Northwest Notes Feb. 23, 2011
Coeur d'Alene Legion
to add second 16U team
COEUR d'ALENE - Coeur d'Alene American Legion announced it will field two 16-and-under baseball teams this summer, increasing the number of teams in the program to four. In recent years, the Legion has offered one 16U team.
The teams will be formed in conjunction with the Coeur d'Alene and Lake City high schools and each high school's head coach. The teams will play a regular league schedule in the Spokane League.
The 16U teams will be a part of the American Legion baseball family, consisting of the 19U Lumbermen and the 17U Loggers.
For more information, contact any American Legion baseball board member. Contact information can be found at www.cdalegionbaseball.com.
AAU hoop tourney
planned for Rathdrum
RATHDRUM - Entry deadline is March 7 for the inaugural Lakeland Hawk Classic, an AAU basketball tournament with divisions for sixth-grade boys and seventh-grade boys, scheduled for March 11-13 at Lakeland High.
Information: www.rathdrum.org, www.ieaau.org
Shock keep popular
wideout Vijil
SPOKANE - Wide receivers Raul Vijil and Adron Tennell have been added to the Spokane Shock roster. In another roster move, the Shock released wideout Lonnell DeWalt and quarterback Andy Collins.
Vijil (5-10, 190 pounds), has played for Spokane since the inception of the franchise in 2006. Along the way, Vijil has set team records in all-time receiving yards (4,952), receptions (421), all-purpose yards (8,263), and touchdowns (131). Last season, his first in the AFL, Vijil was off to a career-best start with 82 receptions for 1083 yards and 33 touchdowns in only 10 games when he suffered a torn ACL and missed the rest of the season. He was on a two-day tryout last weekend to make the club.
"Raul has become such an important part of this organization we are so happy to have him back," Shock coach Rob Keefe said. "He had a tremendous season and continued that in the offseason with his rehab. "
Tennell (6-4, 199) capped of his collegiate career at Oklahoma in 2009. As a Sooner, Tennell recorded 40 receptions for 505 yards with five touchdowns. Last season, Tennell signed a free-agent contract with the New Orleans Saints and was released in training camp.
In other roster moves, the Shock added wide receiver Eddie Thompson, offensive lineman Shannon Tevaga and defensive back Patrick Stoudamire, and released former Washington State wide receiver Michael Bumpus and offensive lineman Tim Walters.
Thompson (5-10 190) was a member of the Shock's ArenaBowl XXIII Championship roster. Despite playing in only five games last season due to injury, Thompson recorded four touchdowns and 121 all-purpose yards.
Prior to his professional career, Thompson was a four-year starter at Idaho State and was named to the all-Big Sky team each of those seasons. As a Bengal, Thompson recorded 219 receptions for 2,401 yards with 23 touchdowns.
Tevaga (6-3, 310) finished his collegiate career at UCLA in 2007. As a Bruin, Tevaga started 41 games and was named a preseason All-American as a junior and senior. In 2008, Tevaga signed with the Oakland Raiders before being released in training camp. This will be his rookie season in the AFL.
Stoudamire (5-11, 203) was a three-time first team all-conference selection at Western Illinois, collecting 134 tackles with six interceptions and 41 passes defended in his career. This past season, Stoudamire signed with the San Francisco 49ers before being released.
The Shock open the season March 11 at San Jose.
Murray makes finals
at Simplot Games
Coeur d'Alene High senior Johnathan Murray, throwing for Hammer Idaho, was seventh in the 25-pound weight throw at the Simplot Games held at Idaho State University in Pocatello on Feb. 17.
His throw of 60 feet, 6 1/4 inches was a personal best by more than 3 feet. Some 31 athletes from 10 states and Canada, as well the powerhouse hammer club Throw 1 Deep from Georgia, competed in the boys weight throw competition.