10A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017
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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.