Bears clinch second-half title

YAKIMA, Wash. — They paused on their way to the dugout, alerted by public address announcer Todd Lyons to the Yakima County Stadium video board.

Having just completed their handshake line after one last blast against Tri-City, the Bears were notified of Spokane’s loss at Boise, which meant they’d won the second-half Northwest League East Division championship.

Ever think you’d see such an accomplishment, Jake Hale?

“No,” said the 6-foot-7 relief pitcher who’d spent part of the previous season in Yakima. “And after last year, hell no.”

So the Bears’ 9-1 blowout of the Dust Devils, before an announced fan appreciation night crowd of 3,131 Thursday, proved more than just a final regular-season home fling.

It improved their second-half record to 23-12, or four games better than Spokane’s with three to play, thus securing the franchise’s first title of any sort since 2000.

Yakima, 41-32 overall, will conclude its regular season with three games at Boise. The Bears will then host the first-half winning Indians for Game 1 of a best-of-three division series here Monday night.

“This was fun,” said Enrique Burgos, who was a 9-year-old living in Panama City, Panama, when the Bears beat Eugene for their most recent league championship. “It gives us confidence. We’ve been playing so much better this half, and that’s why we clinched this championship tonight.”

Burgos, who will start Game 2 of next week’s series at Spokane, teamed with Justin Albert, Corey Davisson and Kable Hogben on a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

In his 15th start, and best of his season according to manager Bob Didier, Burgos allowed only three hits and one run over six innings, fanning seven and walking four to improve to 2-1.

Yakima’s offense, meanwhile, produced 11 hits — two each for Roberto Ortiz, Justin Hilt and Jhoan Pimentel, and a single for Mike Freeman that extended the second baseman’s hitting streak to 14 games.

The Bears also stole four bases, running their league-leading total to 151, or 51 more than second-place Spokane and 11 fewer than the team record set in 1994.

Three thefts came during a five-run fifth inning that snapped a 1-1 tie and helped force catcher Bryce Massanari into two throwing errors for the Dust Devils (12-23 second half, 29-44 overall).

After Freeman singled, Roberto Ortiz doubled to put runners at second and third. Zach Walters’ hit off second baseman Dominic Altobelli’s glove scored Freeman, and after Henry Zabala was hit by a pitch, Ortiz came home on Michael Weber’s sacrifice fly.

Walters and Zabala then staged a double steal, and Walters came home when Massanari’s throw to third sailed into left field.

It wasn’t the first time that Walters, who has 13 steals, had scored after forcing an errant throw at the corner.

“It’s happened more than you’d think,” he said. “Didi calls for steals sometimes in situations you wouldn’t normally expect. Sometimes we’ll steal third with two outs. But a lot of the time, like tonight, it’s worked.”

Hilt then singled, and his second theft of the evening resulted in another run when Massanari’s attempt skipped into right-center, allowing Zabala to plate. Hilt then came home on Pimentel’s two-out single.

“The running game has been a big part of our success,” Didier said. “You run and put pressure on young professional players, sometimes things get a little hot.

“We played tonight like we’ve played a lot of this season and the way we like to play, sharp and crisp and aggressive.”

Yazy Arbelo, Yakima’s cleanup hitter and the league RBI leader, was given the night off.

“He’ll play at Boise — everybody will play and get some at bats,” Didier said. “We’ll go down there and play hard for three games, then come back home and give it our best shot.”

9/3/10 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Boise Hawks.

When, where: 6:15 p.m. today, Memorial Stadium, Boise, Idaho.

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Website: www.yakimabears.com

Probable starters: Yakima RHP Kevin Eichhorn (0-0, 0.00) vs. Boise RHP Edward Figueroa (1-3, 4.75).

Notes

WALTERS WATCH: Shortstop Zach Walters was named the Bears’ player of the month for August and awarded a commemorative watch from Dunbar Jewelers.

Walters batted .362 during the month with two homers and 15 runs batted in.

HOW BAD HAD IT BEEN? Not only had the Bears not made the Northwest League playoffs since 2000, during their 10 years as an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate they have had just one winning team prior to this year (45-31 in 2003).

That was also the only season other than this one that a Yakima team won as many as 40 games (the 2010 Bears began play Thursday 40-32) — or a modest four games over .500.

As for the league’s seven other franchises, here’s when they last participated in postseason play: Tri-City 2009, Spokane 2008, Boise 2007, Salem-Keizer 2009, Everett 2002, Vancouver 2005, Eugene 2000.

