WAC Notebook

WAC Notebook

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

The Nevada Wolf Pack softball team finds itself at the top of the Western Athletic Conference with a 7-2 record after its successful weekend series with Fresno State.

Pitcher Katie Holverson beat then-No. 10 Fresno State, which earned her WAC Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season. She threw 18 1/3 innings to go 2-0 with a save. Opposing hitters managed a paltry .125 average against her.

Against Pacific last Thursday, she came into the game leading 3-0 with the bases loaded. She didn't allow a hit and earned her fifth save of the season.

Holverson beat Fresno State 2-0 in 11 innings on Friday and then came back a day later to get a 5-0 win. She allowed only eight hits and fanned 18 in the two wins over the Bulldogs.

Former Douglas star Brittany Puzey drove in a run in the 2-0 win and became the school's all-time RBI leader.

Puzey passed Candice Rainwater, who drove in 104 during her Nevada career.

CARROLL HONORED

Utah State guard Jaycee Carroll capped off a brilliant career by being named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press.

Carroll, who was the WAC Player of the Year, hit a nation-leading 49.8 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and scored 2,522 points during his career, tops in Utah State history.

"He's had a fabulous career," Utah State coach Stew Morrill said. "We are very proud of him."

IDAHO HIRES VERLIN

Don Verlin, Utah State's top assistant, has been hired as University of Idaho's new men's basketball coach.

Verlin replaces George Pfeifer, who was fired after two seasons at the helm. Pfeifer had the Vandals playing much better this season than his first year.

Verlin worked for Stew Morrill for 15 years, both at Colorado State and Utah State. He is considered an offensive guru and a key component in the Aggies' nine 20-win seasons.

Verlin told reporters going to a school in the same league will help his transition, but a small-town college atmosphere was really important, too.

"I'm honored to be chosen the head coach at Idaho," Verlin said at a press conference when he was hired in late March. "I look forward to building a winning basketball program here."

It will be interesting to see how Verlin opts to build. Pfeifer went the junior college route - which sometimes is quicker - and he had some success this season.

FSU STAR HONORED

Tierre Wilson, the top player on Fresno State's WAC basketball championship team, was an honorable mention selection on the Associated Press All American squad.

Former Idaho star Leilani Mitchell, who is now at Utah, was a third-team selection.

Wilson was invited to the WNBA Pre-Draft Camp in Tampa last weekend along with Louisiana Tech's JoKierra Sneed.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281