Northwest Notes: Wednesday, March 4

Idaho football bowl ban lifted

An NCAA ban on postseason play for the Idaho football team has been lifted because of the Vandals' academic progress since Paul Petrino took over as head coach in December 2012.

Additionally, a reduction in practice time will be lifted, provided Idaho's APR and single-year eligibility rates for 2014-15 are 940 or above.

The program was penalized by the NCAA after its APR dipped below minimum standards in 2010, 2011 and 2012. At that time, the athletic department made substantive changes, which have provided positive results both in academic progress and retention. The team's APR numbers have been in the 950s and are projected to be in the 960s this year.

In addition to a ban on playing in a bowl game, the Vandals also competed throughout 2014 with four fewer hours of practice per week.

Ex-Trojan Hill earns Big Sky honor

Idaho senior guard Connor Hill of Post Falls earned co-Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging 22 points and three rebounds per game in Idaho's victories over Montana and Montana State.

In earning his first Big Sky honor, Hill had 23 points in a double overtime victory over the Grizzlies before coming back to score 21 against Montana State on Saturday. He totaled eight 3-pointers in the two games to climb to within four of San Diego's Johnny Dee, who is the active Division I 3-point field goal leader with 332. Hill has 328 going into the Vandals' final two regular season games.

Hill is Idaho's all-time 3-point scorer and has three of the top five single-season marks. He had 87 as a sophomore to tie for fifth on the list and 98 as a junior for second. His 96 with two games to play are tied for third.

Kootenai Vandal Boosters to hold final spring luncheon

COEUR d'ALENE - The Kootenai County Vandal Boosters will hold their final spring luncheon on Thursday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Coeur d'Alene mayor Steve Widmyer will be the special guest.

Applesox add Nyquist to 2015 roster

WENATCHEE, Wash. - A pair of Gonzaga baseball players will join the Wenatchee AppleSox in 2015, coach AJ Proszek announced.

Nick Nyquist and Gage Burland will join the AppleSox following their freshman seasons in Spokane.

Nyquist, a native of Coeur d'Alene, will join the AppleSox as an infielder.

"He's a big, physical kid," Proszek said. "He's still young and has a lot to learn, but definitely is a promising talent. I had a chance to coach his older brother at Spokane Falls and he comes from a great family of hard working kids. He will play the game the right way, is a great addition to what we are trying to do, and will fit in great."

A four-year letter winner at Coeur d'Alene, Nyquist was the state Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014 and was also named the Idaho Hall of Fame Baseball Player of the Year. During his senior year, he hit .506 with six home runs and 34 runs batted in. He is batting .364 in four games for Gonzaga, including two starts.

Burland, a native of Otis Orchards, will join the AppleSox as a right-handed pitcher and graduated from East Valley High in Spokane Valley.

Wenatchee is a collegiate summer baseball team.