September 5, 2007

UCR's Checketts leaving for Oregon

The Press-Enterprise

Andrew Checketts is heading back to Oregon. The UC Riverside pitching coach accepted a job to become pitching coach for the University of Oregon, which is reinstating is baseball program after a 26-year hiatus.

Checketts, who was an All-American at Oregon State in 1998, has been the Highlanders pitching coach since 2001. The Highlanders staff was among national leaders in strikeouts (8.0 per game) and ERA (3.68) this season, and the program has had several pitchers drafted, including first-rounder James Simmons this year.

"Because we pitched very well, people were interested in Andrew, and rightfully so," UCR head coach Doug Smith said. "You never want to lose good people, but one of the things that happens when you're successful is that you lose good people."

The Ducks hired George Horton away from Cal State Fullerton last week. Horton asked permission to interview Checketts and he and his wife visited Eugene this past weekend.

"It took a lot of things to really line up to leave UCR," said Checketts, who will make a base salary of $120,000. "I don't think it's going to be easy (building a program), but it's very exciting."

ALLAN STEELE

RB Credits Offensive Line

Tears were running down the face of sophomore running back Jamaal Scott minutes following Riverside Community College's impressive comeback win at Southwestern College on Saturday night.

"I was horrible in the first half," he said. "I played really bad. Give it up to the line. They did this tonight. They put it all together."

Scott, who rushed for 72 yards in the opening half, cracked the game open with 122 in the second half (194 total rushing yards, 274 all-purpose yards, two touchdowns).

"Rodney Picou, Ryan Henry, Dale Furber, Tony (Garcia) kept pushing their guys all over the field," said Scott, a San Bernardino High product, as he rattled off the names of RCC's blockers.

OBREY BROWN

Putting on the Heat

In 104-degree heat, Riverside Community College posted wins over Fullerton College and Santiago Canyon College, among others, in a cross country meet last weekend in Moreno Valley. Ian Iverson's time was 17 minutes, 57 seconds, second only to Santiago's David Ferreira's 17:49, to lead the Tigers to 20-57 and 20-61 wins over Fullerton and Santiago.

"This team should have a very strong season," Tigers coach Jim McCarron said.

OBREY BROWN

Redlands Ranked No. 1

Returning Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year Ryan Hall, along with All-SCIAC first-teamer Andrew Becskehazy, the University of Redlands was the No. 1-ranked team in the Collegiate Water Polo Association poll.

OBREY BROWN

RCC's Walder Honored

Riverside Community College's Clint Walder was among 12 national winners of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Arthur Ashe Jr. National Leadership and Sportsmanship Awards.

The award honors NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA and junior college men's and women's players who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.

OBREY BROWN

Redlands Starts Out No. 17

Redlands, which finished strong and took its momentum into the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 last season, was ranked No. 17 in the American Volleyball Coaches' Association preseason poll.

Redlands, 22-7 last season, reached the NCAA playoffs for the first time in 13 years last season.

OBREY BROWN

Bulldogs Look Strong

Coming off a 20-2 season, Redlands is ranked No. 16 in the preseason National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III poll. Returning SCIAC Player of the Year Ross Schunk, a forward, along with midfielder Bryan Fakkema -- both NSCAA All-Americans in 2006 -- shore up the Bulldogs.

OBREY BROWN