SPORTS THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS Sports shorts College Golf MLS adds security at its stadiums Lien, Simmons lead Lewis-Clark surge NEW YORK (AP) — Fans attending games at Major League Soccer venues will be subject to pat down searches or screenings with wands starting Saturday. New guidelines announced by the league also prohibit large purses, coolers, briefcases, backpacks and other large bags. Bags will also be subject to searches. Ray Whitworth, senior vice president of security and operations, said the updated measures will bring MLS in line with other professional sports leagues in the United States. Each venue will decide which screening measure — pat downs or wands — is used. The security procedures will apply to all soccer games at MLS venues, not just league games. Warriors men win Frontier Conference championship East Oregonian TEMPE, Ariz. — Chris Lien RSHQHGKLV¿QDOURXQGDWWKH)URQ tier Conference Championships with three-straight birdies, and the Lewis-Clark State senior from Heppner went on to post the lowest round of the was enough 54-hole tourna- to surpass ment to win the Rocky Moun- men’s title on tain’s Colton Wednesday. Murphy, who Lien made entered the the turn at ¿QDO URXQG ASU Karsten with a four- Golf Course stroke lead that at three-under disintegrated Simmons par for the day Lien when he shot DQG ZDV ¿YH three bogeys under before hitting bogeys on and two bogeys on the front nine to WZRRIWKH¿QDOIRXUKROHVWRFRPH make the turn at seven-over. into the clubhouse with a 68. That /LHQ¿QLVKHGZLWKDWKUHHURXQG 1996 — The Chicago Bulls wrap up the most successful regular season in NBA history with their 72nd victory, getting 26 points from Michael Jordan in a 103-93 decision over Wash- ington. Jordan sets an NBA record by winning his eighth NBA scoring title, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record of seven. 2012 — Phil Humber WKURZVWKH¿UVWSHUIHFWJDPH in the majors in almost two years, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com Intermountain team looks to boost rankings at home rodeo East Oregonian Title races are beginning to take shape as the high school rodeo season has hit the halfway point and begins the push toward the state ¿QDOV RQ )ULGD\ LQ +HUP iston. With this weekend’s action at Farm-City Arena representing one of the ¿QDO WKUHH HYHQWV EHIRUH WKH standings are cut to the top 20 for the state champion- ships, several Intermountain team members are among the group looking to solidify their status as title contenders in Hermiston. One need look no farther than the boys’ all-around race to get a glimpse of the Inter- mountain team’s strength this season. Five of the top eight come from the Umatil- la-Morrow County based squad, and Hermiston’s Preston Pederson leads the See RODEO/2B AP Photo/ Mark J. Terrill NBA Portland THIS DATE IN SPORTS Rodeo title races starting to emerge Los Angeles Clippers for- ward Blake Griffi n, right, goes up for a dunk as Portland Trail Blazers for- ward Mau- rice Harkless defends during the second half in Game 2 of a fi rst-round NBA basket- ball play- off series, Wednesday, April 20, 2016, in Los Angeles. The Clippers won 102-81. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Josh Norman, one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, is now an unrestricted free agent after the Carolina Panthers surprisingly their FACES rescinded non-exclusive franchise tag offer to the All-Pro. Norman did not sign the franchise tag Norman offer from the Panthers which would have paid him $13.9 million in 2016. Now he can sign with any team. Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said in a release Wednesday that “after a number of conversations with Josh’s agent we realized that a long-term deal was not attainable” and that the organization wishes him well. — Howie Roseman Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president of football operations on the team’s trade with the Cleveland Browns. The Eagles gave up fi ve draft picks in ex- change for Cleveland’s No. 2 overall pick in next week’s draft, and Roseman said the team intends to select a quarterback. Cleveland received the Eagles’ No. 8 overall pick as well as a third and fourth- round pick in this year’s draft, and the Eagles’ fi rst-round pick in 2017 and second-round pick in 2018. HERMISTON Clippers dominate Blazers Panthers rescind franchise tag on All-Pro cornerback “It’s a tough price to pay. We’re very sure we’re going to get the player we want.