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Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Pro Baseball BRIEFLY MLB aggressively looking at pace-of-play fixes League asks to start All- Star 11th inning with runner on 2nd base By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK — A runner would be put on second base at the start of the 11th inning of the All-Star Game and each additional inning, according to the latest pace-of-game proposal by Major League Baseball. The experiment also would be used in the 10th inning of spring training games, according to the Jan. 9 proposal obtained by The Associated Press. Spring training games would be capped at 10 innings. Concerned about injuries in games that don’t count, the players’ association isn’t expected to oppose the concept. MLB isn’t considering using the rule in any games that count. Baseball experimented with the rule last year at the rookie level Gulf Coast and Arizona leagues, putting a runner on second base starting in the 10th. Extra-inning games in those two leagues averaged 27 minutes longer than nine-inning games, down from 43 minutes for all other minor leagues. Unable thus far to negotiate a deal with players for a pitch clock or limits on mound visits, baseball owners discuss their next step this week during meetings that end Thursday in Beverly Hills, Cali- fornia. Commissioner Rob Manfred met Jan. 23 with union head Tony Clark. Manfred has long vowed to make changes for this season with or without an agreement but says his preference is for a deal and is willing to negotiate the rules. MLB has the right to implement the proposal it made last offseason, which includes a 30-second clock between batters and a 20-second clock between pitches that would reset when a pitcher steps off the AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File In this March 8, 2015, file photo, Seattle’s J.A. Happ throws a pitch between innings as pitch clock counts down in the background during a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds in Good- year, Ariz. MLB owners and executives meet this week in Beverley Hills, Calif.,, and will discuss whether to push ahead with pitch clocks and limits on mound visits despite opposition from players. rubber and when he makes or feints a pickoff throw, according to details obtained by the AP. There also would be a limit of one mound trip per pitcher each inning, whether by a manager, coach or player, and a second visit would result in a pitching change. Violations would be punished by ball-strike penalties. Nine-inning games averaged a record 3 hours, 5 minutes during the 2017 regular season and 3:29 during the postseason. Players have resisted a pitch clock while appearing slightly more amenable to limits on mound visits. Los Angeles Angels owner Arne Moreno is among those who doesn’t think radical changes are needed. “We just watched a World Series game that lasted over five hours and my wife hung with me the whole night,” he said last week at the Hall of Fame news conference. “I would probably say I’m a traditionalist and let them play.” Under the latest MLB proposal, there would be a pitch timer this year only when no runners are on base and it would be set to 18 seconds. A 20-second timer with runners on base would be added for 2019. The clock would not be used for the pitch following a foul ball or an umpire calling time, and there would be no penalties this year during spring training or April. Starting in May, each player would receive a warning for a violation and penalties would not start until a team’s third violation in a game. A player, manager or coach leaving the bench to argue a violation call would be automatically ejected. There would be a 35-second timer between at-bats, and while there would not ball-strike penalties for violations this year, frequent