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Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Friday, May 26, 2017 NHL Kunitz’s double-OT goal sends Penguins back to Stanley Cup By WILL GRAVES Associated Press PITTSBURGH — The Pitts- burgh Penguins are heading back to the Stanley Cup Final. Chris Kunitz beat Craig Anderson 5:09 into the second overtime to give the defending champions a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final Thursday night. Ottawa Kunitz scored twice, his first two of the playoffs. Justin Schultz added the other in his return from an upper-body injury, and Matt Murray stopped 28 shots on his 23rd birthday. 2 BMCC: Infielder Dustin Durflinger wins East Region Gold Glove The Penguins are trying to become the first Pittsburgh team since the Detroit Red Wings in 1998 to win back-to-back titles. They will host Western Conference champion Nashville in Game 1 on Monday night. Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel 3 scored for Ottawa. The Senators rallied twice to tie it, with Dzingel making it 2-2 with 5:19 left in regulation. Craig Anderson made 39 saves, but couldn’t get a handle on Kunitz’s shot from just outside the left circle. The Senators are 0-6 in Game 7s in franchise history. The Senators forced a return STANFIELD Athlete of the Week Twenty questions with Weston-McEwen’s Hayden Scott Continued from 1B East Oregonian and doubles (16), while scoring 28 runs and driving in 11, while Bonner, also a sophomore, led the team with nine home runs, 38 RBI and 32 runs scored. Cagle put together a solid season with a .330 average, two home runs, 13 RBI and 28 runs scored. And on the baseball side, Ulrey freshman infielder Dustin Durflinger picked up an East Region Gold Glove award as an infielder, one of four chosen in the region. Durflinger, a native of West Richland, Wash- Durflinger ington, played 143 1/3 innings as the Timberwolves second baseman where he turned in 29 putouts, 46 assists and just one error for an outstanding .987 fielding percentage. His fielding percentage ranked fifth- best among NWAC second basemen with at least 120 innings played. Contributed photo courtesy of Erwin Watson Members of Eastern Oregon Family Taekwondo pose with their medals after participating in the Northwest Martial Arts Championships held May 13 in Gresham. At far left are instructors Lorry Watson and Bailey Watson, and in the back row from left to right are Ben King, Austen Alder, Ayden Thurman, Dillon Aylett, Melissa Shilhanek, and instructors Erwin Watson and Kameron Watson. In the front row from left to right are Breken Ed- wards, Kristian Cardenas, Amauri Balck, Madi Howell and RJ Camargo. Taekwondo athletes win titles East Oregonian STANFIELD — Ten students of Eastern Oregon Family Taekwondo competed at the 44th Northwest Martial Arts Championships held May 13 at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham. All ten won medals in at least one of the three categories — forms, sparring and board breaking. Both 11-year-old Austen Alder and 5-year-old Kristian Cardenas won gold in forms and sparring, and silver in breaking, and Madi Howell, 7, earned gold in forms and breaking, and silver in sparring to lead the medal haul. Dillon Aylett, 21, and Melissa Shil- hanek, 29, also had two gold and both won their classes in forms and breaking. Ben King, 11, and Amauri Black, 4, both earned a gold medals in breaking. King added a bronze in sparring, and Black won silver in sparring. Ayden Thurman, 11, had three medals (silver forms and sparring, bronze breaking), Breken Edwards, 6, took bronze in sparring and breaking, and R.J. Camargo, 7, earned bronze in sparring to bring the team’s medal total to 23. MARINERS: James Paxton set to return early in next homestand Continued from 1B scored multiple runs for the first time since May 18. Ariel Miranda (4-2) allowed two runs, three hits and three walks in five innings. Edwin Diaz, Seat- tle’s sixth pitcher, threw a one-hit ninth that completed a six-hitter. Diaz got his first save since May 9 and has eight in 10 chances overall. Gonzalez gave up two runs, three hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight. “It wasn’t an easy task on Dusty’s part,” Gonzalez said. “I put him in a situation where it was tough.” Washington’s Anthony Rendon homered in the fifth, his ninth this season and fourth in