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PAGE A10, KEIZERTIMES, JULY 15, 2016 KEIZERTIMES.COM Riggs growing into bullpen role OREGON STATE ATHLETICS/Karl Maasdam Oregon State forward Deven Hunter, who graduated from McNary in 2012, drives to the goal against UCONN center Natalie Butler in the semifi nals of the 2016 Women’s NCAA Tournament. Dream Believer McNary grad looks back on OSU career By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes Deven Hunter believed from Day One, even when there was reason not to. When the McNary senior signed with Oregon State on a Wednesday morning be- fore school in November of 2011, the Lady Beavers had only won nine games the sea- son before and hadn’t made the NCAA tournament since 1996. “I wasn’t looking at the record as much,” said Hunter, who chose OSU over offers from Arizona and Kansas State because of her familiarity with the Corvallis campus and the vision of new head coach Steve Rueck. “I defi nitely saw past that and the potential.” Hunter also looked at who else was joining her and a re- cruiting class that featured three of the top 100 players in the country in Jamie Weisner, Ruth Hamblin and Samantha Siegner. “Our freshmen class com- ing in, we wanted to make it to the Final Four and we wanted to change the pro- gram around,” Hunter said. “Defi nitely that was our goal that we set out coming in as freshmen. We knew we were a special group of people. We knew we had something spe- cial.” Hunter’s fi rst season didn’t go as planned as OSU went 10-21 overall and 4-14 in the Pac-12 Conference, playing in front of home crowds that av- eraged less than 1,200 people. But with another strong recruiting class, the Lady Beavers began to make their turnaround during Hunter’s sophomore campaign. On Dec. 29, 2013, she pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds as OSU nearly upset No. 2 ranked Notre Dame in front of more than 4,000 fans at Gill Coliseum. The Lady Beavers fi nished the season 24-11 and earned a berth in the NCAA tourna- ment. As a No. 9 seed, OSU de- feated Middle Tennessee 55- By TIM HAYS Of the Keizertimes More than 2,200 miles away from Spring, Texas, No- lan Riggs defi nitely had to duck getting off the plane. At 6’8”, Riggs has developed into one of the most consistent re- lievers for the Volcanoes. In eight games, which is second most on the team, Riggs leads all relievers by pitching in 15 2/3 innings. Riggs had seen some seri- ous heartbreak in his fi rst 23 years. Riggs entered high school at 5 foot 11 inches, and was set to continue growing. It seemed as if his body would never stop. “I was pretty short entering high school,” he said.” I grew two inches every year, and it seemed like I would just keep going.” His body was growing at a rapid rate; almost too fast. After two successful years of varsity baseball, Riggs had news that he wasn’t expecting; Tommy John surgery. On August 26th, his fi rst day of his senior year of high school, Riggs underwent Nolan Riggs Tommy John surgery. Interest- ingly enough, the tendon to replace his right UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) came from the inner part of his right hamstring. In the spring, Riggs got to throw one inning of varsity baseball. “I was really looking for- ward to senior year,” Riggs said. “Getting hurt was a big setback. I was getting looks from a lot big schools, and fortunately I ended up get- ting the opportunity to attend junior college. So far it looks like it turned out great.” Please see RIGGS, Page 11 Volcanoes split doubleheader OREGON STATE ATHLETICS/Karl Maasdam Deven Hunter kisses the trophy after the Lady Beavers beat Baylor 60-57 on March 28 to advance to the Final Four. 36 in the fi rst round before falling to top seeded South Carolina 78-69 in the second round. The following season, the Lady Beavers topped Cali- fornia 73-55 to capture their fi rst Pac-12 regular season title in program history. They went 16-2 in conference play and earned a 3-seed in the NCAA tournament but were upset by Gonzaga in the second round. Hunter had one more sea- son to make her dream come true. Please see HUNTER, Page 11 By HERB SWETT For the Keizertimes The Volcanoes followed a rainout with a July 8 split of a home doubleheader with Van- couver, winning the fi rst game 8-6 and losing the second 9-3. A crowd of 3,807 watched Salem-Keizer hit twice as many home runs (four) in the two games as in all the previ- ous games this season. In the fi rst game, the Volcanoes over- came a 5-0 lead the Canadians had after 1-1/2 innings. Each game went seven innings. Game 1: Volcanoes 8, Vancouver 6 With one out in the top of the second inning, Mat- tingly Romanin walked and Bryan Lizardo hit a home run over the left fi eld fence. After starting pitcher Mac Marshall retired the next batter, Javier Hernandez also homered to left. Rodrigo Orozco doubled down the left fi eld foul line. Kendry Melo relieved Marshall and walked Cavan Biggio, son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio. He hit Lance Jones to load the bases and hit the next batter, JB Woodman, to force Orozco home. Then he walked Christian Williams to force in Biggio. He settled down after that, striking out Romanin to retire the side and pitching shutout ball for three more innings. He became the winning pitcher at 2-1. In the Volcano second, Bryan Reynolds led off with a double to right center fi eld and went to third base on a wild pitch from Vancouver starter Luis Sanchez. Heath Quinn doubled to left, scoring Reynolds, and went to third as Ryan Kirby grounded out. Salem-Keizer added a run in the third as Gio Brusa’s sacrifi ce fl y to right drove in Kevin Rivera, who had dou- bled and reached third on a single by Manuel Geraldo. Please see SPLIT, Page 11 Holiday Swim Club defeats Northview By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes Kameron Splonski broke two swim club records to lead Holiday’s boys to a 141-108 victory over Northview Ter- race Thursday, July 7. Swimming in the 9-10-year-old division, Splon- ski fi nished the butterfl y in 13.38 and the freestyle in 25.15. He also won the back- stroke and swam on the win- ning 13-14 free and medley relays with teammates Ryan Bethers, Tony Gonzales and Kian Gonzales. Kian won three individual events as well—individual medley, backstroke and free. Cole Steele dominated the boys 7-8 division, winning the IM, butterfl y and breaststroke. Steele also joined Xavier Grantham, Vinny Arnold and Brody Hollis to place fi rst in the 9-10 free relay. Brody Hollis, Lincoln Hol- lis, Noah Williams and Ozzy Arnold won the 7-8 medley relay. Lincoln Hollis, Williams and Ozzy Arnold joined Jared Toland to also win the free re- lay. James Toland won the 11- 12 breaststroke and free and swam on the winning medley relay team with Nathan Wil- liams, Carter Hollis and Noah Schaffner. Carter also had the top time in the IM. Noah Williams touched the wall fi rst in the Under-6 but- terfl y. Swimming for North- view, Eli Staley had the fast- est time in the 9-10 IM and breaststroke. He was also on the winning 11-12 free relay with Dom Snyder, Camden Whetten and Nicholas Ma- heu. Cole Garland, Gavin Gasperini Jeremy Becker and Tayson Whetten won both the 15-18 free and medley relays. Garland also won the 13-14 breast while Tayson and Beck- er tied in the 11-12 fl y. Michael Noble won the 8-and-under free. Holiday’s girls also squeaked by Northview, 157-148. Individually, Bella Beard won three events—the 13-14 IM, butterfl y and breaststroke. She also helped Alex Beard, Antonia Gonzales and Kylie McCarty set a new club re- cord in the 15-18 free relay in 1:31.84. Please see SWIM, Page 11 KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley Maya Privratsky, Alex Willcoxen and Ashlynn Hughes helped the Holday Swim Club defeat Northview Thursday, July 7.