Indians Star Who Made Good Returns For Tournament Clinic

Jim Lefebvre, a former Spokane Indians second baseman who followed a major league playing career with three managerial stints, is returning to town.

Lefebvre, the National League 1965 rookie of the year with the Los Angeles Dodgers after graduating from Spokane, will serve as featured instructor at the Spokane Athletic Supply Youth Clinic on Oct. 4 at 8 a.m. at Gonzaga University’s August A.R.T. Stadium.

The youth clinic, held in conjunction with the third annual Evans, Craven & Lackie College Invitational at GU, is free and open to youngsters ages 8-18. Advance registration is required by calling (509) 328-4220, ext. 4209. Last year’s clinic attracted 200. Each participant will receive an instructional videotape by Lefebvre, courtesy of Spokane Athletic Supply.

Lefebvre, who managed the Oakland A’s, Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs, also will be the featured clinician for the Northwest Baseball Clinic for coaches that same weekend.

The events are built around the college tournament Oct. 3-5. An all-tournament pass is $10 with day passes $5. Proceeds will benefit the Spokane Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Center. Youth clinic participants will receive a free all-tournament pass and the Oct. 3 games will be free to senior citizens.

The ECL schedule: Oct. 3-GU vs. Portland, 11 a.m.; Washington State vs. Oregon State, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 4-Portland vs. WSU, 11; OSU vs. WSU, 2:30. Oct. 5-Portland vs. OSU, 11; GU vs. WSU, 2:30.

Baseball

Chad Mulholland of the Spokane Indians was recognized as Northwest League groundskeeper of the year.

Mulholland, of Scottsdale, Ariz., has served as the Indians’ head groundskeeper for three years. He has also worked on the grounds for the Oakland A’s spring training site and at Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, Ariz.

“We have one of the best fields in all of minor-league baseball,” said Indians owner Bobby Brett. “It is a pleasure to see Chad recognized by the league for his efforts.”

Basketball

The Spokane Storm AAU team will conduct the Greater Spokane School of Basketball for area boys in grades K-12 Sundays beginning Oct. 5 at University High School.

Cost is $35 a month for grades K-3 and $50 for 4-12.

Don Garves is director and is assisted by former area college players and current and former area coaches.

Info: (509) 927-3932.

Bowling

Renee Johnson of Spokane strung 21 strikes in a row en route to registering her first 300 game Sept. 10 at Players & Spectators.

Johnson, who just missed perfection three times last season with two games of 289 and one of 288, started her string in the fourth frame of her second game and added 12 in the third.

College scene

Brian Thornton, an Eastern Washington University senior from Blaine, Wash., was the Big Sky Conference golfer of the week after his 54-hole total of even-par 216 earned him seventh place in the Falcon-Cross Creek Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Pacific Lutheran junior Ryan Pauling of Cheney won the Emerald City Invitational cross country meet last weekend to lead the Lutes to the men’s team title. He covered 4 miles in 22 minutes, 27 seconds.

Brook McLachlan, a 1995 East Valley graduate and Northwest College junior, is the National Christian College Athletic Association women’s cross country athlete of the week. The North Idaho College transfer was NWC’s top runner at the Emerald City Invitational, covering a hilly 4K-course, that featured a wrong turn by the entire field, in 17:07.

Katie McCoy of Spokane (Mead) is a freshman keeper on the George Fox women’s soccer team.

Olivia Sementi of Coeur d’Alene has made the Wellesley College volleyball team as a freshman.

The Cornell University volleyball team again will rely heavily on MVP Erika Migliore of Spokane (Lewis and Clark), a junior, and sophomore outside hitter Leah Wiiest of Deer Park.

Northwest College’s volleyball team includes senior middle blocker Leah Mallory and freshman Emily Mallory of Inchelium and sophomore setter Amy Zimmerman of Colfax.

Jeremi Bauer of Spokane (Shadle Park) has been switched to cornerback from wide receiver, where he played as a reserve last year, and will start for the SUNY Brockport football team.

Rodeo

The Pro West professional rodeo association will hold its Pro West Finals Saturday and Sunday starting at 2 p.m. each day at the Cheney rodeo grounds.

Pro West has 700 members in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. The top 12 in each of the seven standard rodeo events, plus calf ribbon tying, will compete for $30,000 in prize money.

Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the gate. Children 6-12 are $5. Kids under 6 are free.

Info: Cheney Chamber of Commerce, (509) 235-8460; Cheney Rodeo office, (509) 235-4848.

Volleyball

A volleyball coaching seminar/clinic for club coaches with players in grades 5-8 will be held Oct. 3-4 at Horizon Junior High in the Spokane Valley.

Friday’s session runs 6-9 p.m. and Saturday’s from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Force 10 Volleyball Club president Doug Hurd, the chief clinician, said participants should plan on being on the court most of the day Saturday “and dress accordingly.” It will be hands-on learning.

Cost is $75.

Info: Hurd, (509) 448-4305.

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