NW Sports from the AP

Date: 12/04/2013 05:00 AM

AP-NW–1st SportsMinute/263
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press

 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – The San Francisco 49ers are ready for some serious chatter coming from that brash, big-talking Seattle secondary. Niners fullback Bruce Miller insists Richard Sherman and the playoff-bound Seahawks (11-1) have more than earned the right to speak up on the field. The Niners (8-4) still have plenty of work to do to secure their own playoff positioning, and beating Seattle would help.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Quarterback Marcus Mariota has announced that he will return to Oregon for his junior season. Following Oregon’s 36-35 victory over Oregon State in the Civil War last Friday, he said he hadn’t made a decision on declaring himself eligible for the NFL. The school announced yesterday that Mariota and center Hronis Grasu would stay.

SEATTLE (AP) – The Seattle Mariners have hired former catcher Dan Wilson as the roving minor league catching coordinator for the organization. Wilson will work with catchers at all levels of the organization beginning with spring training and continuing through the season. Wilson was an All-Star in 1996 and spent 14 seasons catching with Cincinnati and then spent the majority of his career in Seattle.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – With seven transfers new to the Ducks and two players serving suspensions, No. 13 Oregon is looking surprisingly cohesive. Oregon swept the field this past weekend at the Global Sports Hardwood Classic tournament to improve to 7-0 for the team’s best start since the 2007-08 season. Joseph Young, who came from Houston, is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 23.3 points.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.