6 current and former Tri-City Dust Devils are playing in the World Baseball Classic

It’s been fun to watch some of the World Baseball Classic — which some bill as baseball’s World Cup.

But I’ve really enjoyed catching up with some players who have Tri-City connections.

No less than six Tri-City Dust Devils — some current, some former — are on rosters.

Pitcher Glenn Albanese, who was here last summer, is on Italy’s roster; while David Bednar — a closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates who pitched for Tri-City in 2016 — is with Team USA.

Right-handed pitcher Kyle Molnar, also a Dust Devils in 2022, is with Israel.

Cleveland Guardians starter Cal Quantrill, who pitched for the Dust Devils in 2016, is with Team Canada; while Pedro Strop — who was a shortstop for the Dust Devils all the way back in 2005, and then became a major-league relief pitcher — was on the Netherlands roster as a pitcher.

Last year’s Dust Devils’ outfield D’Shawn Knowles has been playing with Great Britain. In one game, Knowles hit a triple, slid into third base, then acted like he was drinking tea.

Finally, former Hanford High star Isaac Benard saw some action with the Nicaraguan team. Benard, the son of former major-league outfielder Marvin Benard, is an outfielder too.

Isaac has spent the last two seasons playing in the independent Frontier League.

Prep sports

Now that prep basketball’s state championships have been completed, high schools are getting fully into spring sports.

Already it’s easy to tell the Mid-Columbia Conference will be loaded with good baseball teams. As a whole, the MCC is a combined 15-5 in non-league play.

In boys soccer, Pasco, Kamiakin and Chiawana are all off to 2-0 starts in MCC play.

Softball really gets going this coming weekend, and track and field teams will start their build up towards the Pasco Invitational, set for April 15.

In girls golf last Friday at the Hanford High Invite at Horn Rapids Golf Course in Richland, it looks like Southridge could be loaded.

Jillian Hui fired a 3-under par 69 to win medalist honors for the Suns, who also took the team title with 237 strokes.

Southridge teammate Riley Brandt placed third with a 77, while Kamiakin’s Liv Davenport finished fifth with a 79.

More all-star basketball

The state high school basketball coaches associations will hold their senior all-star games this coming Saturday, and there are plenty of Mid-Columbia players on the rosters.

The boys games, hosted by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association, will be played at Curtis High School in Tacoma, starting with a Futures game at 11 a.m.

Among the players in the Futures game will be Kamiakin junior Peter Dress and Richland junior Luke Westerfield.

The 1B vs. 2B contest is at 1 p.m., with Lind-Ritzville’s Chase Galbreath and Columbia-Burbank’s Michael Lenke listed on the boys 2B team.

On the 1B roster is WIBCA 1B state player of the year Cole Wagenaar of Sunnyside Christian, as well as DeSales’ Jack Lesko.

The 2A vs. 1A game is set for 3 p.m., and Prosser’s JJ Reyes will be playing for the 2A team.

Finally, the 3A vs. 4A will tip off at 5 p.m., and Chiawana’s Donavin Young will compete for the 4A squad.

The Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches Association will hold its all-star games Saturday at King’s High School in Seattle.

The tripleheader starts at 2 p.m. with the 2B-1B contest.

Warden’s Quinn Erdman and J’Lynn Rios will be playing for the 2B team.

At 4 p.m., the 2A vs. 1A game goes down, with Othello’s Briana Andrade and Annalee Coronado, as well as Grandview’s Natalie Trevino, all playing for the 2A team.

And at 6 p.m. is the 4A vs. 3A game, as Richland’s Kylee Fox and Kamiakin’s Maddy Rendall suiting up for the 4A team.

State players of the Year will be announced at the event.

College update

▪ Utah State linebacker AJ Vongphachanh (Chiawana) has entered the transfer portal, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Vongphachanh was the Aggies’ top tackler last season, with 101. He also had 10.5 tackles for loss.

▪ Clare Eubanks (Chiawana) scored 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds to lead Northwest Nazarene’s women’s basketball team over Alaska Anchorage 78-75 in overtime on Feb. 9.

Eubanks earned honorable mention all-conference mention for the All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s team,

Eubanks averaged 12.8 points and 5.9 rebounds this past season.

▪ Richland High grad Kaylie Northrop has become the ace this spring for Appalachian State’s softball team.

The junior lefty, through games of March 12, has a 6-1 record and a 1.84 earned run average.

In 45.2 innings of work, she has struck out 42 batters, and opponents are hitting a measly .172 off of her.

The Mountaineers are 15-6 this season, and begin Sun Belt Conference play this coming weekend, March 17-19, against Marshall University.

▪ A number of local athletes placed well at the Whitworth Invite at Spokane’s The Podium on Feb. 10-11.

Eastern Oregon University’s Tyler Jones (Hanford) finished second in the men’s high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 5.5 inches; while Eastern Washington University’s Madi Carr (Richland) ran the leadoff leg for the second-place Eagles women’s distance medley relay. The team finished the event in 12 minutes, 16.15 seconds.

Carr also finished eighth in the women’s 800 meters in 2:18.68.

Geraldin Correa (Kennewick) ran the third leg of Lewis-Clark State College’s third-place women’s distance medley relay team. The Warriors finished in 12:22.61.

Correa also placed fourth in the women’s 800 meters, with a time of 2:17.59.

Central Washington University’s men’s 4x400 relay team finished third in a time of 3:22.56. The foursome includes Austin Albertin (Kennewick) in the second spot, while Johan Correa (Kennewick) ran the anchor spot.

CWU’s Correa also finished fourth in the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:55.13.

In men’s 60 meters finals, Washington State University’s Jared McAlvey (Walla Walla) placed seventh with a time of 7.03 seconds.

And in the women’s weight throw event, Paige Palzinski (Hermiston) finished eighth while competing for Idaho. She tossed the weight 44 feet, 4.25 inches.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.