NW Sports from the AP

AP-NW–1st SportsMinute,288
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from
The Associated Press
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – The Mike Leach era at Washington State
finally reaches the football field today with the opening of spring
drills. Leach was hired in November to bring his high-powered
passing attack to Washington State, which posted a 9-40 record over
the previous four seasons under fired coach Paul Wulff. Washington
State has 47 returning lettermen and 13 starters back from last
year’s squad.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – Abe Lodwick set career highs with 23
points and 12 rebounds yesterday to lead Washington State to a
72-55 win against Pac-12 rival Oregon State in a College Basketball
Invitational semifinal at Gill Coliseum. Reggie Moore added 22
points for the Cougars (18-16). Eric Moreland had 14 points and 11
rebounds for Oregon State (21-15). Washington State advances to the
CBI’s best-of-three championship against Pittsburgh, which beat
Butler 68-62 in overtime in the other semifinal yesterday.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) – Felix Hernandez allowed seven earned runs
over five innings in his final spring training start and the
Seattle Mariners were roughed up by the Chicago White Sox 13-8
yesterday. Hernandez’s next start is scheduled to come March 28,
when the Mariners open the season against the Oakland Athletics in
Tokyo. The Mariners leave for Japan today and will play two
exhibition games there before the opener.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Trail Blazers rookie guard Elliot Williams
will have surgery on his left shoulder later this month and miss
the rest of the season. Williams dislocated his shoulder during
practice on March 8. The Blazers say he will have surgery March 30
in Los Angeles. Averaging 3.7 points in his 24 appearances, the
6-foot-5 Williams has shown promise this season. He’s scored 88
points in just 149 total minutes.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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