B2
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Thursday, May 30, 2019
2021 MLB All-Star Game to be played in Atlanta
By CHARLES ODUM
Associated Press
ATLANTA — Major
League Baseball’s 2021 All-
Star Game will be played at
Atlanta in what could be the
first national showcase for
SunTrust Park since the sta-
dium opened in 2017.
Baseball Commissioner
Rob Manfred made the
announcement before the
Braves played the Washing-
ton Nationals on Wednesday
night.
“The
facility
here,
including SunTrust stadium
and the Battery, is the best
in baseball,” Manfred said.
The Braves are the land-
lord for restaurants, bars,
a concert venue, a hotel,
apartments and office build-
ings in the Battery mixed-
use development.
Manfred was joined by
some of the Braves’ most
prominent former players, a
group that included Hall of
Famers Hank Aaron, Chip-
per Jones, Phil Niekro, Tom
Glavine and John Smoltz.
Also
attending
the
AP Photo/John Bazemore
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Wednesday that Atlanta will host the 2021
All-Star Game.
announcement were Geor-
gia Gov. Brian Kemp and
Atlanta Mayor
Lance Bottoms.
Keisha
Oregon parts ways with
baseball coach George Horton
EUGENE (AP) — Ore-
gon and longtime base-
ball coach George Horton
have mutually agreed to
part after 11 seasons at the
school.
The school announced
the sides agreed not to
exercise a one-year con-
tract option for the 2020
season.
Horton says it was “not
an easy decision but I
believe it to be the best at
this point of my career.”
Horton, 65, arrived in
Eugene in 2007 and was
charged with restarting
the Ducks’ baseball pro-
gram two years later after
more than two decades
when the program was
dormant. He went 373-
278-1 in his 11 seasons in
charge, leading the Ducks
to five NCAA regionals
and one super regional
appearance.
But Oregon strug-
gled in recent years. Ore-
gon finished no higher
than eighth in the Pac-12
standings in the past four
seasons and had a losing
record in conference play
in each year.
Horton arrived at Ore-
gon after serving as the
head coach at Cal State
Fullerton, where he led the
Titans to a national title in
2004.
The All-Star Game will
join a recent string of major
sports events in Atlanta,
including the MLS Cup,
college football champion-
ship and this year’s Super
Bowl. The 2020 Final Four
also will be in Atlanta.
“The Super Bowl got
raves,” Braves manager
Brian Snitker said. “I think
this will. I mean, it’s just an
unbelievable venue to have
the game’s best out here
playing.”
This will be the third
All-Star Game in Atlanta.
The 1972 game was played
at a ballpark best known as
Atlanta-Fulton County Sta-
dium. The 2000 game was
at Turner Field, the former
1996 Olympic Stadium that
was the Braves’ home from
1997-2016.
“It’s about time that we’re
back,” Manfred said.
Jones recalled his pride
in playing in the 2000 game.
“In 2000 I was one of
the chosen lucky few to be
able to run out on my home
baseball field and to be able
to represent my team and
my league in the All-Star
Game,” Jones said
The Braves’ move to the
suburban SunTrust Park in
Cobb County drew criti-
cism from some fans accus-
tomed to the team’s down-
town location since 1966.
Braves chairman Terry
McGuirk noted All-Star
week events will include
such downtown sites as
Centennial Park.
“I think I’m most proud
how this event will show
how unified the city of
Atlanta is,” McGuirk said.
The National League will
be host six times in seven
years. This year’s All-Star
Game is July 9 at Cleve-
land’s Progressive Field
and next year’s game is at
Dodger Stadium in Los
Angeles.
The Braves made an
unsuccessful bid for the
2020 game. At the time, the
Braves also expressed their
interest in 2021.
On April 16, Philadel-
phia was announced as the
site of the 2026 game to
mark the 250th anniver-
sary of the Declaration of
Independence.
Leal: Midfielder led Hermiston
Continued from Page B1
play my game and do the
best I can.”
With his small size, Leal
said he would get pushed
around and was an easy tar-
get at times, but he learned
to use his strengths.
“This
year,
people
noticed I was fast,” he said.
“I didn’t realize I was that
explosive. I wish I was taller
to win more headers, I really
had to jump for some of
those.”
When Walla Walla plays
Blue Mountain in NWAC
East action, Leal could face
Hermiston teammate Juan
Carlos Navarrete in the
Timberwolves’ goal.
“He was my protector
back there,” Leal said. “He’s
already throwing a little
shade. We will let the score
talk.”
Staff photo by Annie Fowler
Hermiston midfielder Emilio Leal signed a letter of intent on
Wednesday to play soccer for Walla Walla Community Col-
lege.
