Women From Whitworth Among Fastest Performers In Ncic Swim Competition

Led by a trio of women, Whitworth swimmers have posted Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges-leading times in 14 events.

Shannon Braun leads in three events (100 freestyle, 54.86 seconds; 200 free, 1:59.46; and 500 free, 5:19.40), Desire DeSoto leads in two (50 free, 25.26 and 100 backstroke, 1:00.6) and Dorian Reese in two (100 butterfly, 59.84 and 200 fly, 2:12.8).

Other women leaders are Jan Okada, 200 breaststroke, 2:28.06; 400 free relay, 3:43.84; and 800 free relay, 8:06.31.

Men’s leaders are Guy Mikasa, 50 free, 21.77; Jon Rasmussen, 200 breaststroke, 2:12.30; Jeff Rice, 200 fly, 2:00.9; and Jerry Rice, 200 individual medley, 1:58.94.

BASEBALL

Right-hander Doug Brocail, who began his professional career with the Spokane Indians in 1986, has been named Pitcher of the Year for the Puerto Rico League winter season.

Recently traded to Houston by the San Diego Padres, Brocail led the league with seven victories and a 1.70 earned run average for Mayaguez.

Another former Indian, Chicago White Sox second baseman Joey Cora, also made the league’s postseason all-star team. Cora hit .337 for Ponce.

The Post Falls American Legion program is hiring a coach for its new A team.

Darren Taylor, who coaches the AA team, will oversee organization of the A team. Applications for the position are available at Post 143 on Highway 41 and Mullan. Deadline is Friday.

Info: (208) 773-6060 or (208) 773-7838.

BASKETBALL

The AAU postseason tournament for Spokane leagues, which began this weekend, concludes with championship games Feb. 18 at University High School.

The schedule has been arranged so teams playing consolation games that day can see the championship games for their league. Title games begin at 9 a.m. with fourth-grade boys. Games are scheduled every 1-1/2 hours with eighth-grade boys at 7:30 p.m.

SNOWBOARDING

The Stormriders Snowboarding Club of Schweitzer Mountain swept the top three spots in J-2 (15-16-year-olds) during the first day of a two-day Northwest Snowboard Series event at Mission Ridge near Wenatchee last month.

Nate Holland won the class, Scott Karli was second and Nick Rust, who had led after one run, was third.

SOFTBALL

The Spokane Metro Softball Association is looking for women’s modified teams for the 1995 season. The Amateur Softball Association’s women’s nationals will be held in Spokane Aug. 25-27 at Franklin Park. Players 16 and older are encouraged to register.

For more information, call the SMSA at 489-2442.

UMPIRES

The “men in blue” need you.

Umpires associations for Spokane baseball and softball are organizing for spring and summer seasons and are looking for interested men and women. No experience is necessary.

Baseball begins its training sessions Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Gonzaga Prep. The mandatory state high school clinic will be Feb. 22 at the same time and place. Info: Gary Broadbent, 926-4603.

First meeting for softball umpires will be Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at West Valley High School. The mandatory state high school clinic will be Feb. 28, same time and place. Info: Thom Sutton, 483-3075, or All Sports Assigning, 484-5701.

MISCELLANY

Heather Carlisle and Gay Clifford will be honored by Gonzaga University’s Women’s Sports Connection during the school’s women’s basketball game Saturday at 7 p.m. at Martin Centre.

Carlisle, a senior physical education major from Culbert, Mont., is in the Army ROTC program at GU and competes on the cross country team.

Clifford, a former high jumper and a graduate of Colorado State, is an avid skier, who once served on the U.S. Olympic Committee and does extensive volunteer work in the community.