SPORTS BRIEF
Granato due back
with Colorado
DENVER — Colorado
Avalanche general manager Pierre
Lacroix dismissed Thursday any
speculation that he would replace
coach Tony Granato after the
team's second-round playoff loss
to the San Jose Sharks.
"It's never been discussed, in
tended, thought of," Lacroix said.
"It's only rumors. I don't know
why people are talking about it. It's
clear there was no discussion, nev
er internally, externally or ever."
Granato, who was promoted to
head coach when Bob Hartley was
fired Dec. 18, 2002, has been the
coach during second- and first
round playoff exits the last two
years. His playoff record is 9-9.
But he won 32 of 51 games dur
ing the 2002-03 regular season
and led the Avalanche to a 100
point season in 2003-04 despite
the team losing 417 man-games to
injury, including large chunks of
time missed by star forwards Paul
Kariya and Peter Forsberg.
"He's got the best record in fran
chise history as head coach,"
Lacroix said.
On other issues related to the
club, Lacroix said it would be
"business as usual" this summer
despite the potential for a lockout
next season.
That includes working on con
tracts and dealing with free agents,
even though a new collective-bar
gaining agreement might include
a salary cap.
The Avalanche has eight play
ers under contract for next sea
son, including defensemen Rob
Blake and Adam Foote and cen
ter Joe Sakic.
Colorado's restricted free agents
include goaltender David Aebisch
er, left wing Alex Tanguay and right
wing Milan Hejduk, who are all
likely to be retained.
When asked about the team's
six unrestricted free agents —
Kariya, right wing Teemu Selanne,
left wing Steve Konowalchuk,
right wing Matthew Barnaby, de
fenseman Bob Boughner and
center Andrei Nikolishin —
Lacroix said the team hadn't yet
made its evaluations.
Backup goaltender Tommy Salo
will become an unrestricted free
agent if the Avalanche, as expected,
does not pick up his option.
"Our fans can be assured that
we'll do what we have to do to
keep an exciting hockey franchise
like we've had," Lacroix said. "For
10 years we've offered the best,
most exciting product in the
league, so our goal is the same
next year."
— Dan Wolken
The Gazette (KRT)
‘CATCALLS
continued from page 7
"I'm sure the/re going to be very focused on getting
back on track."
Most Pac-10 schools have a losing record at Hillen
brand, as the Wildcats routinely lose a single-digit
number of games each season.
"Arizona is probably one of the toughest places to
play," second baseman Erin Goodell said. "Not just
because the/re one of the best teams, but they have
good fans and it's just a really tough place to play. It
would be amazing to beat them there."
Arendsen is a career 2-4 against Arizona, 1-4
while at Oregon.
Saturday and Sunday, the Ducks face unranked Ari
zona State (31-27,1-13) at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m., respec
tively. Oregon beat the Sun Devils 1-0 when Arizona
State came to Howe.
Arizona State's sole conference win is against Ore
gon State.
"We have an oppqrjunity ^o take a series from bpth
of those teams," pitcher Ani Nyhus said. "I think after
playing Arizona, we see that there's no team in the
conference that can't be beat."
The Ducks are coming off a two-game sweep, 1-0
and 3-0, of Portland State in a doubleheader Wednes
day at Howe Field. Sophomore Amy Harris pitched 6
"I think we know what we need
to do. I think we realize that our
intensity and our energies have a
lot to do with our winning. We need
to get everybody pumped up."
Jenn Poore
Oregon catcher
1/3 scoreless innings in the first game to pick up the
win. Nyhus earned her second save of the season
when she came in relief.
Oregon's sole run in the first game came on a home
run by left fielder Dani Baird.
Senior pitcher Anissa Meashintubby threw a
complete-game shutout in the second game of the
doubleheader. She gave up three hits and struck out
seven Vikings.
In the bottom of the third inning of the second
game, Oregon scored a run on an error by Portland
State's catcher.
The Ducks added two more runs in the bottom
of the sixth. Third baseman Ashley Richards scored
on a double by catcher Jenn Poore. Poore advanced
to third on the throw home before scoring on a sin
gle by Goodell.
"I think we know what we need to do," Poore said.
"1 think we realize that our intensity and our energies
have a lot to do with our winning. We need to get
everybody pumped up."
Oregon closed its homestand with a 5-3 record af
ter going 2-1 against Arizona State and Arizona then
going 1-2 against UCLA and Washington.
"I'm looking for a very hostile environment at Ari
zona, " Arendsen said.
Contact the senior sports reporter
at mindirice@dailyemerald.com.
Erik R. Bishoff Photographer
Senior Abby Andrus is Oregon’s only competitor in the women’s heptathlon at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships.
QUINTET
continued from page 7
especially running-wise," Skipper
said. "But I can't worry about it. I have
to go out and do my best."
Andrus leads UO women
On the women's side, in the hep
tadilon, the only Oregon competitor
at the Pac-10 Championships will be
redshirt senior Abby Andrus.
Andrus, a Peoria, Ariz. native, said
she is excited about the two-day com
petition that begins Friday.
"Right now, physically I feel great
and prepared and technically sound,"
Andrus said.
She competed in the heptathlon at
the Oregon Invitational meet two
weekends ago, where she finished in
fourth place with 5,060 points. The
score ranks her seventh regionally and
places her 31st nationally this season.
It is also the fourth-best conference
mark of the season behind Califor
nia's Brooke Meredith at 5,511 points.
Andrus is also coming off a strong
weekend at the Oregon Twilight after
winning two events. She won the 100
hurdles in 14.16 seconds and the 400
hurdles in 59.9 seconds. Both times
were season bests and Pac-10 qualifiers.
"My hurdles were really strong the
last meet," Andrus said. 'The hardest
for me is staying mentally prepared
and not getting too excited."
Andrus added that she hopes her
successful performance from the Ore
gon Twilight can carry over into the
conference championships.
"I'm happy," Andrus said. "It was a
solid effort and it gave me confidence
heading into this weekend."
Contact the sports reporters
at jonroetman@dailyemerald.com
and alextam@dailyemerald.com.
Lauren Wimer Senior Photographer
Tommy Skipper was a late addition to the decathlon in an effort to help Oregon score
points for the team competition. He has not competed in the decathlon this season.
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