violators would be subject to disci- pline for “just cause.” The MLB proposal says management would agree to the union’s Jan. 5 counter- proposal that ball-strike penalties start May 1, 2019, if the average time between plays in 2018 is 46 seconds or more or the average time of a nine-inning game through Aug. 31 this year is three hours or more. Management also would agree to the union’s proposal there be Mac-Hi Baseball holding Comedy Night Fundraiser a between-inning and pitching change timer of 2:05 for most games, 2:25 for national television games and 2:55 for tiebreaker and postgame games. There would be no ball-strike penalties this year. If an inning ends when a pitcher is on base, at the plate of on deck, the clock would start when the pitcher leaves the dugout for the mound. If an inning ends with the catch on base, at the plate or on deck, the clock would start when he enters the dugout. Both sides would agree that there be no ball-strike penalties for inning-break violations until May 1, 2019. Management’s trigger for violations would be that inning breaks for locally broadcast games this year average 2:25 of more or the average time of a nine-inning game through Aug. 31 this year is three hours or more. The timer would be set at 2:25 for locally broadcast games, 2:45 for national TV games and 3:15 for tiebreaker and postseason games. In the first season of a between-innings time, a team would receive three warn- ings before a ball-strike penalty is imposed. Mound visits without a pitching change would be limited to six per team over the first nine innings with one additional trip each extra inning. The amount for the first nine innings would drop to five in any season after the average time of nine-inning games through Aug. 31 is three hours or more. Additional mound trips would be allowed after pitcher-catcher cross-ups on pitch signals. Teams also agreed at the union’s option they either would make a $100,000 contribution to the union’s Players Trust charity for each minute the average game time in a season through Aug. 31 drops below three hours or make a $500,000 total gift to the players on the teams with the two quickest game time averages and the two teams with the greatest improvement. Players on a team would have the option to donate their share to charity. MILTON-FREEWATER — The Mac-Hi baseball team is putting the fun back in fundraising. On Friday evening, the team is holding a Comedy Night fundraiser presented by Blue Mountain Tire Pros. with stand-up comedian Kermit Apio as the headliner. According to a press release, Apio has been featured on the radio show The Bob and Tom Show and has appeared on television on NBC, A&E and PBS. He has also performed on college campuses across the country, and recently performed at The Gesa Powerhouse Theatre in Walla Walla on New Year’s Eve. The show will take place at Jack Williams Auditorium at McLoughlin High School on Friday night at 7 p.m. The majority of the seating is first-come, first-serve and the school is expecting a sellout. Tickets are $12 in advance, which can be purchased at the school, and $15 at the door. For more information contact Mark Michaud at Mark.Michaud@ miltfree.k12.or.us or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ MacHiBaseball. Five Oregonians to compete in Pyeongchang Olympics Chiefs trade QB Alex Smith to Washington for pick, player Associated Press Smith WASHINGTON — Kansas City has agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to Washington, a move that spells the end of Kirk Cousins’ time with the Redskins and hands the Chiefs’ job to Patrick Mahomes. Two people with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed the move to The Associated Press on Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the transaction can’t be completed until the start of the new league