Golf: A five-star comeback for Eglin

Eglin rallies to win fifth consecutive title ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — As the final round of the Women’s City Golf Tournament approached, Nancy Eglin found herself in an unfamiliar position from recent years.

After a stellar tour of SunTides Golf Course on Thursday, Eglin was right back where she’s been the previous four summers — as champion.

Eglin entered play Thursday with her streak of City victories in jeopardy as she faced a five-shot deficit to eight-time champion Pat Martin.

But Eglin, playing in the group in front of Martin, responded like a champion, firing a final round of 2-over par 72 to overtake Martin and make it five straight City titles and six overall.

“I’m just glad I didn’t embarrass myself again today,” said Eglin, referring to her first two rounds in the 54-hole event.

“Monday and Tuesday, I played so stupid,” she said of rounds of 83 on her home course, the Yakima Elks, and 77 at Apple Tree. “I was so disgusted with myself the first two days, I just had an ‘I don’t give a rip attitude,’ today.

“I was just playing today instead of playing defensive. When you play defensive, you hit bad shots.”

The result was a pretty consistent round of 12 pars, two birdies and four bogeys for the 72 that gave her a 237 total and a two-shot victory over Martin, who shot 79 Thursday.

“Let’s see, could it be the putting?” Eglin said, with a laugh, when asked the difference between Thursday’s round and her first two. “I sank a lot of putts and had a lot of up and downs.”

Martin, conversely, said she was never able to give herself many quality chances to score on the greens.

“Today, my putter was not good on the front nine,” she said, adding that she had a dearth of good approach shots. “I could not get close enough to the pin for good birdie attempts. I had a lot of long putts — nothing birdieable.”

Although the end result was identical to the past four years, Eglin’s route to this title was in stark contrast to not only those triumphs, but also her first City title in 2004, where she held the lead entering the final round.

But playing from behind didn’t seem to ruffle Eglin.

“I felt real good; very relaxed,” she said.

Which was exactly what Martin said she expected from her longtime rival.

“I knew she’d come in low,” Martin said. “It would’ve been nice to take advantage of the five shots she spotted me.”

Martin said her original goal was to shoot 74 Thursday, but altered that after her putting woes on the front.

“I adjusted that to 77 — and if I had done that, I’d have gotten into a playoff,” she said. “We thought we might dethrone her, but Nancy played great.”

Eglin’s winning streak of five is now the second-longest behind Dorothy Carratt won the first 11 City titles starting in 1954, and with six victories, she moves into a tie with Pam Hubbard for fourth-most City crowns.

But none of that really mattered Thursday.

“I don’t really think about that,” Eglin said of her place among the Valley’s best women players. “I just want to be a consistent golfer. I want to be my three handicap. I was that today.”

Which was good enough to make her a champion once again.

• Carolyn Henyan won the low net title, closing with an impressive 63 and a 202 total — six shots better than Debbie Nethery and Pat Sugden, who shared low net honors in the Championship Flight.

In the First Flight, Barb Fortier won the gross title, and Judy Jones took home net honors, while in the Second Flight, Brenda Batali won low gross, and Carol Hammermeister and Helen Tweedy shared low net.

FINAL RESULTS

Low gross of the field: Nancy Eglin 83-77-72—237.

Low net of the field: Carolyn Henyan 68-71-63—202.

Championship Flight

Gross: Pat Martin 239, Chris Scacco 247, Betty Gilmore 248, Nancy Slinkard 261.

Net: (tie) Debbie Nethery 208, Pat Sugden 208, Cindi Stewart 214, Debbie Holbrook 220.

First Flight

Gross: Barb Fortier 275, Judy Callarman 282, Dorothy Brink 285, Lynda Matthews 286.

Net: Judy Jones 216, Carolyn Bowman 220, Melissa Keeter 226, Linda Leingseigne 226.

Second Flight

Gross: Brenda Batali 297, Carol Judy 299, Patrica Gustin 301, Carol Finney 316.

