Sports in brief: Former Indians infielder dies

Baseball: Charlie Ruddock, former power-hitting third baseman for the Spokane Indians, died March 10 in Andover, Mass. He was 80.

Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies after leading Rutgers University to the 1950 College World Series, Ruddock led the 1954 Indians with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs in 54 games before Spokane left the financially- troubled Western International League near the midpoint of the season.

His first home run helped Spokane defeat Yakima 14-3 in its season opener. He contributed a three-run homer to Ralph Romero’s 8-0 no-hit victory over Victoria on June 9.

Ruddock, originally from Lynn, Mass., left pro ball after three seasons and earned degrees from Boston University and Salem State College. He spent 34 years with Lynn’s public schools, coaching baseball and football.

His baseball players included future Boston Red Sox sluggers Tony and Billy Conigliaro. Ruddock had made his home in Boxford, Mass., for the last 10 years. He is survived by his wife, Ginny, as well as three sons and a daughter.

Peterson makes his MLB debut

Baseball: West Valley High School graduate Bryan Peterson made his major league spring training debut in the Boston Red Sox’s 14-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla., on Wednesday.

Peterson, an outfielder, entered the game as a pinch hitter. Bryan reached base on an error then scored on Kevin Frandsen’s grand slam home run.

Peterson, entering his third year of pro ball, is expected to start the season with the Greenville Drive of the Class A South Atlantic League or the Lowell Spinners in the New York-Penn League (short-season A).

Peterson was drafted in the 11th round by the Red Sox in the June 2008 MLB first-year player draft.

Shock add kicker Rowan

Arena football: Kicker Taylor Rowan has joined the Spokane Shock roster. Rowan, 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, spent the 2009 season with the af2’s Arkansas Twisters and the United Football League’s New York Sentinels.

Rowan played college ball at Western Illinois University. As a senior, Rowan set an FCS record for most consecutive PATs in a career (129).

The Shock open the AFL season at home Friday night.