OSU Outfielder Tyler Graham Joins Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

(KEIZER) - Getting a chance to play close to home after wrapping up a successful college baseball career at Oregon State University has 22 year-old outfield prospect Tyler Graham excited.

After being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 19th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft and then being assigned to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Graham said in an interview recently that he feels lucky to start his professional career in Salem.

"This is a very exciting feeling to get the opportunity to play close to home," said Graham from his host-home in Salem. "It has been fun to play where the fans know you and to get to be in a comfortable atmosphere."

Excitement has been the rule for Graham of late. He made the catch that preserved the victory over the North Carolina Tarheels in Nebraska earlier this summer...

Salem Stampede Star Eric Fiegi Leaves Oregon to Begin Pro Basketball Career

(SALEM) - Former Corban College men’s basketball player and two-time NAIA All-American 1st team member Eric Fiegi began his professional basketball career on Friday when he signed a contract with JSF Nanterre’s Pro B team of Ligue Nationale de Basket in France.

The four-time Cascade Collegiate All-Conference selection was picked in the 3rd round of the Chinese Basketball Association draft on Thursday and twenty-four hours later decided to sign with the team located in Nanterre, France, which is a suburb of Paris.

“This is a great opportunity,” said Fiegi. “I am really excited because (JSF Nanterre) is a place where I can put up good numbers and showcase my talents.”

Fiegi’s contract is ten months long and includes a salary (plus bonus), living expenses, vehicle, and a provisional buyout from the Chinese Basketball Association.

Local Talent Highlights Corban Softball Signings For 2007 Season

(SALEM) - Corban College’s softball program has announced the signings of two high school seniors for the upcoming 2007 season.

The Warriors have recently signed local senior Jennifer Hansen (Canby) from Molalla High School and Blaine Bartlett (Camano Island, Wash.) from Pusch Ridge Christian Academy to letters of intent.

Hansen played four seasons at Molalla High School where she earned 2nd team all-league as a junior and 1st team all-league as a senior. The 5-foot-6 outfielder was named Molalla Female Athlete of the Year following her 2006 senior season, while also garnering all-league honors in both soccer and basketball.

Yakima Rallies Past Volcanoes, 9-5

(KEIZER) - Joey Side hit a two-run double and Edwin Roman added a two-run single in the seventh inning as Yakima rallied for a 9-5 road win over Salem-Keizer on Sunday.

The Bears (17-30) trailed, 5-2, heading to the seventh, but Salem-Keizer reliever Clayton Tanner (1-2) loaded the bases on a single and two walks. With two outs, Side hit his ninth double and Roman singled to put Yakima in front, 6-5.

Cyle Hankerd's RBI single capped the five-run rally.

Brad Miller hit a two-run homer as part of a three-hit night and Hankerd finished with three RBIs as the Bears won for the fourth time in five games.

U.S. Women’s Amateur Golf Tournament Tees-Off Monday at Pumpkin Ridge

Oregon’s Rebecca Kim has a great shot at winning the title.

(ALOHA) - They came and went as teammates, bonding because of the experience. Now they become adversaries again when the Women’s Amateur kicks off Monday. Strange days indeed.

Twelve of the 16 competitors in last week’s Curtis Cup Match will be vying for The Cox Cup at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Witch Hollow course. Broken down, the entire USA lineup except for 2004 runner-up Amanda McCurdy will be playing. Even USA captain Carol Semple Thompson, who won in 1973, joins in on the fun.

On the Great Britain and Ireland side, five of the eight players – Claire Coughlan, Naomi Edwards, Martina Gillen, Kiran Matharu and Melissa Reid – took a five-hour bus ride up the Oregon coast at a leisurely pace on Monday. They awoke at 5 a.m. and slept part of the way in between soaking up breath-taking Pacific Ocean scenery.

Then they shopped.

Men's Football: Wolves Begin Practice on Monday

(MONMOUTH) - Second-year Western Oregon University head football coach Arne Ferguson will welcome 110 players to the opening day of the 2006 season on Monday, August 7th.

The Wolves will spend most of the day wading through meetings, paperwork and physicals, before hitting the field for the first practice of the season at 7:00 PM. Tuesday through Friday, Ferguson’s unit will practice in the morning from 8:30 - 11:00 AM. They will practice twice this coming Saturday (9:00 -11:00 AM and 3:30-5:30 PM).

Scrimmages are slated for Monday, Aug. 14th (3:30), Friday, Aug. 18th (4:00 PM), Tuesday, Aug. 22nd (8:30 AM) and Friday, Aug. 25th (9:30 AM).

All practices are open to the public.

Warriors Sign Four Players For 2006-07 Men’s Basketball Team

(SALEM) - Corban College’s fifth-year men’s basketball head coach Justin Sherwood has inked four more players, including three transfers, for the 2006-07 seasons.

Sherwood recently signed Kyle Masten (Salem, Ore.) from Linn-Benton Community College, Michael Craig (Scappoose, Ore.) from Portland Community College, Kevin Van Hook (Silverdale, Wash.) from Colorado State University-Pueblo, and Andrew Brenner (Oakland, Ore.) from Oakland High School.

Masten began his collegiate career at Linn-Benton Community College where he started every game as a freshman and averaged 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. Prior to Linn-Benton, Masten was a three-year varsity player at Sprague High School where he...

Linfield Picked to Win Northwest Conference

Willamette picked to finish third.

(MCMINNVILLE) - After winning six straight Northwest Conference championships and holding the nation's longest streak of consecutive winning seasons, the Linfield Wildcats are unanimous picks to win the NWC again this season, according to the Northwest Conference coaches in their 2006 preseason poll, despite significant losses in personnel and in the coaching staff.

Linfield went 10-1 in 2005, losing in the West Region finals to eventual NCAA DIII runner-up Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Wildcats have not lost a regular season game since 2001.

Even in the face of losses of 2005 NWC Coach of the Year Jay Locey to Oregon State and 2005 NWC Players of the Year Brett Elliott (offense), Brandon Olson (co-defense), and Josh Ort (co-defense) to graduation, Linfield picked up all seven first place votes in this year's poll.

Oregonians to Lead Corban Women’s Volleyball Team in 2006

(SALEM) - Corban College’s sixteen year head women’s volleyball coach Tracy Smith has announced the recruiting class for the upcoming 2006 season, including four Oregonians and two out-of-state players.

Smith recently signed to letters of intent Oregonians Kristina Lewin of Keizer, and Andrea Swanick of Aumsville, from nearby Salem Academy Christian High School, as well as Jessica McGraw of Gaston from Willamette University and Oregon City's Amy Thompson from Damascus Christian High School.

Along with the quartet of Oregonians, seniors Aja Bryant of Metlakatla, Alaska, and Colleen Terhune of Meridian, Idaho, have also signed to play for the Warriors this season.