Sports – Page 52 – The Western Howl

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

It has been a whirlwind offseason for the NFL.

Teams are radically changing, as some move cities and others move schemes. The free agency opened with a blast and continues to roll. Teams that were nearly in the championship hunt last year look to make good on their “next year” promises.

Alshon Jeffery will change the game in Philadelphia, as Carson Wentz now has a legitimate number one target. Last year Jeffrey picked up 821 yards on 52 receptions. He will also be joined by Torrey Smith, a veteran receiver who reportedly turned down better offers in order to work with Carson Wentz.

Wentz, meanwhile, managed to prove himself both a durable and competitive quarterback last year, breaking the record for most completions by an NFL rookie. His receiving corps last year was a motley crew, which will be beefed up with the arrival of two new star targets.

The team making the most waves in the NFC North so far has been the Detroit Lions, though they haven’t been particularly flashy about it.

Offensive line signings generally don’t make headlines, but the Lions were abysmal at keeping their running backs healthy and keeping their ground game going last year. Rick Wagner was the best right tackle on the market, and he and T.J. Lang are the new additions to keep the Motor City Kitties’ engine running.

For other teams in the NFC North, the news is more about exits than entrances: Eddie Lacy is gone to Seattle, Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles and Cordarrelle Patterson and Jared Cook are becoming Raiders. Meanwhile, free agents Jay Cutler and Adrian Peterson still look to find homes.

Lacy in Seattle will surely help the Seahawks rediscover their hard-rushing roots. But the Packers are now short staffed and head coach Mike McCarthy knows it. At this point they’ll likely look to the draft for a solution. Though, for the right price, Vikings legend Adrian Peterson could become Packers legend Adrian Peterson.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

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Winning weekend for baseball in Portland

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

Wolves baseball busted out the brooms in a series sweep of Concordia, extending their conference record to 6-0 to start the season.

Western Oregon’s trip to Portland saw them win the first game 6-3, then pull off both halves of a double header 2-1 and 9-2.

The wins helped Western Oregon baseball climb back into the National Collegiate Baseball Writers west region poll, now ranked at number eight.

The winning pitchers were first year student Connor McCord, junior Craig Grubbe and senior Trey Smith. First year student Kade Mechals and junior Cam Walker both picked up saves for their late inning efforts.

The first game saw the Wolves go into the eighth inning trailing 2-3. Nine Western runners had been left stranded throughout the first seven innings.

Starting pitcher Brady Miller had been pulled and McCord brought on in relief. Since McCord took the mound at the end of the fourth inning, Concordia was held to their three points. McCord had surrendered no hits and struck out two. But the Wolves offense would need to close on scoring opportunities if the defensive performance was to garner anything.

The eighth inning opened with first year outfielder Torreahno Sweet, who had batted in one of the Wolves’ earlier runs, getting on base with a single. Junior Jay Leverett then slugged a home run over left field to take the lead.

The runs continued to pour in and McCord shut down Concordia, picking up a total of six strikeouts in his four and one-third innings.

“It felt great to help my team win this week,” Sweet said, after getting his first at bats of the season. “We worked hard at practice and the results showed.”

The Wolves never trailed throughout the Sunday double header as they powered their way to the sweep.

The first game of the day was a defensive match, as the Wolves won 2-1.

Craig Grubbe struck out five, allowed only two hits and gave up no runs in his six innings pitched.

The final game of the series was the most explosive for the Wolves as they put up nine runs on Concordia. Sophomore catcher Justin Wakem scored two runs and batted in a third. Junior third baseman Nyles Nygaard had three RBIs on the day.

“Once the game starts, it’s all about picking up your teammates and focusing on the little things to achieve our common goal,” Nygaard said. “Our coach emphasizes a term, ‘This pitch.’ If we focus on the pitch at hand, we will win every game because we are taking care of what’s present. We aren’t looking ahead at the what-ifs and we aren’t looking back.”

The six game win streak to open conference play sees Western Oregon on top of the GNAC standings and the only undefeated team in conference.

