OCR Text |
Show Che Boibsafsterala SPORTS Tuesday, May 10, 1977, THE HERALD, Provo. Utah—Page 5 Marion Dunn Sports Editor WAC Baseball Series Could Be Cai His nameisa little too difficult to perhaps the best team in college become a household word overnight, baseball history a year ago but around the nation this morning The Wildcats beat the Sun Devils,5-1, baseball fans of all-sizes and sexes in a semifinal gameof the collegiate mustbe asking each other, ‘did you see world series in Omaha and then beat old what's - his - namestrike out the Eastern Michigan, 7-1, for the championships side last night?” Old what's-his-name is Al Hrabosky, Cougars Close the Mad Hungarian. In the Monday If you remember, BYU played night game matching St. Louis and Cin- Arizona in the WAC second - place cinnati, Hrabosky cameonto pitch for series in Tucson. The Wildcats scored a the Cardinals with the score tied 5-5 in the top of the ninth. The strong lefthander opened against the bottom of the Reds’ batting order and promptly loaded the bases with no one out That meant hehadto face three sluggers, George Foster, Johnny Bench and pinch hitter Bob Bailey. Oneslip and it would all be over. But Hrabosky struck out Foster swinging, got Bench swinging for a third strike and then went to work on Bailey After the count went to 1-and-2, Bailey fouled off three consecutive pitches. With the 31,000 fans in Busch Stadium in a frenzy, Hrabosky played his role to the hilt. After each pitch, he would take the ball and walk in a big semicircle from the mound almost to second base and back to the mound. For an old-timer it brought back memories of a day many years ago when a Detroit Tigers’ rookie pitcher named Fred Hutchinson called time in a crucial spot, and calmly walked to the dugout to get a drink of water, then returned to the mound and struck out the opposing batter. Hrabosky now did the same thing. He reared back and fired a third strike past Bailey. It was an impressive performance and had to give baseball a boost. Strikes Home And, as far as local fans are concerned, it came at a good time. It should have whettedlocal appetites for the upcoming BYU vs. whomever series for the WAC championship BYU will playeither ArizonaState or Arizona (whatelse isnew?) Friday and Saturday, May20-21, in Provo for the WACcrown. Arizona State and Arizona will settle the southern division race this week. The two teams are in another dogfight for the title down there with the Sun Devils holding a slight edge. Arizona State's WACrecord is 12-3 and Arizonais 11-4. The two teamsplay each other Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at Tempe. Arizona State needs only one win to tie for thetitle while Arizona needs a sweep to win and twototie. Whichever one comes to Provo,local fans are sure to be treated to some great baseball. Arizona is the defending NCAA champion and Arizona State had Tull ii Uie lop of the 11th inning to nip the Cougars 7-6 in the first game and then won the second 4-0. But the Cougars showed lot of class in that playoff, enough to indicate they have a chance to win this month when they play at home. Both Arizona State and Arizona have struggled in the southern division this spring. Arizona lost two games at UTEPand should havelosta third. But the Mincrslet them off the hook in that game. But no matter who comes here, it won't be easy, Even if the Arizona teams appear to be downa little, they arestill among the bestin the nation. In NCAA Division I baseball Statistics both teams are well - IT'S SUICIDE! Provo’s Todd Balser prepares to lay down a bunt as teammate John Sagers breaks for the plate on a suicide squeeze play against Orem Monday.The Tigersdidn’t handle the bases Orem bounced back to take an 11-10 decision in - loaded play cleanly and three runs scored. But eight innings. (Photo by Meb Anderson) arlson Single Carries Tigers To 11-10 Victory Over Bulldogs By ROB WAKEFIELD Herald Correspondent Bob Woodside of Arizona has the A Ken Carlsonsingle in the eighthinmost runs batted in, 65, in the nation. ning knocked in Nate Hyde and enabled But the NCAAlistsits rbi leaders on an the Orem Tigers to defeat the Provo average per game. Thus Woodsideisn’t Bulldogs 11-10 in an error-plagued ranked in the top 20. But Arizona baseball contest Mondayafternoon. Twenty-one total hits were banged State's Dave Hudgensis sixth and Bob Horneris 10th. Horneris third in home out in the offensive slugfest, as both runs with 47, but his total is the best in mentors replaced their hurlers three times, and gusty winds and cold the nation, two better than those temperatures seemed to be an imporrecorded