Northwest Notes July 3, 2020
Post Falls product Hedge tears ACL,
to miss NWSL Challenge Cup
Former Post Falls High standout Kelcie Hedge, a midfielder for the OL Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League, tore her ACL during a club training session on Wednesday, the Reign announced.
As a result, Hedge, looking to make her pro debut, will be unable to play for Reign for the remainder of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, currently going on in Herriman, Utah.
“I am very sad for Kelcie,” Reign coach Farid Benstiti said. “She has been working hard all throughout our preseason in Montana and has helped us to be very competitive coming to the tournament. We wish for a speedy recovery for her and look forward to doing what we can to help her come back even stronger than before.”
The Reign, formerly called the Seattle Reign, opened play in the Challenge Cup with a scoreless draw with Sky Blue on Tuesday night.
Hedge was selected by the Reign with the ninth overall pick at the 2020 NWSL College Draft. Hedge, who played at the University of Washington and then at Santa Clara, and signed a three-year contract on March 6, did not appear in Tuesday’s match.
“This wasn’t the rookie season I dreamed of, but I know it will be more fulfilling than ever once I am back,” said Hedge, who played at Post Falls as a freshman and sophomore, then played for youth national teams her final two years of high school. “I couldn’t be more ready to cheer on and support my teammates through the rest of the NWSL Challenge Cup. I know my God can move mountains and I am ready to engage in battle from this moment forward. I am so thankful to be going through this with this club and my incredible teammates.”
Bayley 8 off the lead
at Dakotas Tour event
HARTFORD, S.D. — Derek Bayley of Rathdrum shot a 1-under-par 71 on Thursday and is at 5-under 139 after two rounds of a Dakotas Tour event at Central Valley Golf Club.
Bayley, who starred at Lakeland High and Washington State, is in a 12-way tie for 29th.
Eric Ansett, who played at Ferris High in Spokane, shot 67 and is tied for the lead at 13-under 131.
The 54-hole tournament concludes today.
Last week, Bayley notched his first professional victory, at the Reno Open on the Golden State Tour, earning an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Barracuda Championship scheduled for July 30-Aug. 2 in Truckee, Calif.
Bloomsday giving entrants option of participating virtually this year
SPOKANE — Bloomsday is launching Virtual Bloomsday.
Bloomsday is still very much planned for Sept. 20 in downtown Spokane, organizers said. The race was rescheduled from May 2 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic — concerns which still remain.
“We recognize that some individuals, even if we are fortunate to be able to hold our event on Sept. 20, would prefer a virtual option so that they can earn their finisher T-shirt,” Bloomsday race director Jon Neill said. “Naturally, we appreciate and love that commitment and enthusiasm for the Bloomsday tradition.
For new entrants, registration is $25 for Virtual Bloomsday or the Sept. 20th Bloomsday.
“If you have already registered for Bloomsday 2020, you can opt-in for Virtual Bloomsday at no additional cost,” Neill said.
Information: bloomsdayrun.org
Duke women’s coach, whose program recruited Lake City standout Rewers, stepping down
DURHAM, N.C. — Joanne P. McCallie won’t return for a 14th season as Duke’s women’s basketball coach.
McCallie announced her departure in a 6-minute video posted Thursday on the program’s Twitter account. She said she was “choosing to step away” as coach, saying she wanted to bring “clarity” instead of uncertainty as she entered the final year of her contract.
“I want to provide an opportunity for change, growth and a sense of security relative to the future of the program,” McCallie said, noting she hoped the move would allow the team “to play free without the burden and uncertainty of their coach’s future.”
McCallie led the Blue Devils to a 330-107 record in her 13 seasons and was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year. Duke won at least a share of the ACC regular-season title four times as well as three ACC Tournament titles. There were also 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament, including four straight trips to the Elite Eight from 2010-13.
Brooklyn Rewers, a rising senior post from Lake City High, verbally committed to Duke in early May.
—From wire and news services and local reports