year in March. One person told the AP the Redskins had agreed to a four-year extension with Smith, who had one year left on his contract. Smith, who turns 34 in May, spent the past five seasons with the Chiefs, leading them to the playoffs four times while throwing for 102 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. He carries a $17 million salary-cap hit for 2018. Kansas City saves cap space and can turn to Mahomes, the 10th pick in last year’s draft out of Texas Tech, as its new starter. Smith becomes Washing- ton’s new franchise quarter- back after throwing for 31,888 yards and 183 touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Chiefs. BLING: Seniors had input, but coaches scaled back final design Continued from 1B feeling than before.” The ring displays a rectangular face with the words ‘State cham- pions’ emblazoned in silver split among the top and bottom edge, with shiny stones lining the left and right edges. In the middle is the Hermiston ‘H’ logo in purple and gold with the Bulldog head in the middle. Gutierrez, an all-state defensive back this past season, said that a group of seniors had a little bit of input into the design, though they soon realized the ring they envisioned was a bit too flashy and would be too expensive. The final design was scaled back, but still got the approval of the players. “(Coach David) Faaeteete kind of made it look nicer, I think,” Gutierrez said. The team also had custom-made t-shirts for the presentation, with Staff photo by E.J. Harris Hermiston senior Beau Blake poses for a photo with his family during a football state championship ring presentation on Tuesday. all players and coaches wearing black shirts with the words ‘Ring ‘em up’’ in purple and white lettering with a picture of the ring in centered between the words. After receiving the rings from MILTON-FREEWATER — More than 240 athletes will be representing the United States at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics beginning next week, with a few Oregonians as a part of that group. Five Oregonians in total will be making the trip, three males and two females. Ben Ferguson, of Bend, will be competing in the snowboard halfpipe; Tommy Ford, of Bend, will be competing in alpine skiing events; Sam Michener, of Gresham, will compete in four-man bobsled; and Bend’s Laurenne Ross and Portland’s Jacqueline Wiles will be competing in alpine skiing. Colorado has the largest contingent competing with 31 athletes, while California has 22, Minnesota 19, New York 18, and Utah 16. Texas Governor orders criminal probe of gymnastics ranch AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a criminal investigation into claims that former doctor Larry Nassar abused some of his victims at a Texas ranch that was the training ground for U.S. women’s gymnastics. Body: Abbott ordered the Texas Rangers, the state’s top criminal investigations unit, to look into the Karolyi Ranch. It hosted training camps for more than a decade until earlier this year. The Walker County Sheriff’s Office is already investigating. Several gymnasts have said Nassar abused them at the ranch. Abbott called the allegations “gut-wrenching.” He ordered the state investigation because the claims involve multiple jurisdictions and states. their families on the basketball court in front of a packed crowd at the Dawg House, wide smiles instantly lit up each players’ face before heading back up to their seat in the bleachers to show it off to their friends and family. “It feels so amazing to have it,” senior and all-state lineman Beau Blake said. “All of our hard work paid off and now we get to look at this ring and remember all of the good times from this year.” And receiving the champion- ship rings in front of their rival Buckaroo students and fans made the night even that much better. “Get to