Legion baseball Hall class named
Spokane, Washington State University and Gonzaga University are all represented in the inaugural class of the Department of Washington American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame set for induction on Nov. 3 at the SeaTac Marriott Hotel.
Ryne Sandberg, the former North Central High School standout who went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Cubs, heads the list that also includes former Ferris High and GU star Brian Munhall, and ex-Cougars John Olerud (Bellevue), Mark Hendrickson (Mount Vernon), Dave Edler (Yakima) and Bryan “Busher” Lewis (Whatcom).
Also in the first class are former Spokane Indians pitcher Bud Black (Longview), Mel Stottlemyre Sr. (Mabton), Dave Heaverlo (Moses Lake), Curt Daniels (Pasco) and Steve Kline (Chelan).
Others are Earl Averill (Snohomish), Ron Santo (Seattle), Fred Hutchinson (Seattle), Lyle Overbay (Centralia), Bob Coluccio (Centralia), Mal Walton (Bellingham), Jim Clem (Dayton and Burlington-Edison), Spiro Southas (Everett and Bellingham) and Verne Hayertz (Centralia).
Also to be inducted is Yakima’s 1953 World Series title team.
Legion baseball has been played in the state since 1928 with 14 World Series appearances and three national champs.
Basketball
Kara Staggs, a Washington all-state player from Okanogan, has made an early commitment to North Idaho College for the 2013-14 recruiting class, Cardinals women’s coach Chris Carlson announced.
Staggs, whom Carlson calls a “combo-guard,” is a senior at Okanogan, where she earned MVP honors at the State 1A tournament as a junior while leading her team to a championship.
She averaged 20 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists per game and was named to the Associated Press 1A All-State first team and was the Caribou Trail League MVP.
College scene
A couple of seniors, Emily Guthrie from women’s golf and Kyle Novak in men’s soccer, are the Whitworth Student-Athletes of the Month for September.
Guthrie was the medalist in two tournaments, compiling a stroke average of 76.2 during her play last month.
Novak, the Pirates’ goalkeeper, posted a 7-0-2 record in September with a 0.20 goals-against average. He had eight shutouts in 9.5 matches.
Volleyball
Allen Allen, Gonzaga University assistant coach who was a three-time All-American at the University of Hawaii from 1986-89, was inducted into the UH Sports Circle of Honor this weekend.
Allen wrapped up his career with numerous honors and awards, including most career kills (1,483), kill average (4.83), kill attempts (3,151), blocks solos (112), digs (739) and dig average (2.41). He was also the school’s first three-time first-team All-American, leading the program to a 70-28 record.
Miscellany
Spokane native Jeremy Affeldt, a graduate of Northwest Christian and a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, will be the featured speaker at Whitworth University’s 18th annual Pirate Night dinner and auction Nov. 9 at the Spokane Convention Center.
Pirate Night is a fundraiser for the Whitworth department of athletics.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
Affeldt was a third-round draft choice by the Kansas City Royals in 1997.
He has played in the major leagues for the Royals, Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco, helping the Giants win the World Series in 2010. The Giants have returned to the National League championship series this fall.