Kenzie Fowler

A.E. araiza / arizona daily star 2007

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Jack Donovan has spent a lifetime running minor-league baseball franchises, including two stints as the Tucson Toros/Sidewinders general manager. He has operated Class A and independent league teams in California, Utah and Washington.

His take on the sale/pending move of the Sidewinders to Reno, Nev.: Tucson is a unique market and it is not minor-league friendly.

"The formula has always been that about 3,000 people move into Tucson every month and about 1,500 move out," he said. "In effect, that flushes out the population. Turns it over. You get so many people moving in from bigger cities, especially the Chicago and New York areas, and they don't know minor-league baseball.

"As a result, Tucson has a thin root system of fans. I always felt the combination of having such a thin fan base and that there is no sense of rivalry or identity in the Pacific Coast League — it's almost as if both teams are visiting teams — offsets the entertainment value of the game."

Donovan is entering his second year as president and GM of the Portland Winter Hawks hockey franchise; he resigned 16 months ago as the Diamondbacks' director of spring training at Tucson Electric Park.

"We would ask Toros and Sidewinders fans the final score as they left the park," he said. "One-third of them didn't know. We asked them who the Sidewinders played. Half of them didn't know. It's a problem.

"Maybe Tucson just needs a rest from baseball. You'll probably get another chance, but the next move will be critical. You can't mess it up again."

UA-bound softball pitcher Kenzie Fowler, 28-1 this year, planned to leave for The Netherlands today with the U.S. Junior National softball team. Her parents had made extensive travel plans to accompany the Canyon del Oro state championship player.

But after an 11-day hospital stay, which included three life-saving surgeries — one of them seven hours — to correct blood flow between her arm and ribs, Kenzie probably won't be able to begin physical activity for another 10 days.

Her mother, Kelly Fowler, who coached CDO to the 2005 state softball championship, only left the hospital once in that 11-day period.

"That's enough," Kelly said. "You just count your blessings and be thankful it all worked out. We were in the intensive care unit for seven days. So many of the people we met are still in there. It gives you a new perspective. Softball isn't No. 1. We've all moved past the disappointment of not going to Europe."

Entering this week's USA Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis, three Tucsonans are ranked No. 1 with the best times or distances in the nation so far this year.

Middle-distance runner Bernard Lagat has the fastest times in the 1,500 and the mile. Former UA star Abdi Abdirahman is the fastest at 10,000 meters, and ex-UA All-American Brianna Glenn is second in the women's long jump.

Jill Camarena, who moved to Tucson to train with UA throws coach Craig Carter, is a significant favorite in the women's shot put; she holds the top two throws of 2007. Also entered: Tucson's David Krummenacker, who is trying to regain his footing as America's leading 800-meter runner.

Pima County administrator Chuck Huckelberry was quoted last week saying the Sidewinders were "immaterial." In TV interviews, he seemed so disinterested, monotone, as if he were about to fall into a deep sleep. Can you imagine the White Sox, Diamondbacks and Rockies dealing with him? Adios, spring training. And you wonder why the county's standards are so low at Tucson Electric Park. … Tucsonan David McDaniel, who has a streak of five consecutive victories in city and county amateur championships, won the Arizona state qualifying for the Pacific Coast Amateur last week. He shot 71-66 in Phoenix to get one of the three Arizona spots in the August tournament in San Diego. … Scottsdale teenage golf star Esther Choe, who reneged on a letter of intent to play at Arizona next season, has not taken long to show she made a good decision. She qualified for the U.S. Women's Open last week, a few days after she finished second in an LPGA Futures Tour event. Choe did not accept the $9,000 Futures money because she will not turn pro until her 18th birthday in August.

Mike Stoops hit the football lottery last week when he was able to hire 1970's UA lineman Bill Baker to be Arizona's assistant director of football operations. After a 25-year career in which he has scouted for the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and for the USFL and Toronto Argonauts, Baker has few peers when it comes to evaluating young football talent. He will work mostly in recruiting. Baker said a year ago he had made 28 moves in 26 years. Let's hope his 29th move, back to the UA, is rewarding.

Preston Guilmet, the UA's Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year, is not planning to shut down for the summer. Guilmet is scheduled to pitch this weekend for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League. He will be surrounded by familiar faces. UA outfielder T.J. Steele, a Canyon del Oro product, and Wildcats Brad Glenn and Mike Colla also will play for Bourne this summer. Arizona freshman relief pitching star Jason Stoffel will join UA slugger Jon Gaston on the Cape Cod League's Orleans Cardinals club. … Former UA and CDO outfielder Kris Sanchez completed a terrific college baseball career, leading the University of Hawaii in all triple crown categories. Sanchez, a senior first baseman, hit .362 with 10 home runs and 66 RBIs. He led the WAC in doubles (23) and was selected to the All-WAC second team.

After coaching Jake Arnold to back-to-back NCAA decathlon championships, UA assistant track and field coach Sheldon Blockburger was named the jumps/combined events coach of the year for the West Region. Blockburger, a 1988 grad of LSU, is in demand nationally. It would be a surprise if his alma mater doesn't offer him a similar position. LSU's long-time jumps coach, Boo Schexnayder, left the school last week, and Blockburger's name is sure to surface in replacement talks. He is among the best in the world at his craft. … Remember Billy Owens, a backup QB at Arizona who became a top run-producing first baseman for Arizona in the early 1990s? He is one of major-league baseball's rising administrative stars. Owens is the director of player personnel for the Oakland A's and assistant to GM Billy Beane, one of the game's most accomplished front-office men. Owens spent five years working in minor-league coaching capacities before going to the A's front office. … Tucson now has 15 high school swimmers advancing to four-year colleges in 2007-08. Catalina Foothills standout Cailyn Bugbee has signed to swim for Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. … Brian Prouty, the UA's leading golfer this season, is turning pro. The Salpointe Catholic grad will begin playing on the Gateway Tour in Phoenix and in Florida. … Tucsonan Josh Wilks, who completed his UA career two weeks ago, turned pro last week and won $1,600 in the Gateway Tour event in Scottsdale.

Sunnyside High School senior tailback Jovan Stevenson is perhaps Tucson's top college prospect, according to Rivals.com. That recruiting service ranks him No. 18 in the state. Stevenson has written offers from Air Force and Oregon State and has received feelers from UCLA, Colorado and Utah but nothing from Arizona and ASU. Stevenson rushed for 1,863 yards for the Blue Devils last season. … Quarterback Jason Johnson, one of the most personable UA football players ever to come down the street, retired from football last week. After three seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos, Johnson has moved into TV work. He is producing and hosting a 12-week series, "Gametime" about the Canadian Football League and other sports. That sort of work fits his personality. In 2002, Johnson threw for 3,327 yards, an Arizona season record. Good for him. … One of the reasons Lute Olson has been able to recruit so successfully is that the program sells itself. I walked into McKale Center one afternoon last week and saw Damon Stoudamire, who has earned in excess of $80 million in the NBA, playing against McDonald's All-American Jerryd Bayless. A few minutes later, Atlanta Hawks guard Salim Stoudamire joined the game. It was early June. A slow afternoon. Big-time basketball was being played.

Here's a prediction for the 2008 sports calendar: The UA will add Mike Candrea's name to the Hillenbrand Stadium softball complex. Perhaps it will be Candrea Field. It should be; there's not much sense in waiting to get it done.

The UA athletic administration will now put into place the 18th NCAA title banner on National Championship Drive, the short avenue between Arizona Stadium and Kindall/Sancet Stadium.

In that regard, how about Candrea Avenue?