“ score of 76-74-68—218 and Murphy came in at 76-70-79—225 to tie for second. L-C State’s Casey Brown held a two-stroke lead on /LHQ KHDGHG LQWR WKH ¿QDO EXW was hurt but a double bogey on No. 5 and a triple bogey on No. 18 to ¿QLVK WLHG IRU VHFRQG ZLWK 77—225. Lien’s rise to the top on Wednesday mirrored that of the team as the Warriors overcame a ¿YHVKRWGH¿FLWWRZLQWKHWHDPWLWOH with a score of 304-301-292—897. See WARRIORS/2B 81 Los Angeles 102 Intermountain High School Rodeo Los Angeles closes strong for 2-0 series lead By BETH HARRIS Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Chris Paul scored 25 points, J.J. Redick added 17 and the Los Angeles Clippers pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 102-81 Wednesday night and take a OHDG LQ WKHLU ¿UVWURXQG playoff series. Damian Lillard and Mason Plumlee led the Blazers with 17 points each. CJ McCollum added 16 after being held to nine in their 20-point loss in the series opener. Plumlee and Al-Farouq Aminu had 10 rebounds each. Portland shot a season-worst 34.1 percent. Game 3 is Saturday in Portland. %ODNH *ULI¿Q KDG points and nine rebounds and DeAndre Jordan had 18 See BLAZERS/2B • What: The Intermoun- tain High School rodeo team is hosting its annual doublheader rodeo this weekend. • When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday 1 & 6 p.m.; Sun- day, noon. • Where: Farm-City Arena, Hermiston • Cost: Free admission, concessions available HERMISTON Bulldogs’ Sexton signs with Blue Mountain baseball Hermiston senior chose Timberwolves from several other offers By ERIC SINGER East Oregonian Tyler Sexton has had a love for the game of baseball for as long as he can remember. That love has grown stronger and stronger over the course of his high school career, and now he has the opportunity to take his talents to the collegiate level for at least the next two years. On April 5 at a ceremony at Hermiston High School, Sexton put pen to paper and signed on to play baseball at Blue Mountain Commu- nity College. “Every kid has that dream of playing at the next level either in college or the major leagues,” Sexton said. “I liked the school and I OLNHWKHSURJUDPVRLW¶VJRRGWR¿QG a place where I feel like I belong. ³,W¶V GH¿QLWHO\ D EOHVVLQJ WR EH Contributed photo courtesy of Blaine Ganvoa Hermiston senior Tyler Sexton, center, signs his scholarship to play baseball at Blue Mountain Community College on April 5 at Herm- iston High School with his parents, Kim, left and Jim, right, and varsity coach Lance Hawkins, far right, looking on. able to maintain my health so I was able to play at the next level.” The Bulldog senior said he considered several other schools as well, such as Yakima Valley Community College, Clackamas Community College, and Columbia Basin College, but in the end Blue Mountain won over his heart. Sexton said that Blue Mountain coach Brad Baker will slot him in as a pitcher, but also wants to utilize his powerful bat and 6-foot-4 frame DW¿UVWEDVH The decision to attend Blue Mountain came with the stamp of approval from his parents, father Jim and mother Kim, who are excited to have just a short drive to Pendleton to be able to watch Sexton at the Timberwolves home games. “My mom is especially happy I’m staying close to home,” Sexton said with a smile. “(My family) is going to be able to make it to home games since it’s only a half hour drive versus Clackamas or Yakima Valley that were an hour to four hours away.” Through 14 games for Herm- iston in his senior season, Sexton is hitting .307 (12-39) with 10 RBI, eight runs scored and a pair of doubles at the plate. He has also been very strong on the mound as a reliever and starter, throwing 26.2 total innings with a 3.78 ERA while racking up 33 strikeouts to 16 walks and 17 hits. ———— Contact Eric Singer at esinger@ eastoregonian.com or (541) 966-0839. Follow him on Twitter @ ByEricSinger.