the three-game series. Jayson Werth added an RBI single later in the inning. FAMILY FIRST Baker will be leaving the Nationals for their weekend series against the San Diego Padres to attend his son Darren’s high school gradu- ation in Northern California. He will rejoin the team Monday in San Francisco and watch the Nationals on TV in the interim. “I’ll watch them at home, I’ll watch them during graduation,” Baker said. “I’ll watch them probably in my sleep in bed.” CLOSING TIME Mariners: Diaz had been removed temporarily from the closer’s role for a week before returning to punc- tuate four scoreless bullpen innings. “It’s a cumulative effort,” Servais said. “Eddie just happened to be the guy at the end today. We like him in that spot. He’s got great stuff. Hopefully he can build on it.” Nationals: Baker said he has not told Koda Glover much about assuming the closer’s role, even though he admits it is the 24-year-old right hander’s to lose. “It’s a little bit of mystery, so that they don’t start feeling too comfortable too soon,” Baker said. “Going in in the ninth. That’s a pretty good sign.” TRAINER’S ROOM Mariners: LHP James Paxton (forearm strain) could return to the rotation in the first or second game of a homestand that starts Wednesday, Servais said. Nationals: Baker may continue to use an eight-man bullpen. Baker said the deci- sion depends on the progress of INF Stephen Drew’s reha- bilitation from a hamstring strain. Drew is at extended spring training. UP NEXT Mariners: RHP Yovani Gallardo is 2-2 with a 5.28 ERA against Boston, where Seattle begins a three-game set on Friday. Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (4-3, 3.02) has allowed two runs or fewer in his last three starts against San Diego, which opens a three-game series in Wash- ington on Friday. PLAYOFFS: Taft ends playoff skid to earn meeting with Stanfield Continued from 1B has won its last four games by a combined score of 24-0. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Yantis Park in Milton-Free- water. No. 10 LOST RIVER AT No. 2 PILOT ROCK — Pilot Rock began the 2017 playoffs showing it was worthy of the No. 2 seed as it put forth a total domination of the Regis Rams for a 10-0 win. Tehya Ostrom threw a no-hitter and was one walk away from a five-inning perfect game, which was just the type of start she needed to gain back her playoff confidence that’s helped carry Pilot Rock to two straight state championships. Now Ostrom and the Rockets (23-5) turn their attention to the No. 10 seed Lost River Pirates (16-9), who earned a spot in the quarterfinals with a upset of No. 7 Toledo 8-7 on Wednesday. Lost River comes in with a solid offensive attack, as the Pirates average more than 10 runs per game. The Pirates have won four straight games, but allow an average of 6.7 runs per game and allowed 10-plus runs seven times this season while Pilot Rock has done so just once. Pilot Rock coach Darin Fitzpatrick does hope the offense finds a groove earlier than it did against Regis, which will be a big key for trip to Pittsburgh — where they lost 7-0 loss in Game 5 on Sunday — by leaning heavily on Anderson in a 2-1 Game 6 victory, putting both teams at odds with history. Ottawa came in 0-for-25 years in winner-take-all games, while the Penguins were 0-7 in Game 7s at home in series in which they also dropped Game 6. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Stanfield’s Brody Woods follows through on a three- run RBI double in the Tigers’ 23-3 win against Catlin Gable on Wednesday in Stanfield. the Rockets moving forward. “We started off slow, didn’t seem to have the inten- sity we needed,” Fitzpatrick said Wednesday, “But we did what we needed to do ... now hopefully we can do it better on Friday.” First pitch is set for 2 p.m. BASEBALL No. 9 TAFT AT No. 1 STANFIELD — The defending 3A state champion Stanfield Tigers started their title defense about as well as they could have hoped with a 23-3 win over Catlin Gabel. Next up in the Tigers road is the No. 9 seed Taft Tigers, who pummeled No. 8 Rainier 8-1 in the first round on Wednesday. Taft (16-8) comes into today’s contest with Stanfield riding an emotional high, as Wednes- day’s win advanced Taft out of the first round for the first time in 49 years. But don’t expect Stanfield to overlook Taft. “Uusually we try to think that each team we play in the