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CLEAR Temp: 70 °F Wind: WNW at 4 mph Sunday, August 4, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend August 2, 2002 Ritchie’s rookie season with Timbers a rocky ride By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune Injury and circumstance are providing Bryn Ritchie a lesson in the virtues of patience early in his professional soccer career. The former South Medford High and University of Washington star has been limited to eight matches with the A-League’s Portland Timbers this summer mostly because of knee and hamstring problems. Throw in the fact the Timbers (8-9-3 overall) went on a roll after Ritchie went out with a left hamstring pull on June 6, and it appears luck has conspired to keep Ritchie on the sidelines as well. "It was just kind of a timing deal," says Ritchie, who led South to the Class 4A state championship as a prep senior in the fall of 1997. "When I was gone, the team started playing better, and nobody wants to mess with a good thing." For the first time since the hamstring injury, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound fullback did get a chance for game action on July 20 at Calgary, starting for the sixth time and playing all 90 minutes in Portland’s 3-1 victory. Aiding the offense with an assist and contributing his usual rock-solid defense, Ritchie felt good about his showing. "It went well," says the two-time Huskies All-American who will graduate from Washington in the fall. "I think I was slotted to play that next Thursday (in the Timbers’ next match), but I got real sick Sunday night and missed training on Monday. "Now, I’m just training this week and hoping to get in Saturday at El Paso. It was just kinda more bad luck." With eight matches left in Portland’s regular season, Ritchie, who was hampered at the beginning of the year by rehabilitation from winter surgery on his right knee, may not have had the professional debut, thus far, that he envisioned. But Timbers head coach Bobby Howe says Ritchie’s future is bright. "My ambition for Bryn and certainly his as well is to play in the MLS," says Howe, who was part of the Portland brass that made Ritchie the fifth selection of the 2002 A-League draft after he was chosen in the third round of the MLS draft by the Colorado Rapids. "He’s got all the tools. He’s just got to get healthy and demonstrate that he can do it on a consistent basis." Howe calls Ritchie the Timbers’ "best natural defender" and says the team’s shift to playing predominantly a 3-5-2 formation — in which three as opposed to the standard four fullbacks are implemented — has been another factor in his lack of playing time. "His attitude has been superb, first-class," says Howe, who has Portland tied for third place in the Pacific Division on the strength of an 8- 4-2 streak entering the A-League’s stretch run. "He’s playing well now, he’s wonderful in training and obviously the opportunity will present itself for more game time." Meanwhile, Ritchie, who is living in west Portland, near Beaverton, is soaking up the experience and keeping himself busy. The 22-year-old has coached in Lake Oswego Soccer Club camps this summer and hangs out with a handful of high school friends also living in the Portland area. "I’m just trying to enjoy it all," he says. "I’ve had some bad luck, but it’s given me some time to fully heal my knee (an injury that dates back to last fall’s collegiate season). ... I’m having fun." Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S