A roster change for the M-T All-Star game

By Tim Trower | Published: March 7, 2010 | 0 Comments

One of the rosters for the Mail Tribune All-Star Basketball Classic required a bit of tweaking over the weekend. Travis Pratt, a South Medford senior who was second-team all-Southwest Conference, replaces Rogue River’s Brendan Schoner on the Siskiyou team.

Schoner had a agreed to play and was really looking forward to it. It was only after the teams came out in the Mail Tribune, however, that his parents realized there was a conflict and they had to reveal a secret to him. They planned a surprise vacation to, I think, Washington, D.C., over spring break, meaning Schoner wouldn’t be here for the All-Star game.

We’ve had to make roster adjustments each of the three years of the game, and this one works out well. The players were selected before all-league teams came out, and Pratt was one player it seems we missed on in making the picks. I’m glad to see he’ll have a chance to play in the March 20 game at Kids Unlimited.

Remember, the fans are picking the starters for the boys and girls games. Go to www.mailtribune.com/allstars and make your selections.

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OSU quarterback Moevao loses appeal

By Tim Trower | Published: March 4, 2010 | 0 Comments

This from Oregon State a few minutes ago: Lyle Moevao’s NCAA appeal denied

CORVALLIS — Oregon State University’s appeal to the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility for quarterback Lyle Moevao has been denied, it was announced Thursday. OSU officials were seeking an extension of the five-year NCAA eligibility case for Moevao, who played just one down last season in a Sept. 26, 2009 game vs. Arizona.

Moevao underwent surgery in February of 2009 after injuring his right shoulder during the 2008 season. He worked himself back onto the two-deep depth chart during the course of last season before suffering a right foot injury in practice in late October that ended his year.

“We are all very disappointed in the outcome of Lyle’s appeal for the sixth year,” OSU head coach Mike Riley said. “We will of course miss him, both as a person and as a player on our team. He not only won a lot of games as our quarterback, including some of our biggest wins in history, but he also was the heart and soul personality in our program.” 

Moevao’s appeal was denied due to him not demonstrating the loss of two seasons beyond his control, as defined by current NCAA legislation. Moevao redshirted in 2006 after transferring to OSU from El Camino Community College in California.

The 2009 graduate in sociology ends his collegiate career as a three-year letterman for the Beavers and with an 11-4 record as a starter. He ranks seventh all-time at OSU for passing yards with 3,410 and ninth for passing touchdowns with 21. The co-team captain was a Pac-10 Conference Honorable Mention selection as a junior. 

The Beavers have four quarterbacks on the current roster; sophomore Ryan Katz, junior Peter Lalich and redshirt-freshmen Jack Lomax and Cody Vaz. True-freshman Sean Mannion will join the team in August. The Beavers begin spring practice March 29.

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OSU, Robinson agree on contract extension

By Tim Trower | Published: March 2, 2010 | 0 Comments

Craig Robinson is on board for another couple years. He and Oregon State have agreed on a two-year contract extension. Here’s the release:

CORVALLIS — Oregon State University head men’s basketball coach Craig Robinson has reached an agreement in principle to a two-year contract extension, Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis announced Tuesday. The contract ensures Robinson will be on the sidelines for Oregon State through the 2015-2016 season. Terms of the contract will be released in the near future.

“I’d like to thank President Ed Ray and Bob De Carolis for their commitment to me, our program and Oregon State,” Robinson said. “This extension represents a mutual commitment to the future of Oregon State men’s basketball. We will continue to recruit the best student-athletes, invest in our facilities and build a successful team on and off the court. We have ambitious goals and look forward to returning the Oregon State basketball program to prominence.”

In just his second season at Oregon State, Robinson has started a remarkable turnaround that has seen the Beavers win 31 games since his arrival. The 31 wins is the most over a two-year period for Oregon State since the Beavers won a combined 36 games during the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons.

In his first season at Oregon State, Robinson led a turnaround that culminated in the Beavers capturing the College Basketball Invitational tournament title with a best-of-three series win over UTEP. With the championship, the Beavers captured the first postseason men’s basketball title in school history.

Oregon State finished the season with an 18-18 record and had one of the greatest turnarounds in the nation as the plus-12 win total from the previous year ranked No. 3 in the country. The 18 wins were the most for Oregon State since the 1989-90 season (22) as Robinson was named District IX Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association.

“Since his arrival, Craig Robinson has done an outstanding job of instilling a work ethic within the program that has allowed our student-athletes to improve on and off the court,” De Carolis said. “He has shown a keen understanding of how to build a program the right way and has already made significant strides in restoring the proud tradition of Oregon State men’s basketball. This new agreement ensures his leadership will be felt for a long time and adds continued stability to the program.”

Robinson and Oregon State return to action on Thursday, March 4, when the Beavers host Washington State at 7 p.m.

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Beavers win Pac-10 wrestling title

By Tim Trower | Published: March 1, 2010 | 0 Comments

We unfortunately missed Oregon State’s championship run in the Pac-10 Conference wrestling tournament over the weekend. I’m not aware of it being moved on the AP wire, and it doesn’t appear we got an e-mail from the school. Nevertheless, here’s the link to the story on the OSU Web site.

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M-T All-Star games are attracting some talent

By Tim Trower | Published: February 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

We’re starting to get jacked up for the third annual Mail Tribune All-Star Basketball Classic. And so are the players, judging from conversations with many who have played before and will be back. There are two games on Saturday, March 20, at Kids Unlimited. The girls play at 5:15 p.m. and the boys at 7. Proceeds go to Kids Unlimited.

