Saturday, June 20, 2015 SPORTS East Oregonian Page 3B Women’s World Cup College Baseball Top teams all make knockout stage Vandy By ANNE M. PETERSON “We are still learning, we come returns Associated Press here to learn,” coach Enow Ngachu said. VANCOUVER, British The winner of the match Columbia — The ’ between China and Cameroon to CWS bid for a third Women’s World Cup advances to face the winner of title remains very much alive, as match between the United States do the championship hopes of all and Colombia. ¿YHRIWKHWRSUDQNHGWHDPVLQWKH HAPPY HOSTS: Canada Finals world. scored just two goals in the opening ERIC OLSON The knockout stage begins this stage at the World Cup, but it was Associated Press weekend with all the powers still enough to send the team through as in place, although some that have WKHWRS¿QLVKHULQLWVJURXS shown vulnerabilities during a 7KH HLJKWKUDQNHG &DQD OMAHA, Neb. — A couple JURXSVWDJHURXQGWKDWLQFOXGHGLWV dians opened the tournament in of stars who led Vanderbilt to its share of upsets and blowouts. Edmonton in dramatic style after ¿UVW QDWLRQDO FKDPSLRQVKLS SXW Some story lines to consider as D JDOD RSHQLQJ FHUHPRQ\ $  the Commodores in position to the remaining 16 nations continue victory over China on a penalty play for another one. NLFN LQ VHFRQGKDOI VWRSSDJH WLPH The defending champions their trek toward the July 5 title returned to the College World game in Vancouver: John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP, File by star forward Christine Sinclair. 6HULHV¿QDOVDIWHU:DONHU%XHKOHU BUMPY ROAD: ’s In this June 8, 2015, file photo, Sweden’s (5) celebrates &DQDGD SOD\HG WR D  GUDZ with her team after scoring against Nigeria during the first half of and John Kilichowski combined path was already tough. It’s about with coach John Herdman’s former RQD¿YHKLWWHUDQG5KHWW:LVHPDQ to get tougher. a FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer match in Winnipeg, Manitoba, team, New Zealand, before wrap Canada. Sweden drew Group D, the so-called Group of Death, with KRPHUHG LQ D  YLFWRU\ RYHU 7KH ¿IWKUDQNHG WHDP OHG E\ SLQJXSWKHVWDJHZLWKDDOOGUDZ 7&8RQ)ULGD\QLJKW former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage the United States, Australia and Nigeria. The path certainly doesn’t with the Netherlands. get any easier for coach Pia Sundhage’s fifth-ranked team, who 7KH &RPPRGRUHV   ZLOO IDFH WRSUDQNHG *HUPDQ\ LQ will face top-ranked Germany to open the knockout stage at the Now it’s on to No. 19 Swit RSHQWKHEHVWRIWKUHHWLWOHVHULHV RQHRIWKHHDUO\PDUTXHHPDWFKXSV Women’s World Cup. zerland in Vancouver on Sunday. Monday against the winner of the elimination stage. &DQDGLDQ PLG¿HOGHU 6RSKLH of Saturday’s game between Sweden drew Group D, the considered the premier game of challenging opponent in No. 7 6FKPLGWZKROHIWWKHJURXS¿QDOH Virginia, last year’s runner up, VRFDOOHG *URXS RI 'HDWK WR the group stage, now the match %UD]LOZKLFKZRQDOORILWVJURXS in the 81st minute with an undis DQG)ORULGD start the World Cup, joining No. Saturday between Germany and stage matches. The two teams meet closed injury, is expected to play. ³7KH\KDYHDXQLTXHZD\RI  $XVWUDOLD WKH VHFRQGUDQNHG Sweden in Ottawa will be among on Sunday in Moncton. “The