The Emeralds and Bears, then with the Los Angeles Dodgers, met in a best-of-five series for the 2000 title and Yakima won the deciding fifth game at Yakima County Stadium.

The Bears as a Dodgers affiliate also won the league championship in 1996 and fell to Boise in the title series in 1994 and 1991.

Box score

Click here for box score

NWL Standings

Click here for NWL standings

YVCC goes long way for sweep

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Two long road trips did nothing to tire out Yakima Valley Community College’s volleyball team this week.

After sweeping Skagit Valley in Mount Vernon on Wednesday, the Yaks traveled 412 miles south and swept Umpqua 25-21, 25-15, 25-18 on Thursday.

Tori Fisher, a freshman from Eisenhower, put down 12 kills while Sam Zapien, a freshman from Granger, collected seven kills and 10 blocks.

“This is a nice group of kids, and we’re off to a good start,” said YVCC coach Al Rogers. “We played hard both days.”

YVCC swept Skagit Valley 25-20, 25-21, 25-13 on Wednesday with 25 digs from Veronica Sanchez.

Thursday highlights: Tori Fisher 12 kills; Samantha Zapien 7 kills, 10 blocks; Erin Mertens 14 assists; Veronica Sanchez 35 digs.

Bruns ready to contribute for UW

SEATTLE — This Washington football season is defined by a redshirt Tyrone Willingham decided not to pull in 2006, allowing Jake Locker the chance to play this season as a fifth-year senior. That year, Willingham resisted the urge to play Locker in the last five games of the year after Isaiah Stanback was lost to an injury.

But, as thankful as UW fans are for that decision, many will always question a decision in which Willingham went the other way, pulling the redshirt off receiver Cody Bruns five games into the lost 0-12 season of 2008.

In fact, Bruns played for the first time in the second half of a game in which the Huskies trailed 31-7 at halftime at Arizona after having been seemingly headed for a redshirt season, which is common for true freshmen.

To many Huskies fans, it seemed an unnecessary waste of a year for a player who appeared the very definition of one who needed time to grow.

Bruns, though, has never publicly raised an issue with it.

“I don’t regret anything that has happened so far,” he said. “It’s gotten me to where I am right now, and I’m just building toward the future.”

And that future suddenly appears bright.

Now in his third year in the program, the Prosser native was cited by UW coach Steve Sarkisian as having one of the best training camps of any player.

When starter James Johnson sat out for about two weeks with an ankle injury, Bruns saw some time with the starting unit. And his 70-yard catch and run for a TD was the highlight of UW’s first fall scrimmage.

Johnson is back now, but Sarkisian has flatly said that Bruns “will play” at receiver this season, beginning with Saturday’s game at BYU. Bruns is also the holder for field goals and PATs.

Receivers coach Jimmie Dougherty says Bruns is more physically able to compete now — the kind of statement that only further chafes those who wonder why he didn’t redshirt in 2008, when he played sparingly and made three catches.

“He just wasn’t ready from a physical standpoint and a mental standpoint last year,” said Dougherty. Bruns didn’t catch any passes but did complete a pass while appearing in eight games in 2009. Coaches decided not to redshirt him because he ended camp as a second-team receiver and they felt he was needed to add depth.

“He’s really worked hard in the weight room to become stronger, faster and more able to get off the press (coverage at the line of scrimmage) and not get rerouted in the secondary,” Dougherty said. “He’s just stronger and more physically ready now.”

Bruns says he’s up to about 180 pounds after playing at 174 last season and about 160-165 at Prosser, where he caught a state-record 310 career passes in high school.

“I tried to get more explosive and faster in the offseason, which has helped a lot, I think,” Bruns said.

Dougherty said Bruns brings a lunchpail attitude to practice every day.

“He never complains or pouts or hangs his head,” Dougherty said. “He comes out here every day and works and gives it his best.”

And finally, it appears, there will be some payoff.

— Bob Condotta

9/2/10 Yakima vs. Tri-City photo gallery

Tri-City Dust Devils vs. Yakima Bears on Wednesday night at Yakima County Stadium. All photos by SARA GETTYS

Bears bats go cold

T-C jumps on Yakima ace to end four-game losing streak vs. Bears||

YAKIMA — They had been going in opposite directions, the surging, playoff-bound Bears and tailspinning Tri-City.

Especially against each other.

But Wednesday night at Yakima County Stadium the cellar-dwelling Dust Devils finally got their due, roughing up Bears ace Miguel Pena early and getting a two-run homer late en route to a 7-3 victory before an announced crowd of 1,588.

