Spokane edges Yakima to take 2 of 3

YAKIMA, Wash. — Often this season, and especially during the second half of it, the Bears had gotten the big hit, made the big pitch or executed the big play needed to win a game.

But not this game.

Hoping to reduce its playoff magic number while increasing its second-half East Division lead, Yakima did neither Friday night, dropping a 3-2 decision to Spokane in a matchup of likely first-round playoff foes at Yakima County Stadium.

Before an announced overflow crowd of 3,139 on Mel Stottlemyre bobblehead night, the Bears (18-11 second half, 36-31 overall) saw their lead over the Indians (16-13, 38-29) pared to two games with nine remaining.

And unlike the evening prior, Yakima’s magic number for earning its first postseason berth since 2000 did not shrink since Boise defeated Tri-City.

The Hawks, who could gain the second-half berth if they and first-half champion Spokane overtake the Bears in this half, moved to within six games of Yakima in the overall standings which determine the second-half participant if one team claims both titles.

Thus, the Bears’ magic number stayed at four.

“We pitched well and played well enough, although four errors don’t look too good,” Yakima manager Bob Didier said. “We had enough chances to score five to seven runs. But we only scored two.”

As a result, the Bears have lost consecutive games at home for the first time since June 19-20, when they were en route to a 1-6 start. They also lost a series on their home turf for the first time in six tries, and finished this eight-game homestand 5-3.

Remaining are six straight games with Tri-City — three at Pasco and three in Yakima — followed by a regular season-ending three-game set at Boise.

If the Bears win the second-half title or finish with a better overall record than the Hawks, they’ll open a best-of-three division series against the Indians here on Sept. 6. The second and, if necessary, third games would be played in Spokane the following two days.

A night after issuing a Northwest League season-high 13 walks, Yakima allowed only one. But after producing eight hits over the first four innings, the Bears got none over the final five against Indians starter Ben Henry and three relievers.

Nor did they advance a runner to scoring position after the Indians took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth.

Golden opportunities were erased, meanwhile, when Yakima banged into inning-ending double plays with the bases loaded in the third inning and again in the fourth.

Spokane scored first on Jake Skole’s two-out RBI single in the second.

The Bears took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on Henry Zabala’s one-out double and a run-scoring single by Raywilly Gomez.

Roberto Ortiz and Justin Hilt would follow with base hits to fill the sacks, after which a walk to No. 9 hitter Tom Belza scored Gomez.

Mike Freeman, however, bounced into a spectacularly-turned double play that saw Indians second baseman Santiago Chirino make a diving stab of the ball behind the bag and flip it from his glove to shortstop Jurickson Profar, who spun and fired to first.

“Their second baseman made a great play up the middle — simple as that,” Didier said.

The inning prior, Zach Walters had stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out but smacked into a 3-6-1 twin killing. Raoul Torrez, with the same opportunity and none out, hit a foul pop to the third baseman.

Spokane, meanwhile, got successive singles from Skole and Olt plus a sacrifice fly by Andrew Clark to tie it in the fifth. The Indians then used Profar’s leadoff double on a ball misplayed by center-fielder Hilt, a sacrifice bunt and then a sacrifice fly by Kellin Deglan to re-take the lead in the sixth.

Olt had three hits to lead Spokane, which played without offensive mainstay Jared Hoying due to injury. Freeman and Hilt had two hits each for Yakima.

“A break or two and it’s a different game,” Didier said. “But if we win tomorrow, we’ll be in good shape.”

8/28/10 Yakima Bears-Spokane Indians photo gallery

Photos from Friday’s Northwest League game between the Yakima Bears and Spokane Indians at Yakima County Stadium in Yakima, Wash. All photos by Andy Sawyer of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

A first for a local legend

Bears honor Mabton’s Stottlemyre with bobblehead night ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Few in baseball have seen or done all that Mel Stottlemyre has.

As a rookie right-hander, for example, he pitched in a World Series for the New York Yankees. He later coached in, and won, five Series as a pitching coach — four with the Yankees and one with the New York Mets.