Net: (tie) Carol Hammermeister 219, Helen Tweedy 219, Betty Waldrum 225, Judy Stone 229.

Long Drive

Championship Flight: Chris Scacco. First Flight: Nancy Graf. Second Flight: Judy Gano.

KP

Championship Flight: Debbie Holbrook, 11-7. First Flight: Cricket Callarman, 12-8. Second Flight: Helen Tweedy, 16-8.

Spokane slips past Yakima

SPOKANE, Wash. — After watching the Yakima Bears hit seven home runs over its own fence, Spokane finally got a hold of one.

And what a big one it was.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Ruben Sierra Jr., the son of former major leaguer Ruben Sierra, swatted a two-run homer that broke a tie game and lifted the Indians to a 6-4 victory and series win over Yakima on Thursday at Avista Stadium.

Spokane scored four unanswered runs after Yakima jumped out to a 4-2 lead, which included Kerry Jenkins’ leadoff homer for the Bears’ seventh solo shot in the three-game series.

The Indians’ rally was powered by the standout relief work of Juan Grullon and Matthew West, who shut out the Bears for 4 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Grullon (4-0) made an immediate impact when he took over with one out in the fifth for starter Richard Alvarez, who had just been tagged for three runs. Grullon picked off Zach Jones at second and then struck out Tyler Bream.

Yakima roughed up Alvarez prior to his departure as Jenkins’ RBI single tied the game and Jones’ two-run double to left gave the Bears a 4-2 lead.

Jenkins, batting as a designated hitter in the leadoff spot, finished 2 for 4 with two RBI and his first homer of the season.

First baseman Jimmy Comerota continued his hot hitting, going 3 for 4 with his fifth stolen base. He was 7 for 13 in the three-game series.

Raul Navarro was 2 for 3 out of the No. 9 spot with a leadoff triple in the third inning. The top of the Bears’ lineup, however, was unable to drive him in

After winning the series opener 7-5 with four homers on Tuesday, Yakima has dropped two in a row and is headed home to start a three-game series with Boise today.

7/1/11 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Boise Hawks.

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

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Randy Hamrick (0-1, 4.50) vs. Boise RHP Luis Liria (1-0, 4.82).

Click here for box score

Click here for standings

Hinton, Wagar key Pak sweep of Wenatchee

SELAH, Wash. — Dominant pitching by Lukas Hinton and Steven Wagar led the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak to a 4-1, 11-1 sweep over Wenatchee in a Central Washington Senior Legion doubleheader Thursday at Carlon Park.

Both pitchers allowed just one run as Hinton struck out 13 and walked none in the opener and Wagar fanned eight in the nightcap.

The Pak (7-3, 16-9) needed Hinton’s stellar pitching in the first game as it was held to three hits. But Yakima Valley warmed up the bats in the second game with 15 hits and had two RBI from Tyler Gallaway, Hugo Lemus and Andrew Gonzalez.

The Pak travels to Wenatchee today to complete the four-game league series.

Game 1

Wenatchee        000 000 1 — 1 7 1
Yakima Valley  000 220 x — 4 3 1
Dockins and Smithson; Hinton and Hillier.
YV highlights: Lukas Hinton (YV) 13 K, 0 BB; Kurt Lindemann 3b, 2 RBI; Michael Wyatt RBI; Hugo Lemus RBI.

Game 2

Wenatchee         001 000 0 — 1 4 1
Yakima Valley   042 311 x — 11 15 1
Holmstead, Linn (3) and Gilman; Wagar and Finn.
YV highlights: Steven Wagar (YV) 8 K; Tyler Gallaway 2 RBI; Hugo Lemus 2-3, 2b, 2 RBI; Andrew Gonzalez 4-4, 2b, 2 RBI; Lukas Hinton 2-3, RBI; Trevor Hunter 2-2, RBI.

Beetles tune up for tourney with victory

YAKIMA, Wash. — Hunter Hanson collected three hits and Michael Woodkey scored three runs to spark the Yakima Pepsi Beetles to a 9-8 nine-inning win over Bellevue Honda on Thursday at Parker Field.

