MCMINNVILLE – Jackson Vaughan, a former Baker High School graduate, was named the 2009 Northwest Conference Softball Coach of the Year for the sixth straight season.

Vaughan led Linfield to a 39-6 overall record, setting a new team record for best winning percentage. He guided the Wildcats to their sixth straight NWC crown, rolling to a 26-2 conference record. Linfield again competed in the West Regionals, reaching the championship game before falling in extra innings.

Rembold coaching at Linfield

MCMINNVILLE – Luke Rembold has been named as an assistant tennis coach for the Linfield College men’s and women’s teams.

Rembold, a Baker High School and Linfield graduate, was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats. He graduated from Linfield last June with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and English. He set a school record for best career winning percentage (.789), going 15-4 in singles over four seasons. He went 15-7 in doubles, ending his career sixth on the list of top winning percentage.

Linfield favored to win NWC

MCMINNVILLE – Linfield is a heavy favorite to win its seventh consecutive Northwest Conference softball title, according to th eleague’s preeason poll.

The Wildcats picked up seven of eight first-place votes and 70 points to outdistance second-place Willamette.

Those two teams are followed in the poll by Pacific, Pacific Lutheran, Whitowrth, University of Puget Sound, George Fox and Lewis and Clark.

Linfield to hots baseball regional

MCMINNVILLE – Linfield College will host one of eight regional NCAA Division III playoff tournaments for the second consecutive year.

The tournament will take place May 19-23 at Linfield’s Roy Heiser Field. The winner of the regional will advance to the NCAA Finals, May 28-June 1, in Appleton, Wis.

Lansford to become A’s analyst

OAKLAND – Carney Lansford has found a new job as an analyst for Comcast’s Oakland A’s pregame and postgame shows.

Lansford, who along with wife Debbie has lived in Baker City since 1981, will move to Baker to the Bay Area.

Lansford had served as the San Francisco Giants hitting coach the past two seasons before being let go after last season.

George Fox adds football

NEWBERG (AP) – George Fox University will field an NCAA Division III football team that will begin play in 2013.

The school’s board of trustees approved the return of football to the school at a meeting last week. George Fox dropped football in 1968.

George Fox president Robin Baker says the addition of football is part of the school’s overall goal to increase enrollment.

The team will play at Stoffer Family Stadium, part of a $6.5 million complex being built near campus that will be shared by Newberg High School, the local parks and recreation district and other groups.

The Christian college will compete in the Northwest Conference. School officials say they are searching for a coaching staff.

Seahawks sign Matt McCoy

RENTON, Wash. (AP) – The Seattle Seahawks have signed former Tampa Bay linebacker Matt McCoy to a one-year contract to add depth to their defense and special teams.

The Seahawks announced the signing Wednesday.

The 27-year-old second-round pick of Philadelphia in 2005 played in 12 games, including two starts, last season. It was his second with the Buccaneers. He finished the 2007 season with New Orleans.

The former San Diego State Aztec has made 97 tackles and forced three fumbles in 47 NFL games, 12 of them starts. He has made another 50 tackles on special teams.

Trail Blazers fire Tom Penn

PORTLAND (AP) – The Portland Trail Blazers have dismissed Tom Penn as vice president of basketball operations.

The team issued a statement that said Penn was dismissed Tuesday for ”philosophical differences.”

Several athletes with Baker City backgrounds are now playing or coaching in professional and collegiate spring sports.

Athletes with ties to Baker and Baker High School are competing in major league and minor league baseball, college baseball, college softball, college tennis, college track and field, college golf, college crew, and college rodeo.

andbull; Erika McCarthy – McCarthy is a junior on the Northwest Nazarene University women’s track and field team in Nampa.

andbull; Jordan Harlow – Harlow is a freshman infielder on the Chemeketa Community College baseball team.

andbull; Jackie Owens – Owens is a member of the University of Idaho women’s rodeo team.

andbull; Nicole Markgraf – Markgraf is a freshman on the Blue Mountain Community College women’s rodeo team.

Two former Baker rodeo riders competed at the Walla Walla Community College rodeo earlier this month.

Nicole Markgraf, from Blue Mountain CC, placed eighth in goats.

Jackie Owens, from University of Idaho, was eighth in team roping header.

Owens is ranked 15th regionally in goats.

Little League opening day set

Opening day for the Baker Little League is April 24.

The season will begin with the traditional parade beginning at 8 a.m. at Geiser Pollman Park, down Main Street to Wade Williams Field. The opening ceremonies will take place at that time.

Tryouts for minors and majors baseball will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 3 at Wade Williams.

Tryouts for softball will be from 10 a.m. to noon April 3 at the 17th Street Fields.