The games feature top players from all classifications — 6A through 1A — in Southern Oregon playing alongside one another for the only time in their careers. Here’s a lineup of the boys and girls who have committed to play. Bear in mind, we’re still contacting players, but this indicates we’re off to a good start.

Boys: South Medford’s Josh Havird, North Medford’s Michael Levos, Grants Pass’ Ronnie Fields, Ashland’s Adam Pavlich and Jordan Resch, Crater’s Josh Dalton, Eagle Point’s Logan Winter, Phoenix’s Skyler Reagan and Alex Young, Hidden Valley’s Cody Krauss and Taylor Bars, Illinois Valley’s Roger Hults, Cascade Christian’s Colton Cochran, Rogue River’s Brendan Schoner and Butte Falls’ Harley Casillas.

Girls: North Medford’s Karissa Dixon and Alyssa Maurer, South Medford’s Kylie Towry, Grants Pass’ Heather Wonsyld, Ashland’s Allison Gida, Crater’s Jen Noon and Leona Steel, Phoenix’s Kelsey George, Hidden Valley’s Dana Powell, Cascade Christian’s Aleena Cesaro, Rogue River’s Kelly Maxey, Butte Falls’ Mariah Moore and Prospect’s Alexis Zeller,

As with the past two years, we’ll turn the selection of the starter’s over to a fan vote. Once the rosters are established for the Rogue and Siskiyou teams, fans will be able to go on our Web site and vote for starters on each team. It’s proven to be quite popular, and the leading players last year eclipsed 500 votes.

Here are highlights from the 2009 games:

Boys: Ashland’s Talon Haggard was MVP, scoring 19 points to lead the Rogue team to a thrilling come-from-behind win. For the Siskiyous, South Medford’s Mitch Singler poured in 27 points and North Medford’s Josh Pecktol amassed 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Girls: MVP Brittney Newcomb of South Medford scored 20 points to lead the Rogues to victory. Ashland’s Allison Gida paced the Siskiyous with 12 points.

Keep watching for more details and circle March 20 on your calendar for a great event that goes to a great cause.

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Tsunami threat postpones Duck game

By Tim Trower | Published: February 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

The latest news is that Hawaii dodged a bullet following the threat of a tsunami. That’s good news for, among others, the members of the Oregon baseball team, who are in Honolulu to play Hawaii. Game 2 of the four-game series scheduled for Saturday was postponed after tsunami warnings were issued for the islands. A doubleheader will be played Sunday, time and weather permitting.

The squad has left the team hotel, the Marriott Courtyard Waikiki Beach, and moved inland onto the University of Hawaii campus. No official evacuation was ordered at the time the team left their hotel this morning. It was done for precautionary measures only.

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Yes, Beavers, the Ducks are ranked

By Tim Trower | Published: February 24, 2010 | 0 Comments

As much as they hate to see it, Oregon State baseball fans might have to get used to the idea the University of Oregon is coming on. I got a call from a distraught Beaver arguing that a story in Tuesday’s paper incorrectly said the Ducks are ranked 25th. Should have been the Beavers, he said.

But, here’s the College Baseball Newspaper poll that came out Monday – after the Ducks opened with two impressive wins. It shows them at No. 25. Beaver fans can debate the validity of any poll that includes Oregon, but be careful. It also lists OSU No. 10.

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Listen to Duck coach, columnist go at it

By Tim Trower | Published: February 23, 2010 | 0 Comments

Oregon is making national news for its troubled football program. ESPN’s Outside the Lines addressed the Ducks’ situation Tuesday. But it’s a radio program closer to home that gets the “must hear” billing. Oregon coach Chip Kelly went on the air with Oregonian columnist John Canzano and the two had a contentious, 10-minute discussion about discipline within the program. Listen to it here.

You can catch some reaction on Facebook.

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Beavers OK’d for track championships

By Tim Trower | Published: February 23, 2010 | 0 Comments

Oregon State inches closer and closer to having a real men’s track team again. The NCAA and the Pac-10 Conference have granted OSU’s appeal to permit qualifying male athletes to compete in the 2010 Division I Track and Field (Indoor and Outdoor) and Pacific-10 Conference Championships, according to a release.

The Beavers have eight football players training for several regular season track meets. Sophomore-to-be wide receiver Jordan Bishop high jumped 7-0 1/2 at the Feb. 13 Husky Indoor Classic meet in Seattle to capture the afternoon section. Fellow wide receiver Obum Gwacham competed in the high jump also, while Keynan (Keenan) Parker, James Rodgers and Rashaad Reynolds ran the 60 meters. The Beavers representation at a track meet was the first for male student-athletes since the 1988 NCAA Championships; OSU has fielded a women’s team since 2004.

“It’s exciting to be eligible to compete in three of the very biggest NCAA meets,” OSU track/cross country coach Kelly Sullivan said. “The ruling doesn’t necessarily mean that we will have competitors in the events, but it certainly opens up some great possibilities and goals for these exceptional student-athletes.”

OSU football players Jacquizz Rodgers, Markus Wheaton and Kevan Walker have also participated in track workouts, with possible competition in the future. The next date for OSU men to compete is March 6 at the Washington Qualifier in Seattle. The Pac-10 Championships are May 15-16 at the University of California while the NCAA Indoor Championships are March 12-13 at the University of Arkansas and the Outdoor Championships June 9-12 at the University of Oregon.

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E.J. proves his worth to Ducks

By Tim Trower | Published: February 22, 2010 | 0 Comments

Here’s a good column by George Schroeder of the Eugene Register-Guard on E.J. Singler and his impact, however understated, on the struggling Oregon basketball team.

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