The Wolves are in Monmouth this week, hosting Corban on March 15 and Central Washington on March 18 and 19.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

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March Madness returns

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

We are now in the ides of March, and madness once again descends upon us; referring of course to the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.

The most hyped bracket of each year released its 2017 edition on March 12, the result of a madcap Selection Sunday.

The top seeds in each region were Villanova in the east, Kansas in the midwest, Gonzaga in the west and North Carolina in the south. Duke’s spot as number two in the east could set this bracket up for a Duke-North Carolina final.

In a highlight of the east region, Wisconsin fans were left baffled at how their Badgers were deemed an eight seed. On the other side of the bracket, Minnesota was crowned a five seed, despite not playing in the Big Ten championship.

Wisconsin’s trip to the Big Ten championship and ranking second in the conference didn’t seem to help their rank in this tournament. Even Maryland scored a higher seeding, despite bombing out in the Big Ten’s quarterfinals.

Wisconsin’s spot as an eight seed puts them against ninth-seeded Virginia Tech. This is going to be a game to watch, despite all the salt of Badgers fans for their team being underseeded. Josh Parcell reported an interesting stat on Twitter, in that Wisconsin is 307th in the nation when it comes to defending three pointers. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, ranks ninth in the country in three point offense.

The midwest region looks almost like a Big Twelve tournament, as three of the conference’s schools were all seeded together. Top seeded Kansas is the natural favorite for the region, but with Iowa State and Oklahoma State both in contention, some conference rivalry is certainly possible.

Iowa State shouldn’t overlook their matchup against Nevada though. March Madness is always full of upsets, and the twelfth seeded Wolfpack just won the Mountain West championship.

It’s Nevada’s first trip to the big dance since 2007, but they have some tricks for their first round matchup. Guard Hallice Cooke played for Iowa State just last year before transferring to Nevada, bringing their scouts and coaches an inside view of Iowa State’s operations.

One stat that will help Nevada regardless of insider info is the fact that Iowa State is one of the worst teams in the nation at rebounding, ranked 295th. All around they’re a smaller team filled with good shooters but lack the power of the Wolfpack. Nevada big men Jordan Caroline and Cameron Oliver have a combined rebound average of 17.9.

The south region is perhaps the most wide open of the four, as top seed North Carolina has underperformed on the road this year.

Tenth seeded Wichita State is also considered to have gotten the Wisconsin treatment. The Missouri Valley champions were largely pegged for around a six seed, but somehow fell to double digits. Make no mistake, they have the potential to go far in this bracket. They are one of only ten teams in the nation to be ranked in the top 25 for efficiency on both defense and offense.

The three-peated SEC kings Kentucky come into the south region with a number two seed. In 2014, Kentucky and Wichita State played one of the instant classics of March Madness history, and the selection committee is likely chomping at the bit for a rematch.

Making a notable appearance in the west region is Northwestern, who have received a tournament bid for the first time in school history. Northwestern are the only Power Five school to have never played a tournament game, a legacy that comes to an end when they face Vanderbilt in Salt Lake City.

The Wildcats were sure to make the tournament after beating Michigan on March 1, the result of a full-court Hail Mary pass from Nate Taphorn to Derek Pardon in the dying seconds of the game. Pardon put the lobbed ball through the basket as time expired in one of the incredible highlights of the regular season.

March Madness is a time for stories, and this year’s selections prove to have many. No one has ever gotten the bracket challenge right, at least those placed by online bets. So pick your favorite teams and spite all your rivals. We’re all going to be wrong. Have fun.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

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Distance medley relay sets national record

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

Western Oregon runners won a national championship and set a national record at the Division II Indoor National Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

The men’s distance medley relay team had a photo finish victory, beating Adams State across the finish line by .001 second. The team, composed of juniors David Ribich, AJ Holmberg and Josh Dempsey and sophomore Dustin Nading, set another school record in a record-setting indoor track season for the Wolves.

