Oct 26, 2017 4 min read

Wild Things make roster moves

The Washington Wild Things have made three roster moves this week, re-signing a key member of last year’s pitching staff, trading a relief pitcher and signing a rookie catcher.

Washington re-signed starting pitcher Chase Cunningham, who was a member of the Frontier League’s East Division all-star team last season, traded pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan to the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association and signed catcher Carson Waln, a rookie out of Wofford University.

Cunningham will be returning for his third season in Washington. The right-hander from Johnson City, Tenn., had a stellar season in 2017 with a 10-3 record and 3.46 ERA in 20 starts, helping the Wild Things advance to the playoffs. Cunningham has won 17 games over two seasons with Washington.

“I expect us to be a top-tier team in the league, pushing for the championship and anything less than that would be a disappointment,” Cunningham said. “I’m coming back for a third season because I want to win this whole thing.

“I really do love everything about Washington and the whole atmosphere around the Wild Things. Our success last year was great and that playoff run for the last month or so was incredible. The competition day in and day out is really want makes you love the game so much.”

Condra-Bogan was traded for a player to be named. He joined the Wild Things at midseason after being drafted out of Georgia Southern in the 32nd round last spring by the Toronto Blue Jays but did not sign with the organization.

With Washington, Condra-Bogan played a key role out of the bullpen. He had a 1-0 record, one save and 1.76 ERA in 11 outings. He struck out 15 in 15 1/3 innings.

Waln played four seasons at Wofford and is considered a defensive catcher. As a senior last spring, Waln batted .300 with five home runs and 34 RBI and stole 16 bases.

In golf

U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka turned a sure birdie into a bogey and then turned a certain bogey into an unlikely birdie. It added to an 8-under 64 and a one-shot lead Thursday after the opening round of the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Koepka had a one-shot lead over Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, who dressed in black in honor of the five-day funeral that began at home for King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Gavin Green also opened with a 65, while Patrick Reed and Haydn Porteous of South Africa were another shot back.

Cal women picked 2nd in PSAC West

Following three consecutive appearances in the conference championship game, the California University women’s basketball team was selected second in PSAC West Division preseason poll that was released Thursday.

The Vulcans finished first in the PSAC West standings last year with a 20-2 league record and a 30-4 overall mark. Cal received one first-place vote in the preseason poll after being the favorite in the division in each of the previous two years. Iindiana was the overwhelming favorite in the preseason poll with eight first-place votes. The Crimson Hawks return all five starters from a team that won the program’s first PSAC championship since 2009. Edinboro was picked third with Seton Hill and Gannon fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the PSAC East, East Stroudsburg is the preseason favorite with seven first-place votes. The Warriors were 19-9 last year for their winningest season in more than a decade and advanced to the semifinals of the PSAC tournament. West Chester earned the remaining two first-place votes and was picked second in the poll.

Cal returns three starters from last year’s team that advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Regional championship despite the loss of two starters to injury in the postseason.

The California men’s team was picked to finish fifth in the West.

Indiana is the favorite in the West after advancing to the Atlantic Region semifinals last season. The Crimson Hawks, who received eight first-place votes, were 28-4 and return PSAC West Athlete of the Year Jacobo Diaz. Gannon was tabbed second while Mercyhurst was third and received one first-place. Slippery Rock was picked to finish fourth.

In the PSAC East, defending PSAC champion Shippensburg was selected the favorite with eight first-place votes.