7/31/09 Yakima Bears update
July 30, 2009 by Roger Underwood
Next game
Opponent: Everett AquaSox.
When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Yakima County Stadium.
Radio: KUTI (1460).
Probable pitchers: Everett RHP Andres Esquibel (1-1, 5.71) vs. Yakima RHP Rafael Quezada (0-4, 8.42).
Notes
WEATHER OR NOT: The Bears adhere to a daily pregame routine whether the temperature reads 78 or 98, manager Bob Didier said Thursday.
Players and coaches normally are on the field by 3:30 p.m. (for a 7:05 start) for stretching and conditioning, then take batting practice from 4-5. After a short break, players take infield and outfield practice. Pitchers, depending on their roles as starters or relievers, work on throwing programs or general conditioning.
“These guys are in good shape,” Didier said, “so we just try to make sure they drink a lot of water.”
Hitters, he said, take from 100 to 200 swings a day. Throwing programs can increase a pitcher’s velocity from 3 to 5 miles an hour over a period of several years.
“Velocity comes from arm strength,” Didier said, “and the only real way to build arm strength is to throw.”
Box score
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Northwest League Standings
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Thursday’s results Spokane 7, Eugene 6, 11 innings Today’s games Vancouver at Boise, 6:15 p.m. Saturday’s games Vancouver at Boise, 6:15 p.m. |
Wanderscheid tied for Junior lead
July 30, 2009 by YH-R Sports
BELLEVUE — Zach Wanderscheid is still in the lead at the Washington Junior Golf Association state championships but he now shares the pacesetting in the Boys 16-17 age division heading into today’s final round.
The Goldendale high schooler, who opened with a 69 on Wednesday, shot 73 on Thursday for a two-day total of 142, which was matched by Michael Rutledge of Fall City. They are two strokes up heading into today’s final round at Glendale Country Club.
Also making the cut for today’s finals was Yakima’s Holden Backes in the Boys 8-11 division. Backes is tied for ninth after nine-hole rounds of 43 and 39.
LOCAL RESULTS
Boys 16-17: Zach Wanderscheid (Goldendale) 69-73-142; Eric Gravbrot (Yakima) 77-76-153. Boys 12-13: Dylan Dietrich (Yakima) 85-85-170. Boys 8-11: Holden Backes (Yakima) 43-39-82; Dylan Bissell (Yakima) 47-44-91; Travis Kay (Ellensburg) 45-49-94; Dylan Apodaca (Selah) 50-49-99. Girls 12-13: Bree Wanderscheid (Goldendale) 85-90-175.
Yakima plays for title today
July 30, 2009 by YH-R Sports
YAKIMA, Wash. — Cascade of Vancouver eliminated Kalama in Thursday’s loser-out round, setting up today’s championship showdown with Yakima National in the Junior State Tournament at Parker Field.
Cascade defeated Kalama 10-8 and will play unbeaten Yakima National today at 4 p.m. for the title. A second game will be played at 7 if necessary.
Yakima National is 4-0 in the tournament and has scored double-digit runs in each game, including a 12-8 win over Cascade on Monday.
Today’s winner advances to regionals in Aliso Viejo, Calif., on Aug. 4-11.
Ripplinger HRs power Kimmel’s
July 30, 2009 by YH-R Sports
YAKIMA, Wash. — John Ripplinger went 4-for-4 including two home runs, and drove in eight runs to lead Kimmel’s Athletic to a 24-18 victory over JRW & Associates in an ASA Adult Fastpitch League game Wednesday night at Kiwanis Park.
Cory Worrell also had four hits and an RBI, and Rogan Rosseau and Tia Beavert both had three hits and two RBI for the winners.
Kevin Root had two hits and three RBI, and Shane Jones two hits and two RBI to lead the Aramark Monsters to an 8-1 victory over Peak Performance in Wednesday’s first game.
Peak Performance 001 00 — 1 3 1
Aramark Monsters 260 00 — 8 9 2
Harris and Parnham; Karr, McCauley (4) and Scheibner.
Highlights: Bob Harris (PP) HR; Shane Jones (AM) 2-3, 2b, 2 RBI; Kevin Root (AM) 2-2, 2b, 3 RBI; Derek Gonzalez (AM) 2-2, RBI.