Their final time of 9:40.144 set the new benchmark for NCAA Division II.

The championship final came after a Thursday qualifier that saw Western Oregon advance in all five competitions. The team then went five for five again, earning All-American marks across the board.

Ribich and Nading both ran the men’s mile qualifier, coming in first and ninth, respectively. They went on to both garner points for Western Oregon on title day. Ribich had a third place finish with a time of 4:06.72. Nading finished right behind Ribich with a time of 4:06.85 for fourth place.

Josh Dempsey qualified for the 800 meter race with a second place finish on Thursday. He completed the Saturday race in 1:51.20 to claim sixth place.

The four finishes brought the Western Oregon men’s team 24 points, bringing them to a tie for sixth place with Azusa Pacific.

Two Western Oregon women were competing in Birmingham, as junior Suzanne Van De Grift and sophomore Olivia Woods both ran the 800 meter.

Woods previously claimed the school record in the 800 meter at the Seattle Pacific Final Qualifier on Feb. 25. Van De Grift then set the new record in the preliminary with a time of 2:09.63.

The championship race saw Van De Grift extend her school record with a fifth place finishing time of 2:09.10. Olivia Woods finished sixth place with a personal best 2:09.26.

With only two runners competing, the women’s team recorded seven points to finish in 29th place.

The championship weekend concludes the 2017 indoor track season. Western Oregon track and field now sets its sights on the outdoor track season, which opened on March 4.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

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Wolves swat Yellowjackets

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

After a month of rain delays stalled the start of the season, Wolves baseball opened conference play with a double header demolition job of Montana State Billings.

Wolves won the first game 9-4, with junior pitcher Brady Miller recording the win. They took the second game 3-2, with a win for senior Elias Bodella and junior Cam Walker getting a save.

The games continued on March 6, where the Wolves pulled off an 8-7 win and were in the process of throttling the Yellowjackets a fourth time until snowy weather postponed the game. It will pick back up in April, with the Wolves holding a 7-0 lead in the sixth.

The March 4 meet up was the first time the Wolves got to play a game since the Feb. 16 trip to San Diego. That’s a 16-day bye week. While Montana State Billings had 10 games to warm up their season, the Wolves had only been able to play four, with the rest of their schedule canceled or postponed.

The day opened with junior fielder Jacob Martinez being walked in the first at-bat and soon scoring a run off designated hitter Joey Crunkilton’s RBI double.

Martinez was again walked in the third inning, and ultimately scored his second run on a sacrifice fly from junior third baseman Nyles Nygaard.

Runs continued to pour in throughout the later innings. Junior second baseman Jay Leverett batted in runner Koty Fallon in the sixth, and was shortly batted in for a run of his own.

The seventh inning saw Crunkilton score on a Nygaard single, and again an RBI was repaid when Nygaard was batted in by a Leverett double.

Miller’s efforts on the mound over the first six innings allowed only one run as he struck out nine Yellowjackets.

Nygaard had a run and three RBIs off two hits in the game. Jay Leverett recorded the same statline. Outfielders Martinez and Brock Pradere each scored two runs off of three at-bats.

“It felt a little unusual being out there at first because our season started so awkwardly,” Joey Crunkilton said. “We responded the best way we could’ve anticipated and I think we’re in a good spot going forward.”

The second match of the first day was a more defensive affair.

While the Yellowjackets recorded nine hits, the Wolves’ defense was able to hold them to only two runs.

A Crunkilton triple in the first inning put him in scoring position, and he was batted in by Nygaard. Sophomore first baseman Koty Fallon and sophomore catcher Justin Wakem were both ran in by first year shortstop Hunter Johnson in the sixth to clinch the 3-2 victory.

The high scoring third game saw seven different players score to contribute to the 8-7 victory.

“We prepared for the games the same way we’ve been doing all year,” Crunkilton said. “Our practices are high energy and competitive as we look to improve every day.”

