Fast Break
College football
USC’s reward: Top spot in poll
By staying away from the cupcakes, Southern California earned itself a slim new ranking.
No. 1 always seems to fit USC.
Southern California jumped two spots to No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 on Tuesday, rewarded by voters for opening the season with a dominant performance on the road against a BCS conference opponent.
Georgia and Ohio State, the preseason Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, started their seasons with glorified scrimmages at home against FCS (formerly I-AA) teams. USC, however, traveled across country to face Virginia and could not have been more impressive in a 52-7 victory.
Georgia fell to No. 2 and Ohio State to No. 3.
Hockey
Mendelson new Chiefs assistant
The Spokane Chiefs announced Tuesday that Leigh Mendelson will be their new assistant coach.
Mendelson spent last season as the assistant coach of the Omaha Lancers (United States Hockey League) and helped them win the Anderson Cup as regular-season champions and Clark Cup as playoff champions.
“We’re thrilled to have Lee in place as our assistant coach,” Chiefs coach Hardy Sauter said. “One of the perks of having his experience from different junior to pro leagues is that we should get a fresh perspective on things, which we already have seen.”
Mendelson has coached at the junior, minor league pro and international levels, including stints in the USHL, North American Hockey League (NAHL) and East Coast Hockey League as well as two seasons in Europe.
•Individual game tickets will go on sale Thursday.
Baseball
Indians renew Rangers deal
The Spokane Indians and Texas Rangers agreed to a two-year extension of their player development contract, extending the current agreement through the end of the 2010 season.
The Indians and Rangers first joined forces prior to the start of the 2003 season.
In the six years with the Rangers, the Indians have compiled a 231-216 record, won two Northwest League Championships (2003 and 2005) and will go for their third later this week.
Over the years, several former Indians have moved up the Rangers’ organizational ladder, including Ian Kinsler, German Duran, Eric Hurley, Brandon Boggs, Chris Davis, Thomas Diamond, Wes Littleton, Tommy Hunter and Doug Mathis.
The Indians begin the NWL championship series at Avista Stadium on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., followed by Game 2 on Friday at 1:30 p.m. They will play the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.