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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 2017)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017 CONTACT US FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorianSports Gary Henley | Sports Reporter ghenley@dailyastorian.com Athletes of the Week CHELSEA CHRISTENSEN Astoria PAYTON WESTERHOLM Seaside he senior outside hitter highlighted a four-game win at Seaside Oct. 3 with T 10 kills and 29 digs, helping the 10th-ranked Lady Fishermen to their fourth league win of the season. Christensen added 12 kills in a four-game loss to No. he junior quarterback has the Gulls primed for a big run in the state play- T off s, as Seaside continues to storm through the competition, outscoring the opposition 102-0 the last two games. In last Friday’s 62-0 win over Valley Catholic, 4-ranked Tillamook two nights later. With just one match left in the regular sea- son (Oct. 17, at Scappoose), Astoria is almost assured of a spot in the regional play-in round, and will be seeking its fi rst trip to the state playoff s since 2014. Westerholm completed six passes, four for touchdowns. The week before, he was 10-for-15 for 152 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-0 Clatsop Clash win over Astoria — making it seven TD passes in two weeks for the No. 9-ranked Gulls. SCOREBOARD PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE TODAY Football — Astoria at Banks, 7 p.m.; Seaside at Tillamook, 7 p.m. Volleyball — Warrenton at Rainier, 6 p.m.; Vernonia at Knappa, 6:30 p.m. FRIDAY Football — Rainier at Warrenton, 7 p.m.; Vernonia at Knappa, 7 p.m.; Wil- lapa Valley at Ilwaco, 7 p.m.; Mary M. Knight at Naselle, 7 p.m. Girls Soccer — Tillamook at Astoria, 7:15 p.m.; Valley Catholic at Seaside, 7 p.m. Boys Soccer — Astoria at Tillamook, 7:15 p.m.; Seaside at Valley Catholic, 6 p.m. SATURDAY Volleyball — Seaside Tournament, 9 a.m.; Knappa at City Christian, 3:30 p.m. Cross Country — George Fox Clas- sic, 10 a.m. OSAA RANKINGS (Top 10) 4A Football 1. Cottage Grove Lions 2. Marshfield Pirates 3. Scappoose Indians 4. Henley Hornets 5. Mazama Vikings 6. Banks Braves 7. La Grande Tigers 8. Sweet Home Huskies 9. Seaside Seagulls 10. North Bend Bulldogs 2A Football 1. St. Paul Buckaroos 2. Monroe Dragons 3. Knappa Loggers 4. Gold Beach Panthers 5. Grant Union Prospectors 6. Santiam Wolverines 7. Heppner Mustangs 8. Lost River Raiders 9. Kennedy Trojans 10. Central Linn Cobras 4A Volleyball 1. Sisters Outlaws 2. Valley Catholic Valiants 3. Hidden Valley Mustangs 4. Philomath Warriors 5. Tillamook Cheesemakers 6. Sweet Home Huskies 7. Marshfield Pirates 8. Cascade Cougars 9. Baker Bulldogs 10. Astoria Fishermen 4A Boys Soccer 1. Stayton Eagles 2. Brookings Harbor Bruins 3. Seaside Seagulls 4. Cottage Grove Lions 5. McLoughlin Pioneers 6. Molalla Indians 7. Madras White Buffaloes 8. Phoenix Pirates 9. Newport Cubs 10. Hidden Valley Mustangs Like most seasons, some unsung Astoria players emerging for Seahawks defeats Banks in fi ve games By TIM BOOTH Associated Press S EATTLE — At some point in nearly every season of Pete Carroll’s tenure in Seattle, someone unexpected, or undervalued in another place, fi nds his way into being an important reason the Sea- hawks have success. The Seahawks aren’t unique in fi nding overlooked players and it could be just for a single game, or a specifi c package or role. But the fre- quency by which Seattle unearths these gems has become part of who the Seahawks are. The latest discoveries appear to be running back J.D. McKissic, cor- nerback Justin Coleman and defen- sive end Marcus Smith. Those three were deemed expendable by others. Whether through injuries or earned opportunity, they have already been important additions for the Seahawks. “I would never say the bottom of the roster,” Carroll said. “I would say that guys who have come to us; the new guys in the program.” The success of the Seahawks will always be foremost due to the play of their stars, as has been the case this season. It’s been Russell Wilson or Bobby Wagner or Michael Bennett or Earl Thomas at the core of why Seat- tle sits at 3-2 at the bye, coming off one of the more important road wins of the past few seasons by knocking off the Rams last weekend. But throughout Carroll’s tenure, it’s often unsung players that came through. In previous years it’s been the likes of Thomas Rawls, DeShawn Shead and Jermaine Kearse that have been this year’s version of Smith, McKissic or Coleman. Guys that were on the fringes to make a ros- ter who earned prominent roles when given a chance. “We have always pretty much had the mentality that the next guy is going to do all right,” Carroll said. “We are never really worried about that. I think the indication is to show you why, and here we are again. So we will count on those guys to do The Daily Astorian AP Photo/Elaine Thompson Seattle Seahawks defensive end Marcus Smith forces a fumble from Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett. UP NEXT: SEAHAWKS • Seattle Seahawks (3-2) at New York Giants (0-5) • Sunday, 1:25 p.m. TV: CBS a nice job whether they are coming off the bench or starting. We do have good depth and have a roster that we have felt strongly about for some time. I think that kind of shows.” The latest trio to make a mark all found their way to Seattle with var- ied histories. Because of his