In brief: Stronger Casto eager to start

Men’s basketball: Washington State center DeAngelo Casto says he’s stronger, smarter and more enthused about the coming basketball season. He will be counted on as a leader on a team that has no seniors.

Last season, stepping into the starting lineup in the middle despite being undersized at 6-foot-8, he averaged seven rebounds and 10.7 points while blocking 67 shots, fourth best in school history. He’s added muscle to his frame in the offseason and will begin his junior year at 255 pounds, which is 26 pounds more than his freshman year.

“I feel rejuvenated,” Casto told staff writer Vince Grippi in a wide-ranging question and answer session. “Last year I was a little bummed, my knee was hurting, but I feel like I’ve been jumping higher, and mark my words, I’m going to break a backboard this year. I’m up there. I’m slamming harder, I’m heavier. I’m happy with my health and my play right now.”

For more on Grippi’s Q&A with Casto, check out SportsLink at spokesman.com/sports.

M’s shut down Felix for season

Baseball: Cy Young Award candidate Felix Hernandez, who has pitched an American League-tops 249 1/3 innings, is done for 2010.

Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Hernandez will not start on Sunday in the season finale against Oakland.

Zduriencik met with Hernandez to inform him of the decision.

“I understand what they are trying to do and they want me here for five more years so I understand,” Hernandez said. “For me, I want to pitch. I told Jack, ‘I want to pitch, but you’re the boss. You’ve made a decision.’ ”

Associated Press

Central hires Clinesmith

Women’s basketball: Stacy Clinesmith, who led Mead to a state basketball championship before a standout career at UC Santa Barbara and a short stint in the WNBA, has been hired as an assistant coach at Central Washington.

Clinesmith, 32, replaces Rachael Ziemann as the Wildcats’ full-time assistant coach.

“The great thing about Stacy is that she has Northwest connections, which is huge for recruiting purposes,” Wildcats coach Jeff Whitney said in a school release. “She has great experience playing at a quality Division I program, and then for several seasons in the WNBA.”