rub it in their face a little bit,” Blake joked. “Not too much, but just enough to make them mad.” ———— Contact Eric at esinger@ eastoregonian.com or 541-966- 0839. Follow him on Twitter @ ByEricSinger. SCOREBOARD Local slate PREP BOYS BASKETBALL Friday Stanfield at Culver, 6 p.m. Hood River at Pendleton, 7 p.m. Hermiston at The Dalles, 7 p.m. Condon/Wheeler at Sherman, 7 p.m. Irrigon at Burns, 7:30 p.m. Umatilla at Nyssa, 7:30 p.m. Riverside at Vale, 7:30 p.m. Heppner at Weston-McEwen, 7:30 p.m. Ione at Horizon Christian, 7:30 p.m. Dufur at Arlington, 7:30 p.m. Helix at Powder Valley, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Culver at Heppner, 4 p.m. Umatilla at Vale, 4:30 p.m. Powder Valley at Echo, 5 p.m. South Wasco at Ione, 5:30 p.m. Condon/Wheeler at Dufur, 5:30 p.m. Helix at Nixyaawii, 5:30 p.m. Irrigon at Nyssa, 6:30 p.m. Riverside at Burns, 6:30 p.m. Weston-McEwen at Pilot Rock, 7 p.m. La Grande at Mac-Hi, 7 p.m. Arlington at Sherman, 7 p.m. PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL Friday Stanfield at Culver, 4:30 p.m. Irrigon at Burns, 6 p.m. Umatilla at Nyssa, 6 p.m. Riverside at Vale, 6 p.m. Heppner at Weston-McEwen, 6 p.m. Ione at Horizon Christian, 6 p.m. Dufur at Arlington, 6 p.m. Sherman at Condon/Wheeler, 7 p.m. Helix at Powder Valley, 6 p.m. The Dalles at Hermiston, 7 p.m. Pendleton at Hood River, 7 p.m. Saturday La Grande at Mac-Hi, 3 p.m. Umatilla at Vale, 3 p.m. Culver at Heppner, 4 p.m. Weston-McEwen at Pilot Rock, 4 p.m. South Wasco at Ione, 4 p.m. Condon/Wheeler at Dufur, 4 p.m. Helix at Nixyaawii, 4 p.m. Irrigon at Nyssa, 5 p.m. Riverside at Burns, 5 p.m. Powder Valley at Echo, 5:30 p.m. Arlington at Sherman, 7 p.m. PREP WRESTLING Wednesday Hermiston at Pendleton, 7 p.m. La Grande at Mac-Hi Saturday Riverside, Irrigon, Echo at District Tourna- ment (Boardman), 10 a.m. Heppner at District Tournament (Joseph), 10 a.m. MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Wednesday Treasure Valley at BMCC, 8 p.m. Friday Northwest at EOU, 7:30 p.m. Saturday BMCC at Big Bend, 4 p.m. Evergreen at EOU, 7:30 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Wednesday Treasure Valley at BMCC, 6 p.m. Friday Northwest at EOU, 5:30 p.m. Saturday BMCC at Big Bend, 2 p.m. Northwest at EOU, 5:30 p.m. COLLEGE WRESTLING Saturday EOU (women) at Southern Oregon, 6 p.m. EOU (men) at Southern Oregon, 7 p.m. Prep Scores BOYS BASKETBALL Condon/Wheeler 69, Arlington 60 Ione 51, Mitchell/Spray 26 Jefferson 42, Scio 37, OT Knappa 80, City Christian 56 Lake Oswego 65, Newberg 53 Nixyaawii 86, Echo 47 North Douglas 46, Glendale 40 Pendleton 51, Hermiston 44 Perrydale 72, Jewell 32 The Dalles 72, Hood River 66 Tigard 65, West Linn 63 Toledo 73, Bandon 60, OT Tri-Valley, Idaho 69, Adrian 41 Trinity Lutheran 42, Central Christian 29 Tualatin 63, Lakeridge 62 Umpqua Valley Christian 64, New Hope Christian 38 Valley Catholic 75, Tillamook 48 Valor Christian 46, N. Clackamas Christian 38 Waldport 60, Reedsport 45 GIRLS BASKETBALL Bend 55, Summit 53 Condon/Wheeler 41, Arlington 24 Coquille 34, Harrisburg 20 Ione 47, Mitchell/Spray 18 Jefferson 39, Scio 23 Lake Oswego 54, Newberg 52 Nyssa 46, La Grande 39 Oakland 62, Oakridge 37 Oregon City 86, Centennial 23 Pacific 44, Yoncalla 31 Pendleton 49, Hermiston 44 Ridgeview 53, Mountain View 49 Rogue Valley Adventist 37, Chiloquin 29 Salem Academy 68, Chemawa 13 Toledo 53, Bandon 15 Touchet, Wash. 50, McLoughlin 27 Triad School 60, Hosanna Christian 59 Basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Boston 36 15 Toronto 34 15 Philadelphia 24 23 New York 23 28 Brooklyn 18 33 Southeast Division W L Miami 29 21 Washington 28 22 Charlotte 20 29 Atlanta 15 35 Orlando 14 35 Central Division W L Cleveland 29 20 Milwaukee 27 22 Indiana 28 23 Detroit 23 26 Pct GB .706 — .694 1 .511 10 .451 13 .353 18 Pct GB .580 — .560 1 .408 