Yakima (22-12 second half, 40-32 overall), had beaten Tri-City (12-22, 29-43) four nights in a row and eight times in 10 games this season.

Despite the loss, the Bears saw their second-half East Division magic number reduced to two with Spokane’s loss to Boise.

“It’s hard to beat a team five times in a row,” Bears manager Bob Didier said. “They’re a professional ballclub, and they obviously have some good players over there.”

With starting pitcher Erik Stavert clearly among them. Stavert allowed only three hits and one run over 5 2?3 innings, striking out four and walking three to improve to 3-4.

Pena, who will start Yakima’s best-of-three playoff series opener with Spokane here Monday, yielded six hits and five runs — though only two were earned — over five innings. He walked four and struck out five.

“He just never seemed to get comfortable,” Didier said. “He was just a young, 19-year-old pitcher who wasn’t able to adjust on the fly. But he’s been our best starter, and I feel comfortable with him on the mound Monday.”

Roberto Ortiz had two of Yakima’s eight hits and Mike Freeman extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Pena’s problems began early, with first-inning singles by Jeremiah Sammy, Bryce Massanari and Mark Tracy. Sammy came home on a passed ball while Tracy’s two-out single scored Reyes and Jared Simon after Simon had drawn a two-out walk and advanced when Sammy plated.

Errors by Zach Walters and Raoul Torrez, along with two base hits, then plated two second-inning runs for a 5-0 Tri-City lead.

Yakima’s offense finally broke through in the fifth against Stavert, using successive walks to Torrez and Westley Moss plus Ortiz’s two-out single to make it 5-1.

The Bears made it a two-run game in the seventh, scoring twice with two outs.

After  Freeman singled, Ortiz walked and Walters, the switch-hitter batting right-handed against T-C lefty Kraig Sitton, steered a bouncer between third and short for a two-run single.

But in the top of the eighth against Greg Robinson, who had worked two hitless innings in relief of Pena, Mark Tracy led off with a single and, with one out, Chad Jacobsen launched his second homer of the year to left-center for a four-run Tri-City cushion.

“The two-run homer broke our backs,” Didier said. “I felt like when it was 5-3, with two more at bats we could tie it or take the lead.”

Yazy Arbelo, the Northwest League’s RBI leader who also ranks second in homers, left the game after grounding out in the fourth inning.

Didier declined comment on the matter.

9/2/10 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Tri-City Dust Devils.

When, where: Yakima County Stadium.

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Website: www.yakimaherald.com

Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Enrique Burgos (1-1, 4.79) vs. Tri-City RHP Josh Mueller (2-2, 4.12).

Notes

PLAYOFF ROTATION SET: Miguel Pena will start Monday night’s East Division playoff opener here against Spokane, Bears manager Bob Didier said Wednesday.

The 19-year-old will be followed in the best-of-three set by, in order, Enrique Burgos and Kevin Eichhorn, the latter due in soon from Missoula.

Should Yakima advance to the Northwest League championships, also a best-of-three series, the starters will be Brad Wilson, Teo Gutierrez and Pena. All the starters are right-handers.

Justin Albert, who’s also coming from Missoula, will give the Bears another left-handed reliever to join all-star Eury De La Rosa. Didier said Albert will probably be available to pitch an inning here tonight against Tri-City in the Bears last regular-season home game.

FREE PARKING: As part of today’s Fan Appreciatiion Night, parking at Yakima County Stadium for the Bears game with Tri-City will be free.

Fireworks will follow the game.

DOWNTOWN RALLY TODAY: The Yakima Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a playoff rally today for the Bears, which is scheduled for a 11:30 a.m. at Performance Park downtown.

The team will be there at noon and players will later be available for autographs.

Emceeing the event will be Todd Lyons and Drew Bontadelli, the team’s Yakima County Stadium and radio voices, respectively.

Are you up to the challenge?

Pigskin Picks contest one of new items on our Website||

So, you think you can do better than us?

Here’s your chance to prove it.

If you’ve ever wondered how those numbskulls down at the paper could pick So-and-so to beat Such-and-such in prep football, show us that you know better.

And snatch some prizes along the way.

The Yakima Herald-Republic sports department is opening up its Pigskin Picks to its readers online. After quckliy logging in and creating an account, each week entrants will enter their picks and go against the Herald-Republic sports staff and other entrants.

The top picker of the week will not only earn invaluable bragging rights, but also a prize from Ron’s Coin & Book. The season winner will get an Xbox 360, also courtesy of Ron’s.

Log on to sportsyakima.com, click on the Pigskins Pick, sign up and start picking.

