Pirates’ Bay named to All-Rookie team
Former Gonzaga University and North Idaho College outfielder Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates was named to the Major League Baseball All-Rookie Team as selected by Baseball America.
Bay, who hit .284 with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs during 411 at-bats this season, is considered one of the leading candidates for the National League Rookie of the Year, which will be awarded after the World Series.
Bay played two seasons at GU and won the West Coast Conference batting crown by hitting .388 during his senior season. He was selected in the 22nd round of the 2000 draft by the Montreal Expos and made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres in April 2003. He was traded to the Pirates on Aug. 26, 2003.
Billig, Indians earn honors
Northwest League officials, meeting in Eugene, Ore., announced Tuesday that Spokane Indians President Andy Billig has been named the NWL Executive of the Year.
Billig will receive the award in December at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Anaheim, Calif. Billig was recognized for his overall contributions to the Indians and for his role in bringing the NWL’s 50th Anniversary All-Star Game to Spokane in August.
Billig, who came to the Indians in 1993, also won the award in 1994.
For the 11th time in 14 years, the Indians were also named the NWL representative for the Larry McPhail Promotional Trophy.
Prugh captures second place
University of Washington sophomore Alex Prugh (Ferris High) finished second at the rain-shortened Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge at Bandon (Ore.) Dunes.
Prugh fired a 1-under-par 71 to finish at 143, one shot behind winner Alejandro Canizares of Arizona State.
The finish was Prugh’s best as a collegian and his third top-three finish in four tournaments this season.
The Huskies shot 603 to place sixth among 14 teams, seven shots behind co-champs Minnesota and USC.
•Washington State junior David Fern (Mead High) carded an 8-under 208 to tie for ninth place at the Barona Collegiate Cup at Barona Creek Golf Course in Lakeside, Calif.
Media tabs WSU for last
Washington State University’s women’s basketball team was selected for last place in the preseason Pacific-10 Conference media poll.
The Cougars received 22 points. Stanford, which received eight first-place votes, and Arizona, which received seven, tied for first with 140 points. Fifth-place Washington received 83.
Three Pirates are Athletes of Week
Three Whitworth athletes were named Northwest Conference Athletes of the Week.
Sophomore quarterback Joel Clark (Mt. Spokane High) was named Offensive Football Player of the Week after throwing for 325 yards and two touchdowns, and running for 48 yards and a TD in the Pirates’ 41-35 overtime win at Menlo, Calif.
Junior Jonathan Carlson was named Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after he scored both goals in a pair of 1-0 wins over the weekend.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kevin Bostock was named the NWC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week after posting his fourth and fifth shutouts.
Jackson signs with Grand Rapids
Former Washington State University receiver Chris Jackson, the Arena Football League’s 2003 Offensive Player of the Year, was introduced as the newest member of the Grand Rapids Rampage.
Jackson had 117 receptions for 1,737 yards and 46 touchdowns while winning the 2003 award with the Los Angeles Avengers. The five-year veteran improved his numbers this year with 125 catches and 1,803 yards.
Compton assigned to Braves
The Spokane Chiefs have reassigned 16-year-old forward Seth Compton to the Spokane Braves of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
Compton appeared in four games this season with no points and two penalty minutes. The West Richland, Wash., native was the Chiefs’ fifth-round selection in the 2003 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.