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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 2017)
SPORTS FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS Wimbledon Williams back in fi nal match American looking for sixth win at All England Club By HOWARD FENDRICH Associated Press LONDON — All these years later, Wimbledon still brings out the best in Venus Williams. With her latest display of gutsy serving and big hitting, Williams beat Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday to reach her ninth title match at the All England Club and fi rst since 2009. At 37, Williams is the oldest Wimbledon fi nalist since Martina Navratilova was the 1994 runner-up at that age. Williams also stopped Konta’s bid to become the fi rst woman from Britain in 40 years to win the country’s Grand Slam tournament. “I couldn’t have asked for more, but I’ll ask for a little more. One more win would be amazing,” Williams said. “It won’t be a given, but I’m going to give it my all.” She will be seeking her sixth Wimbledon champi- onship and eighth Grand Slam singles trophy overall. Her most recent came in 2008, when she defeated her younger sister, Serena, for the title at the All England Club. A year later, she lost the fi nal to Serena. In the time since, Williams revealed that she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, which can sap energy and cause joint pain. As time went on, there were questions about whether she might retire, especially after a half-dozen fi rst-round losses Venus Williams of the United States waves after beat- ing Britain’s Johanna Konta in their Wom- en’s Singles semifi nal match on day nine at the Wimble- don Tennis Champion- ships in Lon- don Thurs- day July 13, 2017. at major tournaments. But she kept on going, and lately has returned to winning. Her resurgence began in earnest at Wimbledon a year ago, when she made it to the semifi nals. Then, at the Australian Open in January, Williams reached the fi nal, where she lost to — yes, you guessed it — her sister. Serena is off the tour for the rest of this year because she is pregnant. “I missed her so much before this match. And I was like, ‘I just wish she was Andrew Couldridge/ Pool Photo via AP See WIMBLEDON/2B PENDLETON PENDLETON Pendleton claims state title Five T-Wolves sign letters of intent Baseball players to continue careers at 4-year schools East Oregonian Contributed photo courtesy of Jeanine Youncs The Pendleton Little League softball all-stars pose with their championship banner after beating SE Portland 8-2 in the title game on Thursday in Portland. Pictured left to right are (BACK ROW) coaches Justin Samp, Kelsy Garton, Randy Jenness, (FRONT ROW) Kylee Sellers, Allison Galloway, Daisy Jenness, Sauren Garton, Jaden Samp, Ellie Samford, Muriel Hoisington, Charlie Mae Franklin, Faith Broadfoot, Brielle Youncs, Nora Yoshioka. Softball all-stars beat SE Portland to punch regionals ticket East Oregonian PORTLAND — The Pendleton all-stars had to play a full six innings for the fi rst time this week at the Oregon Little League Softball State Tournament, but the outcome was the same as before as Pendleton beat SE Portland 8-2 in the championship game on Thursday night. Although they weren’t able to bring an early end for SE Portland, a team they beat 12-2 in the semifi nals on Tuesday, Pendleton gave itself plenty of cushion to work with by scoring three runs in each of the fi rst two innings. Muriel Jones-Hoisington was the fi rst player to reach base by drawing a one-out walk in the top of the fi rst inning, and Jaden Samp moved her into scoring position with a single to right fi eld. Then Ellie Samford opened the scoring with an infi eld single, and after SE Portland picked See LITTLE LEAGUE/2B Five Blue Mountain Commu- nity College baseball players have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their careers at four-year institutions, the school announced Thursday. T a t e Spivey, a third baseman from Kennewick, and pitchers Chase Labbe and Nathan Pena, both from Meridian, Idaho, have all signed to play at the College of Idaho. Spivey led the Timberwolves last season in RBI with 30, and tied for the team lead with three home runs. He also led the team with three triples. Spivey graduated earlier this spring from BMCC with his Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree. He was voted Most Inspirational Player by his teammates. Labbe was the lead-off hitter for both his years as a Timber- wolf, and led the team in walks for two seasons in a row, while also being one of the top defensive catchers in the Northwest Athletic Conference(NWAC). Labbe also See T-WOLVES/2B College Football Healthy again, Luton ramps up starting QB bid with Beavers Mystery illness caused junior to lose 30 pounds By KERRY EGGERS Portland Tribune CORVALLIS — The world turned upside down for Jake Luton not long after he arrived at Oregon State for winter term. Things are right-side up now, and the junior-col- lege transfer is gearing up for the July 25 start of training camp for the Beavers and a run at the starting Luton quarterback job. All during OSU’s “spring practice” — which actually was held in the winter from Feb. 17 to March 18 — Luton was affl icted by a mysterious malady that caused him to lose 30 pounds from his 6-7 frame. Luton has gained the weight back and will enter camp weighing between 235 and 240. “Everything is fi ne now,” the junior from Marysville, Washington, says. “But it was a scary situation.” About two weeks before spring ball began, Luton began feeling ill. “I missed two days of workouts,” he says. “I thought I’d get better. It went away for fi ve or six days and came back. The timing couldn’t have been any worse. “I’d go home and my girlfriend would have to take care of me. I’d be on the bathroom fl oor. My whole body would shake uncon- trollably. It went on for four or fi ve weeks. I don’t know what it was.” Neither did doctors, even after a battery of tests. “They think it was something to do with my esophagus,” Luton says. “At fi rst, I didn’t think it was a big deal. I thought the doctor would take care of it. But it kept going on and on. They thought I might have had food allergies. For a long time, I was on a strict diet. I lost almost 30 pounds. By the end of spring ball I was about 205.” Even in his weakened state, Luton completed 13 of 21 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in the See LUTON/2B Sports shorts Disgraced soccer exec dies at 72 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Blazer, the pioneering American soccer executive who admissions of corruption set off a global scandal that ultimately toppled FIFA President Sepp Blatter, has died. He was 72. Blazer’s death was announced Wednesday by his lawyers, Eric Corngold and Mary Mulligan. At a November 2013 court hearing during which Blazer entered guilty pleas to federal charges, Blazer said he had rectal cancer, diabetes and coronary artery disease. Blazer With huge girth, charm, wit and a pet parrot, Blazer cut a large fi gure as he made deals from an offi ce and apartment in Trump Tower. The No. 2 offi cial in the governing body of soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean region from 1990-2011 and a member of FIFA’s ruling executive council from 1997-2013, Blazer was central to the rise of the sport in the United States. Knicks, Rockets talking, but no Anthony deal imminent “I think we’ve established ourselves as the premier conference in college football.“ — Jimbo Fisher Florida State football coach at ACC media days on Thursday. NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks and Houston Rockets are still trying to work out a deal involving Carmelo Anthony, though it may take some time if it happens. The teams continue to talk about a trade but no deal is imminent, said a person familiar with the situation. The person said Anthony has told the Knicks he would accept a move to the Rockets but the teams are still trying to fi nd a trade that works for both sides. The person spoke to The Associated Press Thursday on condition of anonymity because the talks between the teams remain private. Anthony has a no-trade clause and would have to agree to any deal. He has told the Knicks he would waive it to go to Houston or Cleveland. THIS DATE IN SPORTS 1951 — Citation is the fi rst horse to win $1 million in a career by taking the Hollywood Gold Cup by four lengths in Inglewood, Calif. Citation retires after the race with total earnings of $1,085,760. In 45 starts, Citation ran out of the money only once. 1986 — Jane Geddes beats Sally Little in an 18-hole playoff to take the U.S. Women’s Open cham- pionship. 2013 — At age 19 Jordan Spieth becomes the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in 82 years after a fi ve-hole playoff at the John Deere Classic. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com