Leal, who will be the first
in his family to go to col-
lege, plans to major in agri-
culture/business. He plans
to put that knowledge to use
as a rancher.
He already owns 16 head
of cattle. He breeds them,
sells them, and eats them.
“I like steak,” he said.
Buckaroos fill out IMC
all-league softball teams
By BRETT KANE
East Oregonian
AP Photo/Erika Schultz
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs a drill during an NFL football
practice on Wednesday in Renton, Wash.
After uncertainty, K.J. Wright
happy to still be in Seattle
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
RENTON, Wash. —
At this time a year ago,
K.J. Wright was entering a
contract year with no cer-
tainty he would stay with
the only team he’d ever
played for.
Then he got hurt during
preseason. And needed
surgery. And had a set-
back, and got to the point
of resigning himself to the
idea his career with the
Seattle Seahawks was over
once last season ended.
“As soon as I knew I
had to have surgery I was
like, ‘Dang, this is not very
good.’ Contract year, sur-
gery, five games, all those
signs say, ‘Thank you for
your services but we’ve
got to move on,’” Wright
said.
But Wright is still in
Seattle. He’s healthy and
taking part in offseason
workouts and the happy
recipient of a two-year
contract that likely means
Wright will play his entire
career with one team.
For the longest-ten-
ured Seahawks player cur-
rently on the roster, and
one of the few remaining
holdovers from its Super
Bowl-winning team, it’s a
meaningful opportunity.
“I didn’t see it hap-
pening. I thought I was
going to be in a different
color jersey. But they love
me here,” Wright said on
Wednesday.
“I’m glad they love
me and they know what I
bring to the table. I’m still
a hell of a linebacker and
can make plays all over
the field. You all saw the
last few games and found
a way to make me happy.
Everything is good.”
Wright’s future was
uncertain after playing in
just five games last sea-
son due to a knee injury.
Before the injury trou-
bles of 2018, Wright was
incredibly durable for
Seattle having started 63
of the previous 64 regu-
lar-season games. Wright,
who will turn 30 years old
this summer, was selected
to the Pro Bowl in 2016
when he had 124 tackles
and four sacks.
Wright said at the end
of last season he intended
to test the free agent mar-
ket to see where his value
stood. But he also had
indicated a desire to play
his entire career in one
place and continue to team
with middle linebacker
Bobby Wagner.
“What I went through
last year really put things
in perspective for me, to
approach every game,
every practice with grat-
itude because you just
never know when some-
thing may happen and it
could be your last play,”
Wright said. “I’m really
thankful..”
Wright is also provid-
ing advice for Wagner as
he goes through his own
contract situation. Wagner
has been present for Seat-
tle’s entire offseason pro-
gram, but is not participat-
ing because he is entering
the final season of his con-
tract, a move his longtime
teammate supports.
Wright said he believes
attending the offseason
program and participating
in training camp last year
entering a contract year —
rather than holding out —
helped when it came time
for Seattle to offer him a
new deal.
“I think it played a lot
into it,” he said. “You have
a guy who stayed true to
himself, was there for the
team. At the end of the
day it doesn’t really mat-
ter. It helps you.”
Nine Buckaroos received
top Intermountain Confer-
ence honors on Wednesday.
Senior Kila Solomon was
one of two catchers named
to the IMC all-league first
team, along with Hood
River Valley junior Mak-
enzie Chambers.
Senior Aspen Gar-
ton and junior Carissa
Cooley made the first team
as infielders, and junior
Maria Lillienthal received
first-team honors as an
outfielder.
Freshman pitcher Sauren
Garton and senior Kirah
McGlothan were named to
the second team, and soph-
omore pitcher Kylie Par-
sons, junior infielder Sami
Spriet, and senior outfielder
Elli Nirschl were honorable
mentions.
Chambers was awarded
the IMC Player of the Year
title, and Pitcher of the
Year went to Ridgeview
junior Alicitie Frost. The
Ravens were also awarded
the Coaching Staff of the
Year honor, led by Sandy
Fischer.
The Bucks were the No.
3 seed in the IMC, going
9-6 in conference action.
They missed out on
a chance to defend last
year’s 5A state title, fall-
ing to West Albany in the
quarterfinals.
They finished the 2018-
19 season with a 17-10
overall record.
SCOREBOARD
NBA PLAYOFF GLANCE
FINALS
(Best-of-7; x-if necessary)
Golden State vs. Toronto
Thursday, May 30: Golden State at
Toronto, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2: Golden State at Toronto,
5 p.m.
Wednesday, June 5: Toronto at Golden
State, 6 p.m.
