Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2017)
SPORTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS PENDLETON NFL Naughton signs with Gonzaga Pendleton senior to play Division I college baseball in 2018 By ERIC SINGER East Oregonian AP Photo/Rick Scuteri In this Nov. 9, fi le photo, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) lies injured on the turf where he injured his Achilles tendon during the second half of a game in Glendale, Ariz. The Seahawks return to practice Tuesday without Sher- man and facing questions about how the team handled the concussion protocol with quarterback Russell Wilson. Seattle begins Sherman-less life Seahawks return to practice with a lot of question marks By TIM BOOTH Associated Press RENTON, Wash. — Back from a long weekend of needed rest, the Seattle Seahawks began life without Richard Sherman on Tuesday. It was noticeably different for those who have become accustomed to hearing the cornerback’s voice on a daily basis. “Just his energy, his passion, his trash talking is defi nitely going to be missed,” Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “But I’m positive he’s going to fi nd a way to talk trash on the sideline.” For the fi rst time since before he was drafted, the Seahawks started a week of preparations knowing Sherman would not play after he tore the Achilles tendon in his right foot during last Thursday’s win over AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File In this Nov. 9, 2017, fi le photo, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) speaks with head coach Pete Carroll, right, and assistant head coach Tom Cable during a game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. Arizona. For as much as his mouth and some of his antics have drawn attention, Sherman has been an extremely reliable cog in Seattle’s secondary since his fi rst game during the 2011 season. His streak of 109 consecutive starts — playoffs included — will end next Monday when he’s a spectator as his teammates host Atlanta. Seattle’s adjustment to not having Sherman started Tuesday, but will really get going Thursday when prepara- tions for facing the Falcons get started. The team signed Byron Maxwell, who was released by Miami last month after losing his starting job but knows Seattle’s system after starting his career with the Seahawks. Maxwell will provide depth behind Jeremy Lane and Shaquill Griffi n, the expected starters at cornerback with Sherman out. For Lane, it’s another chapter in a strange few weeks that saw him initially traded to Houston as part of the Duane Brown deal. Lane failed his physical with the Texans and was returned to the Seahawks. Lane said he was gone from the Seahawks for barely a day and that returning to the team was not awkward. “It was crazy. A very emotional roller coaster. I had to stay mentally strong for it, but other than that it worked out,” he said. While Lane and Griffi n will get the bulk of the work, picking up Maxwell is a big benefi t at this point of the season. Rather than trying to teach someone Seattle’s defensive system or bring up an inexperienced player from the practice squad, the Seahawks landed a veteran who knows their system and should be able to help sooner than later. See SEAHAWKS/2B PENDLETON — Pendleton senior Daniel Naughton has wanted to play Divi- sion I college baseball for as long as he can remember. He took a huge step toward that goal during the summer, as he earned a schol- arship offer from Gonzaga University and committed to the school in July. On Nov. 8, the Buckaroo pitcher and infi elder made another big step when he offi cially signed his National Letter of Intent with Gonzaga during the NCAA’s early-signing period, which came with excitement and relief. “It was exhilarating,” Naughton said on Tuesday during a signing party at Big John’s Pizza in Pendleton. “Now that I’m here, it’s a big step ahead. I can say I’m offi cially there and can start preparing myself and getting ready for college. It’s exciting.” Naughton is one of eight prep players and two junior college transfers that make up Gonzaga’s 2018 recruiting class, and is one of fi ve right-handed pitchers in the See NAUGHTON/2B Photo contributed by Rob Naughton Pendleton senior Daniel Naughton, center, poses with parents Rob and Beth prior to signing his National Let- ter of Intent on Nov. 8 to play collegiate baseball at Gonzaga University. Prep Football Umatilla’s Durfey headlines all-EOL teams Viking voted EOL Defensive Player of the Year East Oregonian Staff photo by Kathy Aney In