Sports
Packing
the stands
in tribute
CARBAUGH’S CORNER
P
See, Carbaugh/Page A7
Sarah Mitchell (14) during a soccer match between Eastern Oregon University
and Corban University on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Mitchell was recently
named NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, the second time in her career
that she has earned the award. The senior played a crucial role in both the
midfi eld and backline of Eastern’s defense.
Alex Wittwer/The Observer, File
EOU soccer standout Sarah Mitchell
ends career with national recognition
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
L
A GRANDE — A pillar in the
Eastern Oregon University wom-
en’s soccer program ended her
career on top.
Sarah Mitchell, a key part
of the Mountaineers’ backline and mid-
fi eld, was named All-American honor-
able mention by the NAIA on Wednesday,
Dec. 8. This is the second year in a row that
Mitchell has earned All-American status,
cementing her legacy at Eastern Oregon.
“It was a perfect way to end my indi-
vidual career,” she said. “I was really sur-
prised, but it was a really big honor.”
Mitchell played midfi eld and defense for
Eastern, helping the team achieve an 11-6-0
record overall and an 8-4-0 showing in con-
ference play. During Mitchell’s time in La
Grande, the Mountaineers posted a record
of 51-14-8.
This season, the Palmdale, California,
native started in 11 games for Eastern and
was a major part in the team tallying nine
shutouts on the year and allowing just 15
goals. Mitchell’s versatility at both midfi eld
and defense was essential for head coach
Jacob Plocher.
“She’s been vital,” Plocher said. “When-
ever we’ve asked her to take on a new role,
she’s been more than happy to do so.”
In her four years at Eastern, Mitchell
Beavers, Ducks release 2022 football schedules
started 56 games and scored four career
goals. Mitchell’s bread and butter was her
impact on defense, a crucial part of East-
ern’s eff orts in a season that ended in the
conference tournament.
“She’s a very talented player and very
deserving of the award,” Plocher said.
“She’s defi nitely earned it.”
Mitchell transferred to Eastern after
playing her freshman season at Marymount
California University in 2016. At the time,
her older sister, Natalie Mitchell, was on
the team, which was a big reason she trans-
ferred. Mitchell’s older brother, Calvin, also
played for the Mountaineers.
See, EOU/Page A7
ON THE SLATE
SATURDAY, DEC. 18
The Oregonian
CORVALLIS — Oregon
State, coming off its fi rst bowl
season in eight years, unveiled
a 2022 football schedule
Thursday, Dec. 16, that
includes home games against
USC, Oregon and Boise State.
As part of a confer-
ence-wide release of the Pac-
12′s 2022 schedule, OSU
has seven home games next
season, including one at Prov-
idence Park against Montana
State. The Beavers play their
remaining six home games in
Reser Stadium while its West
side is undergoing a $153 mil-
lion renovation.
The Beavers kick off
the 2022 season on Sept. 3
against Boise State. All games
but one are scheduled for a
Saturday. The exception is the
regular season fi nale, a Friday,
Nov. 25, game against Oregon
at Reser Stadium.
OSU plays three of its four
September games at home,
ending the month against
USC on Sept. 24. The Bea-
vers’ slate of fi ve road games
includes one back-to-back, at
Utah on Oct. 1, and Stanford
on Oct. 8.
Oregon State’s 2022 bye
comes Oct. 29, eight games
into the schedule.
The Beavers play two of
their fi nal three games at
home, facing California on
Nov. 12 and Oregon on Nov.
25. Sandwiched between
those games is a Nov. 19
contest in Tempe, Arizona,
against Arizona State.
For a second consecutive
year, Oregon State does not
play UCLA or Arizona in
conference play.
Oregon State’s noncon-
Saturday, December 18, 2021
A
FITTING
END
DAVIS
CARBAUGH
owder Valley athletics
recently honored the
life of Calvin Hiatt, a
referee who was tragically
killed in a November car
accident in Malheur County.
The tournament was a
success, with 12 diff erent
schools competing in the
three-day event. Top local
teams took the stage and
powerhouse programs
came in from surrounding
counties to take part. All
the ticket proceeds from 32
total games went to Hiatt’s
family — he left behind a
wife and fi ve kids.
Hiatt was well respected
in the sports community
for his tireless eff orts to
local athletics.
Powder Valley Ath-
letic Director Brad Dunten
called Hiatt a close friend
and credited him for count-
less hours dedicated to
sports in Eastern Oregon.
The Vale native served as a
referee, youth sports coach
and assistant women’s
basketball coach at Trea-
sure Valley Community
College.