The Beetles, who surged ahead with four runs in the second inning, will open play today in their 30th annual Firecracker Tournament with two games at Parker Field. Yakima (14-20) will host the FP Cardinals at 4 p.m. and then face Bellevue Honda again at 7.

The eight-team tourney will have three games today at Parker Field and Davis Field. For pairings and times today and Saturday, see Scoreboard on Page 2D.

Bellevue Honda    300 003 110 — 8 14 4
Yakima                    040 211 10x — 9 11 3
Brown, Pinger (2), Kun (3), Hooker (7) and Miller; Sauve, Mottet (4) and Alexander, Sauve (4).
Highlights: Hunter Hanson (Y) 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Markus McClurkin (Y) 2-4, RBI; Michael Woodkey (Y) 2-3, 3 runs; Zach Stevens (BH) 3-4, solo HR.

YOUTH BASEBALL

MT. SPOKANE 7, YAKIMA VALLEY PEPPERS 1: YV highlights: Kody Ergeson 2-3, Jake Monson 2-3, RBI. Record 13-17.

KENNEWICK PHANTOMS 10-12, YAKIMA VALLEY PEPPERS 9-2 (Wednesday). YV highlights — First game: Mason Hall 3-4, 2 RBI; Jack Cavanaugh 3-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI. Second game: Clayton Kester 2-2, RBI.

ADULT FASTPITCH

JRW rallies for 14-9 win

YAKIMA, Wash. — Adam Fahsholtz drove in four runs and Dave Drotzman struck out 11 in relief as JRW & Associates recovered from an eight-run deficit to beat Action Towing 14-9 in Wednesday’s late game at Kiwanis Park.

JRW & Associates     000 662 — 14 10 1
Action Towing            620 001 — 9 11 3
J. Grow, Drotzmann (3) and Johnson, T. Grow (3); George, Harris (4) and Rogan Rousseau.
Highlights: Satero Ramos (AT) 3-3, 4 RBI; Jake Zeutenhorst (AT) 2-4, solo HR, 2 RBI; Adam Fahsholtz (JRW) 2-3, 4 RBI; Dave Drotzman (JRW) 4 IP, 11 K, 0 BB; Josh Spry (JRW) 1-4, 2 RBI; Tim Fischer (JRW) 1-4, 2 RBI.

GOLF

Esquivel scores ace at Apple Tree

Ben Esquivel recorded his first hole-in-one during Thursday’s round at Apple Tree Golf Course. He aced the 133-yard 13th hole using a 9-iron.

Evan Daywitt and Will Pasqua witnessed the shot.

7/1/11 This Week on Track

YAKIMA SPEEDWAY

Who’s racing: Three days of racing capped by the annual Demo Derby on July 4. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 6 Saturday through Monday.

Schedule — Saturday: Super Late Models, Sportsman, Hornets, Youth Hornets, Bump To Pass. Sunday: Washington Street Stock Challenge, West Coast Promoters Street Stock Series, Pure Stocks, Hornet Challenge. Monday: Demo Derby (over 20 cars $1,250 to win), Compact Car Derby, Hornets.

Where: 1600 Pacific Ave., Yakima.

Track information: 248-0647 or www.yakimaspeedway.us

RENEGADE RACEWAY

Who’s racing: Three-day race schedule highlighted by Canada vs. U.S. Jet Funny Cars.

Schedule — Today: Nitro Nights Match Races, Street Legals. Gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 8. Saturday: Nitro Nights Match Races, Summit Series. Gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 8. Sunday: Nitro Match Races, Summit Series. Gates open at 9 a.m., racing at 1 p.m.

Where: 1395 No. Track Road, Wapato.

Track information: 877-4621 or www.renegaderaceway.com

NASCAR SPRINT CUP

Coke Zero 400

Site: Daytona Beach, Fla.

Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed, 1-3:30 p.m.); Saturday, race, 4:30 p.m. (TNT, 3:30-8 p.m.).

Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).

Race distance: 400 miles, 160 laps.

2010 winner: Kevin Harvick.

Next race: Quaker State 400, July 9, Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.

Web site: www.nascar.com

NASCAR NATIONWIDE

Subway Jalapeno 250

Site: Daytona Beach, Fla.

Schedule: Today, qualifying (ESPN2, 11 a.m.1 p.m.), race, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, 4-7 p.m.).

Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).

Race distance: 250 miles, 100 laps.

2010 winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Next race: Feed the Children 300, July 8, Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.

Web site: www.nascar.com

NASCAR TRUCKS

Next race: UNOH 225, July 7, Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.

INDYCAR

Next race: Honda Indy Toronto, July 10, Streets of Toronto, Toronto.

Web site: www.indycar.com

NHRA

Next event: Route 66 NHRA Nationals, July 7-10, Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.

Web site: www.nhra.com

FORMULA ONE

Next race: British Grand Prix, July 10, Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, England.

Web site: www.formula1.com

NBA to lock out players

NEW YORK — The NBA is locking out its players until a new collective bargaining agreement can be reached, the second pro sports league shut down by labor strife.

The lockout will commence at 9:01 p.m. PDT on Thursday, after the expiration of the current deal that owners say has cost them millions of dollars a year.

“We had a great year in terms of the appreciation of our fans for our game. It just wasn’t a profitable one for the owners, and it wasn’t one that many of the smaller market teams particularly enjoyed or felt included in,” Commissioner David Stern said. “The goal here has been to make the league profitable and to have a league where all 30 teams can compete.”

The long-expected lockout could put the 2011-12 season in jeopardy and comes as the NFL is trying to end its own work stoppage that began in March.

“The expiring collective bargaining agreement created a broken system that produced huge financial losses for our teams,” Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

Despite a three-hour meeting Thursday and a final proposal from the players — which NBA leaders said would have raised average player salaries to $7 million in the sixth year of the deal — the sides could not close the enormous gulf between their positions.

“The problem is that there’s such a gap in terms of the numbers, where they are and where we are, and we just can’t find any way to bridge that gap,” union chief Billy Hunter said.

All league business is officially on hold, starting with the free agency period that would have opened Friday. And teams will be prohibited from having any contact with their players.

The last lockout reduced the 1998-99 season to just a 50-game schedule, the only time the NBA missed games for a work stoppage. Hunter said it’s too early to be concerned about that.

“I hope it doesn’t come down to that,” he said. “Obviously, the clock is now running with regard to whether or not there will or will be a loss of games, and so I’m hoping that over the next month or so that there will be sort of a softening on their side and maybe we have to soften our position as well.”

Despite frequent meetings this month, the sides just didn’t make much progress.

Owners want to reduce the players’ guarantee of 57 percent of basketball revenue and weren’t interested in the players’ offer to drop it to 54.3 percent — though players said that would have cut their salaries by $500 million over five years.

They sparred over the league’s characterization of its “flex” salary cap proposal — players considered it a hard cap, which they oppose — and any chance of a last-minute deal was quickly lost Thursday when league officials said the union’s move was in the wrong direction financially.

“I don’t think we’re closer; in fact it worries me that we’re not closer. We have a huge philosophical divide,” Stern said.

The NBA’s summer league in Las Vegas already has been canceled, preseason games in Europe were never scheduled, and players might have to decide if they want to risk playing in this summer’s Olympic qualifying tournaments without the NBA’s help in securing insurance in case of injury.

The expected lockout comes exactly one year after one of the NBA’s most anticipated days in recent years, when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the rest of the celebrated class of 2010 became free agents.

That free agency bonanza — highlight by the James, Wade, Chris Bosh trio in Miami — got the league started on a season where ticket and merchandise sales, ratings and buzz were all up. That weakened the owners’ case that the system was broken beyond repair, but it also demonstrated why they wanted changes, with Stern saying owners feel pressured to spend as much as possible to prove their commitment to winning to fans.