8½ .300 14 .286 14½ Pct GB .592 — .551 2 .549 2 .469 6 Chicago 18 32 .360 11½ WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB Houston 36 13 .735 — San Antonio 34 19 .642 4 New Orleans 27 23 .540 9½ Memphis 18 31 .367 18 Dallas 16 35 .314 21 Northwest Division W L Pct GB Minnesota 32 22 .593 — Oklahoma City 30 21 .588 ½ Portland 28 22 .560 2 Denver 26 25 .510 4½ Utah 22 28 .440 8 Pacific Division W L Pct GB Golden State 40 11 .784 — L.A. Clippers 25 25 .500 14½ L.A. Lakers 19 30 .388 20 Phoenix 17 34 .333 23 Sacramento 16 34 .320 23½ ——— Tuesday’s Games Washington 102, Oklahoma City 96 New York 111, Brooklyn 95 Toronto 109, Minnesota 104 Detroit 125, Cleveland 114 Houston 114, Orlando 107 Sacramento 114, New Orleans 103 San Antonio 106, Denver 104 Utah 129, Golden State 99 Portland 104, L.A. Clippers 96 Wednesday’s Games L.A. Lakers at Orlando, 4 p.m. Memphis at Indiana, 4 p.m. Charlotte at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Miami at Cleveland, 4:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m. New York at Boston, 5 p.m. Chicago at Portland, 7 p.m. Dallas at Phoenix, 7:30 p.m. NCAA Men’s Basketball Top 25 Schedule Tuesday No. 22 Rhode Island 85, UMASS 83 Georgia 72, No. 23 Florida 60 No. 17 Ohio State 71, Indiana 56 No. 20 Clemson 82, No. 19 North Carolina 78 No. 6 Xavier 73, St. John’s 68 No. 11 Auburn 79, Mississippi 70 No. 12 Oklahoma 98, Baylor 96 No. 21 Kentucky 83, Vanderbilt 81 Wednesday Penn State at No. 5 Michigan St., 3:30 p.m. LSU at No. 18 Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. Louisville at No. 2 Virginia, 4 p.m. (ESPN2) Houston at No. 8 Cincinnati, 4 p.m. (CBSSN) No. 15 West Virginia at Iowa St., 4 p.m. (ESPNU) Maryland at No. 3 Purdue, 5:30 p.m. Texas at No. 10 Texas Tech, 5:30 p.m. No. 9 Arizona at Washington St., 7 p.m. (PAC12) NCAA Women’s Basketball Top 25 Schedule Tuesday No. 22 TCU 75, Iowa State 52 Wednesday Penn State at No. 18 Ohio State, 4 p.m. No. 23 Oklahoma St. at No. 3 Baylor, 4:30 p.m. No. 8 Texas at Kansas, 5 p.m. Hockey NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Tampa Bay 50 34 13 3 Boston 48 29 11 8 Toronto 51 28 18 5 Florida 48 20 22 6 Detroit 48 19 21 8 Montreal 50 20 24 6 Ottawa 48 15 24 9 Buffalo 50 14 27 9 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Washington 49 29 15 5 Pittsburgh 52 28 21 3 New Jersey 49 25 16 8 Columbus 50 27 19 4 Philadelphia 49 24 17 8 N.Y. Rangers 50 25 20 5 N.Y. Islanders 51 25 21 5 Carolina 50 23 19 8 Pts 71 66 61 46 46 46 39 37 GF GA 176 128 157 119 162 146 136 159 126 146 130 159 125 168 115 166 Pts 63 59 58 58 56 55 55 54 GF GA 150 138 156 155 147 147 133 140 141 141 153 151 173 184 139 155 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Winnipeg 51 30 13 8 68 167 137 Nashville 48 29 12 7 65 146 125 St. Louis 52 31 18 3 65 151 131 Dallas 51 28 19 4 60 155 137 Minnesota 50 27 18 5 59 147 142 Colorado 49 27 18 4 58 160 143 Chicago 50 24 19 7 55 148 137 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vegas 49 33 12 4 70 168 130 San Jose 49 26 16 7 59 145 138 Los Angeles 50 27 18 5 59 142 121 Anaheim 51 25 17 9 59 144 142 Calgary 50 25 17 8 58 139 139 Edmonton 49 22 24 3 47 135 157 Vancouver 50 20 24 6 46 131 162 Arizona 50 12 29 9 33 118 172 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. ——— Tuesday’s Games Minnesota 3, Columbus 2, SO Pittsburgh 5, San Jose 2 Florida 4, N.Y. Islanders 1 Anaheim 3, Boston 1 Carolina 2, Ottawa 1 New Jersey 3, Buffalo 1 Winnipeg 3, Tampa Bay 1 St. Louis 3, Montreal 1 Chicago 2, Nashville 1 Los Angeles 3, Dallas 0 Vegas 4, Calgary 2 Vancouver 4, Colorado 3, OT Wednesday’s Games N.Y. Islanders at Toronto, 4:30 p.m. San Jose at Detroit, 5 p.m. Philadelphia at Washington, 5 p.m. Football NFL PRO BOWL Sunday AFC 24, NFC 23 SUPER BOWL 52 Sunday, Feb. 4 New England vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)