The News Tribune from Tacoma, Washington • 25

SATURDAY APRIL 19 2003 THE NEWS TRIBUNE C3 Challengers get tight grip on starting job Alexis enters guilty plea day night for the incident just know I was in the wrong place at the wrong Alexis said would have walked away I'm a bigger person than that I'm not the only one who makes mistakes I got caught and now I'm paying the Alexis had a reputation as one of the most clean-cut members of the football team before this incident but he worrying about his public image changing who really know me know that was not Alexis said Alexis UW's leading rusher last season with 688 yards and 10 touchdowns is not practicing this spring because of a shoulder injury He says his 'shoulder feels healthy enough for him to play ready to go right now" Alexis said going to have to wait for (the season opener on Aug 30 against) Ohio UW notes: Despite not playing Toledo remains top tight end for Huskies By Cram Hu The News Tribune Joe Toledo is solidifying his grip on the University of Washington's starting tight end job this spring without even playing While Toledo is sitting out the spring with a shoulder injury less experienced players such as junior college transfer Nick Lyon redshirt freshman Ben Bandcl and sophomore Andy Heater have been unable to convince coaches they should start over Toledo Friday afternoon's scrimmage the second of the spring was no exception not pleased with that position and I don't see anybody right now that could challenge Joe Toledo for the said Keith Gilbertson offensive coordinator and tight end coach think Joe is going to come into (fall) camp dearly Na 1 Defensive coordinator Phil Snow said he was pleased with the play of the defense He said the defensive unit tackled better but still needs to improve Linebacker Joe Lobendahn had a scrimmage-best seven tackles Jordan Reffett back from a knee injury last week had two sacks Mike Mapu also had a sack and two tackles for losi Scott White intercepted a pass The touchdowns allowed by the defense came on drives starting at the 10 during goal-line drills Notes Redshirt freshman defensive end Donnie Mateaki likely won't return to practice this spring because he continues to be bothered by a shoulder injury Offensive lineman Nick Newtoa continues to be ill and miss practice Receiver Justin Robbins will have exploratory surgery on his knee next week but is still expected to return by the fall missed all but one game the past two seasons with injuries Red-shirt freshman Jordan Slye has moved from safety to receiver and switched his number from 8 to 12 Defensive tackle Josh Miller's back was examined by doctors Wednesday He is expected to recover in time for fall drills Craig Hilt 253-597-8497 cmghiU9meiLtribnetcom Gilbertson has been impressed with the other tight ends at times Bandel does some good things and Lyon can catch the ball" Gilbertson said It's just that considering what Gilbertson has had to work with the past few years (Jerramy Stevens and Kevin Ware) this group is several strides behind On Friday Lyon caught two passes for 11 yards Bandel caught a 13-yard pass and Heater caught two passes for 23 yards but also dropped two passes is no deareut Gilbertson of the pecking order of tight ends who are practicing this spring We have some work to da" Scrimmage notes Offensive guard Tlisi Sa'au sprained his left ankle midway through Friday's scrimmage He was carted off the field and will have his ankle tested to see if he can partidpate in the final week of spring practice Sa'au had moved past Aaron Butler for the starting spot Quarterbacks Casey Pa us and Isaiah Stanback both showed improvement since last week's scrimmage They are competing for the Na 2 quarterback spot Pa us completed 5-of-10 passes for 30 yards and Stanback completed 4-o MO for 36 yards and two touchdowns He also displayed his scrambling skills with some Now when I run I'm looking to pass first I had some of my high school coaches here today and that's one of the first things they noticed feel a lot more confident than I did last week in my first UW continues to focus on improving the running game The Huskies ran the ball 47 times Friday and passed 36 times Gilbertson said he was pleased with the running backs and the continued improvement on the offensive line despite injuries Chris Singleton had the biggest day with 11 carries for 67 yards and one touchdown He had a 21-yard run and was never stopped behind the line of scrimmage He also caught two passes for 63 yards including a 55-yard screen pass Singleton said the knee sprain that slowed him in last week's scrimmage feels better Shelton Sampson continues to run well The Gover Park graduate had 12 carries for 45 yards Fullback IV Eriks had four carries for 4 yards and two touchdowns Cody Pickett complete 10-of-14 passes for 146 yards a touchdown and one interception Reggie Williams caught four passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns Charles Frederick caught three passes for 44 yards Washington Huskies running back Rich Alexis pleaded guilty to assault Friday and later said he was glad to put the incident behind him so he can focus on football Alexis a 21-year-old from Coral Springs Fla admitted he punched a security guard Feb 22 after he was turned away from a fraternity was ordered to pay a $330 fine perform 30 hours of Alexis community service attend an anger management course and serve two years 1 ofprobation also be punished by UW coach Rick Neuheisel and I will deal with his punishment Neuheisel said be happy to share that at the appropriate Alexis apologized publicly Fri- pretty runs and a move that juked two defenders before he threw a touchdown pass Sounders prepare for Earthquakes Gasser signs Hans Gasser a 6-foot-10 230-pound forward from Issaquah High signed a letter of intent to play men's basketball for the Washington