tournament is a progres just keeping their eye on target United States and perennial African the biggest of the knockout stage. CAMEROON ADVANCES: sion. You’re seeing this with a lot and never getting off balance,” champion Nigeria. The winner moves on to the &DPHURRQ LV WKH ORZHVWUDQNHG of teams. The big players tend to Vandy coach Tim Corbin said. Sweden was surprised by TXDUWHU¿QDOV WR IDFH WKH ZLQQHU team left. step up in these rounds. That’s “I’ve said all along I feel like 1LJHULD ZLWK D  GUDZ LQ WKH RI WKLUGUDQNHG )UDQFH¶V PDWFK As just the second African nation the way to win, for it to happen,” a parent that’s in the back seat opening match before playing to Saturday against South Korea in to advance out the group stage after Herdman said Thursday. letting your kids drive the car a scoreless tie with the U.S. The Montreal. Nigeria in 1999, Cameroon will ANOTHER UNDERDOG: because you trust them. And Swedes wrapped up the group stage *HUPDQ\ ¿QLVKHG DWRS LWV face No. 16 China on Saturday in Along with Cameroon and when you trust a group of kids, ZLWK D  GUDZ ZLWK $XVWUDOLD JURXSRSHQLQJZLWKDURXWRI Edmonton. Colombia, South Korea drew a it’s the greatest feeling a parent concluding the group in third place. WKH,YRU\&RDVWEHIRUHDGUDZ &KLQD ¿QLVKHG VHFRQG LQ LWV WRXJK HOLPLQDWLRQURXQG RSSRQHQW can have. And that’s how I feel.” Then the players had to wait ZLWK 1RUZD\ DQG D  YLFWRU\ JURXS DIWHU D  GUDZ ZLWK 1HZ LQ)UDQFH %XHKOHU   DOORZHG IRXU until all the matches were done over Thailand. Zealand. The match was courted Les Bleues have been consid hits and a run and struck out eight Wednesday to see if they had eked GROUP D SURVIVORS: controversy when coach Hao Wei ered among the favorites at the in 6 2/3 innings. His work during into the elimination round. :LWK LWV ¿UVWSODFH ¿QLVK LQ WKH ZDVVHQWRIIWKH¿HOGDIWHUWKHUHI Women’s World Cup, but they last year’s title run led to his “I said before the matches we Group of Death, the United States ruled he had interfered with Ria showed vulnerability with a being the Los Angeles Dodgers’ have four very good teams and that headed to Edmonton to face No. Percival on the sideline. The replay VXUSULVLQJ  ORVV WR &RORPELD ¿UVWURXQG GUDIW SLFN WKLV \HDU proved to be the case,” Sundhage 28 Colombia, the surprise of the was inconclusive whether Hao had It was widely considered one of and Corbin had faith he could said. “We had the hardest group RSHQLQJURXQGDIWHUDXSVHWRI stumbled. the greatest upsets in World Cup GRWKHMRE)ULGD\HYHQWKRXJKKH and didn’t lose, but at the end of the )UDQFH &RORPELD KRZHYHU ZLOO Cameroon, ranked No. 53, history. hadn’t pitched since June 1. day we didn’t play well enough to be without its starting goalkeeper secured its spot in the knockout South Korea, tied for eighth in “I thought he was right on win the group.” in the Monday match because of URXQG ZLWK D VHFRQGSODFH ¿QLVK the world with Canada, is making point,” Corbin said. “You never Whereas the match between accumulated yellow cards. LQ*URXS&DIWHUDYLFWRU\RYHU its second World Cup appearance know what’s going to happen when the United States and Sweden was 6HFRQGSODFH $XVWUDOLD KDV D Switzerland. DQG¿UVWWULSWRWKHNQRFNRXWURXQG a guy has that much time off.”