During his stellar playing career, during which he was known as a good-hitting pitcher, Stottlemyre even belted an inside-the-park grand slam.

Friday night at Yakima County Stadium, however, the former Mabton High School and Yakima Valley Community College great enjoyed a baseball-related first.

“Yes,” he said smiling, “this is my first bobblehead. I’m a little worried, though, because my wife’s here and when she sees me bobblehead, moving my head forward and back, she’ll tell me I was saying yes to something I’d said no to before.”

Stottlemyre, 68, said he’s been enjoying a summer that included three days of fishing with old friend and junior college mentor Bobo Brayton on Lake Washington.

“We had a great time — caught a lot of walleye,” Stottlemyre said. “Bobo’s awesome. It was a tremendous amount of fun, just he and I in my little motor home.”

Such adventures, plus spending time with his wife, Jean, sons Mel Jr. and Todd and multiple grandchildren, have convinced Stottlemyre that his coaching days are done.

“Full-time, at least,” he said. “I’m just enjoying life with my family, playing golf and fishing, which I love to do.”

Stottlemyre had a patch over his right ear, where Wednesday he’d had some non-malignant skin cancer removed. He said his wife’s health is sound, as is his own after a well-documented battle with multiple myeloma — a rare form of blood cancer.

The first 500 fans at the Bears game with Spokane received Stottlemyre likenesses. The right-hander shared stories and jokes with old friend Bob Didier, Yakima’s manager, plus pitching coach Doug Drabek.

Stottlemyre then delighted in surprise video-taped congratulations from Joe Torre and Don Zimmer, his old Yankee coaching comrades.

Afterward, Jean threw out the first pitch — which was caught by Drabek.

8/28/10 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Tri-City Dust Devils.

When, where: 7:15 p.m. today, Gesa Stadium, Pasco.

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Website: www.yakimabears.com

Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Enrique Burgos (1-1, 4.97) vs. Tri-City RHP Josh Mueller (2-2, 4.05).

Notes

WILD NIGHT AT THE YARD: The 13 walks issued by Bears pitchers in Thursday night’s 13-3 loss to Spokane was a season high.

It was also the most in the Northwest League this season, with Spokane having issued 12 free passes in an earlier game.

Yakima starter Andrew Berger walked five in 12/3 innings, Robbie Andrews walked two in 1 1/3 innings, Miles Reagan walked three in 3 2/3 innings, Keith Cantwell had one in 1/3 of an inning and Casey Upperman walked two over the final two frames.

WEDDING DUDS TO SELLING SUDS: Lexi Davisson, who was married Aug. 2 to Bears pitcher Corey Davisson on the Yakima County Stadium pitcher’s mound, has been selling beer in the stadium’s left-field beer garden.

When Yakima’s Northwest League season concludes, she’ll begin her new job as pitching coach for the softball team at Fresno City College.

Box score

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NWL standings

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QB Cate to start for CWU

YAKIMA, Wash. — Citing mobility as the deciding factor, Central Washington coach Blaine Bennett on Friday named Alex Cate as his starting quarterback for today’s high-profile season-opener against Minnesota Duluth.

A senior transfer from Oklahoma State, Cate had dueled evenly with redshirt sophomore Ryan Robertson throughout preseason camp.

Bennett said both will probably play in today’s regionally televised showdown of nationally ranked teams.

“Both quarterbacks have done an excellent job,” Bennett said Friday afternoon after the Wildcats’ final tuneup for the 1:05 p.m. kickoff at Tomlinson Stadium. “Alex, I think, is a little more mobile, and that’s one thing that has moved him to the top. But I would anticipate both guys playing.”

It’s likely, Bennett said, that Cate will see most of the first-half action with Robertson playing perhaps a series before halftime — depending on how the game progresses, of course.

Cate, 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, was a highly recruited prep star from Salt Lake City who played sparingly at OSU.

The 6-3, 200-pound Robertson is a redshirt sophomore from Sammamish who was part of Bennett’s first recruiting class. He started Central’s first eight games last year and finished 125-for-218 passing for 1,275 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions.

