KEAAU – Kamau Maka’ike is a perfect example of Kamehameha’s hit smart strategy. He can hit hard or take something off his fastball. And he was simply efficient against Waiakea, which often swung for the fences.

Brandyn Lee-Lehano has turned into UH-Hilo’s workhorse relief pitcher, throwing another three-inning stint in a sweep against Academy of Art, which also featured the return of the team’s ace, boosting the staff’s depth.

It looked like a mismatch on the volleyball court with Hilo in first place at 6-0 and Keaau in last at 0-6.

Jordan Tagawa went off to play baseball at Menlo College, where he graduated with an accounting degree. But, with a year of eligibility, he wasn’t ready to sit behind a desk and walked on to the UH-Hilo baseball team.

History was made at the 62nd annual Haili Volleyball Tournament behind the right arm of Nani Spaar and the rest of her precocious Pilipaa teammates, who refused to bend against the will of their opponent, Legacy, older but blessed with collegiate experience.

Mahala Kaapuni was just enjoying the moment as her Piopio Bears Laukoa team took down her sisters, the Piopio Kilakila club, in three sets in the girls 18 division.

UH-Hilo coach Kallen Miyataki has mined the local ranks to find a middle reliever in Brandyn Lee-Lehano, who needed a bit of polishing, and a freshman infielder in Casey Yamauchi, who has been like microwave popcorn — immediately good.