Kimmel’s Athletic 32(13) 24 — 24 23 5
JRW & Associates 930 42 — 18 10 2
George, Foster (3) and Rousseau; Davenport, Fischer (3) and Fahsholtz.
Highlights: John Ripplinger (KA) 4-4, 2 HR, 8 RBI; Cory Worrell (KM) 4-5, RBI; Rogan Rousseau (KM) 3-4, 2 RBI; Tia Beavert (KM) 3-5, 2 RBI; Travis Lamb (JRW) 3 RBI; Tim Fischer (JRW) 2-2, 2b, 5 RBI; Troy Grow (JRW) 3 RBI.
7/31/09 This week on track
July 30, 2009 by YH-R Sports
RENEGADE RACEWAY
Who’s racing — Today: Pepsi Street Rods and Muscle Cars (’72 and older), Super Pro. Gates open at 6 p.m., time trials at 7. Saturday: Summit Series No. 8. Gates open at 4 p.m., time trials at 5:30.
Point leaders — Super Pro: Kerry Kost 170, Doug Widhalm 170, Shawn Herbst 162. Pro ET: Patrick Neveu 322, Rob Kennard 261, Bob Bundy 211. Sportsman: Don Fluaitt 251, Casey Reed 192, Dana Carson 180. Junior: Courtney Widhalm 244, Ryan Widhalm 162, Joey Watts 141. Sports Compact: Robert Storm 183, Sandy Vigil 111, Dana Carson 101. Street Legal: Reney Lange 203, Dustin Bailey 100, Bruce Olson 40. Pro Street: Bob Bundy 112, Roy Garza 90, Pat Neveu 80. Mopar: Forest Fincher 142, Mark McKenna 101, David Denning 80.
Address: 1395 No. Track Road, Wapato.
Track information: 877-4621 or www.renegaderaceway.com
YAKIMA SPEEDWAY
Next racing: Aug. 8.
Point leaders — Late Models: Owen Riddle 276, Jesse Brown 234, Bill Mills 227. Super Street: Chet Beaman Sr. 317, Zach Beaman 308, Dusty John 265. Sportsman: Mel Patnode 438, Randy Marshall Jr. 404, Thomas Benscoter Sr. 387. Pure Stocks: Jeff Liebert 506, Jay Younker 502, Ron Pepper 480. Hornets: Ryan Kallenberger 497, Greg Gargett 435, Josh Parmentier 409. Youth Hornets: Kyler Conduff 321, Joe Roberts 314, Christian Hall 151. Bump to Pass: Jake Breshears 408, Joe Stevens 384, Donnie Stevens 352.
Address: 1600 Pacific Ave., Yakima.
Track information: 248-0647 or www.yakimaspeedway.us
STATE FAIR RACEWAY
Next racing: Aug. 8.
Point leaders — Stock cars: John Raney 1535, Blair Shoemaker 1522, Larry Tracy 1456. Hornets: Wayne Griffith 1518, Austin Stahl 1472, Sylvia Stahl 1288. Modifieds: Duane D’Amico 1318, Blair Shoemaker 1310, Rick Sjogren 868. Bump to Pass: Bobby Trujillo 878, Peppie Rojas 842, Merle Stiltner 826.
Address: Central Washington State Fairgrounds.
Track information: www.yakimaraceway.com
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
Pennsylvania 500
Site: Long Pond, Pa.
Schedule: Today, practice (Speed, 9-10:30 a.m.), qualifying (ESPN2, 12:30-3 p.m.); Saturday, practice (ESPN2, 7-10 a.m.); Sunday, race, 11 a.m. (ESPN, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.).
Track: Pocono Raceway (triangle, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.
2008 winner: Carl Edwards.
Next race: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips At The Glen, Aug. 9, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Web site: www.nascar.com
NASCAR NATIONWIDE
U.S. Cellular 250
Site: Newton, Iowa.
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 10 a.m.-Noon), race, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN, 1-4:30 p.m.).
Track: Iowa Speedway (oval, 0.875 miles).
Race distance: 218.75 miles, 250 laps.
2008 winner: Inaugural race.
Next race: Zippo 200, Aug. 8, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Web site: www.nascar.com
NASCAR TRUCKS
Toyota Tundra 200
Site: Gladeville, Tenn.
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, race, 5 p.m. (Speed, 4:30-7:30 p.m.).
