Candice Wiggins 41 takes Stanford to Final Four

Candice Wiggins dominated yet another game, scoring 41 points to defeat #1 seed Maryland, 98-87, to reach the Final Four. All around Stanford was tremendous, shooting 51% as a team including 14-28 from three point range. Wiggins made 5 threes of her own as well as making 16 of Stanford’s 20 free throws. J.J. Hones scored a career-high 23 points, including 4 threes to help lead Stanford behind Wiggins performance. The game was close between the top two teams in the Spokane region during most of the first half, but Stanford took over late in the half to gain a 10 point lead at intermission, 51-41. Wiggins scored 17 of her teams points during that half to put her on her way for another big scoring performance. Stanford kept up the tempo in the second half, with Wiggins and Hones leading the way. Wiggins scored 24 points in the second half for a Stanford team that led by as much as 17 points, 75-58, on a lay-up by Wiggins with 10:22 left. Over the last 11 minutes Wiggins scored 18 of the teams last 26 points, leading her team to an easy victory. J.J. Hones also hit a couple of threes to help put the game out of reach during the final period. Kayla Pedersen chipped in 15 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the high scoring Cardinal.

Maryland tried to claw back in the final minutes, but couldn’t withstand the powerful play of Wiggins and Stanford. Kristi Toliver nearly matched Wiggins production, scoring 35 points of her own to go with 5 assists. Maryland shot 54% from the field, but couldn’t match Stanford three point shooting, by being outscored by 24 in that category.

With the win Stanford reached the Final Four for the first time in the past 11 years, the 7th time in school history. Throughout the past tow games, Stanford has taken its cue from Wiggins, with her leadership and the scoring ability, she has utterly dominated the past two wins for Stanford, allowing her team to be one of the four teams remaining.

Nationals use 4 rbi doubles in ninth to pull away from Phillies

Nick Johnson hit the first of 4 rbi doubles in the tenth inning to send the Washington Nationals to their 2nd victory in their new ball park, 11-6. Johnson continued his opening night performance with a double to drive in Lastings Milledge to start a rambunctious rally by the Nationals off Tom Gordon. Catcher Carlos Ruiz’s throwing error scored Johnson from third to put the Nationals up 8-6. With Austin Kearns taking second on the error after drawing a walk, Paul Lo Duca hit a double to deep center field to increase the Nationals lead. Ronnie Belliard followed with a rbi double of his own and Dimtri Young drove him in for the final margin.

Reliever Jesus Colome retired the Phillies in order in the bottom of the tenth to get the win. Lastings Milledge went 2-4 with a homer and 3 runs scored to lead the Nationals. Nick Johnson, Austin Kearns and Christian Guzman each had 2 hits as well to give the Nationals a 2-0 record in their new ballpark.

Fukudome brings Cubs back in debut, but Brewers win in 10

Kosuke Fukudome, the Cubs new arrival, went 3-3 with 3 rbi’s in his Chicago debut, including a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as the Brewers won the opening day game, 4-3 in 10 innings. After Fukudome’s homer, Brewers center fielder Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Craig Counsell, proving to be the winning run.Both starting pitchers, Carlos Zambrano for the Cubs, Ben Sheets for the Brewers, pitched very well, holding two powerful lineups at bay. Zambrano went 6 2/3 innings of 5 hit ball, striking out 5. Ben Sheets, finally healthy (for now at least) pitched even better throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits, and striking out 7.Even though the Cubs lost, it was Japanese outfielder, Kosuke Fukudome’s day to shine at the plate. It didn’t take him long to make an impression of his talent to Cubs fans, hitting the first major league pitch he saw for a double.Despite Fukudome’s day at the plate, he made a crucial base running error in the 7th inning. After singling with one out, Mark Derosa was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. With Felix Pie up to bat, Fukudome tried to get greedy and was caught stealing third base, drastically changing the situation. Derosa took second on the play, giving the Cubs a runner in scoring position but Pie grounded out to end the threat.Kerry Wood, had a rocky start as the new Cubs closer, giving up three runs, an rbi single by Ryan Braun and a two-run double by Cory Hart, in the ninth inning, before Fukudome sent the game into extras. After Wood’s debacle, the Cubs still had a chance to come back, and they did.Replacing Kerry Wood in the tenth inning, Bob Howry quelled the Cubs momentum by giving up a lead off double to Craig Counsell. Jason Kendall sacrificed Counsell over to third and Bill Hall was hit by a pitch to set up the game winning rbi by Gwynn Jr.