“We had a great year in terms of the appreciation of our fans for our game. It just wasn’t a profitable one for the owners, and it wasn’t one that many of the smaller market teams particularly enjoyed or felt included in,” Stern said. “The goal here has been to make the league profitable and to have a league where all 30 teams can compete.”

Hunter said he hopes the two sides will meet again in the next two weeks.

The players’ association seems unlikely, at least for now, to follow the NFLPA’s model by decertifying and taking the battle into the court system, instead choosing to continue negotiations. Hunter said last week he felt owners believe the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, which is debating the legality of the NFL’s lockout, will uphold employers’ rights to impose lockouts.

“We’ll just continue to ask our fans to stick with us and remain patient with us. As players we want to play. That’s who we are; we’re basketball players,” Lakers guard and union president Derek Fisher said. “Right now we’re faced with dealing with the business aspect of our game. We’re going to do it the same way we play basketball. We’re going to work hard. We’re going to be focused. We’re going to be dedicated to getting the results that we want.”

The NBA projected $300 million in losses this season and said it lost hundreds of millions in every season of this CBA, ratified in 2005. League officials said 22 of the 30 teams would lose money.

But owners don’t just want to minimize their losses. They want to make a profit, along with developing a system in which small-market teams could compete with the biggest spenders. The Lakers and Mavericks, who won the last three NBA titles, are annually at the top of the list of highest payrolls.

So they took a hard-line stance from the start, with their initial proposal in 2010 calling for the institution of a hard salary cap system, along with massive reductions in contract lengths and elimination in contract guarantees. Though the proposal was withdrawn after a contentious meeting with players at the 2010 All-Star weekend, the league never moved from its wish list until recently.

About 90 percent of NBA players get paid from Nov. 15 through April 30, so they won’t be missing checks for a while. But Stern has warned that the offers only get worse once a lockout starts, so the league could try to push through elements of its original proposal when bargaining resumes.

Like with the NFL lockout, NBA players won’t be the only ones affected. Employees of teams and the league also face a very uncertain future. Stern admitted all options would be considered, including furloughs for his employees.

“The people who stand to have their livings impacted by a shutdown of our industry are going to have a negative view of both sides,” Stern said. “I think our fans will tend to have a negative view of why can’t you guys work this thing out.”

Patrick returns to NASCAR, weighing options

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Danica Patrick remains unaffected by the swirl of speculation that trails her everywhere, saying she has no timetable for making a decision about her racing future.

Patrick reiterated Thursday at Daytona International Speedway that she’s in no hurry to chose between IndyCar and NASCAR.

“These things, as I’ve said from the beginning of the year, are complicated and they take time,” Patrick said before the Nationwide Series practice. “Whether I’m coming here or not has yet to be signed, sealed and delivered. I might not be. Only time will tell. That timeline on my side of things, I’m really not sure. All I know is that I’m told I have a job to do in the car and you do your job and we’ll do our job and they fill me in from time to time. But it’s only July.”

 

Patrick’s pending decision has been a major topic of conversation all season, much of it coming as she jumped from NASCAR to the IndyCar Series and back again.

Finding success in both series could make her choice even tougher. She was fourth in a Nationwide race at Las Vegas in March, the best finish for a female driver in NASCAR history, and has posted four top-10s in her last five IndyCar events. She also led 10 laps in the Indianapolis 500, a brief stint out front that left her hungry for another shot at open-wheel’s showcase event.

So what will sway her?

“It comes down to my gut and my desire and where I feel like I’ll be the happiest and where I feel like I’ll be able to have the most success,” she said. “And then from those thoughts my team explores the options. But it always starts with where I want to be.”

Patrick expressed little concern about reports her primary sponsor, GoDaddy.com, is being sold and said it would have no affect on her future.

The domain-name registration company known for its racy Super Bowl ads is reportedly close to being bought by two private investment firms for up to $2.5 billion. Patrick said GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons hasn’t said anything about a pending deal.