All-EO Softball First Team All-EO Softball Second Team

• Pitcher — Rebekka Holman (Pilot Rock) jr., 1st team All-SD6; 14-0 record; 1.05 ERA; 73 strikeouts. • Pitcher — Kiersten Murphy (Pendleton) jr., 3rd team All-State; 1st team All-CRC; 14-4 record; 2.17 ERA; 67 strikeouts. • Pitcher — Mackenzie Gonzales (Echo) soph., 2nd team All-EOL; 15-5 record; 2.37 ERA; 143 strikeouts. PPP C1BINF • First base — Taylor Entze (Weston-McEwen) sr., 2nd Colette Robert Tehya Ostrom Jessica Lambert Mallory Copeland Sara Weinke Darian Lindsey team All-SD6; .439 batting average, 40 runs batted in. Mac-Hi, sr. Pilot Rock, soph. Weston-McEwen, jr. Mac-Hi, soph. Pilot Rock, fr. Pendleton, sr. 4A Player of the 1st team All- 1st team All-SD6; 2nd team All- 1st team All- 5A Player of the • Catcher — Mykal Weissenfluh (Pendleton) sr., 1st Year; GOL Play- SD6; 12-2 record; 15-7 record; 1.52 State; 1st team SD6; .479 batting Year; CRC Player team All-CRC; .329 batting average; 15 runs batted in. er of the Year; 0.862 ERA; 95 ERA; 170 strike- All-GOL; .494 average; .507 on of the Year; .606 27-1 record; 0.77 strikeouts. outs. batting average; base percentage. batting average; • Infield — Stefanie Copeland (Mac-Hi) sr., 2nd team ERA. 41 runs batted in. 13 home runs. All-State; 1st team All-GOL; .329 batting average; 35 runs scored; 18 stolen bases. • Infield — Payton Hergert (Pendleton) soph., 1st team All-CRC; .455 batting average; 6 home runs. • Infield — Isabellew Dillow (Weston-McEwen) jr., 1st team All-SD6; .426 batting average; 50 runs scored. • Outfield — Brooke Kralman (Mac-Hi) jr., 2nd team All-State; 1st team All-GOL; .397 batting average; 26 runs scored. • Outfield — Jessica Pease (Weston-McEwen) sr., 1st INF INF OF OF OF UT team All-SD6; .287 batting average. Micha Fortune Ellie Richards Alexis Morrison Tiah Grass Jenny Field Abi Biggs Mac-Hi, soph. Pendleton, jr. Pendleton, jr. Pendleton, sr. Mac-Hi, jr. Mac-Hi, jr. • Outfield — Rhyanne Oates (Pilot Rock) fr., 1st team 1st team All- 2nd team All- 1st team All- 1st team All- 1st team All- 1st team All- All-SD6; .381 batting average. State; 1st team State; 1st team State; 1st team State; 1st team State;1st team State;1st team All-GOL; .417 All-CRC; .486 All-CRC; .453 All-CRC; 11 home All-GOL; .408 All-GOL; .517 • Utility — Mikayla Kopacz (Hermiston) jr., 3rd team batting average; batting average; batting average; runs; 38 runs bat- batting average; batting average; All-State; 1st team All-CRC; .408 batting average; 7 25 runs scored. 52 runs scored. 9 home runs. ted in. 17 runs scored. 8 home runs. doubles. ROBERT: 6WDUSOD\HUDOZD\VSXWWHDPFRPPXQLW\¿UVW Continued from 1B DVWKHPRVWSUROL¿FVRIWEDOO IURPRWKHUXOWUDWDOHQWHG me sign her visor for her,” KXQWIRUDWKLUGVWUDLJKW$ a lot to pick out when a player to ever pass through youngsters, said Christian. she said. “It was a really big title, Robert is now turning batter is way out in front.” to come. the halls at McLoughlin “It’s rare to get those surprise and it means a lot KHUDWWHQWLRQWR¿QHWXQLQJ Christian, who followed Her beloved Pioneers High with a staggering gems that come through, that to me, because when I was her pitches for the next KHURZQSUROL¿FFDUHHUDW were loaded for another run VWDWOLQH is the overall package and younger I always asked a lot level while playing for the 0DF+LZLWKDVWDULQJUROH at the state championship She pitched all 188 isn’t just about themselves,” of girls that were older than Washington Explosion out of on the Eastern Oregon coming off the program’s innings for the Pioneers she said. “It’s been pretty me for their autographs and Walla Walla. 