SportsRecreation
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2012
B3
Peguero hopes to stick with Mariners MCCLATCHY NEWS SERVICE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mariners left fielder Carlos Peguero, recently called up from Triple-A Tacoma, catches a fly ball hit by Oakland’s Coco Crisp on Friday.
SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners have a number of players coming back after the All-Star break – Franklin Gutierrez, Mike Carp, Erasmo Ramirez – but for the next few days, the team will be looking at outfielder Carlos Peguero. Brought up from Tacoma on Thursday, Peguero started in right field Friday, and manager Eric Wedge made it clear he wanted to see the 25-year-old. “We’re going to try to get him in as much as we can,” Wedge said. Well, that would be the final three games before the All-Star break, which begins Monday. After the break? Wedge wouldn’t promise Peguero would stick with the team beyond the break. “We’ve got Gutierrez (concussion) and Carp (shoulder strain), who’ll be coming back. We’ve got an extra man in the bullpen right now, and Erasmo Ramirez will miss the first start after the break, then rejoin the rotation,” Wedge said. Simply put, Peguero needs a hot series to stay. On Friday, regular right fielder Ichiro was the designated hitter, with Casper Wells in left field, and Michael Saunders in center field.
cussion after taking a foul ball off his catcher’s mask – and if it had been up to him, he’d probably have played Friday. But it wasn’t. “I feel better, thank God,” Montero said. “Day-to-day,” Wedge said of the rookie. When asked if Montero were close, Wedge shook his head. “He’s closer,” Wedge said. “It’s not as bad as Gutierrez, but this isn’t something you rush.” Notes: Gutierrez is eligible to come off the sevenday disabled list after suffering a concussion, but won’t. “Next week may be optimistic.” If it weren’t for home games, third baseman Kyle Seager would almost certainly have been an AllStar. In his first 38 road games, Seager batted .316 with eight home runs and 33 RBI. Reliever Stephen Pryor, on the disabled list with a groin strain, threw a simulated game Friday and will report to the Mariners Class A team in California. He’ll get work there, then likely return to Tacoma if not Seattle within a few weeks. Wedge said after the AllMontero out Star break, pitcher Hisashi Jesus Montero came out Iwakuma will be in the of the Mariners’ game starting rotation, at least Wednesday with a mild con- until Ramirez returns.
Peguero acquitted himself well with his glove and his bat. Early in the game, he made a catch at the rightfield wall to rob Oakland’s Coco Crisp of a hit. In the ninth inning, Peguero belted a line drive to left field that was misplayed by A’s rookie Yoenis Cespedes, allowing Peguero to reach third base for a two-out triple. He was stranded there when a ground out by Dustin Ackley ended the inning. For the game, Peguero was 1 for 4 at the plate. In 49 games with TripleA Tacoma, Peguero batted .295 with 18 home runs and 41 RBI – the kind of production the Mariners dream about. “I’ve been working with (batting coach) Jeff Pentland, hitting off a tee every day,” Peguero said. “I’m more patient at the plate. I work on hitting pitches in the strike zone, not every pitch the pitcher throws. “I have a lot of expectations, a lot of confidence. I feel ready to be here.” For at least the new few days, he’ll stay.
M’s: Zunino joins elite group of honorees CONTINUED FROM B1 130/30 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 123 innings in 2012. He remains unsigned On May 29, the candidate pool was whittled after being picked by the down to a 30-player semifi- Pirates. “I am really glad Mike nalist list, which was sent won,” Appel said. “He defito a voting body consisting nitely deserved it. He’s had of past USA Baseball a great year, a great three national team coaches and years at Florida. I know he’s press officers, media mem- going to have a great career bers who closely follow the with the Mariners.” Zunino’s father, Greg, is sport, select professional a scout for the Cincinnati baseball personnel and curReds. His mother, Paola, rent USA Baseball staff. caught for the Italian In total, 219 experts and national softball team. a fan poll — which counted That type of upbringing as one vote — decided on cannot do anything but the three finalists. help a player. Appel, the No. 8 pick Zunino was no exception, overall in this year’s First- calling his own games while Year Player Draft, went serving as a team leader 10-2 with a 2.56 ERA and a behind the plate.
“I am extremely proud,” Greg said. “He went to Florida not expecting anything, wanting to earn his job. Kept improving every year, kept working hard every year, and it’s really paid off. He’s done a great job.” Zunino will attend the 83rd annual MLB All-Star Game at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday before officially embarking on his professional career with the Everett AquaSox, Seattle’s Class A short-season affiliate. “I’m reporting on the 10th [of July],” Zunino said. “They said they want to ease me back into it — take a couple BPs, get back in shape, catch a couple ‘pens.
And Tim Lincecum — “I am just looking forward to getting back and the 2006 recipient — has won two Cy Young Awards. playing.” Many believe the 6-foot-1 backstop will wind up joinSelect group ing the ranks of the elite, as Past winners of the well. Golden Spikes Award have “I think when you look gone on to successful pro at what [Zunino] brings to careers. the table, his offensive The 2010 and 2011 numbers are impressive,” recipients, Harper and Mariners GM Jack ZduriTrevor Bauer, made their encik said at the catcher’s big league debuts in 2012 introductory news conferamid much fanfare. ence on Tuesday. The winners from 2007“But his defensive lead09, David Price, Buster ership, what he does behind Posey and Stephen Stras- the plate, I think is going to burg, are MLB All-Stars be very important to this this season. organization as we move Jered Weaver, the 2004 forward.” honoree, also earned a trip As a catcher, Zunino can to the approaching Mid- view the entire playing field summer Classic. from his position.
