NIC women move to final

Women’s basketball: North Idaho College will play for the NJCAA Division I national championship tonight in Salina, Kan.

The fifth-seeded Cardinals (31-3) will play third-seeded Trinity Valley (34-2) from Athens, Texas, at 5 p.m. PDT after knocking off top-seeded and previously unbeaten Pensacola, Fla., (35-1) 90-75 in the semifinals Friday night.

Trinity beat Northern Oklahoma (30-6) 86-73 in the other semifinal.

NIC built a 44-31 halftime lead and saw the Pirates get within a point early in the second half before regaining control.

Kama Griffitts (pictured above) led three double-figure scorers for NIC with a game-high 28 points and Tugce Canitez added 24 and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Shakiana Edwards-Teasley had 10 rebounds as the Cardinals overcame 30 turnovers with solid rebounding (a 49-47 advantage) and shooting (50 percent from both the field and 3-point range).

NIC also had a 24-13 advantage on free throws.

Baseball: The Seattle Mariners are dedicating their first six home games of the upcoming season to raising money for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan.

The club will make a donation to the Red Cross that matches all contributions from front office employees and fans during the homestand against Cleveland and Toronto April 8-13 at Safeco Field.The Mariners guaranteed a donation of $100,000 from the club’s charitable arm, Mariners Care.

The M’s have strong ties to Japan through their ownership, star Ichiro Suzuki and a large fan base in Japan.

Associated Press

Hall honor? Now you’re ‘Talkin’ ’

Baseball: The composer who paid homage to Willie, Mickey and the Duke is about to get his own place in Cooperstown.

The Hall of Fame plans to honor Terry Cashman and his ballpark favorite “Talkin’ Baseball” during the induction weekend in July.

Cashman, 69, wrote and sang the song 30 years ago, forever linking Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider.

Cashman will perform his song during ceremonies on July 23.

Associated Press