Northwest Notes April 6, 2011
EWU football coach to throw out first pitch at M's game
This week, Beau Baldwin will find out if throwing a pitch in a major league ballpark is as stressful as coaching in a national championship game.
The Eastern Washington University head football coach will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Saturday's Seattle Mariners baseball game at Safeco Field.
"I never in a million years thought I would be doing this," said Baldwin. "Now I have to get the arm ready."
The Mariners host the Cleveland Indians in a game that begins at 6:10 p.m. and will be televised live by Root Sports (formerly Fox Sports Northwest) and www.mlb.tv. Seattle's 2011 home opener is Friday, also versus the Indians.
"It was a surprise, but obviously things like this happen because of the success of our team," said Baldwin, who directed the Eagles to the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Championship with a 20-19 come-from-behind victory over Delaware in the title game on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas. "It's exciting and it's an honor."
Eagle quarterback verbally commits to BYU
Tanner Mangum, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback who will be a senior this fall, will play college football at BYU, Eagle High coach Paul Peterson told the Idaho Statesman.
"It's a huge deal for Tanner. It was a very, very, very agonizing decision because he had multiple offers on the table,'' Peterson said.
Mangum, who missed most of last season with a broken collarbone, had official offers from BYU, Boise State, Utah and Arkansas, Peterson said.
Mangum has participated in BYU football camps and is expected to make his official recruiting visit to the Provo campus this fall. BYU has been a member of the Mountain West Conference, but its football program will compete as an independent, starting this fall.
Mangum has completely recovered from his shoulder injury, Peterson said, and is expected to start at Eagle this fall, where he will be one of the top passers in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference.
"He throws it better than anyone I've seen in all my years around here,'' Peterson said. "He's going to put up some huge numbers, that's for sure.''