He was replaced at halftime of Central’s Week 8 meeting with Western Oregon at Seattle’s Qwest Field, a game in which the Wildcats trailed 21-0 at halftime.

Cole Morgan, a senior transfer from Western Washington, finished that game, which CWU rallied to win, and started the remaining five games.

The Wildcats finished the season as the only unbeaten team in NCAA Division II, were top-ranked and advanced to the playoff quarterfinals before falling 21-20 to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri.

Bennett said the perennially powerful Bulldogs, beaten 13-10 at home by Central last year in Week 2, make today’s game more important than most season openers.

“Yes, no question,” he said. “It’s very important for both teams. For us, it’s critical to at least go out and play well.”

Local Report: CWU picked 4th in GNAC volleyball

YAKIMA, Wash. — Central Washington University’s volleyball team has been picked this season to finish fourth, one spot higher than last year, according to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll.

The Wildcats return five starters and five other letter winners on its 19-player roster from last year’s 16-11 squad, including two-time NCAA Div. II honorable mention All-American Brandie Vea.

Coach Mario Andaya, who’s entering his 15th season at CWU, debuts his new team at the Western Oregon Invitational on Sept. 3-4.

The Wildcats will open at home Sept. 12 against rival Western Washington, which is picked first in the coaches poll.

GNAC COACHES POLL: 1, Western Washington; 2, Alaska Anchorage; 3, Seattle Pacific; 4, Central Washington; 5, Northwest Nazarene; 6, Montana State Billings; 7, Western Oregon; 8, Alaska Fairbanks; 9, Simon Fraser; 10, Saint Martin’s.

AUTO RACING

Local dirt racing concluded

YAKIMA, Wash. — Duane D’Amico repeated his Modifieds season title in the recently concluded local dirt-track racing campaign at State Fair Raceway.

Season champions also included Zane Harris (Sportsman), Dylan Dow (Hobby Stock), Larry Tracy (Pure Stock), Mark Mager (Bump to Pass) and Wayne Griffith (Hornets).

The remaining event on the dirt track’s 2010 schedule is the Northwest Sprint Car Series season finale during the first two days of the Central Washington State Fair on Sept. 24-25.

FINAL POINT LEADERS

Modifieds: Duane D’Amico 427, Pat Merritt 384, Clayton Merritt 170. Sportsman: Zane Harris 233, Josh Reeves 170, Phil Vinson 152. Hobby Stock: Dylan Dow 458, Vaile Thompson 454, Larry Tracy 428. Pure Stock: Larry Tracy 520, Kristi Tracy 467, Monica Howard 461. Bump to Pass: Mark Mager 428, Merle Stiltner 371, Frank Stiltner 354. Hornets: Wayne Griffith 506, Nathen Voyles 415, Marcie Shull-Deserault 364.

Sneak Peek for Wildcats

Early opener should be good barometer for CWU’s season ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Last year they took a bus trip, and what a ride it was.

Central Washington’s football season turned out to be pretty special, too.

The Wildcats, who used a nationally televised, Week 2 upset of host Minnesota Duluth to catapult them toward an unbeaten regular season and No. 1 national ranking, will host the Bulldogs for a season-opening rematch that Saturday should provide substantial insight as to how far 2010 will take them.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium, with the game to be televised live regionally on SWX.

A year ago, Central followed a 10-0 victory at Mesa State in Grand Junction, Colo. by busing some 20 hours and 1,300 miles to Duluth. And the following Thursday night, before a CBS College Sports audience, they stunned the No. 2 Bulldogs 13-10.

Much has changed since then, of course, not the least of which has been the departure of 23 seniors and 15 starters from a CWU team that went 12-1, finished the regular season as the top-ranked NCAA Division II team and engaged eventual national champion Northwest Missouri in a fight to the finish before falling, 21-20, in a playoff quarterfinal.

One thing that hasn’t is the Wildcats are again in the final hours before their season opener without having settled on a starting quarterback.