But that’s not all the winning we’re offering our readers.

We also will be debuting Prep Insider this week on sportsyakima.com. It will feature a short video giving you an inside look at the YH-R Sports department and what coverage will be coming in the upcoming week.

Insider will also feature Yakima Valley sports trivia. Viewers can log on to answer the question.

Of all the correct answers, one will be randomly picked to receive a gift card from the 2nd Street Grill in downtown Yakima.

It’s our hope that these contests as well as our online feature help supplement your reading experience.

Speaking of which, be sure to check out Kickoff 2010, our annual prep football preview in today’s newspaper.

And good luck picking.

Happy to be back in the saddle again

Healthy again, Martinat set for Ellensburg debut||

ELLENSBURG — As is the case every year, this weekend’s Ellensburg Rodeo’s performance schedule is overflowing with the biggest stars in professional rodeo.

Bryan Martinat will be there, too.

The 22-year-old saddle bronc rider is a household name in, well, his own household. You’ve probably never heard of him. But if the pride of Marsing, Idaho (pop. 945) can catch a break — as opposed to a broken bone, or another collapsed lung — you will soon enough.

“I’m just excited to be rodeoing,” said Martinat, who will make his Ellensburg Rodeo debut in Sunday’s matinee session. “Whether it’s a $55 purse rodeo or one that pays $10,000, it doesn’t matter to me — I’m just excited to be crawling down into the chute onto bucking horses with a chance to compete.”

He knows what it’s like not to have that chance.

In the autumn of his sophomore year at Western State College, Martinat was badly injured during a rodeo in Hamilton, Texas, suffering a collapsed lung for the second time. He spent three weeks in the hospital and doctors told his coaches he’d probably be out for five months.

Four months later — after having missed half of the college rodeo season — he was back in the saddle.

“We had five spring rodeos, and for me to have a chance (at reaching the collegiate regionals) I had to win three of those rodeos and place in the top three in the rest of them,” recalled Martinat, who did precisely that. He placed second in the regional finals, earning a trip to the 2009 College National Finals (CNFR), where he won the average.

This summer, now riding for Blue Mountain College — coached by Yakima-area favorite Chance Dixon — Martinat reached the CNFR again and tied for the win in the saddle bronc short (championship) round.

But his big year wasn’t quite over. Splitting his time between college rodeos and two professional circuits — the Wilderness and Columbia River — Martinat didn’t win enough money to earn a trip to either circuit finals rodeo. But when the Columbia River Circuit finals found itself with an open spot, Martinat got the call.

And boy, is he ever glad he answered that call. He ended up drawing Spring Planting, Flying Five’s reigning world champion bucking horse, in the CRC Finals’ Saturday night session.

“That was awesome just to get a chance to get on a horse like that,” Martinat said. “You know if you can ride him, you’re going to go to the pay window. My coach, Chance, was there, and he just kept me calm. I didn’t overlook the horse, I went at him just like I would any other horse and it paid off.”

Only time will tell if Martinat be able to replicate the career of say, Cody DeMers, another CNFR saddle bronc champion who two years after his college victory used a win at Ellensburg to springboard to the first of three straight trips to the National Finals Rodeo.

But Martinat is certainly happy for the chance.

“There’s going to be so many good animals in stock there (at Ellensburg) — it should be a pretty even pen of horses,” Martinat said. “I’m just going to treat it just like any other rodeo.”

And, perhaps, add a new star to that already glittering Ellensburg lineup.

Ellensburg Rodeo information

Rodeo performance times: 6:45 p.m. Friday, 12:45 p.m. Saturday, 12:45 p.m. Sunday, 11:45 a.m. Monday finals.

Slack sessions (timed events only): 10 a.m. Friday, 8 a.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. Sunday.

PRCA Xtreme Bulls: 8 a.m. Saturday.

Who’s coming: Almost everybody who’s anybody in the PRCA, including:

• the top 37 competitors in the steer wrestling money standings, all vying to be the top 15 to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo;

• the top 30 bull riders in the standings, a remarkable number this late in the season in such a rugged, injury-riddled event;

• the top 18 bareback riders, with Washington native Ryan Gray of Cheney making a strong bid to earn his first world championship;

• 19 of the top 20 team-roping duos, including the Ellensburg brother duo of Riley (the header) and Brady (the heeler) Minor, who are on pace to earn their third straight NFR appearance as a team (and Brady’s fourth overall);

• and 26 of the top 27 saddle bronc riders.

Online information: www.ellensburgrodeo.com

Rodeo/ticket office: 800-637-2444

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