“It hasn’t affected my day,” Patrick said. “Still working with all the same people. I don’t know if it’s true. … Unless I hear from Bob and he tells me it’s been sold, it’s all speculation till that point. For me, it’s all status quo.”

Parsons nixed rumors about a potential sale earlier in the year, Patrick said, but has been mum in recent weeks.

“I remember this came up in the early part of the year,” Patrick said. “He called and told me that it wasn’t true, and that was it. I haven’t heard from him about it. I don’t know if that means it’s being done or if it’s not going to be done. Perhaps they don’t know that answer either.

“So I guess that why it’s still in speculation mode as opposed to reported true or reported false. Will that affect my relationship with them? I don’t know. It might not change anything. It might change everything. I’m not really sure. But like I said, right now for me it’s still status quo. We’re just trying to do a good job for them and represent them well.”

Patrick finished 10th in her last Nationwide race in Chicago in early June, and will return to IndyCar next week in Toronto.

This weekend, though, she will try to hone her skills at Daytona. She was 14th at NASCAR’s most famous track in the Nationwide season opener despite struggling with some aspects of the new tandem racing. She turned two laps in practice Thursday before scrapping the wall and returning to the garage.

“I need some practice,” she said. “I want to be efficient at it, good at it, before the race starts.”

Kurt Busch says he’s ending his marriage

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch said Thursday he is legally separated from his wife and in the process of formally ending his marriage.

“Those in the NASCAR community have been aware for some time now that we are no longer together and we are legally separated,” Busch read from prepared remarks. “While we go through this process, it has been tough. The upcoming weeks we’ll work at formally terminating our marriage. We do so with the most respect for one another and we’ll always be friends.”

Busch married Eva Bryan in 2006, three years to the day of them meeting on a blind date. She has not been seen this season at the track, where wives and girlfriends have a heavy presence on pit road and atop the pit boxes during races.

But Busch was not asked about his marital status until Thursday, four days after he kissed another woman in Victory Lane last week at Sonoma.

He said his personal life has not affected his racing.

“There are things going on on the personal level, there are things personally going on with the team that’s been well documented. Like I say, performance on track is always the best antidote for putting all of that aside,” Busch said. “I think the way we’ve handled the situation of this sport, we’re really good at respecting one another, and I’m happy that I’m an athlete in a sport that really cares about writing about our sport vs. writing about our personal lives.

“The other sports get into professionals’ lives in a very personal way and I’m glad I’m in the NASCAR world to work with you guys to respect that as well. It’s tough. We’re an entity, but I’m also a person.”

Busch’s win last week was his first of the season, and he goes into Saturday night’s race at Daytona International Speedway ranked fourth in the Sprint Cup standings. He had an ugly rant on his team radio in early May, and the performance for Penske Racing has picked up since the meeting that followed the incident.

Difficulties mount for Arsenal, Wenger

LONDON (AP) — A dangerous combination of fan impatience, potential departures of key players, financial constraints in the transfer market and criticism by a former board member is threatening to ruin Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s preparations for the new Premier League season.

Arsenal limped into the offseason licking its wounds after a campaign of much promise imploded in the final four months, leaving the London team still without a trophy since 2005.

Wenger, widely regarded as having one of the safest jobs in football, is suddenly under increasing pressure, and events in recent weeks are making his attempts to put Arsenal back on track ahead of next season even harder.

“There’s a frustration with what’s going on,” former Arsenal captain Frank McLintock told The Associated Press. “It’s time to give something back to the fans.”

The biggest on-field issue concerning Wenger will be the future of his captain and star player Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal managed to keep the Spain midfielder last summer, rejecting two bids by Barcelona despite the player himself expressing a desire to return to his former club.

But the Spanish and European champions have come back with a renewed offer this summer, testing the mettle of the Arsenal board.

A comment from AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani on Thursday suggested Fabregas was on his way out of Arsenal.

“Fabregas will not join us because he will join a different club,” Galliani told Milan’s website Thursday.

Fellow midfielder Samir Nasri and left back Gael Clichy, who both play for France, have also been linked with moves away from Emirates Stadium. The pair have one year left on their contracts.

