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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huskies tabbed top-ranked team

Softball: The defending national champion Washington softball team will begin the season as the nation’s No. 1 team.

The Huskies announced Tuesday they were entering a season top-ranked for the first time in the 18-year history of the program. The Huskies were a unanimous No. 1 in the USA Today/NFCA poll. They got 17 of 20 first-place votes in the ESPN.com/ USA Softball rankings.

Washington started last season ranked No. 21 in the USA Today poll and No. 15 in the ESPN poll, then went 51-12 and won the College World Series for the first time.

The Huskies return 2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player Danielle Lawrie (pictured) in 2010. They begin the season Feb. 11 against Auburn in Tempe, Ariz.

Associated Press

Ljungberg will return to Seattle

Soccer: Freddie Ljungberg said he’s coming back to America, and specifically to the Seattle Sounders FC.

In a posting on his Web site, the Swedish midfielder said he’s heard a new labor agreement between Major League Soccer and its players union may be forthcoming and that he intends to join the Sounders on Monday.

Ljungberg said he’s sorry there has been so much speculation about his future. Ljungberg has been linked with numerous teams in Europe and the transfer window for European clubs closes on Sunday.

He also said that a miscommunication with Sounders management is why he wasn’t in town for the start of training camp Monday.

Associated Press

Carroll College will add a sport

Track and field: Carroll College president Thomas Trebon has announced the school is adding a track and field program, beginning in the fall.

Athletics director Bruce Parker said the program expects to bring at least 30 student athletes to campus to compete in both indoor and outdoor seasons. The school also has men’s and women’s cross country teams, which will begin their fourth season this fall.

Parker said a national search for a coach will begin immediately, but he expects to name an interim coach by the end of the week. He hopes to hire a full-time coach within a month.

Parker said Carroll is negotiating with the Helena School District for practice facilities.

Associated Press