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Ritchie picked by Portland Timbers Bryn Ritchie, the former South Medford High School and University of Washington soccer star, was picked by the Portland Timbers as the fifth selection in the A-League draft Wednesday. Last weekend, Ritchie, who led South Medford to its only state title in 1997, was a third-round pick (28th overall) of the Colorado Rapids in the Major League Soccer draft. A 6-foot-2, 190-pound central fullback, Ritchie was a two-time All-American in college and was named the men's soccer Division-I National Scholar-Athlete Player of the Year last month. Ritchie was the Timbers' first selection, and two of his Washington teammates were also picked by Portland. "Ritchie is an outstanding, dominant central defender," Timbers coach Bobby Howe told The Oregonian. "He is strong in the tackle and is one of the best headers of the ball in the college game. And his talent has been recognized by the MLS. "As Bryn is a native of Oregon, we are quietly confident that he will be wearing our colors this season." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.