Down 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Emeralds center fielder Ian Happ battled Hillsboro Hops starting pitcher Jared Miller to a full count. The runners on first and second both stole as Happ cracked a line drive down the right field line, but the shot landed in foul territory by no more than a ball length.

“It’s a game of inches,” manager Gary Van Tol said. “I don’t know how far foul Happ’s ball was but it was close enough to get a reaction from the crowd. Another foot in another direction I think we score two runs there and Happ’s at third.”

A matter of inches victimized the Emeralds in the dagger fifth inning, when Hops second baseman Fernery Ozuna scorched a ball down the left line that stayed just inside the foul line and drove in the game’s first run. The Hops tallied thee runs in the frame and went to shut out the Emeralds, 4-0 on Friday at PK Park.

Miller was untouchable through six innings, in which he allowed three hits and a walk and struck out 11.

“Sometimes you just gotta tip your cap,” Van Tol said. “He did an outstanding job and he’s been doing that ever since he came back down from Kane County.”

After he won the 2014 national championship with Vanderbilt, Miller began his career with Hillsboro in short season ball last year and impressed through eight games. He started his sophomore season with the Kane County Cougars, the Arizona Diamondbacks long season A-level club, but suffered a 6.91 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in seven appearances. He came back down to Hillsboro, where he’s earned a win in all six starts and maintained a 0.66 ERA and 0.80 WHIP.

“He was tough,” Van Tol said of the 6’7″, 240-lb 11th-round draft pick. “Our guys haven’t seen a guy like that from the left side.”

Kyle Twomey, a 13th-round pick out of USC, started the game for the Emeralds, allowed a hit and struck out two through two innings. Jose Paulino took over for Twomey, but got shelled for four runs—three earned—on nine hits and a walk, although he struck out seven in five innings.

The Emeralds (15-13) left six runners on base, went 0-6 with runners in scoring position and suffered their first shutout loss of the season. They drop to third place in the Northwest League South, a game behind Hillsboro (16-12) and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (16-12).

The month of July has been a rocky road for Eugene. The Ems endured a five-game winning streak followed by a four-game losing streak and have gone 8-7 overall.

The Emeralds look to win their three-game home stand with Hillsboro in the rubber match Friday at 7:05 p.m. Then they hit the road to take on Vancouver, against whom they’ve won their four contests.

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Marcus Mariota is only 2015 first-round draft pick who has not signed with his NFL team. The Tennessee Titans reportedly refuse to exclude offset language in Mariota’s proposed contract, which would save the team money if it chooses to release the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. Allegedly the language had a clause preventing Mariota from surfing due to risk of catastrophic injury, but those reports have been discredited.

Mariota is nominated for the Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award, along with Boston University hockey player Jack Eichel, Wisconsin basketball player Frank Kaminsky, Ohio State wrestler Logan Stieber and Vanderbilt baseball player Dansby Swanson. Online fan voting determines “most” of the award winners, who will be revealed tonight on ESPN.

Mark Helfrich was named to the 2015 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year watch list Tuesday. Helfrich, who is 24-4 in two seasons with Oregon, joins 22 other coaches on the list, including Pac-12 head coaches Jim Mora of UCLA, Rich Rodriguez of Arizona and Kyle Whittingham

Senior defensive end DeForest Buckner joined fifth-year offensive tackle Tyler Johnstone on the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, reserved for the best college football lineman or linebacker. Bucker was named to the watch lists for two national defensive player of the year honors last week, the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy.

Joseph Young signed a long-term rookie deal with the Indiana Pacers, who selected him in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, Monday. Young is averaging more than 20 points per game in Summer League, and will receive upwards of $4 million over four seasons, the first two guaranteed.

Caroline Inglis won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier Tuesday and earned a spot in the world’s premier tournament held at Portland Golf Club August 10. Inglis, who became the first Oregon Ducks golfer to win a Pac-12 championship in April, shot the only under-par score of the day.

TrackTown USA president Vin Lananna was officially announced as head coach of the U.S. men’s and women’s track and field teams competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday. He was an assistant coach for the U.S. in 2004, the same year he began his eight-year tenure as head coach of the Ducks. Leanne joins Bill Bowerman as the only former Oregon coach to earn an Olympic head coaching role.

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The Ducks came away from Nike’s The Opening, a showcase featuring the nation’s top 162 high school football players, with two four-star defensive recruits — linebacker LaMar Winston of Central Catholic High School in Portland and cornerback Jared Mayden of Sachse, Texas.

