, familiar on the low post or out on the wings shooting 3-pointers for the UH-Hilo basketball team.

The accomplishment of landing a collegiate basketball scholarship started with a ball, a dream and a father, who doubled as his daughter’s coach and wanted the very best for her.

So much is still out of UH-Hilo athletic director Pat Guillen’s hands. He has to wait until the state figures out its own financial crisis before he knows what his budget is.

Syrus Yarbrough had a rather nondescript career when he was playing for the UH-Hilo basketball team from 1993 to 1995.

It’s only a matter of time before the minor league baseball season is canceled, and the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic came down swiftly with the reported release of hundreds of players to cut costs.

Maile Brilhante was surrounded by tennis all her life, and it’s no surprise she found that same comfortable, family atmosphere at University of Pacific.

In light of St. Joseph’s financial difficulties, namely raising $500,000 to keep the 151-year-old school operating, the connections, memories and lessons will live on, uniting those who went there or hold the school dear in their hearts.

Hillary Hurley was a versatile shining star during her time at UH-Hilo, playing basketball and volleyball and dominating at both.

Kaeo Drummondo and Chris Todd can joke about it now, that Hilo High will finally get a new track and field facility to not only hold football practice but host BIIF games as well.

It’s nearly impossible to get a curveball past Kala’i Rosario, who hits sneaky questions out of the park.

Idaho State is far from Hilo, but Keilyn Kunimoto found a comfortable fit and signed with the Bengals.

Kimo Keiter-Charles had a wonderful basketball life, experiencing the thrill of standing on the top of a mountain in 2000.

Kaleinani Kabalis is joining the family business of coaching volleyball after she was named the Hilo High girls coach.

Not every UH-Hilo volleyball recruit will have an impact like Emily Wade, who smashed eight kills and hit .615 against Western Washington in the NCAA West Regional last season.

Keaau’s Catherine Chow and Leilani Stone, and Waiakea’s Lilah Shapiro and Ella Johnson all share a love of running, community service, and exactly the same 4.1 grade-point average, making them ideal candidates for the Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph scholarships.