Mount Hood

Wolves postseason run ends at GNAC Championships

By: Jamal Smith
Sports Editor

Western’s softball team found their groove at the right time, finishing out the season with a string of victories that propelled them into the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships as the No. 2 seed. For the Wolves, every facet of the game seemed to be clicking: their pitching, offense, and defense.

So going into their opening game of the post-season in Lacey, Wash., on April 28, the Wolves had the momentum and the confidence that is needed for a team to win the championship. The Wolves’ first opponent in the opening round was Concordia University, a team Western beat three out of four times at the end of the regular season.

The same success Western found in the regular season against the Cavaliers continued into the postseason, as the Wolves came away with a 3-1 victory.

Junior infielder Kelsie Gardner had two hits and one RBI in three at-bats. Gardner, who is ranked third in the GNAC in batting percentage with a season average of .430, has been one of the Wolves most dangerous offensive weapons all year long.

In the fourth inning, junior catcher Mercedes Green belted her sixth home run of the season to put the Wolves up 2-0. Then later in the inning, Gardner connected for an infield single which stretched the Wolves’ advantage to 3-0.

Western’s starting pitcher, senior Alyson Boytz, had one of her best performances of the season, only allowing the Cavaliers’ offense four hits all game long. Boytz pitched from start to finish, and got herself out a bases loaded situation in the fifth inning on her way to the 3-1 victory.

Then on April 29, the Wolves blanked Saint Martin’s University (SMU) 4-0 in the second round of the playoffs and advanced to the Championship game.
In the second inning, junior infielder Ashlee Lynch crushed a two-out solo home run over the left field wall for her ninth home run of the season. Not to be outdone, in the fifth inning, junior infielder Destiny Kuehl connected on a fastball that went out of the park for her 13th home run of the season which gave the Wolves the 4-0 advantage over SMU.

Boytz followed up her incredible performance just the day before with an even more impressive outing. Boytz again went the distance and only allowed two hits in her shutout.

After the two decisive victories, Western advanced to the finals for a doubleheader against Central Washington University on April 30.

Central Washington clinched the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a conference record of 18-10. In the regular season, the Wolves played the Wildcats four times and only came away with one victory. The Championship double header played out similar to the meetings between the two teams in the regular season, as the Wildcats stunned the Wolves 11-2 in their first matchup and then 9-3 in their second.

The Wolves finished the season with a record of 31-24 and 16-11 in conference play. Although the Wolves fell short on winning the GNAC Championship, the team gave it their all and proved that looking forward to next season, they are indeed a dangerous team.

Contact the author at jsmith15@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalsportWOU

Shaking off the rust

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports editor

It has been a little over five months since Western’s football team played their last game of the season. For fans and players alike, the offseason can be a difficult time, dealing with the symptoms of football withdrawals. Sure, one can find enjoyment in other sports, but there is nothing like the drama and excitement that a weekend football game provides.

Luckily, for all those suffering football withdrawals, spring ball is here to help ease the pain.

In the spring, Western holds three scrimmages open to the public. The second was on Saturday, April 30 at Central High School.

The scrimmages provide an opportunity for the coaches to evaluate their players in game-type scenarios.

“We’re trying to get our punt returners, our kick returners, our quarterbacks, and our offensive line all game type situations and still limit the true contact because we want to keep our guys Screen Shot 2016-05-01 at 8.56.24 PMhealthy,” said Wolves’ head coach, Arne Ferguson. “We are down 25 players from where we normally are so that is a little concerning to make sure that we don’t decrease our numbers for spring ball because of injuries.”

For Ferguson and the rest of the coaching staff, the balancing act of getting their players acclimated to game situations while protecting them from injuries is one of their main focuses this spring.

Another focus of the coaches is evaluating incoming freshman and walk-ons.
“We got about 16 players that just came in and won an opportunity to walk on, and they are doing awesome,” said Ferguson. “In our first scrimmage, all the kids did really well and it was probably the best scrimmage we have had since I have been here.”

The scrimmages also provide the coaches opportunities to better figure where players will fit into the depth chart.

“Our coaches all have a depth chart in mind,” said Ferguson. “What we think we have in mind is a daily process. We evaluate the kids’ work ethic, desire, non-football related things, and also we still remember what they have done in the past.”

