Benefit for softball's Rocky Johnson is Sept. 11
Well-known slow-pitch softball player and coach Rocky Johnson, 57, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in March and is currently going through chemotherapy. He is due for a bone marrow transplant at Seattle, Wash. in September.
Friends are organizing a benefit to raise the $12,000 that former Balltrappers women's coach Johnson needs to cover living expenses for four months in Seattle.
The "Leukemia Stinks" benefit with dinner, dancing and raffle is Saturday, Sept. 11 from 4-10 p.m. at Sagebrush Arena along Buttercup Road north of Hailey. Cost is $10 per person or $25 family. Music is by Wood Beez and Branches.
Johnson is a third-year apprentice electrician working for Poggi Bros. Electric. Tax-deductible donations can be made at Wells Fargo Bank, to Debbie Oneida (720-1555). For other questions, call Kelly Cole at 720-3327 or Lacie Anderson 721-1137.
Bigwood Open Golf this weekend
Bigwood Golf Course at Thunder Spring north of Ketchum will stage its annual Bigwood Open, a 36-hole stroke play tournament paying net and gross on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11-12. Entry fee is $40 for passholders or $100 for the general public, including a practice round.
Baseball/softball group sets benefit, recycle cellphones
The Wood River Baseball and Softball Association is trying to raise money and help the environment at the same time.
Hailey's Wicked Spud will host the Saturday, Sept. 18 fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. with music by Kim Stocking's voice students and The Kim Stocking Band. There will be raffle items, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing, plus food and spirits.
Meantime, the association wants people to bring in old cell phones to be recycled through Friday, Sept. 17. Drop-off points are Rocky Mountain Hardware in Hailey or Holli Jewelers in The Colonnade Building, Ketchum. Or you can bring them to the Sept. 18 benefit.
Reynoso finishes strong with Portland Sea Dogs
He's had memorable moments and rough outings during the 2010 baseball season, but Bellevue's Ryne Reynoso, 25, has ended his minor league pitching season on a positive note with the Portland Sea Dogs, a AA Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
Reynoso pitched nine games in long relief for the Sea Dogs from Aug. 4-Sept. 3 with a 3-0 record and 3.54 ERA. The 6-2, 230-pound righthander excelled in his final two appearances and won both. He tossed 3.2 shutout innings yielding two hits in a 7-6 home win over the Binghamton (N.Y.) Mets 7-6 before 5,126 fans in Portland Aug. 30. Reynoso also threw four innings of two-hit, one-run relief Sept. 3 in a 7-4 home win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats before 4,025 fans.
His pitching helped Portland (70-71) finish its 17th season in third place in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Reynoso, a former Wood River High School baseball star, was signed by the Boston Red Sox July 23 after being released by the Atlanta Braves organization. He also pitched for AA Mississippi, AAA Gwinnett and in the Gulf Coast League this season, compiling an overall 5-9 record and 5.17 ERA in 32 games and 92 innings.
Jones-Wilkins sets 100-mile record in Grand Teton
Community School Head of School Andy Jones-Wilkins, 42, demolished the course record by 44 minutes in winning the Grand Teton 100-mile ultramarathon Saturday, Sept. 4 in the Teton Mountains around Grand Targhee.
Men's 40-49 winner Jones-Wilkins (18.35:23), the 2007 Grand Teton champion in 19.35:20, displayed his typical closing ability in winning over last year's 50-mile king Duncan Callahan, 28, of Gunnison, Colo. (19.03:58). There were only 16 finishers in the 100-mile race, with Jones-Wilkins and two-time Leadville 100 winner Callahan going head-to-head through the halfway point. Jones-Wilkins, winner of the Vermont 100 this summer, pulled away around the 80-mile mark.
Hailey's Travis Vandenburgh, 34, placed third of 51 finishers in the 50-mile event with a time of 9.47:02, behind winner John Pena, 40, of Pocatello (9.16:21). In the 6.8-mile trail marathon, Hailey's Courtney Vandenburg, 33, was 15th overall and the fourth woman at 1.21:13.
Engen is Payette Lake winner
Ketchum's Jon Engen, 53 won the 8.6-mile (halfway around) race of Sunday's Payette lake Run 2010 at McCall. His time was 54:58.
At the 11th annual Pocatello Marathon event Saturday, Hailey's Jason Marenda, 35, placed 23rd overall of 138 finishers in the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) run with a time of 54:33. He was the 15th man, fourth in Men's 35-39.
SVSEF coaching changes
Former Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation alpine program director Pat Savaria has replaced Tyler Palmer as the SVSEF FIS coach. Savaria's credentials as a Level 400 USSA coach and former U.S. Ski Team coach speak highly of his background, SVSEF alpine director Ruben Macaya announced Aug. 30. Randy Flood will replace Savaria as head coach of the C-Travel Team.
MS Walk coming Sept. 25 to Forest Service Park
The sixth annual local Multiple Sclerosis MS Walk fundraiser has been planned for Saturday, Sept. 25 at Forest Service Park in Ketchum (registration 9 a.m., walk 10 a.m.). The memory of skiing great Jimmie Heuga, who died earlier this year, will be honored. The fun community event is designed for families, dogs and friends. Participants walk about 3.5 miles from Forest Service Park to St. Luke's and back. There is lunch, plus great prizes for top fundraisers and raffle prizes like a 20-day Sun Valley ski pass, Scott mountain bike and North Valley Trails cross-country ski season pass. For details, contact local race director Nancy Ferries at 720-3581 or visit nationalmssociety.org/idi and click on fundraising events.
