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Former Lake City standout Shippy
selected in National Pro Fastpitch draft
Oklahoma State All-American Vanessa Shippy, a senior from Lake City High, was selected by the Cleveland Comets with the 11th pick of the 2018 National Pro Fastpitch draft earlier this week.
She was the first selection in the second round.
Shippy is the Big 12 leader in batting average (.474), on-base percentage (.621), walks (48) and runs scored (61). She ranks among the top 10 nationally in all four of those categories.
Twice an All-American and Academic All-American, Shippy currently owns now fewer than eight school records. So far this season, she has surpassed her own OSU single-season runs record, set a career walks record for the program and is on track to surpass several others.
Shippy is one of five players in Big 12 history to record at least 225 hits, 150 walks, 150 runs scored and 125 RBI. She is the only Cowgirl to ever reach those numbers.
The Coeur d’Alene native has twice been named national player of the week in 2018 and on three occasions she has earned Big 12 player of the week honors.
This week, Shippy was named a top-25 finalist for USA Softball collegiate player of the year.
Kempton’s jersey headed for stay
at Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn., has requested to “borrow” a basketball jersey of Post Falls High star Melody Kempton, so that it may be displayed for one year in the Hall of Fame’s “Ring of Honor.”
Kempton, who led Post Falls to the state title in February, has also received a handful of state player of the year honors.
More than 100 jerseys honoring high school and college basketball standouts from the 2016-17 season hang in the Ring of Honor.
The Hall of Fame opened in 1999.
Dani Failor, who led Post Falls to the state title in 2013, also had her jersey displayed in the Ring of Honor the following year.
Vandals Silver and Gold
spring game set for Friday
MOSCOW — Idaho football’s annual Silver and Gold Spring Game is set for Friday at 7 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome. Admission is free and the first 500 fans will receive a 2018 schedule poster.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., with fans encouraged to use the southwest concourse doors. Open seating is available in the south grandstands and concessions will be available on the south concourse. Parking around the Dome is free starting at 5 p.m.
The Vandals will break into two teams and line up against each other for four 15-minute quarters with traditional football scoring.
Idaho men add
JUCO guard Fraser
MOSCOW — Idaho men’s basketball coach Don Verlin announced the signing of Marquell Fraser, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard from Canada.
Fraser spent last season playing for Midland College, where he led the team at 17.1 points per contest on his way to First Team All-Conference accolades. Fraser also led the team with 6.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, while shooting 57.3 percent from the floor.
Fraser began his collegiate career at VCU, where he appeared in 16 games for the Rams in 2016-17.
Interim AD Hickey named
Eastern Washington AD
CHENEY — The interim tag has been removed from her title and Lynn Hickey will now become the permanent Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics at Eastern Washington University, effective immediately.
Hickey has served as interim athletic director since February when EWU President Mary Cullinan tabbed the experienced administrator to oversee the department during a national search. That search produced 50 applicants from NCAA Division I institutions across the country, including Hickey.
“Lynn Hickey emerged as the ideal candidate to fill this important role at Eastern,” Cullinan said. “During her time on campus she has also displayed excellent leadership skills and a vision for how to transform our athletics department into a model program.”
Before coming to Eastern, Hickey served as Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University of Texas, San Antonio for 18 years. During her tenure, UTSA experienced unprecedented growth by adding football and women’s soccer and golf. Hickey also developed a student-athlete centered program that combined academic success, leadership development, strength and conditioning and life skills. Prior to UTSA, Hickey served as Senior Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Texas A&M in College Station.
“I am truly honored and excited to lead Eastern’s Athletics Department into the future,” Hickey said. “I want to continue the work I’ve started toward solidifying a diverse Athletics Department that is committed to academic achievement and competitive excellence.”