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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2017)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017 CONTACT US FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorianSports Gary Henley | Sports Reporter ghenley@dailyastorian.com SPORTS IN BRIEF Gulls pound Banks Braves at Broadway, 8-0 The Daily Astorian SEASIDE — In Cowapa League boys soccer action Tues- day, first-place Seaside topped last-place Banks, 8-0, at Broad- way Field. Entering the game ranked No. 2 in the state at the 4A level, the Gulls improve to 4-0-1 in league, 6-1-1 overall. Seaside had all of its starters out of the game by halftime, in order to let some junior varsity players in on the action. Goals were scored by Natanael Conrad, Christian Hernandez and Uly Corona. Ranked 36th out of 40 teams in the OSAA rankings, the Braves drop to 1-7 overall, 0-5 in league. In other Cowapa League games Tuesday, Scappoose scored a late- night victory at CMH Field, with the Indians defeating Astoria 3-1. The No. 14-ranked Fisher- men are 2-2-1 in league play, at the halfway point of the league season. Astoria remains at home for the next week, hosting Valley Catholic Thursday and Seaside next Tuesday. Scappoose girls end Astoria win streak, 7-0 The Daily Astorian SCAPPOOSE — It was a rough day on the road for the Clat- sop County teams in Cowapa League girls soccer. Astoria traveled to Scappoose to play the first-place Indians, who won their fifth straight and remained unbeaten in league play with a 7-0 victory over the Lady Fishermen. The loss ended a three-game win streak for Astoria, which drops to 3-2 but remains in third place in the league standings. Elsewhere, Banks defeated Seaside on the Braves’ home field, 5-1. SCOREBOARD PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE TODAY Cross Country — Trojan Relays, TBA THURSDAY Volleyball — Tillamook at Astoria, 7 p.m.; Valley Catholic at Seaside, 7 p.m.; OES at Warrenton, 6 p.m. Girls Soccer — Astoria at Valley Cath- olic, 7:15 p.m. Boys Soccer — Valley Catholic at As- toria, 7:15 p.m. Football — Naselle at Washington School for the Deaf, 3:30 p.m. FRIDAY Football — Tillamook at Astoria, 7 p.m.; Valley Catholic at Seaside, 7 p.m.; Warrenton at Blanchet Catholic, 7:30 p.m.; Knappa at Neah-Kah-Nie, 7 p.m.; Ilwaco at Raymond, 7 p.m. Cross Country — Tillamook XC Invi- tational, 3 p.m. SATURDAY Volleyball — Columbia Christian at Knappa, 5:30 p.m. Cross Country — Riverwalk Run, TBA Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Jetta Ideue, left, spikes the ball over the net for Seaside. Astoria went on to win 3 games to 1. LADY FISHERMEN DEFEAT GULLS IN CLATSOP SMASH By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian SEASIDE — The Astoria volleyball team is pretty much assured of a spot in the regional play-in round — now they’re just playing for a home match in preparation for the state playoffs. Astoria posted its fourth win in league play Tuesday in a Clatsop Smash victory at Seaside, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20. “It was definitely a tough match,” said Asto- ria coach Jessie Todd, whose team came in rated No. 10 in the latest OSAA rankings. “We knew it was going to be a battle. It’s at Seaside and it’s a rivalry match, with the emotions run- ning high. “But we did a good job of being in control and harnessing our emotions,” she said. “We played well defensively, my setters did a good job of moving the blockers around, and made great choices for the hitters.” Still looking for their first league victory, the Gulls still played well and kept it close. Seaside rallied from a deficit before falling in Game 1, then bounced back with a win in Game 2. “Really all night it was back and forth,” Todd said. “The lead was going back and forth in Games 2, 3 and 4.” Astoria spread out its offensive attack, as Chelsea Christensen led the way with 10 kills, followed by Madi Landwehr with nine, and Kes Sandstrom and Julia Norris with eight apiece. Former Gull Corrin Howard finished with 45 digs to lead Astoria, with Christensen add- ing 29 and Kira Worwood 16; Darian Hage- man had a team-high six blocks followed by Landwehr with five. “We had a pretty good block game tonight,” Todd said. “I was real happy with the net play, and our blockers are improving.” Astoria is now alone in third place in the league standings at 4-3, one game ahead of Scappoose, and two games behind Tillamook, which plays at Astoria Thursday. “That’s the league,” Todd said. “Any team can beat any other team on any given night, so you have to be ready, mentally prepared and focused every night. Chelsea Christensen, left, spikes the ball on the Seaside defense. Corrin Howard, center wearing the gray jersey, gets a dig for the Lady Fish. “We only lost two seniors last year, and to see them bounce back after the 0-10 record last year is really nice,” she added of her team, which improves to 9-6 overall, the most wins for Lady Fishermen volleyball since posting 10 wins in 2014. “I’m proud of them,” Todd said. “A big rea- son is the leadership and maturity that we have. I’m excited and overjoyed for them, the com- munity’s coming out and we’re getting a lot of support.” dle blocker Fernanda Alvarez, “and made an immediate impact at the net,” Miethe said, with six blocks and 10 touches. The Blodgett sisters finished with five blocks apiece. At the service line, Arney was 20-for-21 and Claire Bussert finished 17-of-19 with five aces to go with nine digs. Alvarez added four ace serves. Libero Melia Kapua had 12 digs. “We have been working really hard on our serve receive and defense,” Miethe said. “Tonight’s