Huskies on Friday Gasser averaged 211 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading Issaquah to the Gass 3A state title game last season He earned all-KingCo Conference and all-state honors and he scored in double figures in each of his final 56 games is an extremely hard worker who kind of came out of nowhere to develop into a player that we think is really going to Craig Hill learning to scramble Stanback said high school I would just look to run with Scotland's Dundee FC at age 16 He first joined the Sounders as playercoach in 1977 The Sounders have returned to their original team logo and colors: green and light blue The Sounders are 2-0 in exhibition play They will open the regular season May 1 in Portland Their home opener also against the Timbers is May 2 Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808 donniiz9maiLiribnetcom SALE PRICE 49668 '03 with Huskies help our program" UW coach Lorenzo Romar said an outstanding player and a skilled shooting big guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to become better" i Gasser led Issaquah to the state title game while averaging 248 points and 10 rebounds in the tournament Gasser joins Green River Community College transfer lire Simmons as the two members of the 2003 recruiting class Simmons signed on Nov 19 Craig Hill 18 PER MONTH 60 MONTHS Soccer A-League team to play MLS squad at Seahawh Stadium By Don Ruiz TTw News Tribune Seattle Sounders fans will get to watch a Major League Soccer team in action this season and MLS will be watching Seattle alsa The San Jose Earthquakes of MLS will play the Sounders in an exhibition game May 28 at Sea- hawks Stadium the A-League team announced Friday is playing attention to (hat game" said Adrian Hanauer Sounders general manager want to know what sort of attention it gets in the media (and) just in the general fan support for fen MLS team in Seattle is among several cities being considered for MLS expansion The addition bf two MLS foams could be announced during this season Sounders are committed to bringing MLS to Seattle" Hanauer said would love for MLS to be in Seattle MLS is paying significant amounts of attention to the Seattle market" Hanauer said the Sounders will fry to put together a network of interests to acquire a team for Seattle They will not purchase MLS franchise rights themselves plthough they would participate Corvette Convertible S'60 On the Net Official Seattle Sounders site: wwwseBttlesouhdersnet as kernel of the ownership groupi" Until then the Sounders are moving toward a more major-league presentation of A-League soccer The biggest change is the move to Seahawlu Stadium after several seasons at Memorial Stadium The Sounders who averaged 4087 spectators last season will not need most of the 67000 seats in the new stadium But its comfort suites and other amenities already have improved ticket sales and sponsorships The game itself should be enhanced by the regulation -size soccer field made of FieldTUrf considered a huge upgrade from the AstroTlirf football field of Memorial Stadium a tactical standpoint this stadium will allow us to play better soccer" coach Brian Schmetzer said year we have the opportunity to be even more During the offseason the Sounders acquired three former MLS players: midfielders Alex Bengard (Los Angeles) and Sean Henderson (Colorado) and center fullback Danny Jackson (Colorado) Midfielder Herculez Gomez is expected to arrive on to put Baltimore ahead 4-0 The Wave got on the score-board late in the quarter when Michael King banged in a loose ball in front of Brett Phillips' net The Wave scored back-to-back goals less than two minutes apart to start the second quarter and go ahead 6-4 After a two-minute holding penalty on Allen Eller Phillips made three saves and the Blast defense stifled Milwaukee's power-play unit Then with 15 seconds remaining in the first half Greg Howes fed Marcelo Fontana to give the Wave an 8-4 lead 1 Vtn at Cl YY32COJ5 100476 or just 745 loan from the LA Galaxy in 4-to-6 weeks when he recovers from a stress fracture in his foot The Sounders' key loss is forward Brian Ching But it was his jump to San Jose that paved the way for the Earthquakes' second visit to Seattle in as many seasons part of the compensation for that in addition to some cash the Sounders got the opportunity to play against an MLS Hanauer said chose to play the San Jose Earthquake" The Earthquakes defeated the Sounders 4-3 in overtime last season in the US Open Cup before a sellout crowd at tiny Inter-bay Stadium The Sounders view the rematch as a grudge game and have guaranteed victory if the Sounders lose attending fans will be given free admission to their following game June 7 vs Vancouver Tickets for the Earthquakes game are on sale at regular Sounders prices Information: wwwseattlesoundersnet Notes Jim Gabriel has rejoined the Sounders as an assistant coach Gabriel has more than 40 years of professional soccer experience dating to his debut fylyjyluldeo star rAfAfAfnagazlne model litm-iiHiii iiiiiiKiii liit BOUES MOB-SAT tlaHhZani SUM 3nm-l3tS 4V UP TO 60III0S '03 Silverado Super Sport Ext Cab I st One In Tacoma Paa 3'44q Baltimore wins MISL title Full Time 4x4 All Wheel Drive 345 Horsepower 60 Litre V8 Special wheels Badging SALE PRICE Ml 2GCEK19N2313OB01O News Tribune news services I MILWAUKEE Denison Cabral scored the game-winner with less than five minutes re-fnaining and the Baltimore Blast beat the Milwaukee Wave 13-12 Friday night for the championship of the Major Indoor Soc-fer League The Blast won the best-of-three final series 2-1 Baltimore took the early lead when Billy Nelson scored at the 4 minute 23 second mark of the first quarter Giuliano Celenza added a goal in the 11th minute 39 1 54 or just 595 (HiuaintKwtEiintMRmiBu' paymentyigur mmm BLOWOUT! 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