Winston, a U.S. Army All-American nominee, chose Oregon over Stanford, UCLA and a host of over schools. The Ducks have now signed the 2016 class’s top three prospects from the state of Oregon — Winston, Central Catholic safety Brady Breeze and Summit tight end Cam McCormick.

At 6-foot-3-inches and 205 pounds, Winston is rated the No. 11 athlete in the country by Rivals and the top prospect in the state. He played wide receiver as a junior and is also being recruited to play outside linebacker, a position of need for Oregon. The Ducks also signed four-star linebacker Darrian Franklin as well as three-star linebackers Hunter Kampmoyer and Troy Dye to its 2016 class.

A four-star cornerback according to Rivals, Jared Mayden chose Oregon after he received offers from more than 40 schools. He declared a final seven of Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and UCLA, and many believe his final two came down to Ohio State and Oregon.

During The Opening practice, Mayden spent much of his time with Breeze, Theo Howard and Winston; all of whom have committed to Oregon.

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Oregon track and field star Jenna Prandini was named one of three finalist for The Bowerman Trophy, college track and field’s top individual honor, on Thursday.

Prandini’s 49 points at the 2015 national championships propelled the Oregon women to their first NCAA title since 1985. She competed in three events at each of the indoor and outdoor championships and won both the long jump (21 feet, 10 inches) and 100 (10.96 seconds).

If Prandini’s name is called during the Dec. 17 announcement in San Antonio, Oregon will become the first school to defend the award since its 2009 introduction by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Laura Roesler won the Bowerman Trophy in 2014.

The other finalists for the honor are pole vaulter Demi Payne of Stephen F. Austin and hurdler Kendra Harrison of Kentucky.

Oregon distance runner Edward Cheserek, who won national titles in the 5,000 and 10,000, was announced as a men’s finalist for the Bowerman Trophy Wednesday — his second nomination.

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Even during an off-day, outfielder Ian Happ made things happen for the Emeralds.

He was credited with a hit and an RBI, but the Cubs’ 2015 first-round draft pick plated four runs on four productive at bats in Eugene’s walk-off 6-5 win Monday.

“He demands that respect,” manager Gary Van Tol said of Happ. “There’s always something that can happen with him at the plate.”

The Vancouver Canadians (8-11) chose not to pitch to Happ with runners in scoring position and a tie in the bottom of the ninth. Instead, they chose to pitch to Frandy De La Rosa, who delivered a fly ball deep enough to score the run and seal the victory at PK Park.

“I’m glad Frandy got the opportunity and was able to get it done,” Happ, who was in the on-deck circle when the game ended, said afterward. “I was just hoping to get the win for the team.”

The Emeralds (11-8) had to come from behind twice to stay in contention. Starting pitcher Carson Sands got them into hot water when he walked two batters to open the third inning. He recorded two outs but Canadians designated hitter Gunnar Heidt laced a two-out single past the diving Blake Headley. Both runners scored and the Canadians took a 2-0 lead.

Sands was not sharp, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks. He hadn’t allowed a walk in 16 innings in his three prior starts.

The Emeralds missed a big opportunity in the third. Canadians starting pitcher Jonathan Harris, the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2015 first-round draft pick, walked the first three batters in the bottom half of the third. Eugene settled for one as Happ grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and Justin Marra, who tallied 3 RBIs and hit his first home run in the Emeralds’ shutout win Sunday, struck out swinging.

The Emeralds nearly squandered another scoring chance in the fifth but were bailed out by sloppy defense. With one out and runners on second and third, Happ chopped a ground ball to second baseman Lane Thomas, who couldn’t field it cleanly. Kevonte Mitchell came around to score, as did Donnie Dewees, who bolted for home while Thomas reoriented himself.

“That was his call, scoring from third,” Van Tol said of the heads-up play. “Dewey did a great job reading, looking in and finding the baseball.”

The lead, however, was short-lived. In the sixth inning Sean Hurley blasted his fifth home run, a solo shot off Pedro Araujo. Araujo then conceded three hits with two outs, capped by Earl Burl III’s RBI go-ahead single.

Making his Emeralds debut at shortstop, 24th round draft pick Sutton Whiting bobbled a ground ball in the eighth inning that allowed Lane Thomas to reach base and eventually score an unearned run on a safety squeeze.

“That’s enough to break your back,” Van Tol said. “A lot of clubs would have just thrown in the towel.”

Down 5-3, Eugene fought back. De La Rosa crushed a double down the left field line, stole third and scored on Happ’s RBI groundout. Ian Rice knocked in the tying run with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth.

