Baseball Tournament Will Feature Trojans

National powerhouse Southern California, ranked No. 1 most of last season, headlines the second annual Evans, Craven & Lackie college baseball invitational Oct. 4-6 at Gonzaga University.

The four-team round-robin tournament also features defending Pacific-10 North champ Washington, Oregon State and host Gonzaga.

Games are scheduled at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day at August/ART Stadium.

The tournament will feature a free baseball/softball clinic Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. Clinicians will be coaches and players from the participating schools. Youths ages 8-18 can register for the clinic by calling 328-4220, ext. 4209. Each registrant will receive a T-shirt and pass to all tournament games. Entry deadline is Sept. 25.

Lewis-Clark State College’s veteran baseball coach Ed Cheff has been named coach of the year for the Pacific Northwest region of the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Cheff, who has been NAIA coach of the year four times, will receive his award at the American Baseball Coaches Association convention Jan. 2-5 in Dallas.

Cheff, 53, has coached at LCSC since 1977. The Warriors, frequent contender for the NAIA championship, won six straight titles 1987-92 and took their ninth crown under Cheff’s guidance last spring.

During Cheff’s tenure, more than six dozen LCSC players have signed professional contracts. Four have played in the major leagues, including current San Francisco Giants outfielder Marvin Benard and pitcher Steve Reed and catcher Steve Decker of the Colorado Rockies.

Basketball

George Karl, coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, will speak Wednesday night at Gonzaga University’s Martin Centre.

Karl’s appearance, sponsored by the Gonzaga Student Body Association, is open to the public. Tickets are $5.

Approaching his fifth season with Seattle, Karl led Seattle to the 10th-best season in National Basketball Association history last winter. The Sonics posted a 64-18 record during the regular season and won the Pacific Division and Western Conference championships.

Karl has a 266-104 record with the Sonics. He previously coached in the NBA at Cleveland and Golden State.

For more information, contact Ryan Mullarky, 328-4220, x-2272 or x-5824.

The Yakima Sun Kings will hold their 1996 free agent/rookie camp Saturday and Sunday at Yakima Valley Community College.

Sessions are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Saturday. The final session will run from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday followed by an all-star game at 3 p.m.

Further information may be obtained from George Whittaker, (509) 248-1222.

Chewelah High School seeks one or two games for its boys team. Contact Bob Lynch, (509) 935-8533.

The Chewelah AAU Basketball Club will conduct a girls tournament for teams of 5th-, 6th-, 7th- and 8th-graders Nov. 9-10. Contact John Polm, (509) 935-6315.

Soccer

Chad Zlateff, a sophomore from Spokane’s Gonzaga Prep, scored the only goal last weekend when Seattle Pacific dropped a 3-1 decision to Chico State. The Falcons entered this weekend with a 3-3 record.

Bowling

Brett Rayner advanced from seventh place to win the championship match in the first Junior Bowlers Tournament of the season Sept. 1 at Colonial Lanes.

After Brian Long defeated Ron Bowman, he lost to Rayner, who then beat Danielle Wendeln and Jason Daniels for the title. Daniels, who rolled a 290 game as the highlight of a 772 series, led qualifying. Wendeln pulled down top honors among the girls, rolling a 248 game and a 679 series.

The next JBT has been scheduled for Oct. 6 at Sports Page.

Football

Linebacker Todd Kinley, a junior from Lewis and Clark High School, is a member of the football team at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. Kinley, 6-0, 220, played baseball for the Crusaders last spring.

Golf

The third annual Lakeland High Golf Fund Scramble will be Oct. 5 at Twin Lakes Village. Entry fee is $10 and green fees are $20. There will a shotgun start at noon.

The tourney is co-sponsored by Tracy Hanson, Lakeland alum and LPGA tour player.

Info: (208) 687-1311.

Miscellany

The state Board of Education has approved a University of Idaho request to name its outdoor track and field complex the Dan O’Brien Field.

O’Brien, the world and Olympic decathlon champion, attended the university and lives in Moscow. University president Bob Hoover told the Board of Education on Thursday that the school is proud to be associated with the world’s greatest athlete.

“Dan O’Brien has been a member of our community for years, not only as a student athlete, but also during his years of training to compete at the highest levels,” Hoover said.

The University of Idaho has tentatively scheduled a ceremony recognizing O’Brien for halftime of the homecoming football game on Oct. 5.

, DataTimes