Track: Nashville Superspeedway (oval, 1.333 miles).
Race distance: 200 miles, 150 laps.
2008 winner: Johnny Benson.
Next race: O’Reilly 200, Aug. 19, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
Web site: www.nascar.com
INDYCAR
Meijer Indy 300
Site: Sparta, Ky.
Schedule: Today, practice, qualifying (Versus, 3-4 p.m.); Saturday, race, 5:45 p.m. (Versus, 5-8 p.m.).
Track: Kentucky Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles).
Race distance: 300 miles, 200 laps.
2008 winner: Scott Dixon.
Next race: Honda Indy 200, Sunday, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio.
Web site: www.indycar.com
FORMULA ONE
Next race: Grand Prix of Europe, Aug. 23, Streets of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Web site: www.formula1.com
NHRA
Next race: Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Aug. 13-16, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.
Web site: www.nhra.com
YVCC hosting wrestling camp
July 30, 2009 by YH-R Sports
YAKIMA, Wash. — An all-ages and all-experience wrestling camp will be today through Sunday at Yakima Valley Community College’s Sherar Gym.
Registration is today from 4 to 6 p.m., with the first session from 6-8. Sessions are all day Saturday and Sunday, starting at 9 a.m. each day.
Cost is $100 for commuters. Those needing or wanting to stay in the campus dorms will pay an extra $40. Lunch will be served both Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, contact Mike Schmidt at 509-307-0140.
Pac-10 team-by-team reports
July 30, 2009 by The Seattle Times
LOS ANGELES — Count Steve Sarkisian as one of a minority in Seattle. He enjoys the commute.
Sarkisian became almost rapturous here Thursday at his first Pac-10 football media day as Washington coach, talking about how he daily glimpses his home field from the Evergreen Point floating bridge and the juices start flowing.
“I’m 35 years old, coaching the University of Washington and staring at Husky Stadium,” said Sarkisian. “It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
His life will become more hectic in a hurry, but Sarkisian finally had time to settle in sometime after spring practice. He and his wife bought a home in Yarrow Point after a four-month stay in a hotel.
“It’s been good to meet people around the campus, rather than just say, ‘Thank you, I’ve got to run,’ ” he said. “We’ve had a chance to embrace the city. We love the community we’ve living in.”
Sarkisian said he doesn’t dwell on the fact Washington hasn’t won a football game since 2007, saying, “I don’t talk to players about it. It’s a clean slate for everybody. Let’s move on.”
Sarkisian said several junior-college recruits are “close” academically to qualifying — including offensive lineman Daniel Mafoe — and the issues should be cleared up next week. He also said multithreat Chris Polk, who has battled several injury issues, will be ready for the start of fall camp.
The Huskies were picked ninth by Pac-10 media. More on the other nine, in descending order as they were selected:
USC (1)
O’Dea product Taylor Mays, an All-American safety who unexpectedly decided to return for his senior year, aims to lead by example, saying, “I want to do things right. I don’t want my teammates to see me at a party, or they might think it’s OK for them to be at a party. I have no problem sitting home all day, looking at the wall.”
Aaron Corp is the No. 1 QB, but coach Pete Carroll added that second-team Matt Barkley, who entered school only in the winter, was “a total shock to us. He was able to perform at a level we’ve never seen at this stage.”
California (2)
In an odd juxtaposition, Cal has a formidable Heisman Trophy candidate in RB Jahvid Best, but is one of a growing number of schools that will publish its media guide online only.
Meanwhile, said coach Jeff Tedford, “Our fans, I think, would prefer to go to the Rose Bowl than the national championship. That’s the mindset at Cal. They’re so starved for the Rose Bowl.”
Oregon (3)
The Ducks have one of the nation’s early marquee games, meeting Boise State Sept. 3 under first-year coach Chip Kelly. “I think our defense is really going to surprise people this year,” said Kelly.
Oregon State (4)
Like Erik Bedard, incumbent quarterback Lyle Moevao won’t throw a lot of pitches early in camp for OSU, since he’s coming off shoulder surgery. Sean Canfield will thus enter with the edge. But the Rodgers brothers, James and Jacquizz, are healthy after late-season injuries.
Arizona State (5)
“We were 5-7 and that’s unacceptable for us,” said coach Dennis Erickson, referring to 2008. “When you’re not as successful as you’d hoped to be, it puts a little fire in the coaching staff. Sometimes when you’re 10-3 [Erickson's debut record at ASU in 2007], you take things for granted.”