McLintock, who was Arsenal captain when the club won the league-FA Cup double in 1971, said Wenger’s plans could be rocked if Fabregas or Nasri leave.

“Until these things are ironed out, it’s a guessing game, he said. “They have to sort out the Fabregas factor. If they have made their minds up to sell him, then they have 30 million pounds ($50 million) to spend.

“To replace Fabregas and Nasri, they have to get outstanding players and Arsene Wenger will get outstanding players. They have to. They don’t want another nearly, nearly season.”

The frustration of Arsenal fans, who last season saw their team lose the League Cup final to Birmingham and drop out of contention in the Premier League with some lackluster displays in the run-in, will be enhanced by the team’s lack of movement in the transfer market so far this summer.

While title rival Manchester United has spent a reported 50 million pounds ($80 million) in signing goalkeeper David De Gea, winger Ashley Young and defender Phil Jones to bolster an already strong squad, Wenger’s only purchase has been unheralded 19-year-old defender Carl Jenkinson from lower-league side Charlton.

To maintain the club’s financial stability, Wenger works under a self-sustaining model. It ensures the long-term future of Arsenal but supporters deal increasingly in the short term

At the start of June, Wenger even wrote a letter to a disillusioned fan who had written to the club complaining about a lack of major signings.

“People become impatient. I can understand that because I am impatient as well,” Wenger wrote. “But we demand some understanding because we have to fight against clubs which have unlimited resources.”

American businessman Stan Kroenke gained a controlling stake in Arsenal in April by buying shares from fellow directors to raise his stake to 66.64 percent.

Kroenke, who also owns the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, vowed “to do what’s necessary to assure success on the pitch, provide long-term stability and build on the accomplishments and history of the club.”

But he and Arsenal’s remaining shareholders came under attack on Tuesday from a former club director, Nina Bracewell-Smith, who said on Twitter: “I agree that current board should all go. They are passe. Have nothing more to give to the club at all.”

“In time we will need a more dynamic pro-active, younger board, and a good directional leadership,” added Bracewell-Smith, who sold her 15.9 percent stake to Kroenke.

Fans will not be so concerned about boardroom rumblings as long as the team is delivering on the pitch.

But with Fabregas possibly on his way out and with Arsenal’s rivals getting stronger and stronger, it promises to be a tough season for Wenger and his young side.

Two homers not enough for Yakima

Spokane tallies 13 hits in victory ||

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Yakima Bears kept hitting home runs on Wednesday. But this time Spokane had an answer.

Thirteen of them.

Countering Yakima’s two solo shots — a day after the Bears sent four over the fence — the Indians pounded out 13 hits, including four doubles, to earn a 7-4 victory that evened their Northwest League series at Avista Stadium.

The Bears tried repeatedly to catch Spokane, scoring runs in the second, fourth, seventh and eighth innings, but the Indians’ offense was too consistent with five batters collecting at least two hits apiece.

Outfielder Henry Zabala, who had Yakima’s only home run in its first 11 games prior to Tuesday’s outburst, clubbed a two-out solo shot in the fourth inning to slice Spokane’s early lead to 4-2.

The Bears’ second homer — Justin Hilt’s leadoff clout in the seventh inning — appeared to be exactly what Yakima needed to spark a late rally, cutting the Indians’ lead down to 5-3.

But Spokane reliever Jose Monegro, who was stunned by Hilt’s blast after taking over for starter Santo Perez, regrouped to retire Yakima’s next three batters in order.

The Indians then responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh as Brett Nicholas’ two-run double stretched the margin back to 7-3. Nicholas finished with two doubles and three RBI.

Zabala drove in three of Yakima’s four runs, and first baseman Jimmy Comerota went 2 for 4 with his first triple of the season and a stolen base.

Spokane got five runs and 11 hits off Yakima starter Adam Kudryk (0-2), who lost to the Indians on June 24.

The two teams conclude their series today with a 6:30 p.m. start.

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