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B1
WWU withdraws from CCC basketball, soccer, volleyball schedules
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
WaLLa WaLLa, Wash. —
as part of its CovId-19 safety
plan, Walla Walla university has
announced that it will withdraw
from the Cascade Collegiate Con-
ference (CCC) schedules for men’s
and women’s basketball, women’s
volleyball, and men’s soccer for
the 2020-21 academic year.
the decision follows careful
review by the university’s CovId-
19 response task Force and ath-
letics Department, and significant
consultation with WWu President
John mcvay and CCC Commis-
sioner rob Cashell.
WWu athletes were informed
of the decision last weekend, just
Greg Lehman/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, File
WWU’s Pailina Quintana brings the ball upcourt against the full-court pres-
sure of Whitman’s Shaira Young during the first half of a 2019-20 game.
prior to the conclusion of the uni-
versity’s fall academic quarter.
“our primary concern is for
the safety and well-being of Walla
Walla university students, faculty
and staff,” said mcvay. “I am dis-
appointed that we are unable to
participate in these athletic sea-
sons, as well as so many other
cherished WWu activities and
traditions. this pandemic is chal-
lenging, and we are doing our
best to enable our students to con-
tinue their academic programs in a
safe and supportive environment.
While I am disappointed now, I
know I join countless others in
looking forward to a time when
normal activities can resume.”
the women’s volleyball and
men’s soccer seasons were already
delayed from normal fall competi-
tion, and university officials were
monitoring closely to determine
what might be possible for winter
sports like basketball.
“the CovId-19 pandemic
continues to affect each institu-
tion and community differently,
and we certainly respect the deci-
sion by Walla Walla university to
opt out of CCC men’s and women’s
basketball, volleyball and men’s
soccer for the 2020-2021 season,”
stated CCC Commissioner rob-
ert Cashell. “None of these choices
come easy, but as a conference we
fully support the need for campus
See Withdraws, Page B2
Field signs
with CCS
By ANNIE FOWLER
For the East Oregonian
The Bucks finished 9-6 in the Intermountain
PeNdLetoN — Kyle Field
doesn’t know if he will get to play
another baseball game for Pendle-
ton High School, but after signing
with Community Colleges of Spo-
kane on Nov. 16, he knows his base-
ball career will continue.
“the opportunity to play past
high school — a lot of guys don’t get
to do that,” the right-handed pitcher
said. “It’s really special. they have
a really good program, and they
play really well in the (Northwest
athletic Conference). I’m really
excited.”
Pendleton coach t.J. Hague-
wood said the Sasquatch will not be
disappointed.
“Kyle will work hard and give it
his all,” he said. “they are getting a
quality player.”
at 6 feet, 2 inches tall, Field
has the frame of a pitcher. at 155
pounds, he knows he needs to fill
out to be competitive for CCS.
“Putting on weight is some-
thing I need to do,” he said. “Spo-
kane puts a lot of emphasis on the
weight training program. that was
a really big deciding factor. they
have a lot of different resources for
pitchers. they also have an indoor
mound. they let you do what works
for you.”
Haguewood said he is confident
Field can fill out and be productive
for CCS.
“Kyle has a good frame to build
muscle onto,” Haguewood said. “He
will get stronger as he matures.”
Field grew up playing t-ball and
Little League in montana. His fam-
ily moved to Pendleton halfway
through his fifth-grade year.
“I was lucky,” Field said. “Foot-
ball is a big thing in montana, but
there is no high school baseball.”
the last high school game Field
played for the bucks was the 2019
5a state championship game. Pend-
leton lost to Central 11-4.
“It’s weird not playing for the
high school since the championship
game,” he said. “It makes want-
ing to play this season a little more
important.”
See Parsons, Page B2
See Field, Page B2
Contributed Photo
Kylie Parsons poses for a picture while signing a letter of intent to play softball for Saint Martin’s University on Nov. 15, 2020.