The Emeralds then sealed the deal in a bizarre ninth inning.

Kevonte Mitchell led off with a walk then landed on third when the left and center fielders miscommunicated on a routine fly ball, allowing it to fall between them. The right fielder ended up dropping De La Rosa’s walk-off fly ball for two straight errors to end the game.

“Our guys found a way,” Van Tol said. “It was a total team effort. We weren’t great in some areas but battled back and put ourselves in a position to win the ball game. That’s all you can ask for.”

The Emeralds will take on Vancouver at home again Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.

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The Eugene Emeralds took down the Vancouver Canadians 6-0 Sunday night in the second game of a five-game series at PK Park.

Former Arizona State pitcher Ryan Kellogg pitched two innings his first career minor league start after he struck out two in his debut, a scoreless relief inning one week ago. On Sunday, Kellogg surrendered one hit and no walks, striking out one.

Kellogg earned first team All-Pac-12 honors each of his three seasons with Sun Devils and ranked second in the conference in innings pitched and wins in 2015. The Cubs spent their fifth round draft pick on the 6’5″, 225 pound left-hander and the parties agreed to a $376,000 signing bonus.

Blake Headley laid down a bunt to lead off the second inning and ended up on second after Vancouver catcher Juan Kelly made an errant throw to first base. Ricardo Marcano, who’d gone hitless in his last three games, knocked Headley home on a single up in the middle to take a 1-0 lead.

The Emeralds added their second run on a two-out rally in the fourth. Kevonte Mitchell singled to right and then swiped second base, his third steal in as many attempts. Mitchell came around to score on the next play on Donnie Dewees’ double, his first extra-base hit since bashing three doubles in Eugene’s series finale with the Tri-City Dust Devils.

Justin Marra, who delivered the walk-off single in the Emeralds’ 5-4 win over Tri-City last week, blasted a solo home run in the third to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Emeralds broke out for three runs in the sixth led by Dewees, who singled and scored on a wild pitch that advanced Matt Rose to second and Frandy De La Rosa to third. Marra drove both runners home with a base hit to center.

The Eugene bullpen shined in relief of Kellogg. Adbert Alzolay shined in middle relief, tossing four innings of no-hit baseball with a walk and a four strikeouts in his third appearance. Francisco Carillo allowed one hit through the seventh and eighth, and Trey Masek threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning to seal the Ems’ victory.

Eugene (10-8) will play continue the series against Vancouver (8-10) the next three days at 7:05 p.m..

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The Eugene Emeralds donned four different styles of throwback jerseys to pay tribute to the four decades they played at Civic Stadium, their former home field which burned to the ground Monday in a massive fire.

“When I heard the news last night, I was kind of in shock,” manager Gary Van Tol said. “I know how important that place is for this community and we feel for everybody. On behalf of the Chicago Cubs and our organization, our hearts go out to the whole community.”

The historic stadium was built in 1938 and became the Emeralds’ home field in 1969. Fans collected pieces of turf from the outfield in sentiment following the Emeralds’ last game at Civic Stadium on September 4, 2009.

“Only a few guys in that locker room had the privilege of playing or coaching at Civic Stadium, so we don’t have the history like a lot of locals do. But tell you what, when they come and watch us play hopefully they can start creating some good memories here.”

Local residents mourned their beloved ballpark Tuesday, but the Emeralds gave them something to smile about: a four-run eighth inning that propelled them to a 9-4 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils at PK Park.

2015 second-round draft pick Donny Dewees led off at designated hitter and stimulated Eugene’s offense. Dewees doubled, stole third then scored on a botched pickoff attempt to take the lead in the third. With two outs in the fourth inning, he yanked his second double down the first base line to score Tyler Alamo and Frandy De La Rosa for his first career RBIs. He knocked in his third and fourth RBIs on his third double of the night, an eighth-inning dagger.

“It’s definitely a big thing to get that off your shoulders,” Dewees said. “It’s nice to start feeling myself, swinging the bat the way I know I can and getting accustomed to the game again.”

Donnie Dewees, who led the nation in hits, runs, slugging percentage and total bases in his 2015 season with University of North Florida, went 1-8 in his first two games but mustered five hits in his last two.

“The pitching is definitely a lot harder here, velocity-wise at least,” Dewees said. “Every once in a while you’d see good arm in college, but here now its 90 to 94 (mph) every day.”

