NW Briefs | Lute to be honored for valor

For Pacific Lutheran softball player Alana Schutt, rescuing three fishermen on Martha Lake was "an easy decision."

That decision on May 26, 2006, led to Schutt saving the lives of the three men whose boat was sinking. Because of her response, Schutt was to receive the Washington State Medal of Valor from Gov. Chris Gregoire today in Olympia.

Schutt, who in May had just finished her junior season with the Lutes, first noticed the men in distress from the back yard of her Lynnwood home.

As her mother called 911, Schutt took the family's paddleboat out to help, and on the way noticed one of the men struggling in the water some 100 yards from the boat.

"He became my priority," said Schutt, a strong swimmer who is trained in first aid and CPR. She pulled him into her paddleboat and then proceeded to the spot where the other two men clung to the partially submerged boat.

With the aid of one of the men she pushed her paddleboat and pulled the partially submerged boat to the boat launch where emergency responders waited.

Notes

• Western Washington women's basketball point guard Elyse Hartman will undergo knee surgery and miss the remainder of the season. Hartman, a junior, averaged 5.5 points and 3.1 assists this season.

• Jennifer Solberg had 20 points and 12 rebounds as Evergreen State (4-16) beat Northwest Christian College 57-46 in Eugene, Ore.

• The Northwest Christian men beat Evergreen State (7-15) 72-60 in Eugene, Ore.

• U.S. Figure Skating has released 200 tickets to the sold-out ladies free skate Saturday at the U.S. championships in Spokane Arena. Check ticketswest.com or call (800) 325-7328 or (509) 325-7328.

• The Everett Silvertips said defenseman Jason Fransoo has been named captain.

• Seattle Pacific's Debra Huss was named the gymnast of the week in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

Compiled from sports-information reports and other sources.