“Once spring ball starts, it is a day-to-day operation where we go through all positions daily, and we’re looking for the improvements that they are making,” added Ferguson. “We are also looking for their growth and size potential for the future, but also, we are looking for guys with a tremendous desire and a thumb for the game. Those guys stand out and it’s contagious and it makes the team better.”

For fans dying to get a look at the team, all of the scrimmages are free and open to the public. Check www.wouwolves.com periodically for the updated information concerning the date and location of the last scrimmage.

Contact the author at jsmith15@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalsportWOU

Idiot of the week

By: Jamal Smith
Sports Editor

Laremy Tunsil had a bad week. In a manner of minutes, the NFL prospect watched Screen Shot 2016-05-01 at 8.55.58 PMmillions of dollars blow away in a cloud of smoke, literally and figuratively.

Tunsil, a highly touted offensive lineman from Ole Miss, arrived at the NFL draft on April 28, expecting to hear his name called in the top six picks. However, just minutes before the draft was set to commence, a video surfaced on his social media account allegedly showing Tunsil smoking a substance out of a gas mask bong.

According to Tunsil’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, the video posted to Tunsil’s social media account was the work of a hacker.

The incriminating video made NFL teams hesitant to select the 6’ 5”, 305 pounder, and Tunsil’s draft stock plummeted. Tunsil was finally selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th pick; a fall from grace which ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter says cost Tunsil $7 million by falling seven spots in the draft.

Then in an even more bizarre twist, an image was posted on Tunsil’s Instagram account showing an alleged conversation between Tunsil and Ole Miss assistant athletic director, John Miller, about paying the electric bills and rent of Tunsil’s mother. Sexton also claimed that a hacker was behind the leak.

As an aspiring professional athlete, Tunsil should have taken better care on what he puts on his social media account, whether set on private or not. Sure, almost everyone has at least one skeleton in their closet, but Tunsil should have realized that every single one of his actions would be scrutinized under a microscope.

It is safe to assume that Tunsil is regretting that $7 million bong rip.
Contact the author at jsmith15@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalsportWOU

Blazers nip the Clip

Screen Shot 2016-05-01 at 8.55.46 PM

By: Jamal Smith
Sports Editor

When the Portland Trail Blazers were down 0-2 in their best of seven first round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, all hope seemed to be lost. The young Blazer squad appeared to be outmatched and seemed to lack the weapons to defeat the Clippers in four out of their final five games of the Western Conference series.

While many fans and sports analysts considered the series all but over, the underdog Blazers saw it as an opportunity to prove the naysayers wrong yet again. History was also against the Blazers, as only two out of 53 squads since 2009 have ever come back from a 0-2 deficit.

In their first two games against the Clippers in Los Angeles, the Blazers were absolutely dominated in every facet of the game, losing both games by at least 20 points. After going down 0-2, the Blazers hoped that they could feed off the energy from the Rose City crowd and make the series interesting, and that they did.

In game three, Portland came out with a sense of urgency and defeated the Clippers 96-88.

Then in game four, the Blazers took care of business and came away victorious with an assist from Clipper’s All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, who both had to leave the game with season-ending injuries. Paul fractured his hand and Griffin re-aggravated a quad injury that has plagued him all season long.

With the freak injuries to the Clippers’ best two players, Portland went from underdog to the favorite overnight. Being a favorite was an unfamiliar position for the Blazers who have embraced the underdog role all season long, which left many sports analysts wondering how each team would respond.

In game five back in L.A., the Clippers started the game with great energy, and outplayed the Blazers in the first half. However, the Clips ran out of gas and the Blazers took advantage and won the game 108-98.

With the advantage now going to the Blazers, Portland had a chance to finish off the fledgling Clippers back on their home court. Led by point guard Damian Lillard’s 28 points, the Blazers squeaked out a 106-103 victory taking the series 4-2, and the entire city of Portland celebrated as confetti fell from the ceiling of the Moda Center.

The Blazers will now play the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Golden State will be without their best player, Stephen Curry, who went out with a sprained knee in game four of the first round matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Curry could come back as soon as May 9.

Portland has already defied expectations for the season. Although they are underdogs going into their matchup with Golden State, they are right where they want to be, so don’t be surprised if they find a way to shock the world yet again.

