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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2018)
SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 DUCK/BEAVER PREVIEWS 2B 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS MLB HERMISTON Dodgers Mariners 11 1 Dodgers hit five homers, thump Mariners Leader of the pack By ERIC SINGER East Oregonian H ERMISTON — As Herm- iston’s starting quarterback for the past two seasons, Andrew James preferred to lead by example. Even playing the most high-pro- file spot on the offense, James was an underclassmen in a sea of talented seniors with champion- ship rings and all-state pedigrees above him for those seasons, such as Kaden Caldwell, Vaemu Ena and Joey Gutierrez among others. The abundance of leadership often left the quiet-mannered James to By TIM BOOTH Associated Press SEATTLE — Manny Machado hit two of Los Angeles’ five home runs, Walker Buehler allowed one run in six innings, and the Dodgers beat the Seattle Mariners 11-1 to open a key three-game series on Friday night. The Dodgers won consecutive games for just the third time since July 28, using the long ball to knock around Seat- tle starter Wade LeBlanc and for a night take the pressure off their shaky bull- pen. Machado’s first homer led off the fourth inning and was his third since being acquired in a trade with Baltimore. He added a two-run shot in the seventh inning to deep left-center field, where it caromed off the hand of a fan wearing an Orioles jersey with Machado’s name across the back. Machado has 28 homers overall this season. Yasmani Grandal, Max Muncy and Matt Kemp also went deep as Los Ange- les added to its National League-leading home run total. The Dodgers have 169 homers this season. LeBlanc (7-3) allowed seven runs, five earned, and lasted just 4 1/3 innings. A long seventh inning at the plate for Los Angeles spelled an early end for Buehler, who was dominant through the first six. Buehler (6-4) allowed just Ryon Healy’s home run leading off the fourth inning. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out eight and scattered just three hits. Seattle threatened only once when Buehler lost command of his fastball and loaded the bases with one out in the third inning. Buehler got Denard Span to hit a weak grounder and Mitch Haniger was forced out at home plate. Kyle Seager flew out to end the threat. Buehler and two relievers combined to retire 14 straight batters after Healy’s homer until pinch-hitter Gordon Beck- ham’s two-out single in the eighth. lead with his abilities on the field, instead. But as James heads into his senior season for the Bulldogs in 2018, he’ll need to expand his lead- ership to a level he’s not used to. Most of that leadership group from last season’s state championship team graduated in the spring, and the Bulldogs have only a handful of returners with varsity experience. “I hope to be a leader of every- one,” James said after a recent practice. “Even some of the seniors haven’t seen a varsity field yet. So I just have to be a leader and stay positive no matter what, and make sure everyone is having a good time, because that’s what we’re all here for.” Hermiston’s Andrew James is ready to lead the young Dawgs in 2018 James knew that a bigger work- load was coming this fall, and he spent the summer working tire- lessly to prepare himself. Herm- iston coach David Faaeteete said James made Hermiston’s weight room his second home and led workouts with teammates at Ken- nison Field, trying to develop some chemistry with his newest group of running backs, receivers and linemen. “He’s going to be the glue that holds everybody together,” Faae- teete said after a recent practice. “I hate to put that kind of pressure on a kid, but as a quarterback you kind of inherit that pressure. Last year there were a lot of senior characters that could carry the load, and this year pretty much everybody is new, so they’re going to rely on him.” For his career, James has thrown See JAMES/3B Hermiston senior quarterback Andrew James points out direc- tions during a drill at practice on Wednesday in Hermiston. James is back for his third year at quar- terback this fall. Staff photo by Eric Singer See MARINERS/3B PENDLETON Four Timberwolves earn NWAC academic honor East Oregonian PENDLETON — Three baseball players and one softball player from Blue Mountain Community College were recognized by the NWAC this week for work on the field and in the classroom this past spring. Nate Cantonwine, Jerrett Plunkett, Colton Walker and Miah Slater were all selected for the NWAC’s 2018 Spring Academic Excel- lence Award, which recognizes athletes that achieved a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA and earned a minimum of 36 credits that were recommended by their coaches. It’s the second consecutive semester that Slater took home the honor, as the Elgin native also won the NWAC Winter Academic Excel- Slater Walker Plunkett lence Award while playing basketball for the Timberwolves. “Being selected as an NWAC Academic Excellence award winner is a huge honor,” said Brad Baker, BMCC Assistant Athletic Director. “Balancing academics and athletics Cantonwine takes great time management, hard work, and determination to be successful in both areas. Miah, Nate, Jerrett, and Colton did an exceptional job modeling what it takes to be a successful student-athlete at BMCC.” Cantonwine, a Salem native, graduated from BMCC in May and will now pursue a bachelor’s degree in business at Corban University in Salem. He was a NWAC East Region first team selection at catcher this past season and was one of the team’s top hitters. Plunkett, from Spirit Lake, Idaho, spent time as a peer tutor at BMCC and will finish his college career at Dakota State University in South Dakota beginning this fall. Walker, a native of The Dalles, collected nine wins as one of the team’s top starting pitchers in his career, and will finish up col- lege at Bellevue University in Nebraska to pursue a degree in criminal justice. Sports shorts Dallas clinches final WNBA playoff spot ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Elizabeth Cambage had 43 points and 13 rebounds and the Dallas Wings beat the Las Vegas Aces 107-102 on Friday night to clinch the final WNBA playoff spot and end a nine-game losing streak. It ended a turbulent stretch for Dallas, giving interim coach Taj McWilliams-Franklin her first victory. The Wings hadn’t won since July 19, leading to the fir- ing of coach Fred Williams on Sunday. THIS DATE IN SPORTS Kyle Larson takes NASCAR Cup pole at Bristol BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Kyle Larson won his third pole of the season as he eyes his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the year. Larson turned a lap at 127.792 mph Friday in qualifying at Bristol Motor Speedway. Chase Elliott was second at 127.665. Kyle Busch was third on a track that he’s mas- tered throughout his career. Busch will be seeking his eighth Cup victory at Bristol in Saturday night’s race. Saturday night marks the 40th anniversary of Bristol’s traditional late-summer Cup race. The threat of inclement weather has caused the start- ing time for Saturday’s race to move up to 6:45 p.m., an hour earlier than the origi- nally scheduled start. 2000 — Tiger Woods ties the 36-hole scoring record in the PGA Championship with a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over unher- alded Scott Dunlap. 2013 — For the first time in Sol- heim Cup history, the Europeans leaves America with the trophy. Caroline Hedwall becomes the first player in the 23-year history of the event to win all five matches. She finishes with a 1-up victory over Michelle Wie and gives Europe the 14 points it needed to retain the Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com