What he has never seen, though, is his father — the Reds scout — in Mariners attire. The ever-determined catcher has tried to change that. “I was giving him a hard time,” the younger Zunino said. “We went to the Seattle Mariners team store in Seattle, and I told him I would buy him an Under Armour Seattle shirt so he can wear it under when he scouts. “But he said he wouldn’t do that.” “But maybe in a few years, I will still be with the Mariners, playing for them at the highest level, and he then can wear some stuff.”
Webb Simpson leads Greenbrier Classic THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Webb Simpson likes the way he’s avoiding bogeys and figures he’ll need to play smart again at the Greenbrier Classic to get his second win in three tournaments. The U.S. Open champion shot a 5-under 65 in the third round Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round. Simpson had his second straight bogey-free round to reach 14 under on The Greenbrier Resort’s Old White TPC Course. Troy Kelly was second after a 62. Rookie Charlie Beljan, J.B. Holmes and
Golf Ken Duke were 11 under. Beljan had a 67, Holmes a 66, and Duke a 65. Simpson isn’t disappointed that Tiger Woods isn’t around to challenge him. Woods missed the cut for only the ninth time in his PGA career. “When he’s not lurking around on Saturdays and Sundays, it makes it a little easier I think for other guys,” Simpson said. Simpson said he plans to peek at the leaderboard, “but the way I look at it is, I’ve got to go shoot under par [today].
“And if I don’t, somebody’s going to probably going to probably play pretty good. I think the golf course is playing in such a way that there’s plenty of birdie opportunities. “I’ve almost got to imagine that these guys are all going to shoot 4, 5 under. I’ve got to stay aggressive.”
Familiar spot Simpson has been in this position before. He briefly led entering the final nine holes last year, but faded to a tie for ninth. “I realized shortly after the round that I wanted it so bad that it kind of put
SEQUIM — Today is the final day to register for the first-ever Dungeness Cup soccer tournament. The Dungeness Cup, which will be held August 3-5, is open to U11 through U16 girls and boys who play in a competitive/select or recreational soccer league. The tournament features over 25 acres of grass fields and is sanctioned by Washington State Youth Soccer and US Youth Soccer. The entry fee is $400
lead from Kelly with a 6-foot putt on the 597-yard 17th. Simpson finished it off with a 20-footer for birdie on the par-3 18th.
Comeback kids He’ll be pursued Sunday by a pair of players making medical comebacks. Kelly underwent hipreplacement surgery in September 2010 after being diagnosed with arthritis. Holmes had part of his skull removed in September 2011, four months after he started having vertigo symptoms. He returned to the tour in January.
While playing the minitour circuit several years ago, Kelly didn’t know what was causing pain in his left hip. He played through it for two years but got to the point where he could barely walk, so he went to a doctor and surgery followed. “For me to just play this game at a high level, I had to go get it done,” Kelly said. He starting playing golf again five months later, but it took up to a year before he felt his muscle strength was back to normal. He was 11th in winnings last year on the former Nationwide Tour and moved up to the PGA Tour.
Youth: Tournaments
Briefly . . . Register now for soccer tournament
more pressure on myself than the pressure I was already feeling,” he said. “So it kind of locked me up a little bit and I wasn’t able to perform like I had been all week. “I think it’s good for me to remember that, not only [today] but every week that I just have to let it come to me.” Simpson started the third round a stroke ahead of five others. He opened with six straight pars before gaining momentum on the back nine. He two-putted for birdie from 24 feet on the par-5 12th, made a 7-footer at No. 14 and retook the
per team, and each team is guaranteed three games. All games will be played with 30-minute halves, except for U11, which will have 25-minute halves. Every game will have a center referee and two linesmen. For more Dungeness Cup information, visit http://tinyurl.com/dungenesscup.
Skeet champion COLORADO SPRINGS — Port Angeles’ Jaiden Grinnell won the 2012 national championship in women’s skeet last week. She posted a overall score of 269/275 and a 245 qualifying score, surpassing the two national
records set by five-time Olympian Kim Rohde in 2009.
Football stars TACOMA — Four Port Townsend football players were named All-Americans at the Offense-Defense Football Camp at Pacific Lutheran University. Wesley Wheeler, Carson Marx, Bruce Seton and Noa Montoya were named to the West All-American team, which will compete at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, in December. Each player earned his spot during the week-long camp by competing against other players from Washington, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii.
CONTINUED FROM B1 North Olympic 16U squad and Hoquiam. After losing the first North Olympic beat Othello 18-12 and Belling- game to Hoquiam by a 3-0 score, North Olympic found ham 18-5. On Friday, the 10U Cal themselves trailing 2-0 in Ripken team won its third the elimination game. Port Angeles scored two game, a 11-7 victory over runs to tie the game, but Spokane. They started bracket then gave up two runs in play Saturday as the the top of the seventh inning to fall behind 4-2. numNo. 1 seed. In the bottom of the seventh, though, North OlymSoftball tourney pic scored three runs to win FORKS — The North 5-4 and force a winner-takeOlympic softball teams all game Saturday. were in action Thursday Meanwhile, the North and Friday at the state soft- Olympic 10U team played ball tournament. three games on Thursday. Thursday’s most draThe team lost 6-3 to a matic contest was the elimi- strong Forks team and 3-1 nation game between the to Ellensburg before defeat-
ing Upper Kittitas 10-5. The 12U team defeated Ellensburg 7-2 and Forks 15-0 to take the No. 1 seed into bracket play. The 14U team defeated Forks 12-2 and took down Hoquiam 14-4 to secure the top spot in elimination play. On Friday, the North Olympic 10U team began pool play with a 14-2 win over Bellingham and the 12U team defeated Othello 14-0. In 14U play, North Olympic lost to Hoquiam 14-4 before defeating Forks 16-0. The 16U North Olympic team began a best two-ofthree series with Hoquiam on Saturday.