Eugene starting pitcher Carson Sands allowed one run on three hits and struck out four in five innings work. He lowered his WHIP to 0.81 in his third start and earned his first win of the season.

Eloy Jimenez cracked an opposite field solo home run in the first to give the Ems an early advantage. De La Rosa and Ho-Young Son added RBI singles.

The Dust Devils manufactured a run during a rally in the second, but Ian Happ, the Cubs’ 2015 first-round selection, limited the damage with a spectacular diving catch in center field that saved a run. Tri-City’s Carlos Belen knocked in two of his three RBIs on a double over Happ’s head in the sixth, but Happ gunned him down at third base.

The Emeralds (7-6) took four out of five against the Dust Devils and went 6-2 in its home stand. They’ll play a three game series at the Hillsboro Hops (7-6) starting Wednesday and return home Saturday for a five-game series versus the Vancouver Canadiens (6-7).

“I think we’re starting to gel as a team,” Van Tol said. “We got a little mojo going so I’m looking forward to taking this show on the road.”

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University of Oregon graduate and Nike co-founder Phil Knight announced Tuesday his plans to step down as chairman of the company in a press release.

Knight also announced he has started Swoosh, a limited liability company that would hold a majority of his Nike Class A Common Stock shares—roughly 15 percent of the company’s total shares.

“For me, Nike has always been more than just a company – it has been my life’s passion,” Knight said.  “Over the years, I’ve spent a great deal of time considering how I might someday evolve my ownership and leadership of Nike. Today, we have taken a number of important steps that will continue to promote Nike’s long-term growth.”

A board of directors established by Knight will determine how the shares are utilized going forward. Knight, 77, will hold two of the five votes assigned to the board to ensure his “long-term stability in the ownership and governance of the company.”

“Swoosh will itself have a governance structure that is designed to make thoughtful and forward-looking decisions with respect to the ongoing voting and management of those shares,” Knight said. “I believe this structure will maintain Nike’s strong corporate governance, which has focused our management on serving the consumer and pursuing profitable, long-term growth.”

Nike said CEO Mark Parker, a former Nike shoe designer, would replace Knight as company chairman in 2016 on Knight’s recommendation. Phil’s son Travis Knight, a movie executive and former rapper, will join Nike’s board of directors.

“I have long felt a great responsibility to provide clarity and certainty for the long-term governance and leadership of Nike and for my ultimate transition as chairman,” Knight said. “I have worked closely with the Nike board in developing this plan and in identifying the most qualified person to serve as my successor in this role.

Knight said Parker has been “an outstanding CEO for the past nine years.”

“(Parker) has demonstrated time and again his love for this company and his clear vision for capturing the tremendous potential Nike has to innovate, inspire, and drive growth,” Knight said. “For myself, I intend to continue to work with Nike and look forward to contributing to its future well after my chairmanship ends.”

Parker also issued a statement in the release.

“Phil founded Nike to serve athletes,” Parker said. “That vision and inspiration continues to drive our success today around the world.  I have been privileged to work with Phil for over 35 years, and Nike’s exceptional management team and I are committed to building on Phil’s vision to drive the next era of growth for Nike.”

Knight ran track for the Ducks under coach Bill Bowerman, with whom he co-founded Nike. A sports reporter for the Daily Emerald, he earned a journalism degree and graduated a brother of Phi Gamma Delta (“FIJI”) fraternity.

Phil and his wife, Penny, have contributed more than $300 million to University of Oregon. They funded the renovations of the Knight Library and Autzen Stadium, paid for the Jaqua Academic Center for student-athletes and 145,000 square-foot Hatfield-Dowlin Complex for the football team, and helped finance the William W. Knight Law Center and Matthew Knight Arena.

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University of Oregon graduate and Nike co-founder Phil Knight announced on June 30 his plans to step down as chairman of the company in a press release.

Knight also announced he has started Swoosh, a limited liability company that would hold a majority of his Nike Class A Common Stock shares —roughly 15 percent of the company’s total shares.

“For me, Nike has always been more than just a company – it has been my life’s passion,” Knight said. “Over the years, I’ve spent a great deal of time considering how I might someday evolve my ownership and leadership of Nike. Today, we have taken a number of important steps that will continue to promote Nike’s long-term growth.”

A board of directors established by Knight will determine how the shares are going to be used moving forward. Knight, 77, will hold two of the five votes assigned to the board to ensure his “long-term stability in the ownership and governance of the company.”