“Calvin was very instru-
mental in athletics and
dedicated quite a lot of
time to athletics,” Dunten
said prior to the tourna-
ment. “He’s going to be
missed.”
Especially during the
COVID-19 pandemic,
embracing those that make
an impact on your life is a
crucial habit that we often
forget to do. In the sports
world, connections are
made so easily between
coaches, players, fans
and referees — sharing a
common passion will often
do that.
The home-team Bad-
gers defended their turf
A7
COLLEGE MEN’S
BASKETBALL
Walla Walla at Eastern
Oregon, 8:30 p.m.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
Walla Walla at Eastern
Oregon, 6:30 p.m.
Andy Nelson/The Associated Press, File
Oregon State quarterback Chance Nolan (10) drops back to pass during the fi rst quarter Saturday, Nov.
27, 2021, in Eugene. The Beavers will host the Ducks at Reser Stadium in the fi nal game of the 2022 regular
season.
ference games are Boise
State (Sept. 3), at Fresno
State (Sept. 10) and Mon-
tana State (Sept. 17).
The Pac-12 will
announce game times and
television partners at a later
date.
OREGON STATE 2022
SCHEDULE
Sept. 3: vs. Boise State
Sept. 10: at Fresno State
Sept. 17: vs. Montana
State, at Portland
Sept. 24: vs. USC
Oct. 1: at Utah
Oct. 8: at Stanford
Oct. 15: vs. Washington
State
Oct. 22: vs. Colorado
Oct. 29: Bye
Nov. 5: at Washington
Nov. 12: vs. California
Nov. 19: at Arizona State
Nov. 25: vs. Oregon
OREGON DUCKS’ 2022
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
ANNOUNCED
EUGENE — Ore-
gon’s 2022 Pac-12 football
schedule is set.
The Ducks, whose three
nonconference games and
conference opponents were
previously announced, will
open Pac-12 play at Wash-
ington State on Sept. 24
and host Stanford on Oct. 1.
Oregon opens the season
Sept. 3 against Georgia at
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in
Atlanta.
There is no Thursday
night game this season for
UO, which never has more
than back-to-back home
games or back-to-back road
games.
UNIVERSITY OF
OREGON SCHEDULE
Sept. 3: vs. Georgia, Mer-
cedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Sept. 10: vs. Eastern
Washington
Sept. 17: vs. BYU
Sept. 24: at Washington
State
Oct. 1: vs. Stanford
Oct. 8: at Arizona
Oct. 15: Bye
Oct. 22: vs. UCLA
Oct. 29: at Cal
Nov. 5: at Colorado
Nov. 12: vs. Washington
Nov. 19: vs. Utah
Nov. 25: at Oregon State
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Wallowa at Helix Tourna-
ment, TBA
Joseph at Grant Union,
2:30 p.m.
Bobcat Christmas Classic,
Union High School
Elgin vs. Powder Valley
JV, Union High School,
10:30 a.m.
Imbler vs. Enterprise, Union
High School, 1:30 p.m.
Jordan Valley vs. Cove,
Union High School,
4:30 p.m.
Union vs. Powder Valley,
Union High School,
7:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wallowa at Helix Tourna-
ment, TBA
Joseph at Grant Union,
1 p.m.
Bobcat Christmas Classic,
Union High School
Seventh-place game, Union
High School, 9 a.m.
Consolation championship,
Union High School noon
Third-place game, Union
High School, 3 p.m.
Championship game,
Union High School 6 p.m.
PREP SWIMMING
La Grande at Lebanon High
School
SUNDAY, DEC. 19
COLLEGE MEN’S
WRESTLING
Eastern Oregon at Tourna-
ment of Champions, Reno,
Nevada, TBA
MONDAY, DEC. 20
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
La Grande at Gladstone,
7:30 p.m.
Enterprise at Nixyaawii,
5:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Enterprise at Nixyaawii,
4 p.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 21
COLLEGE MEN’S
BASKETBALL
Linfi eld at Eastern Oregon,
6 p.m.
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Horizon Christian/Hood
River at Elgin, 7 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Horizon Christian/Hood
River at Elgin, 5:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Nixyaawii at Union,
6:30 p.m.
Imbler at Enterprise,
7:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Nixyaawii at Union, 5 p.m.
Imbler at Enterprise, 6 p.m.
PREP WRESTLING
Elgin at Rollin Schimmel
Memorial Tournament,
Pendleton High School,
TBA
THURSDAY, DEC. 23
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Weston-McEwen JV at
Elgin, 2:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Weston-McEwen at Elgin,
1 p.m.