Fast Break
Baseball
Rookie dies in auto accident
Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart and two other people were killed Thursday when a minivan ran a red light and struck their sports car.
Adenhart, 22, died after undergoing surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center spokesman John Murray said.
A fourth person remained hospitalized in critical condition.
The Angels confirmed Adenhart’s death in a statement and said no other members of the Angels organization were involved in the accident.
Adenhart is survived by his parents, Jim and Janet.
Adenhart, of Silver Spring, Md., was the Angels’ No. 3 starter.
He threw six scoreless innings in Wednesday night’s loss to Oakland in his fourth major league start and first of the season.
Adenhart and three other people were in a silver Mitsubishi that was struck shortly before 12:30 a.m. by a minivan that ran a red light and also hit another vehicle, police said. The sports car struck a light pole, killing three people inside.
Police Lt. Craig Brower said the minivan driver fled the crash scene and was captured a short time later.
Men’s basketball
Assistant will remain with WSU
New Washington State University coach Ken Bone has enticed a member of former coach Tony Bennett’s staff to stay but lost another and a recruit.
Ben Johnson, who has been at WSU since 2004, will stay in Pullman and join Bone’s revamped staff, Bone said on a Seattle radio show.
Johnson, who grew up in Wisconsin with Bennett and played with him in college, has been the Cougars’ lead recruiter in Australia, where he played and coached.
Ron Sanchez, who interviewed with Bone this week, told The Spokesman-Review he decided to take a position with Bennett in Virginia. The third assistant, Matt Woodley, said earlier this week he would seek a position elsewhere.
WSU also announced it was releasing David Chadwick, a 6-foot-8 power forward from North Carolina, from his letter of intent.
Chadwick’s father was a long-time friend of Tony and Laurel Bennett and officiated at their wedding.
“The situation with David Chadwick is unique,” WSU athletic director Jim Sterk said in a press release. “Considering this special circumstance, I have allowed David to be released from his commitment to Washington State.”
The other three recruits are still bound by their letters of intent. Spokane’s Anthony Brown (Shadle Park High) said this week he is still committed to WSU. Bone said he will visit guard Xavier Thames (Elk Grove, Calif.) this weekend and hopes to get to Australia soon to visit with forward Brock Motum.
The late letter of intent signing period opens Wednesday.