Sports

Gonzaga’s baseball team wrapped up a title-clinching weekend with another dominant win.

Forward Anuar Pelaez propelled the Spokane Velocity with a goal and an assist as they scored in each half to earn their first victory since mid-April in a 2-1 triumph over fourth-place FC Naples at ONE Spokane Stadium on Sunday. 

CHICAGO – One run was never going to be enough.

With temperatures in the mid-70s for Mother’s Day on Sunday and absolutely no breeze for most of the game, Avista Stadium lived up to its reputation as something of a home run haven.

NCAA Tournament expansion has been lambasted by everyone except the executives running college basketball. Even prominent coaches hate the move to a 76-team field, with Gonzaga’s Mark Few telling CBS Sports recently that he’s “adamantly opposed. It’s totally unnecessary.”

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Another Mother’s Day is upon us. Another chance to say thanks to the person who brought us into the world. Who nurtured us. Who gave flight to our dreams. In a perfect world, of course.

Davis Fogle’s first offseason as a college basketball player is officially 50 days old.

Although midfielder Emma Jaskaniec is one of Spokane's most consistently available players as she ranks in the top three in minutes played and has started in 25 of 27 matches, she has struggled to find the back of the net. 

CHICAGO – In what has been a curiously uneven and far too inconsistent start to the highly anticipated 2026 season, two of the prohibitive factors in the Mariners’ issues – the struggles of Luis Castillo and the offense’s inability to hit left-handed pitching – came together Saturday night at Rate Field.

Left-hander Bryson Hammer made his first start after 93 career relief appearances over four minor league seasons. It did not go well.

SAN FRANCISCO – Karsten Sweum didn't feel his best warming up on Saturday, suffering from a mediocre night of sleep on the road. Hard to imagine what he could have done at full rest.

SEATTLE – Ryan Walters is no stranger to second-year improvement. As a defensive coordinator, it’s his history-proven expectation.

SEATTLE – Kade Anderson is coming.

PULLMAN – Washington State’s next basketball roster is all but complete.

From staff reports

Never say never with realignment, but it seems extremely unlikely that Gonzaga would have joined a conference featuring the 12 Mountain West schools and WSU and OSU.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Saturdays jut hit different, even if eating seven bowls of Captain Crunch and watching Wile E. Coyote continue his New York Jet-rivaling streak of ineptitude on my agenda. Heck, I don’t even have to walk out front on Saturdays and pick up the paper before the sprinklers hit driveway.