Stanford (6)
This is what awaits Washington State in its opener with the Cardinal Sept. 5 in Pullman: “Our guys don’t quit,” said coach Jim Harbaugh. “You cannot kill them. You cannot get them to be demoralized or go away. We’ve got to step up now and become a relentless team, to take that next step to get up there with teams like USC and Cal and Oregon.”
UCLA (7)
The Bruins go to Tennessee Sept. 12, where the Vols likely remember that they let struggling UCLA QB Kevin Craft beat them in the opener last year.
“Personally, I’m looking forward to hearing that song [Rocky Top],” said Bruins LB Reggie Carter. “A lot of people say the SEC is tough. I guess the Pac-10 isn’t as tough. I’m looking forward to getting into that fight.”
Arizona (8)
The Wildcats have gotten surprisingly little media bounce from their 8-5, bowl-winning breakthrough of 2008. And that clearly has taken coach Mike Stoops by surprise. “I feel this is our best overall team from 1 to 85,” said Stoops.
Washington State (10)
The Cougars are facing a potential setback with playmaking sophomore LB Louis Bland, who aggravated a posterior-cruciate ligament tear in a summer workout. Coach Paul Wulff characterized Bland as “way behind” and said he didn’t think he’d have him for the start of fall drills.
But QB Marshall Lobbestael, coming off knee surgery, should be ready to go, Wulff said.
It will be an odd start to fall camp for Wulff when the Cougars begin drills Aug. 9. He can’t attend practice or meet with the team the first three days as a result of sanctions the NCAA levied in February stemming from violations at Eastern Washington mostly related to exceeding the maximum number of coaches.
Wulff minimizes the impact, recalling that he missed much more extensive time at Eastern in 2001 when his late wife Tammy was ill with cancer.
“It was a lot more than three days,” he said. “I still have staff meetings to get everything organized, watch film and all that.”
Updated: NW’s Voices of the Game videos
July 30, 2009 by The Seattle Times
Part Five
Seattle Times staff reporter Percy Allen asks the five legendary Seattle broadcasters to discuss the past, present and future of Seattle sports.
Part Four
Seattle Times staff reporter Percy Allen addresses the issue of staying current with the times as technology and the Internet continue to shape their profession.
Part Three
Seattle Times staff reporter Percy Allen asks Seattle sports broadcasting legends “How critical can you be?”
Part Two
Seattle Times staff reporter Percy Allen asks Seattle sports broadcasting legends how they got their famous catch phrases.
Part One
Seattle Times staff reporter Percy Allen asks Seattle sports broadcasting legends how they got started.
The right foot
July 30, 2009 by Roger Underwood
Bears start second half with victory ||
YAKIMA, Wash. — It starts with pitching, of course, so in that regard the Bears’ hopes of finally beating Everett and successfully starting the second half of their season rested on the shoulders of Chris Odegaard.
And while Odegaard didn’t win Wednesday night, he put Yakima in position to do so with five exemplary innings that helped his team subdue the AquaSox 6-4 before announced crowd of 1,582 in Yakima County Stadium.
Yakima Bears' Evan Button collides with Everett Aquasox's Jose Rivero Wednesday, July 29, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)
It was the Bears’ first victory in seven tries against the Baby Mariners (24-15), whose five-game sweep in Everett earlier this month was all too typical of Yakima’s first 38 Northwest League games.
Counting Tuesday night’s 11-9 defeat, the Bears concluded their first half with a five-game losing streak, a 13-25 record and the highest earned run average (5.69) of the league’s eight teams. Their pitchers also led the NWL with 159 walks.
Odegaard, however, issued only one free pass while striking out three, scattering three hits. The only run he allowed came in the first inning, when leadoff hitter Ryan Royster’s slicing drive to left carried over Tim Sherlock’s glove for a double. Royster then scored on Jose Rivero’s single.
“I just tried to throw strikes and go right at them, using my fastball mainly,” Odegaard said. “I was able to miss the middle of their bats.
“If you can put your fastball where you want it, which I was able to do tonight, you usually can get hitters out. If you do that and they get hits, props to them.”
Clayton Conner had three hits, including a two-run, first-inning homer that tied him for the league lead with seven and raised his NWL-best RBI total to 32.
