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1B Sports Tehama Tracker Today's games Wednesday July 31, 2013 MLB Toronto Athletics RAIDERS 12:35 p.m. TOR — Dickey OAK — Colon Giants Phillies CSNB Matt Flynn solidifying role as QB 12:35 p.m. SF — Gaudin PHI — Kendrick On the tube LITTLE LEAGUE 3:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Big League World Series, championship, teams TBD, at Easley, S.C. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 4 p.m. ESPN — St. Louis at Pittsburgh 5 p.m. WGN — Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs SOCCER 9 a.m. ESPN2 — Audi Cup, semifinal, Manchester City vs. AC Milan, at Munich 11:15 a.m. ESPN2 — Audi Cup, semifinal, Sao Paulo at Bayern Munich 6 p.m. ESPN2 — MLS, All-Star Game, MLS All-Stars vs. AS Roma, at Kansas City, Kan. Duchardt promoted at Hendrick Motorsports CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Longtime Hendrick Motorsports executive Doug Duchardt has been promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president and general manager. Duchardt will report to team owner Rick Hendrick and company President Marshall Carlson. The expanded role will put Duchardt in charge of all racing operations for Hendrick Motorsports and make him the primary liaison between the organization and NASCAR's competition group. ''Doug has led by example from his first day with us,'' Hendrick said. ''We're in a competitive and ever-changing industry, and he brings a global view that will be critical to our long-term success. Doug shares the organization's values, understands the importance of relationships and has helped promote a culture of teamwork and communication. We know those are things he will lean on and grow in the years to come.'' Duchardt joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2005 as vice president of development. In that position, he directed all engine, vehicle engineering, chassis and body operations. He also oversaw the company's work on the last two generations of Sprint Cup Series race cars, including Hendrick Motorsports' role as the lead development team for General Motors' new Chevrolet SS. His new responsibilities will include oversight of all competition-related personnel and departments, including teams; engines; race car construction (chassis and bodies); research and development; human performance (pit crews); and engineering. ''Doug's capabilities are proven, and he energetically fosters the growth of those around him at Hendrick Motorsports,'' Carlson said. ''As the competitive landscape continues to evolve, our team will rely heavily on his expertise and broad perspective. In this role, Doug's leadership can be an even greater benefit to our employees, fans and corporate partners.'' Duchardt holds a master's degree in engineering from Purdue. He joined General Motors Racing in 1996 and was named director of North American motor sports initiatives, overseeing programs in NASCAR, Grand-Am, American Le Mans, NHRA, IndyCar and other series in 2003. NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Matt Flynn is solidifying his role as starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders one year after losing that same job in training camp in Seattle. Flynn entered camp with the inside track over Terrelle Pryor and rookie Tyler Wilson to replace Carson Palmer in Oakland and has done nothing in the first week of camp to change that equation. It's a far cry to what happened to Flynn a year ago in Seattle where Flynn went from coveted offseason freeagent acquisition with a $26 million contract to backing up a third-round pick in a matter of weeks at training camp. With Russell Wilson set as starter in Seattle, Flynn was traded to Oakland in the offseason and has done his best to hold onto this opportunity to start in the NFL. ''I took away a lot of things from Seattle last year,'' Flynn said Tuesday. ''But the thing that I took away the most was that I want this even more now, even more this year. I'm blessed to have another opportunity at this and I'll try to take advantage of it and do as much as I can to not let it get away from me.'' Flynn has been the most impressive of the three quarterbacks so far in training camp with the most accurate arm, a good grasp of the offense and strong leadership on the field. ''I'm going in there and trying to be the best quarterback out here, trying to be the best quarterback for this team and help this team win as best I can,'' Flynn said. ''I'm coming in here every day with my hard hat on, trying to prepare.'' Flynn, a backup in college at LSU to former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, has started just two games in five seasons as a pro. But it's those brief appearances that are so intriguing. He threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns in a loss at New England in place of an injured Aaron Rodgers late in the 2010 season. He then started the regular-season finale the following season, going 31 for 