OROFINO - In a pair of disparate outcomes, the Lewis-Clark Cubs and Orofino Merchants split an American Legion baseball twinbill on Tuesday.
In the opener, the Merchants edged the Cubs 6-5 in walk-off fashion. That came in the bottom of the eighth on a throwing error by the Cubs' pitcher, who was attempting to pick off a runner at first.
Bouncing back, the Cubs claimed the nightcap 16-6 in a mercy-rule shortened contest that saw the Merchants commit seven errors over six innings.
Perhaps aided by their foes' miscues, the Cubs staked out an early six-run lead and followed the lead of Riley Way, who tallied five RBI.
That nearly equaled the offensive output that Orofino put forth in the late game - though the Merchants still slapped three solo homers in that tilt, not nearly enough offensive firepower to overcome the nine unearned runs they ceded.
Despite his team's opening-game loss, Cubs assistant coach Casey Edelbrock lauded the performance by L-C's starter in the opener, Cooper Lund, who provided "six strong innings."
Orofino coach Jeff Wilson noted that before his team's loss in the nightcap, the Merchants had been on an eight-game winning streak.
FIRST GAME
Lewis-Clark Cubs 131 000 00-5 4 3
Orofino Merchants 013 001 01-6 12 4
Cooper, Speer and Borth. Lee, Dunaway and Reggear.
L-C hits - Powell, Way (2B), Baldwin, Miller.
Orofino hits - Walker 2, Wilson, Lee, Walker 2, Sabatino, Owens 3, Dunaway, Ballantyne.
Second GAME
Lewis-Clark Cubs 135 043-16 15 2
Orofino Merchants 111 111- 6 6 7
Wallace, Baldwin (3), Petersen (4), Washburn (5), Stottlemeyer (6) and Borth. Morrow, Owens (4), Walker (5) and Reggear, Lee (6).
L-C hits - Powell 2 (2B), Light, Way 2, Miller 3, Stottlemeyer 3, Wallace 2, Washburn, Borth 3 (2B).
Orofino hits - Lee (HR), Wilson 2, Sabatino (HR), Walker, Owens (HR).
Vandals' Millan named to watch list
MOSCOW - University of Idaho senior linebacker Marc Millan joined some elite company today with the announcement of the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.
Millan, the Vandals' leading tackler for the past two seasons, is among 115 players on the Watch List.
"Marc's biggest asset," coach Paul Petrino said, "is his motor. He plays 100 miles an hour; always gives great effort. He has a good nose for the football - he gets to the ball and makes plays."
Millan has 192 total tackles in two seasons as a Vandal. Of those, 141 are solo stops - which ranks third among active career average-per-game leaders. He ranked fourth in the Sun Belt Conference last year in both solo tackles and total tackles per game. Nationally, he was 24th in solo stops and 33rd in total tackles.
"I think he'll be even better his senior year," Petrino said, "because his football intelligence has improved and he knows the game better. We just look forward to him having a great year."
WSU men's assistant returns to Palouse - with Cougar women
PULLMAN - Rod Jensen has been named assistant basketball coach for the Washington State women's team, June Daugherty announced Tuesday.
Jensen makes his return to Pullman after a one-year stint with the WSU men's basketball team under former-head coach Ken Bone in 2013-14.
Jensen replaces former women's assistant Brian Holsinger, who resigned from his position earlier this month to spend time with his family.
"Rod brings a wealth of experience to our program and we are excited to have him back at Washington State," Daugherty said. "Brian has given eight incredible years to this program. He recruited some of the best kids in the country and abroad. He will always be a Cougar and a part of this basketball program. We wish Brian and his family the best."
Known as a defensive-minded coach, Jensen brings with him 30-plus years of coaching experience. Jensen originally came to WSU in June of 2013 as the director of player development and was promoted to assistant coach three months later, in September. He stepped away from coaching during the following season to spend time with his family.
Prior to arriving at Washington State, Jensen served as head coach at the College of Idaho from 2010-2013. In his final season with the Coyotes, Jensen led C of I to its first winning season in four years (15-14) and the program's first win over a No. 1-ranked team, an 83-82 victory at Eastern Oregon in February of 2013.
Idaho crew finishes third at Pro-Am
HAYDEN - A team from the University of Idaho Golf Course finished third in team results at the Inland Empire Professional Golf Association Pro-Am event at Avondale Golf Course on Monday.
Headlining the group was David Nuhn, who finished third in the pro category with a 70.
Local results
Team scores - 1, Coeur d'Alene Resort, 120. 2, Liberty Lake, 123. t3, Circling Raven and University of Idaho, 125. t5, Coeur d'Alene and Coeur d'Alene, 126. t7, Liberty Lake, Deer Park, Highlands and Manito CC.
University of Idaho competitors - David Nuhn, Nick Jensen, Rudy Carpenter, Laramie Simons, Robert Johnson.
Pro - 3, David Nuhn, University of Idaho, 70. t6, Drew Reinland, Clarkston Country Club, 72. t13, Bo Baker, Lewiston, 76.
Amateur net, second flight - t7, Tom Myers, Palouse Ridge, 73.