match was the first time we’ve played in this rotation. I believe the more they play together the better it will get. By being able to put Fernanda in the middle position, it allowed me to move Elly to the outside hitting position, which proves to be a great move.” In addition, “it gives me a much better block- ing front line with her and Morgan together, and Claire with Fernanda. I am very excited about what we will look like come playoffs.” Warrenton hosts Oregon Episcopal Thursday. Warrenton Warriors win league showdown vs. Portland Adventist WARRENTON — Warrenton won a pivotal Lewis & Clark League volleyball match Tues- day, a four-game victory over visiting Portland Adventist, 25-21, 22-25, 25-14, 25-19. The win brings Warrenton into a tie for sec- ond with Portland Adventist in the West Divi- sion of the Lewis & Clark League, behind Rainier. “We had an outstanding offensive night,” said Warrenton coach Staci Miethe. “The team combined for 40 kills and an 89 percent com- pletion rating,” with Morgan Blodgett leading the Warriors with 14 kills. Elly Blodgett added 10 kills and Michelle Arney tacked on eight kills. Warrenton regained the services of big mid- NHL ’17: What to watch for as season begins Associated Press The 101st NHL season opens tonight. Here are some of the top things to watch as play gets underway: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS. Adding Patrick Marleau gives a much-needed veteran presence to a youth-laden team that has designs on not simply making the playoffs, but winning several rounds. JACK EICHEL. Having put con- tract talks behind him after agreeing to an eight-year, $80 million contract extension on Tuesday, it’s now on the Buffalo Sabres’ franchise player to begin performing to expectations — the team’s and his own. Eichel acknowledged his first two NHL sea- sons were “mediocre.” MONTREAL CANADIENS. While much of the NHL is trending toward youth and speed, can the Habs continue winning with an aging, plod- ding lineup that relies on size and the performance of goalie Carey Price? CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS. After hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2015 for the third time in a six-year stretch of success, was last year’s first-round exit an aberration? How will Jonathan Toews respond after an off year? CONNOR McDAVID. Will the 20-year-old reigning MVP put together a second straight 100-point season and help the Edmonton Oil- ers qualify for the playoffs in con- secutive years for the first time since 1997-2001? Or will he cool off? HOT SEATS. Florida was the first of many NHL teams to fire coaches during last season, letting Gerard Gallant go after just 21 games. Will Detroit stick with Jeff Blashill behind the bench all season if the team’s new arena loses its luster with too many losses? WASHINGTON CAPITALS. Will Alex Ovechkin and the big guns score enough and Braden Holtby stop enough to keep them a solid playoff team and a Stanley Cup contender? STEVEN STAMKOS. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain was a point-a- game player before his horrific knee injury last season. If he returns to form they’ll be scary. NEW GOALIES. Carolina has Scott Darling, Dallas has Ben Bishop, Calgary has Mike Smith and all should be better for it, while it remains to be seen with Antti Raanta in Arizona. GOLDEN ERA. The expansion Vegas Golden Knights open their inaugural season and it will be inter- esting to see how Las Vegas embraces its first major professional sports franchise. BY THE BOOK. No timeouts after icing and no line changes for teams that commit the infraction. Closer attention from the officials on slashing. But the biggest rule change might be the crackdown on face-off violations, which has already led to some preseason grumbling. Columbia Christian tops Lady Loggers PORTLAND — In Northwest League vol- leyball action Tuesday, Columbia Christian swept Knappa in three close games, 25-19, 25-20, 25-19. No details were available. The same two teams play again Saturday, at Knappa. Rockies vs. Diamondbacks in NL wild-card game Associated Press A look at what’s happening around the majors today: DUEL IN THE DESERT: Nolan Arenado and the Colorado Rock- ies face Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke in the NL wild- card game at 8:08 p.m. EDT. It’s a matchup of teams that know each other well. The division rivals share a spring training facility and played each other 19 times this season. The winner of No. 20 heads for Los Ange- les to play the NL West champion Dodgers in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Friday. “There’s no secrets here,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We know what they like to do. They know our players.” ONE DAY AWAY: The Red Sox and Astros work out in Houston ahead of their AL Division Series. Pitching matchups are set for the first two games, with Justin Verlander scheduled to start Thursday’s opener for the Astros against Chris Sale. Dal- las Keuchel gets the ball in Game 2 vs. Boston left-hander Drew Pomer- anz. “It’s really deciding between two really deserving, really good guys,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. “So I didn’t have a lot of stress about it other than we had to pick an order.” MOVING ON: After a wild- card win Tuesday night over Min- nesota to start the 2017 postseason, Aaron Judge and the New York Yan- kees will be in Cleveland to prepare for their best-of-five Division Series against the defending AL champion Indians. In a surprise move, Cleve- land plans to pitch Trevor Bauer (17- 9, 4.18 ERA) in the opener Thursday rather than ace Corey Kluber (18-4, 2.25).