Friday, June 7: Toronto at Golden State,
6 p.m.
x-Monday, June 10: Golden State at
Toronto, 6 p.m.
x-Thursday, June 13: Toronto at Golden
State, 6 p.m.
x-Sunday, June 16: Golden State at
Toronto, 5 p.m.
NHL PLAYOFF GLANCE
STANLEY CUP FINALS
(Best-of-7; x-if necessary)
Boston 1, St. Louis 1
Monday, May 27: Boston 4, St. Louis 2
Wednesday, May 29: St. Louis 3, Bos-
ton 2, OT
Saturday, June 1: Boston at St. Louis,
5 p.m.
Monday, June 3: Boston at St. Louis,
5 p.m.
Thursday, June 6: St. Louis at Boston,
5 p.m.
x-Sunday, June 9: Boston at St. Louis,
5 p.m.
x-Wednesday, June 12: St. Louis at Bos-
ton, 5 p.m.
MLB
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East
Philadelphia
Atlanta
New York
Washington
W
32
30
27
24
L
22
26
27
32
Pct
.593
.536
.500
.429
GB
—
3
5
9
Miami
19 34 .358 12½
Central
W
L
Pct
GB
Chicago
31 23 .574
—
Milwaukee
31 25 .554
1
Pittsburgh
27 27 .500
4
St. Louis
26 27 .491
4½
Cincinnati
26 30 .464
6
West
W
L
Pct
GB
Los Angeles
36 19 .655
—
San Diego
29 27
.518
7½
Arizona
28 27 .509
8
Colorado
26 27 .491
9
San Francisco 21 33 .389 14½
———
Wednesday’s Games
Pittsburgh 7, Cincinnati 2
N.Y. Yankees 7, San Diego 0
Miami 4, San Francisco 2
Washington 14, Atlanta 4
Chicago Cubs 2, Houston 1
Thursday’s Games
St. Louis (Hudson 3-3) at Philadelphia
(Eickhoff 2-2), 10:05 a.m.
San Francisco (Beede 0-1) at Miami (Alca-
ntara 2-5), 10:10 a.m.
Arizona (Clarke 1-1) at Colorado (Free-
land 2-6), 12:10 p.m.
Milwaukee (Anderson 2-0) at Pittsburgh
(Musgrove 3-5), 4:05 p.m.
N.Y. Mets (Vargas 1-2) at L.A. Dodgers
(Ryu 7-1), 7:10 p.m.
Friday’s Games
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, 4:05 p.m.
San Francisco at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m.
Washington at Cincinnati, 4:10 p.m.
Detroit at Atlanta, 4:20 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 5:15 p.m.
Toronto at Colorado, 5:40 p.m.
N.Y. Mets at Arizona, 6:40 p.m.
Miami at San Diego, 7:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at L.A. Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East
New York
W
36
L
19
Pct
.655
GB
—
Tampa Bay
33
19
.635
1½
Boston
29
27
.518
7½
Toronto
21
34
.382
15
Baltimore
17
39
.304
19½
Central
W
L
Pct
GB
Minnesota
37
17
.685
—
Cleveland
28
27
.509
9½
Chicago
25
29
.463
12
Detroit
21
32
.396
15½
Kansas City
18
36
.333
19
West
W
L
Pct
GB
Houston
37
20
.649
—
Oakland
29
27
.518
7½
Texas
27
26
.509
8
Los Angeles
26
29
.473
10
Seattle
24
34
.414
13½
———
Wednesday’s Games
N.Y. Yankees 7, San Diego 0
L.A. Angels 12, Oakland 7, 11 innings
Texas 8, Seattle 7
Cleveland 14, Boston 9
Detroit 4, Baltimore 2
Chicago Cubs 2, Houston 1
Thursday’s Games
Boston (Sale 1-6) at N.Y. Yankees (Happ
4-3), 4:05 p.m.
Minnesota (Perez 7-1) at Tampa Bay
(Morton 5-0), 4:10 p.m.
Kansas City (Junis 3-5) at Texas (Minor
5-3), 5:05 p.m.
Cleveland (Carrasco 4-5) at Chicago
White Sox (Banuelos 2-4), 5:10 p.m.
L.A. Angels (Skaggs 4-4) at Seattle (Kiku-
chi 3-2), 7:10 p.m.
Friday’s Games
Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 4:05 p.m.
San Francisco at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m.
Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 4:10 p.m.
Detroit at Atlanta, 4:20 p.m.
Kansas City at Texas, 5:05 p.m.
Cleveland at White Sox, 5:10 p.m.
Toronto at Colorado, 5:40 p.m.
Houston at Oakland, 7:07 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Seattle, 7:10 p.m.