Gray wins his 1st rodeo of year

Rodeo: Cheney bareback rider Ryan Gray, who suffered a lacerated liver the first weekend of the National Finals Rodeo last December and then separated a rib in his return this spring, finally won his first rodeo of the year.

 Gray, who was leading the world standings entering the NFR, won the Livermore, Calif., Rodeo with an 86-point ride, good for $2,109. He picked up his first check of the season a week earlier in New Mexico – all of $199.

 He plans to make a run for his seventh- straight NFR with a busy summer.

 “Everything’s possible,” he told The Bend (Ore.) Bulletin. “The thing about the summertime is there’s so much money to be won in a short amount of time.”

Clinesmith hired at Santa Clara

Basketball: Former Mead star Stacy Clinesmith has been hired as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Santa Clara.

  Clinesmith was an assistant at Central Washington and interviewed for the head coaching job, but Shawn Nelson, the head coach at Carroll College, was hired to replace Jeff Whitney, whose contract was not renewed after 14 seasons.

 Clinesmith interviewed with both Santa Clara, coached by former Gonzaga standout and assistant coach Jennifer Mountain, and Saint Mary’s of the West Coast Conference.

 “They’re going in the right direction,” Clinesmith said. “Jen has done a good job.”

Dave Trimmer

Arop will play at Indiana State

Basketball: Former Gonzaga Bulldog Manny Arop’s basketball career will continue at Indiana State.

Arop had narrowed his choices to Indiana State and Valparaiso. He will have two years of eligibility after sitting out the upcoming season. 

Bucs outfielder gets Gold Glove

Baseball: Whitworth University outfielder Kevin Valerio has won a Rawlings Gold Glove as chosen by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Valerio, a junior from Kennewick, is the first Pirate to be selected to the NCAA Division III Gold Glove team.

He committed only one error in 133 defensive chances for a fielding percentage of .992 this spring.