Contact the author at jsmith15@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalsportWOU.

Streaking Wolves earn playoff spot

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports editor

It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. With a record that teetered near the .500 mark all season, Western’s softball team pulled together a string of victories at the end of the season, and was the first team in the conference to clinch a prized spot in the GNAC Championships.

The playoff-bound Wolves finished the last of their regular season matchups in blistering fashion with three double headers in three consecutive days. Out of the six games played, Western finished with five victories and only one loss.

The first double header was on April 19, when the Wolves hosted the Beacons of Northwest Christian University.

Junior catcher Mercedes Green was the hero of the first game, belting two home runs. Green’s first homer came in the sixth inning which evened the score at 2-2. With neither team able to score in regulation, the game went into extra innings.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Green stepped up to the plate and worked the count to her favor with three balls and one strike. On the next pitch, Green belted a shot to left field which bounced off the wall and careened out of the park to give the Wolves the 3-2 victory.

The Beacons looked for revenge in second matchup of the day, but the Wolves’ pitching was extraordinary. Between three Western pitchers (junior Sammi Cadwallader, senior Stephanie Morgan, and freshman Haley Favian) the Wolves pitched their first no-hitter in 14 years and easily defeated the Beacons 6-0.

Western looked to continue to ride their momentum from their two emotional victories when the Wolves hosted Concordia University on the following day. The Wolves had extra pressure to produce victories because the games marked the last home games of the season and the last home games for the team’s seniors.

In game one, Green continued right where she left off the day before, batting a perfect three for three. Junior Emma Alfonso had two hits and two RBI’s, and the Wolves went on to defeat the Cavaliers by a score of 4-3.

In the second matchup of the day and the score even at 1-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, junior infielder Kelsie Gardner had a chance to be the hero when she stepped up to the plate. Gardner hit a ground ball up the middle which brought the go-ahead run home and gave the Wolves the 2-1 lead.

Then on Thursday, Western traveled to Portland for a double header rematch against the Cavaliers. In game one, the Wolves scored in a flurry late in the game and came away with a 4-2 victory. The second game of the day however, went in the Cavaliers’ favor as they blanked the Wolves 5-0.

Western’s late season streak propelled them up in the standings and they currently sit in the third spot in the conference. With the five victories, the Wolves clinched a spot in the GNAC Tournament which is set to begin on April 28. Check www.wouwolves.com for the time and opponent.

Who is the better team?

By: Jamal Smith
Sports Editor

Prior to this year’s NBA season, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were considered to be the greatest team in NBA history. Led by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, the Bulls dominated the league and set the benchmark in regular season wins, finishing the season with the record of 73-9.

Most sports analysts considered the Bull’s record to be unbreakable, but the unfathomable has happened: the Golden State Warriors bested the Bull’s record by one game and put the team at the top of the record books.

The Warriors’ record is an incredible achievement especially in the current NBA landscape; however, many sports analysts still believe that the 95-96 Bulls would get the nod as the best of all-time. So, which team is better, Stephen Curry’s Warriors or Jordan’s Bulls?

Starting lineups:

1995-96 Bulls

Position Starting 5 PTS RB AST
SF Scottie Pippen 19.4 6.9 5.9
PF Dennis Rodman 5.5 15.6 2.5
C Luke Longley 9.1 5.1 1.9
PG Ron Harper 7.4 2.7 2.6
SG Michael Jordan 30.4 6.6 4.3

 

2015-16 Warriors

Position Starting 5 PTS RB AST
SF Harrison Barnes 11.7 4.9 1.8
PF Draymond Green 14.0 9.5 7.4
C Andrew Bogut 5.4 7.0 2.3
PG Stephen Curry 30.1 5.4 6.7
SG Klay Thompson 22.1 3.8 2.1

 

The statistics of both teams’ starters are almost identical. Jordan led the Bulls in scoring with 30.4 points per game, and the Warriors were led by last year’s MVP, Curry, who averaged 30.1 points per game.

Pippen and Clay Thompson, the second best players of two teams, both averaged near the 20 point mark per game. Golden State had four out of five starters averaging double figures in scoring, whereas the Bulls only had Jordan and Pippen.

The rebounding edge would go to the Bulls, but the Warriors would have the edge in assists.

