‘You live and leam, and unfortunately I
learned the hard way today. ”
Oregon’s Amy Harris after giving up back-to-back solo home runs
in the Ducks’ 2-1 loss to No. 13 Oregon State on Wednesday
■ In my opinion
ION ROETMAN
ROUGHING THE PASSER
Many Ducks
are stirring
up attention
this spring
The Oregon football team is three practices
into its spring schedule, and the performance of
several players has drawn attention.
The Ducks are learning a new system under
their new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton
and have several young players who are look
ing to step up and earn starting roles.
Defensively, Oregon needs to improve on
stopping the pass and replace four starters
among its front seven.
Here is a look at several athletes whose play
has created or will attract attention during
the spring:
Offense
Kellen Clemens — The senior quarterback
has looked sharp despite digesting a new
playbook. His throws are consistently on the
money, and he is clearly the best passer of the
five signal callers who are practicing. Clemens
will also get to show off his deceptive running
skills next season as Crowton’s offense fea
tures several variations of the option.
Demetrius Williams — The senior wide re
ceiver is finally healthy after spending most of
last season hindered by injury. When at full
strength, Williams is one of the bigges
playmakers in the Pacific-10 Conference. I
appears he will get plenty of chances to make
things happen next season as the De La
Salle High School product has been running
crisp routes in practice, has been used as an op
tion pitchman and has gotten several
carries on reverses.
Geoff Schwartz — The sophomore has
been getting reps with the first team at right
tackle and has been holding his own. The Los
Angeles native saw limited action during his
freshman campaign, but at 6-foot-7 and 351
pounds, Schwartz has the size and ability to
start on a line that lost four seniors.
Terrell Jackson — The redshirt freshman run
ning back came in as a highly touted recruit last
season from Centennial High School in Corona,
Calif. While nobody can argue the talents of the
5-foot-9 speedster, it is unknown how Jackson fits
into Oregon’s plans. With the emergence of sen
ior Terrence Whitehead as a 1,000-yard back and
the arrival of blue-chip recruit Jonathan Stewart
in the fall, Jackson will struggle to see the field.
Jackson has looked solid during spring
practice but had a key fumble during a team
drill on Tuesday that angered head coach
Mike Bellotti. Jackson has also practiced as a
kick returner.
Palauni Ma Sun — The junior college trans
fer is an imposing figure at the guard position.
At 6-foot-5 and 365 pounds, he has the size
and reach to be an effective blocker. The
Waipahu, Hawaii, native has struggled with
technique, however, and will have to improve
for a chance at a starting position.
Defense
Haloti Ngata — An absolute stud when
healthy, the junior defensive tackle will anchor
a line that needs to come up with a more effec
tive pass rush. When Ngata has gone full
ROETMAN, page 9
■ Duck softball
OSU uses 2 home runs to beat UO
Brianne McGowan throws
a one-hitter for the Beavers
to hold off the Ducks, 2-1
BY CLAYTON JONES
SPORTS EDITOR
CORVALLIS — Two swings of the bat was
all it took for 13th-ranked Oregon State to
take down in-state rival No. 25 Oregon on
Wednesday and push its winning streak
to 19 games.
Behind back-to-back home runs by Lisa
Allen and Sherina Galvan in the fifth inning
and pitcher Brianne McGowan’s one-hitter,
the Beavers (25-6 overall, 4-0 Pacific-10 Con
ference) defeated the Ducks 2-1 at the OSU
Softball Complex.
The Ducks (22-11,2-2) took a 1-0 lead into
the fifth inning with Oregon pitcher Amy
Harris having only given up one hit. With
one out, Allen drove a ball to deep right-cen
ter field, and before any of the Duck outfield
ers could get to it, it ricocheted off the top of
the fence and bounced over to tie the game,
it was the catcher’s sixth home run of
the season.
Next up for the Beavers was Galvan, who
up to this point hadn’t hit a home run all
season and struck out looking in her first
plate appearance. She hit a 1-2 rise ball
to deep center field that barely glided over
the fence to give the Beavers a lead they
wouldn’t relinquish.
The sophomore third baseman said she
was starting to get a good read on what Har
ris was throwing.
“My first at-bat I was seeing the ball
Wendy Vollmer | The Daily Barometer
Oregon’s Lovena Chaput drives a double into the left-center field gap, scoring Breanne Sabol and giving the
Ducks their only hit and run of the game Wednesday in a loss to Oregon State in Corvallis.
good,” the Moreno Valley, Calif., native said.
“My second at-bat I was definitely seeing the
ball well, and I was ready. It was a rise ball,
and I was already going for it, and I knew I
had to just keep my hands up. I went with
the pitch, and it worked out.”
After the homers, the Beavers’ pitcher Mc
Gowan felt relieved.
“That whole run was my fault so I felt bad
for putting the team behind like that,” she
said. “I thought, ‘Great, we are back in this,’
and then (Sherina) comes up with another
one, her first of the year.”
McGowan did the rest for the Beavers.
SOFTBALL, page 10
■ Men's track
_I
Geoff Thurnkr | Oregon Media Services
Oregon
freshman
distance
runner Galen
Rupp,seen
here at the
2005 USA
Cross Country
Champi
onships in
Vancouver,
Wash., started
practice with
Oregon
teammates
Monday.
Heralded newcomer mns with Ducks
Distance runner and Portland native Galen Rupp
works out for the first time since arriving at Oregon
BY BRIAN SMITH
SPORTS REPORTER
Oregon freshman distance run
ner Galen Rupp got down to busi
ness this week, practicing for one
of the most prestigious track pro
grams in the country.
The prized recruit from Central
Catholic High School in Portland,
who took home the individual
cross country title his senior
year at the 2003 4A state champi
onship meet, as well as winning
the 1,500- and 3,000-meter
titles at the 2004 4A track
and field state championship
meet, began working out with
teammates Monday.
“1 ran a little bit with some
of the guys on the team
(Monday),” Rupp said. “But I
think I will be able to practice
with the team whenever.”
Rupp enrolled in classes and
secured a room in the residence
halls. Now the only question re
maining is when the NCAA will
allow him to start competing
in meets.
TRACK, page 9