Northwest Notes: Oct. 8, 2014

North Idaho Softball Club fifth in World Masters tourney

The North Idaho Softball Club played 11 games and finished fifth out of 62 teams in the World Masters Championships in Las Vegas.

It is North Idaho's fourth straight top-10 finish in the age 50-and up AAA division, the largest in the tournament.

Team members include: Lee Libera, Mike Reeder, Marlin Harris, Chuck Ether, Jack Foster, Mike Callahan, Steve Turbin, Al Martin, Steve Saunders, Chris Hayes, Don Owen, Dick Stauffer, Greg Hart, Lundy Larson and Jim Palombi.

Sun Belt Conference reprimands officiating crew

NEW ORLEANS - The Sun Belt Conference acknowledged there was a mistake in counting downs during the Georgia State and Louisiana-Lafayette game this past Saturday, and the officiating crew that worked the game has been reprimanded by league commissioner Karl Benson.

A loss of down occurred during the final drive of the second quarter when Georgia State had possession of the ball with less than a minute to do. After a series of penalties - most notably a false start, Georgia State should have had the ball on first down with 15 yards to gain. A timeout was taken to avoid a 10 second runoff and upon resumption of play, the down and distance was wrongly marked as second down and 15 yards to gain.

Sun Belt Coordinator of Officials Steve Shaw recognized the issue and the sequence in question was reviewed and confirmed on Sunday.

Vandals' McCain named to Biletnikoff Watch list

University of Idaho senior wide receiver Joshua McCain, who is in just his eighth month of playing the position, was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

McCain is the Sun Belt Conference leader in receiving yards per game (113.6) and in receiving touchdowns (6). He is second in the league in receptions per game (7.4) and total receiving yards (568). Nationally, those numbers are sixth in receiving touchdowns, 10th in yards per game, 15th in receptions per game and 16th in total yards.

After spending all but one play of his career (high school, junior college and last season at Idaho) at quarterback, he has went over 100 yards in three of the Vandals' five games.

The Biletnikoff Award, named to honor Oakland Raiders and Florida State receiver Fred Biletnikoff, is given annually to the nation's top receiver. A national selection committee votes on the award, but fans can have a voice. The top vote getter in the fan poll will receive one additional vote. To vote, visit: www.polldaddy.com/poll/

Cracraft, Mayle added to Biletnikoff Award Watch List

Washington State wide receivers River Cracraft and Vince Mayle have both been added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced.

Senior wide receiver Isiah Myers was added to the list in early September. Washington State and Baylor are the only teams with three players on the watch list.

Cracraft is fourth in the Pac-12 Conference with 43 receptions, 11th nationally with 576 receiving yards and tied for third in the conference with six touchdowns. He also ranks fifth nationally with 8.6 catches per game and is coming off a career-high game of 11 catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns against California on Saturday in Pullman.

Mayle is third in the country with 51 receptions, fourth nationally with 703 receiving yards and is tied for third in the conference with six touchdowns. He is sixth nationally with 8.5 receptions per game and owns three 100-yard games this season. He had a school-record 263 receiving yards, including a 90-yard score against California.

The 2014 winner will be presented live on Dec. 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

Spokane Shock announce open tryout at training facility

SPOKANE - The Spokane Shock announced another open tryout on Nov. 15 at the Shock Training Facility in Spokane Valley.

Participants will be tested in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle and broad jump. Afterward, Shock coaching staff and assists will lead position drills and 1-on-1's. The workout will be conducted on an AstroTurf field, so participants are encouraged to wear training, indoor soccer or basketball shoes. Cleats will not be permitted.

Pre-registration for the tryout is $50 per participant and closes three days prior to the event. Day of registration will be available on-site beginning at 8 a.m. at the cost of $75 (cash only). The workout begins at 9 a.m.

Registration is available at www.shock.mycustomevent.com. or www.spokaneshock.com/team/tryouts.

The team is also holding tryouts in Dallas (Oct. 26) and Nov. 8 in Atlanta, Ga.

Idaho's Coba earns Big Sky volleyball honor

ODGEN, Utah - Idaho junior Meredith Coba was named the Big Sky Conference volleyball Player of the Week for Sept. 29-Oct. 4.

Coba had 86 assists in six sets last week, leading the Vandals to back-to-back sweeps of Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington. She averaged 14.33 assists per set and boosted her season average to 11.08 per set, a conference high.

Coba has 676 assists this season, and is closing in on 2,000 in her career (1,864).

Idaho women's basketball team returns to the court

MOSCOW - With sights set on a third NCAA tournament trip in a row, the Idaho Vandals women's basketball team opened up the 2014-15 season with its first official practice. The back-to-back Western Athletic Conference tournament champions, who move to the Big Sky Conference this season, open the season on Nov. 4 at home against Central Washington.

The Vandals return four of five starters from last season, with nine returners in all. 2014 WAC Player of the Year Stacey Barr, who led the team with 18.2 points per game returns, along with Christine Salvatore, Ali Forde and Connie Ballestero.

Renae Mokrzycki, a transfer from North Idaho College, is one of four newcomers. Tayla Corrigan (Mineral Area college) also transferred, with and freshmen Bethany Krause and Geraldine McCorkell also in their first year with the program.

The Vandals return to the Big Sky after a 19-year absence. Idaho spent 14 seasons (1982-95) previously in the Big Sky, compiling a .500 (102-102) record.