Overall, the Bulls have the better starting lineup because, well, they had the greatest player of all-time in Jordan.

Winner: Bulls

Bench:

Bull’s Key Rotation Players: Steve Kerr (8.4 PPG), Tony Kukoc (13.1 PPG), Jack Haley (5.0 PPG).

Warriors’ Key Rotation Players: Marreese Speights (7.1 PPG), Shaun Livingston (6.3 PPG), Andre Iguodala (7.0 PPG), Festus Ezeli (7.0 PPG).

There is no denying how much of an impact the bench players had on the Bull’s record setting season. Kerr and Kukoc were often in the end of games when the game was on the line. Both of the role players seemed to come off the bench and hit huge shots when it mattered, but beyond the duo, the Bulls lacked depth.

The Warriors bench is loaded. Iguodala and Livingston were both key starters on other teams before coming to the Warriors. The Warriors bench has come in and played meaningful minutes in games were starters got bit by the injury bug.

Winner: Warriors

Coach:

Kerr, the Warriors head coach, can boast about being on both record setting teams. When he was hired on as the head coach before the start of last year’s NBA season, many sports analysts were left scratching their heads when the Warrior’s front office fired Mark Jackson after a highly successful season.

Kerr took over and lead the Warriors to the Championship in his first year at the helm. Follow that up with beating the record of his former team and no one can deny his ability to lead.

The Bull’s head coach of the 1995-96 season was Phil Jackson. Jackson is the most decorated head coach of all-time, winning 11 championships as a coach and two as a player with the New York Knicks. As a coach of the Bulls, Jackson was able to lead the Bulls to six championships.

Winner: Bulls

It is unfortunate that we will never truly know who the better team was. Although the Bulls had a better starting lineup and coach, the Warriors have better depth, but overall the deciding factor was Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson.

Overall Winner: Bulls

Trail Blazers defy expectations and clinch fifth seed in Western Conference

By: Jamal Smith
Sports Editor

Earlier this week, the Portland Trail Blazers clinched the fifth seed in the Western Conference and will play the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs.

The fact that the Blazers have even made it to the playoffs is nothing short of amazing. Portland lost four out of their five starters from last year including the cornerstone of the franchise LaMarcus Aldridge. After losing Aldridge to free agency, Neil Olshey, the Blazer’s general manager, decided to rebuild the team with younger talent centered around All-Star point guard Damian Lillard.

After a complete overhaul of their roster, most sports analysts picked Portland to finish near the bottom of the conference. In a Sports Illustrated article published before the start of the season, the Blazers were projected to finish 11th in the conference out of 16 teams with a win percentage of 38.6.

The young Blazers took the early season predictions with a grain of salt, and instead of tanking the season to get a lottery pick, the squad buckled down to prove their naysayers wrong.

After a rough start to the season with a record of 11-20, the Blazers quietly grinded out a string of victories that put them into contention for a playoff spot midway through the season. However, at the top of the conference were the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs who sat comfortably in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively.

Realizing that a first round matchup between either the Spurs or the Warriors could spell a quick postseason exit, a hungry Portland squad continued climbing up the Western Conference ladder, finishing the regular season with a record of 44-38.

“With everybody writing us off … A team like us, we’re the most dangerous team [in the playoffs],” said Ed Davis in an interview with NBA.com. “You don’t really wanna play against a team with nothing to lose, just don’t care what the outcome is. That’s us. We’re gonna be that team that’s gonna fight.”

The fact is, the Blazers have exceeded all expectations, and now they are playing with house money, but the team is not going to be satisfied with a first round elimination.

“We put in our time. It’s been a long season, we believed in ourselves,” said Lillard at the post-game press conference after the Blazers defeated the Denver Nuggets to claim the No. 5 seed. “We’ve played through the tough times, we didn’t get too high off the good times, and here we are. We finally got our spot and our work still isn’t done.”

Portland Trailblazer Playoff Schedule:

Game 1: Sun. April 17 @ LA Clippers 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Wed, April 20 @ LA Clippers 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Sat, April 23 @ Portland 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Mon, April 25 @ Portland 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: Wed, April 27 @ LA Clippers TBA
Game 6: Fri, April 29 @ Portland TBA
Game 7: Sun, May 1 @ LA Clippers TBA

Contact the author at jsmith15@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalsportWOU

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