Fast Break

Baseball

Matthews rides cycle in Detroit

DETROIT – Former Spokane Indians player Gary Matthews Jr. hit for the cycle in his first four at-bats for the Texas Rangers Wednesday night against the Detroit Tigers.

Matthews led off the game with a single, doubled in the second inning, hit a triple in the fourth and led off the sixth with a 418-foot homer to left-center.

The last player to hit for the cycle against the Tigers was Seattle’s Alex Rodriguez on June 5, 1997, at Tiger Stadium.

Volleyball

NIC 3rd in NJCAA poll

The North Idaho College volleyball team is ranked third in the nation among junior colleges.

Miami-Dade College of Miami, Fla., is No. 1, followed by Western Nebraska and NIC.

Cardinals setter Lauren Stern (Lake City High School) ranks 10th nationally with 10.87 assists per game and middle blocker Daidre Mendenhall (University High School) leads the team with 2.8 kills per game.

Help wanted

Looking for tailgaiting tips

On Saturday afternoons this fall, tailgates across the Inland Northwest will spill open, turning football stadium parking lots into giant, open-air smorgasbords. We’re looking for a few intrepid tailgaters – folks who go beyond dogs, burgers and brews – to share tips, recipes, strategies and lessons for an upcoming Food page story on tailgating. Do you fit that profile? Do you know someone who does? If so, send the details to freelance writer Carolyn Lamberson at clamberson@adelphia.net or call food editor Lorie Hutson at (509) 459-5446.

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SportsLink is the online destination for readers interested in local sports.

Online sportswriter Vince Grippi directs readers to news and comment on the local pro, college and high school teams.