Dave Trimmer

The question a year ago was how the Spokane Chiefs, under a new coach, would replace three of their top four defensemen and four of their top six scorers from a successful season that ended with a first-round playoff disappointment.

For the second-straight game Yakima set up the Spokane Indians for success and for the second time in three games Drew Robinson was clutch. Robinson’s sacrifice fly capped a two-run rally in the seventh inning for a 3-2 victory and a three-game sweep of one-run games with the Bears.

For the second-straight game Yakima set up the Spokane Indians for success and for the second time in three games Drew Robinson was clutch. Robinson’s sacrifice fly capped a two-run rally in the seventh inning for a 3-2 victory and a three-game sweep of one-run games with the Bears.

Drew Robinson didn’t duck away from the high, hard question about his hitting, which is 14 points below his playing weight after going hitless on Sunday night. But there is far more to notice about the Spokane Indians’ third baseman than his .171 average and that was the difference in the home team’s 3-2 win over Yakima before 4,488 fans on a lovely evening at Avista Stadium.

Drew Robinson's sacrifice fly was the difference Sunday in the Spokane Indians' 3-2 win over Yakima.

It wasn’t quite the way Will Lamb envisioned his first win as a professional pitcher, but he wasn’t about to turn it down. When No. 9 hitter Travis Whitmore sliced a high fly ball over the right-center field fence at Avista Stadium to stake Eugene and Colin Rea to a 3-0 lead in the second inning Sunday night, it seemed as if the Spokane Indians’ chances in Lamb’s fifth start were pretty dismal.

It wasn’t quite the way Will Lamb envisioned his first win as a professional pitcher, but he wasn’t about to turn it down. When No. 9 hitter Travis Whitmore sliced a high fly ball over the right-center field fence at Avista Stadium to stake Eugene and Colin Rea to a 3-0 lead in the second inning Sunday night, it seemed as if the Spokane Indians’ chances in Lamb’s fifth start were pretty dismal. “My stuff wasn’t there,” Lamb said. “That’s baseball. When you don’t expect it, expect it.” The Indians quickly picked up the second-round draft pick out of Clemson and Lamb found a way to keep Eugene off the board for three more innings despite throwing just 45 strikes among his 86 pitches. The 8-6 victory in the rubber match of the five-game Northwest League series was much to the delight of the 3,940 fans enjoying a perfect night.

The learning process continues for Matt West and the Spokane Indians. The embattled closer, suspended for 10 games for his role in an unsightly brawl earlier this month, got his first save opportunity since and came through with flying colors Saturday night as the Indians held off Eugene 4-3 before a sellout crowd of 6,953 at Avista Stadium to even their Northwest League series 2-2.

The learning process continues for Matt West and the Spokane Indians. The embattled closer, suspended for 10 games for his role in an unsightly brawl earlier this month, got his first save opportunity since and came through with flying colors Saturday night as the Indians held off Eugene 4-3 before a sellout crowd of 6,953 at Avista Stadium to even their Northwest League series 2-2.

When Big Jon McKenzie emerges from his vehicle with the telephone polls strapped to the top, it’s obvious he’s not headed home to continue some landscaping project. What man landscapes in a skirt?

Craig Alexander promised maximum effort in Sunday’s Ironman Coeur d’Alene, but the two-time world champion wasn’t sure what that would be. Turns out it was the best there’s ever been in the nine-year-old event. Alexander was a little faster than the previous bike record – which was shattered by Maik Twelsiek – and shaved about a minute off the marathon record. That added up to a course record of 8 hours, 19 minutes, 48 seconds, almost 4 minutes faster than the previous best for the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride and 26.2-mile run.

Instead of opening this season in his native Australia, Craig Alexander, a two-time Ironman world champion, was forced to take four weeks off and start his season with his first trip to Coeur d’Alene.

Kelly Walters, the ringleader for the North Central boys track team that won its fourth straight State 3A state championship last week, has resigned. “The credit goes to all kinds of players,” the son of Hall of Fame Rogers coach Tracy Walters said. “Lots of different coaches … and, of course, the kids. … There’s no way I can take credit of producing it on my own. … You put a lot of people together that care about kids and down the road good things happen.

Kelly Walters, the ringleader for the North Central boys track team that won its fourth straight State 3A state championship last week, has resigned.