Last year the duel was between Ryan Robertson and Cole Morgan. This year it involves Robertson and Alex Cate — the latter, like Morgan, having transferred in for his senior season. Cate is from Oklahoma State.

Coach Blaine Bennett, asked Thursday if he knew who Saturday’s starter would be, said, “I don’t. I wish I did. You’ll probably see both of them play, but we’re just not sure who’s going to take the first snap.

“What we’re trying to decide is what offensive package we’re going to use more, and which guy will operate that package best.”

Speaking of game plans, Bennett has a priority for that of his defense.

It involves Duluth running back Isaac Odim, a 6-foot, 215-pound senior All-American who last year gained 120 of his 1,808 season yards against the Wildcats.

“He’s the best running back we’ve faced,” Bennett said. “He’s an NFL prospect — just a real special player. Containing him will be our No. 1 concern on Saturday.”

At least Central’s defense, featuring West Valley’s Taylor Tanasse and Kittitas’ Mike Reno up front and fourth-year starter Adam Bighill at linebacker, figures to be its strength.

Offensively, there is no heir-apparent to All-American Johnny Spevak as a big-play, big-number receiver.

Chris Smith, a senior who came to CWU as a junior transfer from California’s Grossmont College, will start at Spevak’s position. Last year Smith caught seven passes for 62 yards.

Bryson Kelly, a 235-pound senior running back who was second on the squad last year with 568 yards and one touchdown, will play a more prominent offensive role.

“I think we’ll have a very good running game,” said Bennett, who has lauded the play of 302-pound senior transfer Brian Agnis at left tackle. “We’ll probably have fewer big plays by our receivers than we’ve had that past couple of years and we’ll be a little more balanced in our offensive attack.

“But I really think the strength of this team will be on the defensive side of the ball, and it should be with the returners we have.”

Kelly and receiver Jamal Weems will be the offensive captains, Bennett said, while Bighill and end Tyrell Nielsen will captain the defense.

Injuries have slowed some players, with offensive tackle Joe Meeks’ season-ending knee injury the most serious, and Bennett said others had yet to become eligible.

And of course beyond Saturday looms the bigger picture — one which the Duluth game will begin to develop — meaning CWU’s quest for a fourth straight playoff berth.

Since Central has established itself as a D-II power, with players first recruited by John Zamberlin and coached for one season by Beau Baldwin before Bennett’s arrival in 2008, such an aspiration should be more realistic than it might have been years earlier.

CWU’s conference, the GNAC, has too few teams (five) to qualify its champion for an automatic bid, so the Wildcats must finish high enough in the final regional rankings to make the postseason.

How many wins will it take?

“I would guess nine,” Bennett said. “If you finish 9-2 I think you would expect to get in. At 8-3 you might, but you’d obviously be less certain.

“Our goal every single year is to win the conference championship. We also want to get into the playoffs and win a national championship, but it’s hard to set a goal you’re not really in control of. So we have to win the conference first to have a chance to get into the playoffs. Then hopefully we’ll get in and be in the mix for a national title.”

The ride starts Saturday.

Spokane blows past Bears

YAKIMA, Wash. — On a wildly windy night, the Yakima Bears’ chance to extend their winning streak over Spokane was blown away by their starter’s wildness.

Capitalizing on five walks by Andrew Berger, Spokane built a big lead in the first two innings and then pulled away to topple Yakima 13-3 before 1,746 bundled-up fans Thursday night at Yakima County Stadium.

Spokane (15-13 second half, 37-29 overall) trimmed Yakima’s second-half lead in the East to three games, although Yakima (18-10, 36-30) inched closer to a postseason berth. Boise’s loss at Tri-City dropped Yakima’s magic number to four — the Bears lead the Hawks (29-37 overall) by seven games with 10 remaining in the race for best overall record, the tiebreaker if Yakima doesn’t win the second-half title.

Yakima was seeking its fifth straight victory over the Indians — all at County Stadium — but Berger’s wildness put the Bears in a 5-1 hole after two innings.

In addition to the five walks, the right-hander hit a batter in his 12/3 innings of work. He allowed five runs — four earned — and dodged even more trouble as Spokane left the bases loaded in both frames.

