Leaf To Have Surgery On Non-Throwing Shoulder

Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf, a right-handed passer, will undergo surgery to repair an instability in his left shoulder, Cougars coach Mike Price said Tuesday.

Leaf’s rehabilitation time is expected to be about three months, WSU announced. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday.

“The fact Ryan Leaf will not be available for all of our spring drills in no way changes his status as our starting quarterback,” Price said.

Price said Chad Davis and Steve Birnbaum will get most of the work during spring practice. Leaf completed 52 of 97 passes for 654 yards last season, starting the final two games.

Rowdy Welch fights Thursday

Former junior lightweight contender Rowdy Welch resumes his professional boxing career Thursday night at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds as part of a four-bout card promoted by Brickyard Productions.

Welch is scheduled to face Stan Cunningham of Vancouver, British Columbia, in 10-round bout. Doors open at 6, with fights scheduled to begin at 7:15.

A Spokane native, Welch fought professionally in Northern California and Nevada starting in 1988, but hasn’t fought in several years.

Another 10-rounder pits cruiserweight Ed Dalton of Emmett, Idaho, against Al DeBose of Oakland, Calif. In other bouts, Spokane lightweight Mario Martinez takes on Francisco Rodriguez of Carson City, Nev., and Spokane cruiserweight Rick Welliver faces Chris Sorrenson of New Plymouth, Idaho.

General admission is $11.50. Info: 325-SEAT.

Flugel honored

Tara Flugel, who scored more points (2,040) than any basketball player in Whitworth history, will have her No. 34 jersey retired during halftime of Friday night’s men’s game against visiting Pacific Lutheran.

Flugel averaged 18.7 points per game for Whitworth from 1988-92. She now teaches and coaches at Shadle Park High School.

GU’s Rogers honored

Gonzaga forward Paul Rogers has been named West Coast Conference player of the week.

The junior from Adelaide, Australia, recorded his seventh double-double of the West Coast Conference season with his 23 points and 11 rebounds against Pepperdine, then followed with 23 points and nine rebounds against Loyola Marymount.

WSU volleyball signs two

Two prep volleyball players from the Northwest have signed national letters of intent to attend Washington State in the fall, head coach Cindy Fredrick announced.

Jessica Martin, from Wilbur, Wash., and Candice Hayden, from Richmond, British Columbia, will join the Cougars team.

Martin is a 6-0 middle blocker who is currently playing basketball for Wilbur-Creston, averaging 18.3 points per game and seven rebounds as the Wildcats are 19-1 heading into the league playoffs at the end of the week. Martin lettered four years in volleyball and led her squad to back-to-back state titles as a junior and senior, and third in state as a sophomore.

“Jessica Martin is, in our estimation, the best female athlete to come out of the state of Washington this year,” Fredrick said.

Hayden is a 6-3 left-handed outside hitter and one of 20 prep players invited to try out for the Canadian National Team last summer.

Painted Hills opens

Painted Hills Golf Course has opened with permanent greens. No spikes allowed.

, DataTimes