Ty Bennett is Little League president. The other officers are John Robinson, vice president of softball; Malia Zink, secretary; Jonet Shepherd, treasurer; Debra Bennett, league information officer; Christine Golar, safety officer; Janelle Stephens, softball player agent; Kelly Cook, Haley Morris, Danielle Parsons, Trina Dowdy and David Hicks, members at large; Kari Day, t-ball and farm player agent.

Eastern women off to 6-0 start

LA GRANDE – The Eastern Oregon women’s softball team is off to a 6-0 start this season.

The Lady Mountaineers open Cascade Collegiate Conference play today at Southern Oregon.

Linfield softball off to solid start

MCMINNVILLE – Linfield has started its collegiate softball season 9-1, 7-1 in Northwest Conference games.

The Wildcats, coached by Baker graduate Jackson Vaughan, travel to California this weekend.

Linfield plays doubleheaders against Cal Lutheran today, Claremont Saturday, Redlands Sunday and then competes in the Sun West Tournament Monday and Tuesday.

Oregon baseball hosts Nevada

EUGENE – The Oregon baseball team has started its season 12-6 entering this weekend’s action.

The Ducks host Nevada in a four-game set – single games today and Sunday and a doubleheader Saturday.

Oregon softball nears 20 wins

EUGENE – Oregon’s women’s softball team stands at 19-6 through games played March 14.

The Lady Ducks return to action Tuesday in a doubleheader against Portland State at Portland.

Beavers ready to host Maine

CORVALLIS – The Oregon State University baseball teams stands at 10-3 entering a four-game series with Maine this weekend.

The Beavers will play single games against Maine today and Sunday, and a doubleheader Saturday.

OSU women head to San Diego

CORVALLIS – Oregon State University’s women’s softball travels to San Diego, Calif., Saturday to start play at the SDSU Aztec Invitational.

The Lady Beavers are 10-11 entering tournament play.

U.S. women to play Germany

CHICAGO (AP) – The U.S. women’s soccer team will play world champion Germany in an exhibition at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Wednesday the match will be played on May 22.

The game will be the first for the German team in the U.S since winning the 2003 World Cup. In their last meeting, the U.S. won 3-2 on March 3 in the final of the Algarve Cup in Faro, Portugal.

The top-ranked Americans hold an 18-4-4 advantage in head-to-head meetings against Germany and West Germany, winning in the semifinals of the 1991 World Cup and quarterfinals of the 1999 World Cup. The U.S. lost in the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup.

Germany is ranked second.

The only previous match in Cleveland for the U.S. women was a 2-0 win over China on June 16, 2007.

Lee suspended first five games

NEW YORK (AP) – Seattle Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee has been suspended for the first five games of the regular season for throwing a pitch over the head of Arizona’s Chris Snyder in an exhibition game this week.

Lee is in his first season with Seattle. The former AL Cy Young winner was ejected from Monday’s game.

Major League Baseball vice president Bob Watson issued the suspension and a fine on Wednesday. If the players’ association appeals, the penalty would be delayed until after a hearing and a decision.

Former Dawgs still playing

Several athletes with Baker City backgrounds are now playing or coaching in professional and collegiate spring sports.

Athletes with ties to Baker and Baker High School are competing in major league and minor league baseball, college baseball, college softball, college tennis, college track and field, college golf, college crew, and college rodeo.

College baseball

andbull; Derek Howerton – Howerton is a junior at Mayville State University in South Dakota.

Howerton, a former Baker High School standout, plays infield and pitches.

andbull; Seager Pence – Pence is a sophomore at Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, Wash.

Pence, another BHS standout, plays outfield for Walla Walla.

andbull; Luke Sells – Sells is listed as a sophomore on the Mayville State University roster.

Yet another Baker star, Sells is a left-handed pitcher.

andbull; Cody Hensley – Hensley is a sophomore on the Linn-Benton Community College roster.

Hensley, another former Bulldog, is an infielder and pitcher.

College softball

andbull; Jackson Vaughan – In seven seasons as Linfield softball coach Vaughan has amassed a career record of 235-70-1, including a 154-30 mark in the Northwest Conference.

Over the last five years he has led Linfield to the 2007 NCAA Division III national championship, two West Regional titles and five straight conference crowns.

Vaughan was honored as the Division III coach of the year each of the last five seasons, and was selected the top coach in the West Region in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Vaughan, a Baker High School graduate, received a bachelor’s degree from Linfield in accounting in 1997.

andbull; Jamie Moon – Moon, a graduate of Baker High School, is a junior infielder/catcher on the Lewis and Clark softball team.

College crew

andbull; Jessie Witich – Wittich, a Baker High School graduate, is a sophmore in the Oregon State University women’s crew team.

Wittich is rowing both novice and junior varsity for the Beavers.

College tennis

andbull; Luke Rembold – Rembold, a Linfield graduate, is an assistant coach for the Wildcats program.

He majored in religious studies and English.

