ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Lauren Hadenfeld pitched a four-hitter in the first game and threw the final five innings of the second as Central Washington swept Saint Martin’s 8-0 and 10-5 in a GNAC fastpitch doubleheader Sunday.

Hadenfeld struck out eight and walked only two in the five-inning opener and Kelsey Haupert drove in five runs with a single and homer.

Samantha Petrich drove in three runs and was one of four players for CWU (6-2 GNAC, 6-4 overall) with two hits in the second game. Keilani Cruz homered and had two RBI for the Wildcats.

Hadenfeld came on in relief during the third inning of the second and fired five two-hit, no-run innings to get the win. She fanned four and walked one.

Game 1

Saint Martin’s                000 00 — 0 4 3
Central Washington    002 006 — 8 8 2
Eugenio, Klemm (5) and McGladrey; Hadenfeld and Kopczynski.
CWU highlights: Keilani Cruz 2-3, 2 RBI; Samantha Petrich 1-2, 2 runs; Kelsey Haupert 2-3, HR, 5 RBI.

Game 2

Saint Martin’s                140 000 0 — 5 9 1
Central Washington   005 230 x — 10 13 0
Arnzen, Klemm (3), Eugenio (6) and McGladrey; Reime, Baxter (2), Hadenfeld (3) and Kopczynski.
CWU highlights: Danielle Monson 2-4, 2 runs, RBI; Keilani Cruz 2-2, 3 runs, HR, 2 RBI; Samantha Petrich 2-3, 3 RBI; Ashley Fix 2-4, RBI.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Kelsey Haupert hit a three-run homer to back Lauren Hadenfeld’s seven-hit, 11-strikeout pitching as Central Washington beat Saint Martin’s 3-1 in the first game of a GNAC doubleheader Saturday at Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field.

The Saints won the second game 4-2.

Danielle Monson tripled and singled in the second game for CWU (4-2, 4-4). SMU is 3-3 and 4-7.

Game 1
Saint Martin’s               000    001    0    —    1    7    1
Central Washington    000    300    x    —    3    5    0
Eugenio and Antonovich; Hadenfield and Kopczynski.
CWU highlights: Danielle Monson 1-3; Carrina Wagner 1-1; Samantha Petrich 1-2; Kelsey Haupert 1-3, HR, 3 RBI; Meghan Kopczynski 1-3.
Game 2
Saint Martin’s                300    010    0    —    4    8    1
Central Washington    010    010    0    —    2    7    2
Arnzen, Klemm (5) and McGladrey; Baxter, Reime (4) and Kopczynski.
CWU highlights: Monson 2-4, 3b, RBI; Haupert 1-2, 2b, RBI; Wagner 1-1; Chrystine Alley 1-2; Ashley Fix 1-2.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Central Washington’s Danielle Monson was named the GNAC hitter of the week for her performance against Western Oregon this past Sunday and Monday.

The senior centerfielder was 8-for-14 as the Wildcats went 3-1 against Western Oregon. Her .571 average included six infield hits and a triple, and she scored seven runs as the Wildcats outscored the GNAC’s preseason co-favorites by a 27-16 margin.

ELLENSBURG — Lauren Hadenfeld pitched a shutout in the opener and Samantha Petrich homered in the second game to help Central Washington’s fastpitch team sweep Western Oregon 3-1, 9-1 in a GNAC doubleheader on Monday.

Hadenfeld held the visitors to five hits while striking out eight in the opener, and Ashley Fix delivered a two-run single in the fourth inning.

Petrich’s two-run homer was part of Central’s 10-hit offense in the second game.

The Wildcats are 3-1 in GNAC play and 3-3 overall.

First game

Western Oregon    000    010    0    —    0    5    1

Central Wash.    000    210    x    —    3    5    0

Wood; White (5) and Little. Hadenfeld and Kopczynski.

Highlights: Danielle Monson (CW) 2-3, 3b; Ashley Fix (CW) 2 RBI; Kendra George (WO) HR.

Second game

Western Oregon    001    000        —    1    5    2

Central Wash.    041    202        —    9    10    5

Reeves; Lessard (3); Albrecht (6) and Bogardus. Baxter and Kopczynski.

Highlights: Samantha Petrich (CW) 1-4, HR, 2 RBI; Jennifer Schwartz (CW) 2-3, 2 RBI; Danielle Monson (CW) 1-2, RBI; Taylor Trautmann (CW) 1-3, RBI.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Samantha Petrich and Kelsey Haupert combined for eight RBI in the first game of a doubleheader to help Central Washington’s fastpitch team to a split with Western Oregon.

