Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Virginia wins first baseball national title

Virginia's Pavin Smith celebrates his two-run home run. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports

College World Series: After battling a spate of injuries and struggling to even reach its conference tournament, Virginia finished a magnificent postseason run to win its first baseball national championship.

Pavin Smith homered and drove in three runs and Brandon Waddell turned in another strong College World Series pitching performance, leading Virginia to the clinching 4-2 victory over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night at Omaha, Nebraska.

The Cavaliers (44-24) prevailed in the CWS finals rematch against the defending champions and won the ACC’s first title in baseball since Wake Forest in 1955.

“This team was a crazy ride this year,” said Virginia coach Brian O’Connor, who was born in Omaha. “Certainly we had a lot that went against us through the year, but this team found a way and got into the NCAA tournament. It’s an amazing example of what you can do if you put your mind to it, play for each other and have each other’s backs.”

Waddell (5-5) went seven innings and allowed only two hits after Vanderbilt (51-21) scored twice in the first. He retired the last 11 batters he faced in his third CWS start and fifth of his career. Virginia won each of them.

Nathan Kirby pitched the last two innings and struck out five of his eight batters for his first save.

Virginia’s 44 wins were the fewest by a national champion since the 1968 Southern California squad had 43. The Cavaliers endured a season of injuries and tough times at midseason and almost missed qualifying for the ACC tournament.

Canadiens’ Price wins three awards

NHL: Carey Price came away from the NHL Awards show with a hat trick.

The Montreal Canadiens’ record-setting goalie claimed the Hart Trophy, the Vezina Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award at the NHL’s annual postseason bash at Las Vegas.

Price led the league with 44 victories, a 1.96 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage, becoming the first goalie to take all three top spots since Chicago’s Ed Belfour in 1991. Boston’s Patrice Bergeron won the Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward for the third time in four years, while Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson won the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman for the second time in four years.

Bob Hartley of the Calgary Flames won the Jack Adams Award as the top coach, while Tampa Bay’s Steve Yzerman was chosen general manager of the year. Both won their awards for the first time.

Rule changes approved: The NHL’s Board of Governors formalized the rule changes that were approved Tuesday in a meeting of the league’s general managers. The NHL will play three-on-three hockey in overtime this fall, and coaches will be able to challenge certain goal calls on video replay. The NHL also is instituting minor changes to faceoff procedures.

Cavaliers’ Love will become free agent

NBA: A person familiar with the decision says Cleveland forward Kevin Love has opted out of the final year of his contract and will be a free agent on July 1.

Love came to Cleveland last summer in a blockbuster trade. He had a deadline today to inform the Cavs of his plans. The former All-Star has said he wants to return to the Cavs, who made it to the NBA Finals this season despite not having Love after he suffered a shoulder injury in the first round.

Love can test the market, where he will likely draw major interest. Love still averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 75 starts.

Ellis heading to free agency: Monta Ellis is declining the player option for the final year of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks and will become an unrestricted free agent.

Hornets, Blazers deal: A person familiar with the situation says Charlotte has agreed to trade guard Gerald Henderson and power forward Noah Vonleh to Portland for small forward Nic Batum.

Magic trade Ridnour: A person familiar with the deal says Orlando has agreed to send reserve point guard Luke Ridnour to Memphis in exchange for the rights to forward Janis Timma, a 6-foot-7 Latvian.

Delle Donne scores 45 in Chicago’s OT win

WNBA: Elena Delle Donne scored a career-high 45 points, Cappie Pondexter moved into eighth place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list and Chicago beat visiting Atlanta 100-96 in overtime.

Delle Donne set a WNBA record by making 19 consecutive free throws. She also grabbed 11 rebounds to record her third consecutive double-double for Chicago. Pondexter hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 7:07 left in the third quarter to pass Katie Douglas on the WNBA’s scoring list.