44 for 480 yards and six touchdown passes in a 4541 win over Detroit. That led to the $26 million, three-year contract from the Seahawks. But Flynn struggled in the second exhibition game last summer and missed the AP photo Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Flynn drops back to throw during their NFL football training camp Friday in Napa. third with an elbow injury. By that point Wilson passed him on the depth chart and Flynn was relegated to another year as a backup. Despite winning a national championship at LSU and the impressive performances in his few chances in the NFL, Flynn still faces many doubters who question whether he has a strong enough arm to succeed in the pro game. ''To play quarterback in the NFL, to me, you have to be two things: You have to be smart and you have to be accurate,'' he said. ''Things on the field are going to come and you have to be able to do that as well, and I feel very confident in my ability to do that, but overall you have to be smart and accurate.'' Flynn got another chance to prove that when the Raiders dealt a 2014 fifthround pick and a conditional pick in 2015 to Seattle. While coach Dennis Allen has stressed an open competition at quarterback with Pryor and another rookie named Wilson — Tyler — nothing that has been seen so far in the offseason or camp indicates that Flynn won't be the starter when the season opens Sept. 8 in Indianapolis. Flynn has gotten the vast majority of the time with the first-team offense so far and is earning the trust of his teammates. ''It's kind of playing out about like I expected. Matt Flynn has been pretty consistent,'' coach Dennis Allen said. ''Those guys are doing exactly what we want them to do, keep competing and keep playing. Don't worry about the depth chart, just keep getting better.'' See FLYNN, page 2B NHL Sharks sign Pavelski to 5-year extension SAN JOSE (AP) — The San Jose Sharks signed center Joe Pavelski to a $30 million, five-year contract extension Tuesday that will keep him off the freeagent market next summer. ''It's always exciting when a franchise puts that responsibility on you a little bit,'' Pavelski said. ''It's important to continue to play at a high level in that regard. It's a position I wanted to be in, and it's exciting to have this opportunity.'' Pavelski is the second key player signed to an extension this offseason by general manager Doug Wilson. Center Logan Couture also signed a $30 million, five-year extension earlier this month, a year before he could become a free agent. The deals keep both players under contract through the 2018-19 season. Pavelski, a seventh-round pick in 2003, has become a cornerstone of the franchise that has long been led by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. ''He is one of our core players, the way he plays,'' general manager Doug Wilson. ''To me it was just an important contract to get done on the heels of Logan's contract also. He fits for now and the future the way he plays the game.'' He was tied for third on the team in points last season when he had 16 goals and 15 assists in 48 games. He is also a key part of both the power-play and penalty-kill units, is strong in the faceoff circle and has the versatility to play center or wing. The 29-year-old has 150 goals and 186 assists in 479 career games with San Jose. He ranks 10th in his draft class in points per game (0.70) and is the only player in the top 15 to be selected after the second round. ''He's a hockey player,'' Wilson said. ''We use him on the point on the power play, we use him on the first line, we use him on key faceoffs, blocking shots. He won a national championship in college for a reason. He's a winner. He's a great role model for many of our other players who are home-grown. The way he plays the game, it's not about stats, even though his stats are very impressive. It's about what you can do to make a difference to win a game. He is third among all American-born players with 158 points over the past three seasons and has been invited to attend the United States' national team orientation camp next month in preparation for the 2014 Olympics. Pavelski won the silver medal with the Americans in Vancouver in 2010. Pavelski has been a strong performer in the postseason throughout his career, with four goals and eight assists for a teamhigh 12 points in 11 playoff games last year. He has 24 goals and 26 assists in 74 career playoff games. ''I've played at a high level at times throughout my career and through stretches,'' Pavelski said. ''It's about getting to that high level and maintaining it and expecting it on a nightly basis.'' Locking up Couture and Pavelski long term was a key goal this offseason for the Sharks. They still have a few notable potential older free agents next summer in Thornton, Marleau and star defenseman Dan Boyle. Wilson said he has already talked with all three about new deals but that Couture and Pavelski were the priority because they are younger.