this 2016 fi le photo, Umatilla’s Trent Durfey (34) evades Vale’s Seth Clark during a game in Umatilla. Durfey was named the EOL’s Defensive Player of the Year on Monday. Umatilla’s Trent Durfey burst onto the prep football scene as a sophomore one season ago, leading the Vikings’ rushing attack on offense and quarterbacking the defense at linebacker. This season, Durfey did not have as much of an impact on the offense but he stepped up his game on the defensive side for his Vikings team that struggled through the league schedule. The other fi ve coaches in the Eastern Oregon League obviously saw the strides Durfey made and were impressed by his play, as he was voted as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and a fi rst team pick at linebacker as a part of the all-EOL teams released on Monday. Joining Durfey at the top of the selections were Nyssa quarterback Boston Thompson as Offensive Player of the Year and Vale’s Carson Brown at Lineman of the Year. Durfey was one of only three Vikings to earn all-league selections, with senior Kaden Webb earning a second team defensive back pick and Tristan Cole a honorable mention pick at offensive line. The Irrigon Knights did not have a fi rst team pick, but had four players on second team and four on honorable mention. On second team was running back Josue Aguilera, offensive lineman Alex Walls, linebacker Keith Fleming and defensive back Daniel Vera. And on the honorable mention list was running back Lino Covar- rubia, receiver Adrian Roa, offensive lineman Tanner Mills and defensive lineman Anthony Rimierez. Riverside had 10 all-league selections, with receiver Felix Aparicio and lienbacker Riley Gorham earning second team selec- tions, while quarterback Mason Hegar, running back/ defensive back Aramis Corpus, receiver Hunter Padberg, receiver Riley Gorham, defensive back JR Roque, linebacker Austin See ALL-EOL/2B Sports shorts Twins’ Molitor, Diamondbacks’ Lovullo win Managers of the Year (AP) — Paul Molitor has won the American League Manager of the Year award after his Minnesota Twins became the fi rst team to make the playoffs following a 100-loss season. Molitor won the honor Tuesday in voting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks won the NL award. In his fi rst full season as a big league skipper, Arizona reached the Molitor playoffs a year after going 69-93. The Twins went 85-77 this season and earned their fi rst playoff spot since 2010 before losing to the Yankees in the AL wild-card game. Last year, the Twins led the majors with 103 losses. Cleveland’s Terry Francona was second and Houston’s A.J. Hinch fi nished third. Voting was completed before the start of the playoffs. “It sure looks like Boston is the team of the future in the East, with the assets that they still have and their young talent and their coaching, and Kyrie (Irving) is amazing ... Whether their time is now or the future, but they sure look like they want it to be right now.” — Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors head coach stating his admiration for the Boston Celtics prior to the two teams’ match-up on Thursday. Alabama claims No. 1 spot in latest CFB Playoff rankings (AP) — Alabama is the new No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings, with Clemson up to No. 2 and Miami and Oklahoma joining the top four for the fi rst time. Wisconsin was fi fth and Auburn was up to sixth in the rankings released Tuesday. Clemson moved up from fourth and unbeaten Miami jumped from seventh to third, giving the Atlantic Coast Conference two top four teams. Oklahoma moved up one spot. Unbeaten Wisconsin moved up from eighth and is the highest-ranked Big Ten team. Auburn is the highest-ranked team with two losses. Georgia is seventh and Notre Dame is eighth. Ohio State is back in the top 10 after an impressive victory against Michigan State, and Penn State is 10th. Southern California at 11th is the highest ranked Pac-12 team. THIS DATE IN SPORTS 1998 Green Bay’s Brett Favre becomes the second- fastest behind Dan Marino to reach 200 career touchdown passes and 25,000 yards. Favre completes 21 of 33 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-3 rout of the New York Giants. 2011 Mike Krzyzewski becomes Division I’s all-time winningest men’s basketball coach when No. 6 Duke beats Michigan State 74-69 in the State Farm Champions Classic in New York. The Blue Devils give Coach K his 903rd win, breaking the tie with Bob Knight, Krzyze- wski’s former college coach. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com