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ELLENSBURG -- She's been on national TV, so why not be nominated for a national award?

And now Mallory Holtman has been, having won the GNAC sportsmanship award, which qualfies her for NCAA Division II national acclaim.

The Central Washington fastpitch player, who graduated last month, was honored Tuesday along with Alaska Fairbanks skier Einar Often as the conferences female and male athletes who distinguished themselves during the past academic year through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

The national award winners will be announced next month.

It was Holtman who suggested that she and teammate Liz Wallace carry Western Oregon's Sara Tucholsky around the bases after Tucholsky injured her knee after hitting a home run.

Holtman, Wallace and Tucholsky won an ESPY last week in Los Angeles for the sports year's "best moment."

Often sacrificed an opportunity to qualify for the national skiing championships last winter when he gave his pole to a teammate who had broken his own.

YOUTH BASKETBALL

Yakima Elite wins tourney opener

LAS VEGAS -- Matt Borton scored 19 points as Yakima Elite won its opening game in the Las Vegas Nike Main Event basketball tournament Tuesday night, 55-46 over Illinois Old School.

Austin Bryan added
10 points for Yakima.

The team continues pool play today in the 180-team event that runs through Saturday.

YAKIMA ELITE: Matt Borton 19, Wade Gebbers 5, Austin Bryan 10, Brady Brent 7, Eric Hutchinson 2, Seth Brent 5, Cole Younger 2, Killian Larsen 5, Malakai Roberts 0.