Central won the first game 10-5, while dropping the second 9-5.

Haupert added two more RBI in the second game for the Wildcats (1-3, 1-1).

Game 1

Western Oregon    100    400    0    —    5    8    3
C. Washington       300    043    x    —    10    8    0
Lessard, Reeves (6), White (6) and Bogardus. Hadenfeld, Reime (4) and Carter. HR — WOU, Rueck (1), Lessard (1). CWU,  Samantha Petrich (1).

Game 2

Western Orgon    500    301    0    —    9    11    0
C. Washington     002    201    0    —    5    8    2
Wood, Albrecht (4), Reeves (6) and Bogardus. Baxter, Reime (4) and Carter. HR — WOU, Sutherland (1).

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Rain and wet field conditions forced Central Washington University to delay its home softball openers until Sunday.

The four-game series with Western Oregon will now be played on Sunday and Monday, with Sunday’s doubleheader beginning at noon, and the Monday twin bill starting at 11 a.m.

Central is 0-2 overall, and Western Oregon is 1-0.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Record-setting quarterback Mike Reilly, a member of the St. Louis Rams, topped Central Washington’s all-decade football team which was released by the university Thursday.

Reilly started every CWU game from 2005-08 and eclipsed Jon Kitna’s school records for passing yards with 12,448 and touchdowns with 118.

He also ran for 1,263 yards, the fourth-highest Central total of the decade.

Included on the team were West Valley’s Zach Fife, an offensive lineman from 2001-03, along with three Ellensburg products: Tony Quirk, an O-lineman from 2006-09; and John Hallead, a safety from 1997-2000; and Levi Teasley, a linebacker from 2000-03.

Brian Potucek, regarded by some as the best receiver in school history, made the squad as a wide receiver along with four-year standout Johnny Spevak, who broke several of Potucek’s records and was also on the men’s basketball all-decade team. Potucek also made the team as a punt returner.

OFFENSE — QB, Mike Reilly (2005-08), Zak Hill (1999-2003); RB, Nat Conley (1998-2001), Emilio Iniguez (2000-04), Johnny Lopez (2006-07); FB, Aaron Hineline (2001-04); WR, Nate Brookreson (2002-05), Brian Potucek (2001-05), Jake Roberts (2000-03), Johnny Spevak (2006-09); TE, Jared Bronson (2007-08); OL, Matt Coffman (2005-08), Zach Fife (2001-03), John Gariano (2005-08), Aaron Gilbert (2004-08), Sam Himmelman (2004-07), John Lindsey (2000-03), Evan Picton (2001-04), Tony Quirk (2006-09), Rob Williams (1999-02).

DEFENSE — DL, Jacob Galloway (2001-04), Lance Gibson (2001-02), Dustin Hawkins (2001-04), T.J. Horgan (1999-2002), Mitch Reffett (2005-08); LB, Adam Bighill (2007-present), Prince Hall (2009), Levi Teasley (2000-03), Blake Walker (2001-04), Buddy Wood (2005-09); CB, Nick Omatsu (2001-03), Jason Patterson (1998-2001); S, John Hallead (1997-2000), Jerome Williams (2005-09).

SPECIAL TEAMS — K, Garrett Rolsma (2006-09); P, Joe Smith (2000-03); KR, Rocky Martinez (2000-03), Courtney Smith (2008-09), Williams. PR, Patterson, Potucek.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Former Central Washington infielders Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, who won an ESPY award in 2008 for best moment in sports, were among 15 current and former CWU fastpitch players named to the school’s all-decade team.

The team, which was chosen by head coach Gary Frederick, also five players from the 2009 team that won a school record 33 games. Frederick chose the 2009 team as the team of the decade.

CWU ALL-DECADE TEAM

Pitchers: Sara Badgley (2004-05, 2007.), Jill McCarthey (2002-04), Linse Vlahovich (2006-09). Catchers: Holly Rossman (2008-09), Kelli Spaulding (2004-07). First base: Mallory Holtman (2004-08). Second base: Jackie Hawkins (2008-09), Logan Mohr (2007-08). Third base: Nicole Lantau (1998-2001). Shortstops: Jill Powell (2000-01), Liz (Ashworth) Wallace (2006-09). Utility: Catrina Robertson (2004-07). Outfield: Kasey Druffel (2007-08), Patty Martinez (2003-06), Danielle Monson (2009-present).

