No headline

Baseball writer Neyer

named commissioner

of West Coast League

The West Coast League, a summer wood-bat league for college baseball players, announced the addition of commissioner to its league leadership structure, and that former ESPN and Fox Sports journalist Rob Neyer will be filling the position, effective immediately.

Neyer is the league’s first commissioner since ABCA Hall of Fame head coach Jim Dietz of San Diego State presided over the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League, during the circuit’s formative years.

Neyer lives in Portland, Ore.

A baseball writer known for his pioneering use of statistical analysis and sabermetrics, Rob began his career working for Bill James and STATS, Inc. He’s also worked for 15 years as a columnist and blogger for ESPN, and was National Baseball Editor at Vox Media’s SB Nation from 2011 to 2013, then Senior Baseball Editor for Fox Sports through 2015. His recent work has been featured in The New York Times, Vice Sports, Complex Sports, and Yahoo, among others.

This October, HarperCollins will publish POWER BALL: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game, Rob’s seventh book.

“I’m a passionate, longtime fan of baseball history generally, and Pacific Northwest baseball specifically,” Neyer said. “So it’s difficult for me to imagine a more exciting opportunity, and I’m honored to be associated with such a fine organization. This summer, as I connect with the owners and visit all the beautiful ballparks, I’ll do everything I can to help this great league become even greater.”

WCL members will look to the league’s new commissioner to arbitrate and regulate during the season; to further connect the league and its teams with the baseball community, its markets and those that follow the game; and to act as a league ambassador.

WSU women’s coach Ethridge signs her first two recruits for 2018

PULLMAN — Making her first moves as the head coach of Washington State women’s basketball, Kamie Ethridge announced a pair of international signees Tuesday to bolster her 2018-19 roster. Joining the Cougars on the Palouse in the fall are Shir Levy (Ness Ziona, Israel) and Ula Motuga (Loganholme, Australia). Levi and Motuga team up with Cherilyn Molina (Kailua Kona, Hawaii), who signed with the Cougars in November during the early signing period, as freshmen on the 2018-19 roster.

A 5-9 wing, Levy joins the Cougars after completing her mandatory military service in the Israeli armed forces. A 2015 graduate, Levy has played in the Israeli League First Division the past three years, after graduating from high school.

Motuga is a 6-0 versatile forward from Canterbury College who plays for the Logan Thunder basketball club.