Tiebreakers Could Decide Division Races

Both Northwest League division races could finish with first-place ties when the regular season wraps up on Wednesday.

Such a finish would benefit Salem-Keizer over Southern Oregon in the South Division. The first step in the league’s tiebreaking procedure is head-to-head competition between the tying teams, and S-K won the season series 7-5.

The Spokane Indians would be best served in the North race by avoiding a tie with Boise or winning their season series with the Hawks.

Spokane leads the season series 5-4, with a year-ending, three-game series at Boise starting Monday.

If the teams end the year tied for first and 6-all in their series, Boise appears to have the edge.

The next two tiebreakers involve season records against the third- and fourth-place teams, spots Yakima and Everett are still determining. Boise finished 9-3 against Yakima and is 7-3 against Everett. Spokane finished 5-7 against Everett and is 8-2 against Yakima.

The best-of-5 divisional playoff is scheduled to begin Thursday at the South champion. The first game in Spokane would be Saturday if Salem is the champion and Sunday if Southern Oregon is the champ.

Portland

Everett’s Rick Southall, who played at Portland State, returned home last week during a five-game series at Portland. Southall stayed with his family in Beaverton, Ore.

Portland will help determine the South champion. Their final nine games are against S-K and Southern Oregon, the teams jockeying for first.

Portland owner Jack Cain extended his working agreement with the Colorado Rockies through 2000.

Eugene

Catcher Bry Ewan recently hurt his leg and (right) throwing arm, but those injuries are nothing.

Ewan began his year in Macon (Ga.), but a late-April collision at home plate broke his nose and shattered his right cheekbone. His cheekbone was reconstructed surgically.

“It wasn’t traumatic or anything like that,” said Ewan, a seventh-rounder in the 1997 amateur draft. “Those situations are less painful than anyone thinks. I had a headache that night, but no feeling in my face.”

The recent injuries have limited Ewan to playing designated hitter.

“I’m probably going to look back on this year as my most beneficial, for what I’ve had to learn,” said Ewan, who still experiences blurred vision.

Eugene will learn Sept. 10 what major league teams are available if the Emeralds sever ties with the Atlanta Braves, as expected. Arizona, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are considered main candidates.

Everett

The Seattle Mariners’ No. 1 draft choice this year, Matt Thorton, made his first appearance last Wednesday. Thorton pitched a scoreless inning in relief against Boise.

Pitcher Greg Beaver returned last week after nursing tendinitis for one month. The former starter will complete the season in the bullpen.

Everett set its season attendance record last Tuesday when it hit 97,561. The standard was set in 1994.

Boise

Jason Hill was credited with what was loosely called a “catcher’s balk” during last Tuesday’s loss at Everett.

Hill trapped a wild pitch in his chest protector with the bases loaded. Catcher’s aren’t allowed to field with any piece of equipment except their mitts, so each runner moved up one base.

Last week’s series loss at Salem-Keizer was the Hawks’ third of the season, the others coming at Spokane. Boise hasn’t lost a home series.

Jason Huisman, with 86 hits and counting, has moved into the team’s all-time, top-10 list in that category.

Yakima

The Bears came within one out of a five-game sweep at Eugene last week. Yakima has three five-game sweeps since ‘90.

Cedric Hebert, a junior college player in Texas last year, recently arrived and was inserted into the starting rotation.

Salem-Keizer

Catcher Kevin Tommasini was promoted to San Jose of the California League. The Volcanoes began the season with five catchers.