position, McKis- sic has a chance to become the most impactful of the three. After being let go by Atlanta and inactive for the fi rst three weeks, McKissic has fl ashed his skill as a runner and pass catcher in the previous two games. McKissic’s two touchdowns against Indianapolis provided a jolt to Seat- tle’s lagging offense, and he followed with three receptions in the win over the Rams. “I’m comfortable. Whatever role they have for me, I have to do my best,” McKissic said. “Special teams, running the ball, catching the ball, I’m just going to do the best I can.” Coleman was part of New England’s championship roster a year ago even though he was inactive during the postseason. Coleman felt his time with the Patriots was com- ing to an end when he was traded to Seattle on Sept. 1, nine days before the start of the regular season. Less than six minutes into that fi rst game, Coleman was thrown in as Seattle’s nickel cornerback after Jeremy Lane was ejected. BANKS — For the second time this season, the Astoria Lady Fish- ermen robbed the Banks Braves of a victory, in another intense, fi ve-game volleyball match won by Astoria, 25-17, 15-25, 25-13, 22-25, 16-14. In their previous match with the Braves (at Astoria, Sept. 21), the Lady Fishermen lost the fi rst two games and fought off match point in Game 3, rallying for an eventual fi ve-set win. In Wednesday’s match on the Braves’ home fl oor, the two teams split the fi rst four games, and Banks held leads of 12-5 and 14-12 in Game 5, only to watch Astoria rally for the victory. The win puts Astoria alone in third place in the Cowapa League standings at 5-4, one game ahead of Scappoose (4-5). The Indians and Fishermen wrap up the league season next Tuesday, at Astoria. With the Fishermen trailing 12-5 in the fi fth set, Astoria’s Corrin Howard served up seven straight points for a 12-12 tie, before Banks came back and won the next two points, for match point. But, as they did in the previous match, Astoria spoiled any victory celebrations for the Braves, reeling off four straight points. Julia Nor- ris set Madi Landwehr for the fi nal kill. Chelsea Christensen led Asto- ria with 13 kills and 31 digs, with Norris and Kes Sandstrom adding eight kills apiece. Darian Hageman and Landwehr each had three blocks, and Howard also came up with 31 digs. Astoria takes part in the Seaside Tournament Saturday. In other Cowapa action Wednesday, Tillamook defeated the Gulls in four games, 23-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-15. MLB playoffs: Cubs, Nationals to settle NLDS in Game 5 Associated Press A look at what’s happening all around the majors today: GOING THE DISTANCE: It’s a win-or-go-home Game 5 in the NL Division Series between the Chi- cago Cubs and Washington Nationals at 5:08 p.m. Pacifi c. Kyle Hendricks pitches for the World Series champion Cubs after beating Stephen Strasburg 3-0 in the opener. Washington man- ager Dusty Baker was non-committal when asked about his starter, with Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark the most likely candidates. Back home after saving their sea- son Wednesday with a 5-0 win at Wrigley Field behind Strasburg, the NL East champions have a chance to avenge years of playoff heartache. The Nationals also made it to the playoffs in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and fell in the fi rst round each time, including fi ve- game losses to St. Louis in 2012 and the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. “Once you get out there, that stuff doesn’t really matter,” said Michael A. Taylor, who hit a grand slam for Wash- ington late in Game 4. “What we did last year doesn’t help or hurt us once we’re in between the lines.” The winner heads for Los Angeles to play the Dodgers in the NL Champi- onship Series beginning Saturday. READY AND WAITING: Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros are staying home to start the AL Cham- pionship Series. They will face the wild-card New York Yankees, who advanced Wednesday night with a 5-2 victory at Cleveland in Game 5 of their Division Series. Game 1 is Friday night in Houston. Dallas Keuchel is scheduled to start for the Astros, who went 5-2 against New York during the regular season. Houston reached the best-of-seven ALCS by eliminating Boston in Game 4 on Monday. Altuve batted .533 in four ALDS games against the Red Sox. HELP WANTED: The Boston Red Sox are looking for a new manager after fi ring John Farrell on Wednesday following the team’s second consec- utive loss in the AL Division Series. The team announced the move less than 48 hours after it was knocked out of the playoffs with a 5-4 loss to Houston. Farrell managed the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2013, his fi rst season in charge, and his contract had been scheduled to run through the 2018 season. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said the team plans to move swiftly on its next hire and the next manager would “most likely not” be a member of Far- rell’s current coaching staff. Dom- browski said it would be important to be comfortable in front of media and relatable to the team’s current young core. CLEAN IT UP: If the Cubs are going to win at Washington in the deciding Game 5 of their NL Divi- sion Series, they may need to tighten up their defense. Chicago has commit- ted seven errors in the fi rst four games of the series.
