Dave Trimmer

The Roseburg, Ore., Legion baseball team has come down with a virus. What isn’t clear is whether unheralded pitcher Dakota Cavens was infected by his teammates or infected them.

Kelso coach Grady Tweit never told his baseball team what kind of offensive numbers the Missoula Mavericks put up this year. But he knew, which his why he was a nervous wreck through most of Pacific Tech’s first-round game of the American Legion Northwest Region tournament on a sweltering Thursday afternoon at Gonzaga University.

Some traditions continue and a new one could be starting as the 43rd annual Cheney Rodeo opens tonight. As usual, Big Bend Rodeo, Co., out of Ritzville will bring its high quality stock and, as in recent years, the first performance is “Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night” to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Deer Park cowgirl Peyton Rose finished 16th in barrel racing at the Junior High Finals in Gallup, N.M. Rose advanced to the final go-round – only 20 of the 149 barrel racers moved on – after two solid rounds, but knocked over a barrel in the finals and absorbed a five-second penalty. Without the added time, she would have been eighth.

“Pups,” the documentary about the football careers of Gonzaga Prep’s Class of 2009, is beginning to gain a little momentum. Denise Bennett, a Prep alum and journalism professor at the University of Idaho, recently returned from the DocuWest Film Festival in Golden, Colo., and is headed for the All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival in Hollywood this week.

The Spokane Chiefs will have a press conference at the Arena Wednesday to introduce veteran Western Hockey League coach Don Nachbaur as their new coach, according to a source within the organization.

Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz denied reports that former Tri-City Americans coach Don Nachbaur is the new coach of Spokane’s Western Hockey League team. The Kamloops Daily News, citing two sources, said Nachbaur is all but signed to replace Hardy Sauter.

Spokane Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz denied reports that former Tri-City Americans coach Don Nachbaur is the new coach of the Western Hockey League team.

The Spokane Chiefs’ search for a new coach, now in its seventh week, has produced just one interview but Tim Speltz, general manager of the Western Hockey League club, was very impressed with Steve Pleau. “He was a great interview and a great guy,” Speltz said of Pleau, a former Chiefs assistant who was fired by Edmonton after the WHL season. “He’s definitely a candidate.”

The Spokane Chiefs’ search for a new coach, now in its seventh week, has produced just one interview but Tim Speltz, general manager of the Western Hockey League club, was very impressed with Steve Pleau.

The Sisters Rodeo had a distinct Eastern Washington look as the Columbia River Circuit PRCA event wrapped up in the Oregon town over the weekend. Colbert tie-down roper Tyson Durfey set an arena record, Cheney bareback rider Ryan Gray won his event and California saddle bronc rider Scott Miller set a record on Kool Toddy, a horse belonging to Big Bend Rodeo Co. out of Ritzville.

A month after opening the coaching position, Spokane Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz has spent more time talking to people who won’t replace Hardy Sauter than those that could. “We probably have more than 50 (applicants),” Speltz said Friday, exactly a month after the team elected not to pick up the third-year option on Sauter’s contract. “I try to make contact with every guy that took time to send in a resume or apply. I try to touch base with every guy. Out of those guys, I would say 10, 15 percent are valid candidates.”

A month after opening the coaching position, Spokane Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz has spent more time talking to people who won’t replace Hardy Sauter than those that could.

TACOMA – Courtney Hutchinson witnessed her first Star Track as a first-grader when her sister Corissa was participating for Mead. After Corissa was a surprise winner in the shot put, Courtney got a shirt that said, “Future State Champion.”

TACOMA – Courtney Hutchinson witnessed her first Star Track as a first-grader when her sister Corissa was participating for Mead. After Corissa was a surprise winner in the shot put, Courtney got a shirt that said, “Future State Champion.” That day came Friday when Hutchinson ignored the steady rain and cold wind to capture the State 4A title at Star Track XXVIII at Mt. Tahoma High School.

TACOMA – Forgive Ben Johnston and Sam Wright if they weren’t celebrating the only championships for the Greater Spokane League at the first day of Star Track XXVIII Thursday at Mt. Tahoma High School. Johnston was simply too exhausted after the North Central senior won the 3A 3,200 meters with a stirring duel down the stretch with Drew O’Donoghue-McDonald of Seattle Prep, clipping two-tenths of a second off his state-leading personal record with a time of 8 minutes, 58.68 seconds.