TURLOCK, Calif. — For the second consecutive day, the Central Washington fastpitch team’s game in the Best of the West tournament were rained out. The rest of the tournament was canceled.

Central played two of its six scheduled games, losing 2-0 to UC San Diego and 3-0 to Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Central’s next scheduled game is part of a GNAC doubleheader against Western Oregon on Feb. 27 in Ellensburg.

TURLOCK, Calif. — Heavy rain forced the cancellation of Saturday’s games in the Best of the West Invitational softball tournament.

Central Washington (0-2) was scheduled to play Sonoma State and Humboldt State. The Sonoma State game will be played today, while the Humboldt State game will not be rescheduled.

TURLOCK, Calif. — Central Washington University’s fastpitch team opened the season against some tough pitching on Friday in the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational at Pedretti Park.

The Wildcats fell to UC San Diego, 2-0, and Cal State Dominguez Hills, 3-0.

Central’s Danielle Monson went 2-for-3 against Dominguez Hills

The Wildcats are scheduled to continue tournament play today against Sonoma State and 11th-ranked Humboldt State.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington’s fastpitch team, which fell only one game short of the GNAC championship a year ago, has been picked to finish third this season in a poll of conference coaches.

The Wildcats, 29-11, came up one game short of Montana State Billings in last season’s race. The Yellowjackets, who went 30-10, have been picked to repeat as titlists along with 2008 champion Western Oregon (20-15).

The Wildcats, led by returning first-team all-conference selections Taylor Trautmann and Danielle Monson, open their season in the Mizuno Best of the West Tournament Feb. 5-7 in Turlock, Calif.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington linebacker Buddy Wood has been named first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and Daktronics, but university announced Tuesday.

A senior and team captain, Wood, from Riverside High School in Chattaroy, led the Wildcats this past season with 111 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss. He also had five fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and three blocked kicks, and finished as CWU’s career leader in fumble recoveries, forced fumbles and fumble recovery touchdowns.

Central finished the regular season as the only unbeaten team in Division II and led the nation in scoring defense. The Wildcats advanced to the D-II quarterfinals and finished the season 12-1.
Lorig a finalist for honor

ELLENSBURG — Defensive coordinator Joe Lorig has been named one of three finalists for Division II Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.

Others are Arkansas Tech offensive coordinator Scott Preston and Nebraska-Kearney defensive coordinator Bob Crocker.

Nominations are made by the coach’s peers.

An Edmonds native and 1995 graduate of Western Oregon, Lorig recently completed his second season as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Central under head coach Blaine Bennett.

The Wildcats finished last season as the top-ranked scoring defense in Division II at 11.9 points per gmae and were third nationally in rushing defense and fourth in total defense.

Portland State hires Burton

PORTLAND — Portland State hired Nigel Burton as its football coach Tuesday, ending the possibility that Blaine Bennett might leave Central Washington for the Vikings.

Though not named as a finalist for the job, Bennett was among several coaches cited as potential candidates to succeed Jerry Glanville, who resigned last month.

A standout player at Washington, the 33-year-old Burton had most recently been the defensive coordinator at Nevada. Other finalists had been San Diego State offensive coordinator Al Borges, former Army head coach Stan Brock, Cal Poly defensive coordinator Greg Lupfer and Willamette coach Mark Speckman.

COLLEGE FASTPITCH

CWU signs Ellensburg’s Harris

ELLENSBURG — Ellensburg fastpitch standout Jessica Harris has signed a letter of intent with Central Washington, the university announced Tuesday.

A pitcher-third baseman, Harris helped the Bulldogs finish 24-2 and place second in the Class 2A state playoffs.

She pitched five no-hitters and posted a 0.14 earned run average.

“Jessica throws hard enough to be successful at the Division II level,” Central coach Gary Frederick said in a university news release.

CWU won a school-record 33 games last season — one short of its first D-II playoff berth — and lost four seniors from that squad.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Football teams from Central Washington University and Ellensburg High School will be honored during a celebration scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday in Nicholson Pavilion on the CWU campus.

Fans will be able to meet players from both teams and hear comments from Central coach Blaine Bennett and Ellensburg coach Randy Affholter.

Both teams posted unbeaten regular seasons and were ranked No. 1 in the nation and state, respectively.

CWU advanced to the Division II quarterfinals before losing 21-20 to Northwest Missouri State on Saturday and the Bulldogs gained the Class 2A semis where they fell to West Valley-Spokane 24-17.

Both squads finished 12-1.