Sherlock’s two-run single keyed Yakima’s four-run sixth inning and Ryan Wheeler had two hits to hike his team-leading batting average to .349.
“We’re trying to re-focus,” Bears manager Bob Didier said, alluding to the second half of the 76-game schedule. “This was a very good start. They’re a very good team, and with that lineup you pretty much just hold your breath.”
Though Will Harvil struggled through a three-run sixth inning (and got the win), Jake Hale and Brian Budrow combined for three innings of one-hit relief with Budrow getting his third save.
“Hale, I thought, was a key to the game,” Didier said, “the way he came in in that seventh inning and threw strikes and shut them down. Budrow was solid, too.”
After Odegaard made Conner’s homer stand up for a 2-1 lead through five innings, Harvil, encountered immediate trouble in the sixth by walking the first two hitters and hitting the third. After a strikeout, Ben Billingsley bounced a two-run single through the right side and Trevor Coleman drove in another run with a groundout to first for a 4-2 edge for Everett.
Yakima, however, responded with four runs in its half of the inning against AquaSox starter Chris Kirkland.
Conner’s one-out single was followed by an error on Gerson Montilla’s grounder and a walk to Tyrell Worthington which loaded the bases. After Didier and first base coach Andy Abad vehemently challenged a first-strike call on Sherlock, the left-fielder took another pitch to even the count and then ripped a single to right that scored two.
Worthington, who’d taken third on the hit, scored on a wild pitch before Jorge Corniel singled up the middle to plate Sherlock.
“It’s no fun to get swept five games by a team,” Sherlock said, “and then come back and lose again to them here.”
Said Didier, “We’ve been playing Salem-Keizer (10 times this month) and these guys a lot. They’re both good teams and they really swing the bat.
“Like I said, with these guys you pretty much hold your breath until the last hitter’s out.”
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- Yakima Bears’ Clayton Conner is congratulated by teammates after his first-inning, two-run homerun against the Everett Aquasox Wednesday, July 29, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)
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- Yakima Bears Everett Aquasox Wednesday, July 29, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)
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- Yakima Bears’ Evan Button collides with Everett Aquasox’s Jose Rivero Wednesday, July 29, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)
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- Yakima Bears’ Evan Button collides with Everett Aquasox’s Jose Rivero Wednesday, July 29, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)
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- Yakima’s Tim Sherlock just misses a foul ball during the Bears’ game against the Everett Aquasox Wednesday, July 29, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)
7/30/09 Yakima Bears update
July 30, 2009 by Roger Underwood
Next game
Opponent: Everett AquaSox.
When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Yakima County Stadium.
Radio: KUTI (1460).
Probable pitchers: Everett RHP Taylor Stanton (2-1, 4.23) vs. Yakima RHP Dan Taylor (0-4, 8.42).
Notes
HE WAS A BEAR BACK IN THE DAY: Everett’s Hawkins Gebbers returned to Yakima County Stadium on Tuesday, having played in four Class 1A state tournaments here during his days at Brewster High School.
Gebbers also played in four Class 1A state basketball tournaments for the Bears in the nearby SunDome. His teams won two roundball championships and one baseball title.
Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 33rd round last month out of Biola University, the second baseman began play Wednesday hitting .328, ninth in the Northwest League, with two homers and 16 RBI.
Gebbers, who was hit by pitches in the back and on the hand Tuesday night, was a late scratch from Everett’s lineup Wednesday.
PARENTAL GUIDANCE: Matt Davidson’s parents, Glen and Candi Davidson, will be in Yakima watching their son through Friday night’s game. The Davidsons live in Yucaipa, Calif.
WEDDING BELLS FOR VARNELL: Bears catcher Zach Varnell will leave the team next month to get married.
Varnell and Marissa Beranck will be married Aug. 8 at a refurbished plantation near their hometown of Pine Bluff, Ark. Varnell, who will leave Aug. 7 in Vancouver, will rejoin the Bears in Yakima on Aug. 9.
“There will be 200 to 250 people there,” Varnell said. “We’ll see if I can handle the pressure.”
Box score
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Northwest League Standings
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Wednesday’s results Eugene 11, Spokane 10 Today’s games Vancouver at Boise, 6:15 p.m. Friday’s games Vancouver at Boise, 6:15 p.m. |
