NW Briefs | WWU leads at women's golf regional

PHOENIX — Kaitlin Parker, a junior from Marysville-Pilchuck High School, fired a 2-under 70 as Western Washington took the lead heading into today's final round at the NCAA Division II Women's Golf West Regional being played at The Legacy Golf Resort.

The Vikings shot a 9-over par 297, the best round of the tournament, for a 36-hole total of 616 to climb from fourth place. Right behind are defending champion Tarleton State (619), Saint Martin's (621) and St. Edward's (623).

The top two teams earn automatic berths to the nationals May 13-16 in Houston.

The Vikings' Breanna Carmichael is fifth in medal play after shooting 75 for the second straight day. Parker is tied for eighth at 153.

• Western's men fell from second to third but remain in contention for a national-tournament at-large bid heading into today's final round of the NCAA Division II West Regional at the Adobe Creek Golf Club in Petaluma, Calif. Thomas Jun, tied for fifth at 142, and Jake Koppenberg, eighth at 143, are the top Vikings in medalist play.

UW rolls, 9-2

Visiting Washington (29-16) used four home runs — two-run blasts by Kyle Conley, Troy Scott and Sean Meehan, and a solo shot by Andy Lentz — to roll past Portland, 9-2, in nonleague baseball.

• Conley was named Pac-10 Player of the Week. The sophomore outfielder from Richland went 8 for 10 with 19 total bases and nine RBI in a three-game sweep of USC.

• Paul Gran and Jim Murphy hit back-to-back homers in the ninth, touching off a seven-run rally as visiting Washington State (25-20) beat BYU, 13-7.

Notes

• Seattle Thunderbirds right wing Ian McKenzie has signed an entry-level contract with the NHL's Nashville Predators.

• Central Washington's spring football game Saturday has been moved to a noon start.

• Concordia pitcher Brett Hawley, a junior from Bellevue's Newport High School, was named to the All-Cascade Collegiate Conference team.

• Central Washington men's basketball award winners included Jake Beitinger (South Kitsap HS, Port Orchard), MVP; Matt Penoncello (Moscow, Idaho), Gil Coleman Inspirational Award; Nate Jackson (Cleveland HS), Hustle Award; and Bryce Daub (Newport HS, Bellevue), Coaches' Award.

• Tickets for the International Basketball League Western Division playoffs, to be played June 27-29 in Monroe, go on sale May 17. Cost for weekend passes range from $30 to $70. More details: 425-339-2255.

• Central softball players Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, along with the player they carried around the bases (Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon), are scheduled to be guests on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" today.

From sports-information reports