“Swoosh will itself have a governance structure that is designed to make thoughtful and forward-looking decisions with respect to the ongoing voting and management of those shares,” Knight said. “I believe this structure will maintain Nike’s strong corporate governance, which has focused our management on serving the consumer and pursuing profitable, long-term growth.”

Nike said CEO Mark Parker, a former Nike shoe designer, will replace Knight as company chairman in 2016 on Knight’s recommendation. Phil’s son, Travis Knight, a movie executive and former rapper, will join Nike’s board of directors.

“I have long felt a great responsibility to provide clarity and certainty for the long-term governance and leadership of Nike and for my ultimate transition as chairman,” Phil said. “I have worked closely with the Nike board in developing this plan and in identifying the most qualified person to serve as my successor in this role.”

Phil said Parker has been “an outstanding CEO for the past nine years.”

“[Parker] has demonstrated time and again his love for this company and his clear vision for capturing the tremendous potential Nike has to innovate, inspire and drive growth,” Phil said. “For myself, I intend to continue to work with Nike and look forward to contributing to its future well after my chairmanship ends.”

Parker also issued a statement in the release:

“Phil founded Nike to serve athletes,” Parker said. “That vision and inspiration continues to drive our success today around the world. I have been privileged to work with Phil for over 35 years, and Nike’s exceptional management team and I are committed to building on Phil’s vision to drive the next era of growth for Nike.”

Phil ran track for the Ducks under coach Bill Bowerman, with whom he co-founded Nike. A sports reporter for the Daily Emerald, he earned a journalism degree and graduated a brother of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

Phil and his wife, Penny, have contributed more than $300 million to the university. They funded the renovations of the Knight Library and Autzen Stadium, paid for the Jaqua Academic Center for student-athletes and 145,000 square-foot Hatfield-Dowlin Complex for the football team, and helped finance structures such as the William W. Knight Law Center and Matthew Knight Arena.

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The Chicago Cubs drafted Jae-Hoon Ha out of his high school in Jin Ju City, Korea in 2008, and the outfielder hit .265 with 38 home runs in six major league seasons. Ha climbed his way up to Triple-A, but never got called up to the major leagues.

“He played a long time in the system and saw some time in Triple-A, but it’s tough to get to the big leagues,” manager Gary Van Tol said of Ha.

Ha, who always had a strong throwing arm, now finds himself back in Single-A, only this time as a pitcher. He tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth inning in the Eugene Emeralds’ 7-4 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils at PK Park Saturday night.

Ha hadn’t pitched since his playing days in Korea prior to this season, but earned his second win with the stakes high in just his third outing.

“Win or lose, that’s the guy I wanted on the mound just because of his experience,” Van Tol said. “We go back a long way, and I knew he wasn’t going to panic.”

The Emeralds provided early run support to starting pitcher Jose Paulino, who allowed five hits and three runs (all earned) in 5 2/3 innings in his first Single-A level start last week, a no-decision at the Everett Aquasox. Ian Happ, the 2015 MLB Draft’s ninth overall selection, stole second base and Matt Rose drove him home with a two-out single. Rose, who went 2-4 with an RBI in his professional debut Friday, scored Eugene’s second run on Tyson Alamo’s RBI-single to center.

The Emeralds tacked on two more in the second when Frandy De La Rosa singled up the middle, stole second and third base and came around to score on Eloy Jimenez’s line drive base hit. Jimenez went 3-3 with a walk and RBI and has hit in six of his last seven games. Happ followed with a sacrifice fly to score Donny Dewees, who debuted in the lead-off spot.

Tri-City’s Luis Urias singled to lead off the third, and clean-up hitter Carlos Belen brought him home on a double to left. The Dust Devils tallied one more run but their rally came to an end when Belen was doubled off third on a popout to second baseman De La Rosa.

Right-hander Alex Santana relieved Paulino after five innings, six hits and three runs (all earned), and watched the tying run plate on catcher Alamo’s passed ball in the eighth.

2015 20th round selection Blake Headley broke the 4-4 tie with a frozen rope to left center which brought Kevonte Mitchell home in the bottom of the eighth.

“It was a struggle to get there,” said Headley, who grounded out to the pitcher three times before coming up with the clutch base hit. “That’s the funny thing about baseball—next at bat you do something good. You’ve just got to keep playing the game.”

Alamo scored from third the following play on Vimael Machin’s productive groundout, then Headley came around on De La Rosa’s single, providing Ha a three-run lead heading into the ninth.

The Emeralds (5-5) have now won four straight contests and can clinch the five-game home series against the Dust Devils with a win Sunday at 5 p.m.