Northwest Notes Sept. 20, 2024

Grove ties for third at section championship

EVERETT, Wash. — After an opening round 74, North Idaho College men's and women's golf coach Russell Grove closed strong with rounds of 64 and 68 and finished in a six-way tie for third place at the Pacific Northwest PGA Professional Championship on Thursday at the Everett Golf and Country Club.

Grove finished at 10-under-par 206, four strokes back of the winner, Brady Sharp of the Oswego Lake Country Club, who shot 14-under-par 202 for a three-stroke victory.

In addition, Grove was one of seven players to earn spots at the 2025 PGA Professional Championship on April 28-May 1 in Frisco, Texas.

From there, the top 20 finishers advance to the 107th PGA Championship in May.

Karros named MVP as Indians place six on Northwest League all-star team

The Spokane Indians, fresh off a victory in the Northwest League Championship Series, topped the NWL with six All-Stars including the circuit's Most Valuable Player, Kyle Karros, and Pitcher of the Year, Sean Sullivan.

Karros is the third straight Indians player to capture league MVP, joining Jordan Beck last season and Zac Veen in 2022. A fifth-round draft pick out of UCLA in 2023, Karros topped the Northwest League in virtually every offensive category including batting (.311), RBI (78), OBP (.390), SLG (.485), OPS (.875), hits (147), doubles (33), extra-base hits (50), and total bases (229). 

Sullivan teamed up with Chase Dollander to form one of the top 1-2 punches in MiLB. The left-hander posted a 7-2 record with a 2.16 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts against just eight walks in 14 starts (83.1 IP) with the Indians before earning a promotion to Hartford. 

The four other Spokane Indians selected as Northwest League All-Stars were:

Zach Agnos: The right-hander was one of two relief pitchers selected to the All-Star squad after posting a 4-1 record, 0.73 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 10 saves, and 30 strikeouts against just two walks in 21 appearances.  Agnos was promoted to Hartford in late June.

Cole Carrigg: Carrigg led the NWL in home runs (16) and triples (11) while also ranking second in stolen bases (51), slugging (.475), OPS (.833), and runs (80). 

Chase Dollander: Spokane's Opening Night starter was as good as advertised after being selected ninth overall out of the University of Tennessee last season. The right-hander tossed five no-hit innings in his season debut and never looked back, finishing his time in Spokane with a 4-1 record, 2.83 ERA, and 111 strikeouts in 70 innings. Dollander represented the Colorado Rockies in the All-Star Futures Game in Texas and earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Month with the Yard Goats in August.

Carson Skipper: The tall left-hander was nearly unhittable out of the bullpen for Spokane, posting a 7-1 record, 1.40 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and nine saves. Skipper struck out 56 against only eight walks with the Indians before his promotion to Hartford in July.

Votes were cast by league managers, and final decisions were determined by the Commissioner’s Office.