Mark Teahen wins Hutch Award

Mark Teahen has been named the 2009 recipient of the Hutch Award, given annually to the player who "best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication" of Seattle baseball legend Fred Hutchinson.

The Mariners' Mark Lowe had been one of the 10 finalists for the prestigious award, which will be bestowed at the annual Hutch Award Luncheon on Jan. 27 at Safeco Field. Former major-league pitcher Dave Dravecky, the 1989 Hutch Award winner, will be the featured speaker.

Teahen, 28, was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Chicago White Sox earlier this month. He has dual Canadian-American citizenship, with his father being from Ontario, and played on the Canadian team during the World Baseball Classic.

"I am extremely excited to accept the Hutch Award, and I am humbled to be added to the prestigious list of former recipients," Teahen said in the news release from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. "I am honored and thankful for all my friends and family who help me accomplish the many successes I've been fortunate enough to achieve."

Teahen is involved with the YMCA Challenger Baseball program for children with physical or mental challenges, and has donated time to the Royals AbilityCAMP for kids with disabilities, among other charitable endeavors.

According to the release, Teahen said the award and its connection to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center means more to him because of his mom's successful battle with breast cancer this year.

Eleven Hall of Famers are among the past winners, including Mickey Mantle (the first recipient in 1965), Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell, Sandy Koufax and Carl Yastrzemski.

Celski targets Vancouver

NEW YORK — Short-track speedskater J.R. Celski of Federal Way has no doubts he'll compete at February's Vancouver Olympics now that he's returned to the ice from a deep leg gash.

The 19-year-old crashed during the U.S. championships on Sept. 12, his right skate blade slicing into his left thigh. He skated for the first time since the accident in mid-November.

Celski is training with the U.S. women's team as he regains his conditioning. He'll rejoin the men's team once his speed improves.

Celski already had enough points to be nominated to the Olympic team when he crashed at nationals.

Notes

• Washington's Tamari Miyashiro, Kindra Carlson and Jenna Hagglund were voted to the all-Pac-10 women's volleyball team.

In other volleyball conference honors, Washington State's Andrew Palileo was named coach of the year.

• Seattle Pacific's Jocelyn Charette, Janae Godoy and Taylor Sawyer were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Far West Region squad.

• The University of Puget Sound announced that Philip Willenbrock will not return as football coach. Willenbrock, who had led the Loggers since 2002, posted a 24-29 overall record and an 8-35 record in the Northwest Conference.

• Several top American swimmers, including Bremerton's Nathan Adrian, Tacoma's Megan Jendrick, Auburn's Ariana Kukors and Issaquah's Andie Taylor will be competing in the 2009 AT&T Short Course National Championships, which begin Thursday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Includes information compiled from sports-information reports and other sources.