After Yakima chipped away and got within 6-3, Spokane broke things open with a six -run seventh, helped by three more walks, a two-run double by Mike Olt, and a two-run single by Santiago Chirino.

Berger’s outing set the tone for Yakima’s pitchers, who issued a season-high 13 walks, contributing to a season-worst 13 runs allowed.

Spokane starter Tim Stanford had his own control problems out of the gate, walking two in the first inning as the Bears scored once, cutting the deficit to 3-1, but, they also missed a chance for more, leaving the bases loaded.

But Stanford, unlike Berger, settled in after that initial wildness, allowing just two baserunners in the next three innings before exiting after one hitter in the fifth because of a high pitch count.

Five Spokane relievers went one inning each in an effort resembling Yakima’s bullpen this season. The Indians allowed just three hits and no earned runs over the final five frames to hand the Bears just their 10th home loss in 34 games.

Spokane’s top three hitters led the offense, scoring three runs each, with No. 3 hitter Olt going 3-for-6 with three RBI in addition to his three runs.

Chirino and Brett Nicholas both added two hits and three RBI apiece, and every Spokane hitter had at least one hit in its 15-hit attack.

Yakima managed eight hits, but just six of them came in the first and fifth innings — three in each — when the Bears tallied all their runs. They were 2-for-23 with two walks in the other eight innings, and were retired in order in four of those frames, contributing to their largest margin of defeat this season.

Yakima and Spokane meet for the final time in the regular season tonight, with the first 500 fans receiving Mel Stottlemyre bobbleheads. Game time is 7 p.m.

8/27/10 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Spokane Indians.

When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Yakima County Stadium.

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Website: www.yakimabears.com

Probable starters: Yakima RHP Miguel Pena (4-5, 3.43) vs. Spokane RHP Ben Henry (3-3, 5.52).

Notes

AT LEAST HE WAS RIGHT: Bears manager Bob Didier admitted that he can’t remember being ejected from a game despite being right — but as Wednesday proved, there’s a first time for everything.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Michael Weber scored on a sacrifice fly but was then called out for leaving early when Spokane appealed.

That brought out Didier, wielding a rule book, which earned him an ejection. But Didier was simply trying to point out the rule that says a runner can leave the base as soon as the ball makes contact with the fielder, not when he secures the catch. Spokane’s Kevin Rodland bobbled the ball before securing it, leading to the original overturn.

After Didier left the field, the umpires got together again and restored the original decision, allowing the run to stand.

“I knew he was crossed up,” Didier said of the umpire. “I knew that was a big run for us. Spokane’s a good-hitting team and having a two-run lead in the ninth was a big factor for us.”

NOT LOOKING AHEAD: Even though Yakima is on the brink of clinching a playoff berth, Didier is not looking any further ahead than the next game.

“We’re focusing all our energy on clinching,” Didier said prior to Thursday’s middle game against Spokane, the team Yakima would face in the East Division playoffs.

That effort is nearly complete as Yakima entered Thursday’s game four up on the Indians in the second-half standings, but, more importantly, seven ahead on Boise with 11 games left in the race for overall record, the tiebreaker should Spokane overtake the Bears for the second-half title.

But until Yakima does clinch, Didier said they won’t worry about their postseason plans.

“I’ve been in baseball a long time and I’m superstitious,” Didier said. “Right now, we just want to get into the playoffs. There’ll be plenty of time to talk later.”

Box score

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NWL standings

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Pomeroy to be inducted into state Hall

YAKIMA, Wash. — Jim Pomeroy, a highly decorated motocross racer from Yakima who was killed in a car accident in 2006, will be posthumously inducted into the Washington State Motorcycle Hall of Fame in October.

Pomeroy, who will be part of the Hall’s first induction class along with Steve Baker, was the first American to win a World Motocross Grand Prix race in Spain in 1973.

Pomeroy was a national standout in the 1960s and ‘70s who established many international firsts as a U.S. rider.

The Hall of Fame ceremony will be held Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Renton Motorcycle Company in Renton.

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