The Wolves visit Concordia this weekend for two days of double headers.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

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Men’s basketball makes last stand

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

Going into the GNAC Championship Playoffs, Western Washington was the only school in the conference to be nationally ranked, taking number 15 on the NCAA’s Division II table.

Though lacking the national recognition, the Western Oregon Wolves held the number three seed, and were ranked tenth overall in the western region.

Junior forward Tanner Omlid’s double double of 22 points and 11 rebounds helped guide the Wolves over Montana State Billings in the first round of play on March 2.

The 72-61 win over the Yellowjackets advanced the Wolves into the next day’s semifinals. The matchup against Alaska Anchorage. The number two seed Seawolves had the opening round bye and were fresh to face the Wolves.

But the Wolves would prove themselves to have the most stamina as they would ultimately seize victory at the end of three overtimes.

Omlid again had a double double, with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the first GNAC tournament game to ever go to overtime.

A 7-0 run from the Wolves in the middle of the third overtime proved decisive, when junior guard Ali Faruq-Bey put up four points and sophomore guard Malik Leaks hit a three. The seven points were the difference in a 91-84 scoreline that sent Western Oregon to the Saturday night final.

The Wolves had met Western Washington twice during the regular season and were destroyed both times.

But the Wolves were also the reigning champions, who had fought their way to a chance to defend their title.

The game was an even balance, the two sides changing leads a total of eight times.

Junior guard Demetrius Trammell scored a career-high 33 points to help keep the game always at hand for the Wolves.

The final minutes saw Western Washington take the advantage, on a run of scoring eight points while the Wolves could only put up two. A missed three-point attempt by Trammel in the final two seconds was the end of the game, and Western Washington pulled off the win, 71-69.

The championship loss spelled the end of the men’s basketball season, as Western Oregon was not voted into the Division II tournament.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

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Dispatches from the sports desk

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

On Feb. 12, the Sacramento Kings beat the New Orleans Pelicans.

Pelicans shooting guard Buddy Buckets was ejected in the first half, for the very first time in his career, for elbowing Kings All Star DeMarcus Cousins in the groin.

Eight days later these two players were among the deals of a stunner of a trade between the two teams.

I’ve been a huge fan of Buddy since his Oklahoma days. How could you not be? Oklahoma’s always been a football school but for three years Buddy Hield made it a basketball school, and won every player trophy he could.

Then he got drafted by New Orleans.

A team called the Pelicans, with uniforms that look like a junior college team and were already busy squandering the immense talents of Kentucky legend Anthony Davis?

It’s hard to get excited about New Orleans.

Of course, it’s not like Sacramento was giving their own Kentucky legend the help he deserved. Since 2010, “Boogie” Cousins gave his heart and soul to the Kings without a single playoff appearance to attest to his efforts.

Boogie has boot scooted. His loss, of course, is a blow to the fanbase.

As Western Oregon alum and Sac-area native Declan Hertel said to me, “I haven’t followed Sacramento basketball in years, but even I knew that trade was b——t.”

But now Buddy Hield is a King.

Still breaking into the squad, Buddy hasn’t started a game yet. Six games off the bench have lead to a 13.2 points per game average out of 24.5 average minutes. These are both improvements on his time in New Orleans. His 16 points against the Denver Nuggets were the difference, as the Kings won 116-100.

His field goal percentage is .528, and he’s sinking .480 on his three-pointers.

Sacramento owner Vivek Ranadive had his reasons for the trade. Like many before him, Ranadive has compared Hield to a young Steph Curry.

“Steph Curry, he’s a different animal,” Hield told Bleacher Report. “I’m Buddy Fresh. I’m Buddy Love. I’m just me. I’m just Buddy.”

If Buddy Buckets unlocks this potential in the NBA, he will explode. But for now, “just Buddy” is doing work.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

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New teams for veteran players

Winning weekend for baseball in Portland

March Madness returns

Distance medley relay sets national record

Wolves swat Yellowjackets

Men’s basketball makes last stand

Dispatches from the sports desk

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