ELEVATING HER GAME
Pendleton pitcher Kylie
Parsons parlays strong
summer softball showings
to college opportunity at
Saint martin’s university
By ANNIE FOWLER
For the East Oregonian
P
eNdLetoN — Kylie Parsons’
pitching numbers her sophomore
year would not be what college
coaches are looking for, but two
summers of elite softball elevated
her game, and her improved numbers caught
the attention of Saint martin’s university.
the right-handed pitcher from Pendle-
ton High School, who verbally committed to
the Saints on Sept. 8, signed a letter of intent
on Nov. 15 to play for the div. II program in
Lacey, Washington.
“I’m excited,” said Parsons, who received
an academic/athletic scholarship. “I visited
the campus in august to make sure I liked it.”
Parsons had a 5-3 record her sophomore
year for the bucks, with a 5.95 era. She also
struck out 43 batters in 55 innings of work.
“We brought her up her sophomore year to
get experience,” Pendleton softball coach tim
Cary said. “She has progressed a lot since
that time and has developed into a very good
pitcher.”
Parson has played three summers with the
tri-Cities-based Washington angels, honing
her skills.
“I’ve been able to play in the summer and
some fall ball,” Parsons said. “We played a lot
in Idaho because they were open. I pitched a
lot this fall. We went to arizona for a tourna-
ment a couple of weeks ago.”
Parsons also played in a tournament for
Power Fastpitch of California.
“I met (Power’s) damion Wynne and he
was very helpful through the whole recruiting
thing and made sure I could find a school that
fit me,” Parsons said.
one quality that put Parsons on the college
radar was her height. She stands 6 feet tall.
“being tall gives me a lot more velocity on
the ball,” she said.
Cary said Parsons has the tools to have a
good college career.
“Kylie has the right build, and that puts her
in a position to throw hard and be imposing,”
he said.
A season lost
SPORTS SHORT
In this Dec. 19, 2018, file photo,
Washington Wizards guard John
Wall walks off the court during a
timeout during the second half of
an NBA basketball game against the
Houston Rockets in Houston.
Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press, File
NBA releases shorter preseason schedule; games start Dec. 11
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
NeW yorK — the Nba
released a condensed 49-game pre-
season schedule on Friday, Nov. 27,
with teams playing between two
and four games starting on dec. 11.
Preseason contests will continue
through dec. 19. teams begin train-
ing camps next week.
the league plans to reveal the
first half of the 72-game regular
season schedule — that meaning
games to be played between dec. 22
and march 4 — in the coming days.
Games for the season’s second half,
scheduled as between march 11 and
may 16, will be revealed around the
midpoint of the season.
the defending Nba champion
Los angeles Lakers will play on the
first night of the preseason, techni-
cally a home game against the Los
angeles Clippers. the Lakers play
the Clippers twice in the presea-
son, then two games against Phoe-
nix and new Suns guard Chris Paul
as well.
the eastern Conference cham-
pion miami Heat are scheduled for
two preseason games — at home
dec. 14 against New orleans and
new Pelicans coach (and former
Heat coach) Stan van Gundy, then
on Dec. 18 in Toronto’s first game at
its temporary home in tampa, Flor-
ida. the raptors are going to open
this season in tampa because the
u.S-Canada border remains closed
to nonessential travel during the
coronavirus pandemic.
that dec. 18 game is toronto’s
lone home game on the preseason
schedule.
orlando, atlanta, New york,
detroit, Houston, Chicago, Sacra-
mento, Portland, Charlotte, Phoe-
nix, memphis, Cleveland and the
Lakers are all scheduled to play four
preseason contests.
minnesota, Golden State, okla-
homa City, San antonio, dal-
las, milwaukee, toronto, denver,
Washington, utah, Indiana and
the Clippers have three preseason
games apiece on their schedules.
brooklyn, boston, Philadelphia,
the Pelicans and the Heat opted for
two-game preseasons.