College track and field

andbull; Jason Hardrath – Hardrath, a graduate of Baker High School, is a junior distance runner on the Corban College squad.

College women’s golf

andbull; Dan Brooks – Duke women’s golf head coach Dan Brooks knows what it takes to make it to the pinnacle of a collegiate sport.In 25 years as the coach of the Duke Blue Devils, he has helped guide his squads to five NCAA National Championships, 15 ACC Championships and 107 team victories, which is the most of any women’s golf coach in Division I history.

In 1998-99, all the hard work paid off as Duke secured the NCAA National Championship, the first title for any Blue Devil women’s program in school history and the fourth overall.

In 2001-02, Brooks once again claimed the NCAA National Championship in Auburn, Wash.

In 2006, the Blue Devils were once again ranked No. 1 in the preseason and went on to be atop the polls for the entire season, but when it came time for the NCAA Championship the Blue Devils were not considered the favorite by many in the media contingent.

Duke would go on to win the title by an amazing 10 strokes and earned back-to-back championships for the first time in women’s golf since 1997 and 1998.

In 2007, Brooks guided Duke to an amazing fifth NCAA title and its third straight NCAA crown.

After winning his third straight National Championship, Brooks was awarded the 2007 NGCA National Coach of the Year, marking the fifth time he had received national recognition.

Over the last 11 years, Duke has established itself as the nation’s top women’s collegiate golf team with five national titles, 81 event titles, 10 ACC titles, three NCAA individual champions and 46 individual medalist honors.

Duke has collected 15 ACC Championship titles during Brooks’ term with the Blue Devils, while 13 individuals have captured medalist honors at the ACC event under Brooks.

On Oct. 23, 2005, Brooks won his 92nd career tournament, which broke Mark Gale of San Jose State’s record of 91 victories to become the all-time wins leader for NCAA Division I. Altogether in Brooks’ 24 years, Duke has collected an incredible 107 tournament titles.

His efforts with the nationally known Duke squad haven’t gone unnoticed as Brooks was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Hall of Fame in 2001.In addition he was tabbed ACC Coach of the Year in 1993, 1996-2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007.

Youth track set to start April 5

Baker youth track and field will begin April 5 at Baker High School.

Coach Suzy Cole said that day will be both the first practice and registration day at the Baker High School track. The cost will be $20 per athlete with a $50 cap.

Forms can be picked up at the first day of registration, the YMCA Gym, or at the high school office. For questions call Cole at 524-2641 during the day or 523-2040 in the evenings.

Johnson most improved

CORVALLIS – Grant Johnson is one of three Oregon State football players named most improved at the Beavers 2009 football awards banquet recently.

Johnson, a junior, joined quarterback Sean Canfield and tackle Michael Philipp earning that honor.

Johnson, who will miss spring practice due to shoulder surgery, recently received a scholarship beginning spring term.

Johnson is expected to start at guard for the Beavers next fall.

Moon plays at Lewis and Clark

PORTLAND – Jamie Moon, a former Baker softball standout, is hitting .267 for the Lewis and Clark women’s softball team.

Moon, a junior, leads the Pioneers in at-bats (45) and hits (12). She has driven in two runs and scored four. She is 2-for-2 in stolen bases.

The Pioneers are 0-15 on the season, and 0-8 in Northwest Conference play.

Lewis and Clark will play at the Chapman Tournament March 22-24.

Marcum at Feather River CC

QUINCY, Calif. – Grant Marcum, a former Baker baseball player, is playing college ball for Feather River Community College.

Marcum, a freshman, is hitting .231 in eight games with three RBIs. He has a double and has scored two runs.

Boston ousts Oregon State men

CORVALLIS (AP) – John Holland had 26 points and five rebounds as Boston rolled to a 96-78 win against Oregon State in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational Wednesday night at Gill Coliseum.

Carlos Strong added 22 points and Tyler Morris 18 points for the Terriers (20-13), who celebrated their first postseason victory since 1959 and their first 20-win season since 2004-05.

Jared Cunningham had 21 points for Oregon State (14-18), the 2009 CBI champion.

Boston advances to play Morehead State in a quarterfinal March 22. Morehead State won 74-60 at Colorado State on Wednesday.

Boston used a 17-2 first-half run to take a 37-19 lead. The Terriers led by as many as 21 in the first half and 46-27 at halftime. They went up by as many as 28 in the second half.

Boston shot 38 of 67 (56.7 percent) from the floor, including 12 of 32 from 3-point range. The Terriers have 13 games this season with 10 or more 3-pointers, including five of the last six contests.

Holland, a 6-foot-5 junior forward/guard and two-time America East Conference first-team selection, shot 11 of 16 and was 4 of 9 on 3-pointers.

Oregon State shot 24 of 56 (42.9 percent), including 9 of 25 in the first half.

The Terriers’ 96 points were a season-high for Boston and the second-most allowed by Oregon State this season.