playoffs is the best team in the state,” Stanfield junior Brody Woods said after Wednesday’s first round win. “That way we come out ready for each and every game.” With Dylan Grogan and Tony Flores both pitching for Stanfield in the first round, expect a combination of Woods, Klay Jenson or Ryan Bailey to toe the rubber today. Though Grogan and Flores both could pitch again, if needed, after both limited their pitch counts enough on Wednesday that they are available. Those pitchers will have their hands full against a talented lineup, though as Taft averages roughly eight runs per game and hit the double figure mark 10 times. Taft’s defense gives up an average of just 4.4 runs per game, while Stanfield aver- ages more than 13 runs per game. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Madigan Field. ATHENA — Weston- McEwen senior Hayden Scott helped the TigerScots boys track and field team win the 2A state champion- ship while winning gold in the 800 meters with a time of 2 minutes, 0.63 seconds, and bronze in the 1,500 with a time of 4:04.34. He also ran a leg for the 4x400 relay team that finished second to clinch the team title. He is the East Oregonian Athlete of the Week for the week of May 14-20. EO: What is the first sport you ever played and how old were you? HS: I think the first sport I ever played was probably hockey or track, pretty sure track. My first race was in second grade. What is your favorite event to run? The mile or the 1,500 (meters), that’s my wheelhouse. What’s your go-to snack before or during a meet? Honey Stinger waffles What is your favorite memory as a TigerScot? I have so many good memories with my team this year. I’ve never been closer with a team than I have now. When I handed the baton off to Jacob Speed in the 4x4 relay at state, because I knew we would win state in that moment. You’ve had a lot of big moments on the track throughout the years, what’s your favorite memory as an athlete? Running 16:05 last year at districts in cross country, it was pretty much and all out sprint the last 500 meters, and meeting Mo Farah during a warm-up run at BorderClash last year. Who has had the largest impact on you as an athlete? Probably my dad. He was there from the very beginning. He taught me how to work hard. Who are your favorite athletes to watch? First and foremost anyone who’s on my team. Those are my No. 1 guys. As far as famous athletes: Galen Rupp, Mo Farah, Nick Symmonds Matt Centrowitz. What is something you would tell a young athlete hoping to become a champion runner? When your training becomes easy, when you’re not pushing your physical limits, that’s when you stop improving. What is the last book you read? “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho What’s your favorite movie? “Peaceful Warrior” (2006) If you were stranded on an island with all of your necessities already met, what are three items you would want to bring? A speaker with some Travis Scott, all my friends, and some running shoes. If you could visit any time period, which would you choose? Probably the 1970’s. You have your pilots license, what’s the farthest flight you’ve ever piloted? From Pasco to Wenatchee. What is your favorite thing about growing up in Weston? Probably just the fact that every single day you wake up to really nice neighbors and nothing crazy is going on. What is your favorite school subject? Math Who is the best teacher you’ve ever had? Elizabeth McIntyre (11/12th grade English) What are your plans for after high school? In a couple weeks I’m heading off the West Point. Basic training begins July 3rd. Where is your favorite place in the Northwest? It’s gotta be a tie between the rock climbing wall at Whitman College and Multnomah Falls. What is your favorite food? Probably just bananas, honey and peanut butter. Do you have any pets? A cat, a chihuahua and two wiener dogs. ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Hayden Scott Weston/McEwen - Senior Track and Field Scott fi nished off his successful career with a gold medal in the 800 meter run at the OSAA 2A State Championships on May 19 in Eugene and helped his Weston- McEwen boys team win the team state championship. Its the second straight year Scott won the gold medal in the 800. Proudly Sponsored By: Mid Columbia Producers, Inc. 34O N. 1st Place, Hermiston, OR 97838 O41-289-O01O • www.mcpcoop.com