8QLYHUVLW\VTXDGVRIWKHODWH ¿UVWHYHUWLWOHEXWZRXOG  DQGZKLOHFDOOLQJKHU surreal, just watching her stuff. It means a lot to have “I really am hoping to 90’s, said she has no doubt need their ace in the circle to RZQSLWFKHVIURPDVHYHQ develop. She just really has someone looking up to me work on levels, because Robert’s skill set and work get there. piece arsenal set school matured overall and has because it means that I’m you’ve really got to keep ethic will serve her well with “I knew there was so records with 291 strikeouts really become a teammate actually doing something it at the knees for hitters in the Lobos. much pressure and I had to and a .77 ERA. She only and a leader and someone right for the community. I college,” she said. “And “I’ve probably been a get back in shape, so it was walked 12 of 664 batters these kids look up to, the love giving back.” I’m going to be working on little tougher on her than an early struggle for me,” faced, and surrendered just future pitchers and hitters. In that vein, Robert increasing the spin on my others at times because I VKHVDLG³,ZDV¿QDOO\DEOH 75 hits all year — none of She’s a real role model for willingly gave up her pitches because they will know what she’s in for at to start throwing and hitting them home runs. Having these kids and I couldn’t Sundays this spring to get always beat a bat but speed the next level, and she can again in December, and I already broken the school’s be prouder of her for the catcher Mallory Copeland won’t.” handle it,” Christian said. was in three or four times a batting mark as a junior with accomplishments she’s had. better prepared to succeed One pitch she hopes “I’ve seen her hit a ball week trying to get back into a .727 average, Robert led “We play for our her in the circle next season. will make the transition is harder than anybody I’ve game shape.” the team with at a .624 clip community and Colette has All Copeland had to do was DFKDQJHXSWKDWKDVEHHQ played against or with. Just She shed more than while driving in 51 RBIs embraced that. Colette has ask. dubbed Mr. Nasty for its little things like that leaves sweat, too, and credits with 16 doubles, six home little kids coming up to her “That meant so much ability to humiliate batters. you shaking your head, like intense sessions with La runs and two triples for a asking for autographs and to me because she’s close “The team gets a kick dang. Grande physical therapist 1.059 slugging percentage. they want to come to watch to my age and not many of out of it because I’ve “It’s scary how much at John Combe with getting her Christian said she’s still our practices.” your teammates will ask seen maybe a handful of times she is so advanced, but past her nagging injuries. ZRUNLQJRQWKHFDUHHUUHFRUG Robert said she got her you for help,” she said of people be able to hit her I also know that she’s going “It’s like massage totals for Robert, but most ¿UVWDXWRJUDSKUHTXHVW WKHVRSKRPRUHDOOVWDWH FKDQJHXS´&KULVWLDQVDLG to get even better. College therapy, but it’s not a of major ones are sure to fall following a game against backstop. “She was really of a pitch that drops a good is a different sport, you’re massage. You’re in tears the ZKHQWKH¿QDOWDOOLHVFRPH Walla Walla this season, nervous about next year but 20 mph from her fastball. “It working all year round whole time,” she said. in. which meant as much to I know she’s going to do totally makes you look like with your conditioning and Based on her numbers, no “It’s kind of hard being KHUDVWKHQLQH\HDUROG awesome, either behind the a fool.” your endurance and I know one would have ever known proud of just yourself, UHTXHVWLQJLW plate or at pitcher, she’s just “The speed difference once she gets into a college she wasn’t technically in because it is a team effort,” “She had watched me that kind of player. She’s just is pretty big. I throw, at my program she’s going to get “game shape” until the she said. “I’m so proud that at a different game and at such a great girl, it’s fun for EHVWDQGP\FKDQJHXS even better.” second half of her senior my team was able to help me practice, and she told her me to be able to work with ranks around 42 to 45, so ——— season. out with that.” mom that she really wanted her.” that’s a huge difference,” Contact Matt Entrup at As if there was any doubt, And it’s that mindset to meet me. So after the Content the Pioneers will Robert said. “I’ve been mentrup@eastoregonian. Robert cemented her status that helps set Robert apart game she came up and had be in good hands as they talking to my pitching coach com or (541) 966-0838.