Fast Break

Baseball

Rodriguez wins third MVP

Third baseman Alex Rodriguez proved Monday why he indeed is the richest player in baseball history, winning the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award for the third time in five years.

Rodriguez, who last week agreed in principle to a record 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees, won in a near-unanimous vote, easily outdistancing runner-up right fielder Magglio Ordonez of the Detroit Tigers, who received two first-place votes.

Rodriguez hit .314 and led the major leagues with 54 home runs, 156 RBIs and 143 runs scored.

College soccer

Seattle Pacific makes final four

The Falcons are flying high.

The second-ranked Seattle Pacific University women scored twice in the opening four minutes Saturday en route to a 4-0 quarterfinal victory over Incarnate Word in the NCAA Division II championships.

The undefeated Falcons (23-0) will play in the national semifinals against Franklin Pierce on Nov. 29 in Orange Beach, Ala.

Locals on the roster include Kara Hamby (Mead), Kayla Stiegemeier (Lakeland) and Alex Butler (Gonzaga Prep).

Junior Hockey

Bowman honored; Chiefs make trade

With six goals and eight points over a three-game stretch, Spokane Chiefs’ forward Drayson Bowman has been named the Western Hockey League Player of the Week.

Bowman led the Chiefs to a 3-0 record last week, scoring the game-winner in all three contests. He recorded his first career hat trick and added an assist for his third four-point night of the season Tuesday, scored two more goals on Friday, and had a goal and an assist Saturday.

Also Monday, the Chiefs acquired 18-year-old forward Luke Betts from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for forward Cody Esposito. Betts is in his second full season in the WHL and has played 79 career games, 17 this season.

Goaltender James Reid was released from the Chiefs roster but remains on their protected list.

The Chiefs play twice this week, entertaining Chilliwack on Wednesday and playing at Tri-City on Saturday.