by Russell Connor of tant defensive factor with the teams McNeese State and Bob Volk of Oral combining for 13 miscues during the Roberts contest The gamebegan as an intense defenHubie Brooks of ASUis eighth in triples with 45. In team batting Arizona sive struggle, with only the Bulldogs State is seventh at .339 and in scoring scoring in the first two innings when the Sun Devils are second with 9.1 runs per gameand Arizonais 15th with 7.7. The Sun Devils’ hitting appears to give them an edge, especially at Tempe. Right of their nine batters are hitting over .300 with only third baseman Brandt Humphreybelowthat DENVER — The Western Athletic figure. Humphrey is hitting .266 and bats Conference's only double winnersinits. seventh in the order. To see what Sun annual track and field meet, BYU's Luis Hernandez and Arizona State's Devil rival pitchers face, here is the Rick Walker, were honored as the ASUbatting order and averages league's co-track and field athletes of Rick Peters, cf, .347; Mike the week Monday. Henderson, ss, .346 ; Jamie Allen, dh, Hernandez, a freshman from Veracruz, Mexico, stunned observers 393; Bob Horner, 2b, 361; Dave Hudgens, 1b, .379; Chris Bando, c, with his double winin the 5,000 and10,0336; Humphrey, 3b, .266; Hubie 00 meterrunssince he had been ranked sixth in both events. He set a meet and Brooks,rf, .341 ; and Ed Irvine, If, 377 If the Sun Devils win as expected this stadium record of 13:55.83 in the shorter race and a stadium record of week, it will be interesting to see now 29:21.2 in the longer event BYU pitchers Mike Tiucker, Axle Walker won the high and inHardy, Mike Stover, Tom Morris, Glen termediate hurdles. He had been exRoberts and Tyler Steinbach make out pected to win the intermediates, his against that order. specialty, but surprised teammate It could draw a record crowdto the Gary Burl to earn the crown in the highs. BYUbaseball park. represented. Hernandez, Walker Lauded Kyle Whittingham raced home on a wild pitch by the Tigers’ Kelly Loveless Then a round-tripper by Brian Brandenburg unleashed a four-run third frame for the Tigers. Donny de St. Joer scored on a throwing error by Provo catcher Todd Balser, then Hyde and Gordon Becktle crossed the plate on a single by Carlson to right field. The Bulldogs came back with five runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to take an 8-4 lead. After the Bulldogs loaded the bases in the fourth, Becktle bobbled a bunt by Balser, then Loveless overthrewfirst base to bringin three runs. Then Balser scored ona fly ball to right field by Jeff Dyer Jamie Morgan scored on a throwing error in the fifth inning, then Todd Ashman scored on a wild pitch after reaching third on a double by Balser The Tigers faced three Bulldog hurlers in the sixth inning as six Provo errors allowed them to once again race to a lead, this time at 10-8. Hyde doubledto start the inning, then Hyde, Becktle, Larry Hancock, and Rex Hamptonall scored on errors by Jeff Dyer and Balser. Loveless singled and scored on a wild pitch, then Brandenburg raced home on a Randy Peck double. Notto be outdone, the Bulldogs once again knotted the contest and sent it into extra innings when two runs cro3sed the plate in the seventh inning. Morgan scored when Tigerrightfielder Hyde dropped a sell - placed fly ball, then a single by Dyer allowed Craig Garrick to reach home after he had singled and advanced to second, After the Bulldogsfailed to produce a run in their half of the eighth inning, the Tigers’ Hyde reached first on a bad throw by shortstop John Sagers, and advanced to second when Becktle walked, Hyde ended the contest when Carlson's hit just evaded Morgan's glovein left field. “We were tickled to win,” Tiger coach Dick Belliston said. ‘I have always been verypleased with ourhitting. I have extreme confidence in our ability to come up with big innings, and today we accomplished that.” Braves’ Tailspin Humorous ATLANTA (UPI) — Atlanta baseball fans are beginning to find the Braves’ losing streak humorous In the past, when the Braves were doing poorly, the club was besieged with 20,000 tickets for Friday's game. Atlanta has been cool to major “Wedon’t knowthatthe losing streak league baseball the past few years is the reason,’’ a club spokesmansaid because of the Braves’ poor showing. wistfully. ‘‘Maybe, they just want to The Braves were 40 gamesoff the pace see a baseball game. in the National League West in '75 and irate telephone calls and letters. Now, Braves’ owner Ted Turnerfeels the 32 last year and attendance has the mail is filed with get-well cards. fans are taking the right approach reflected that play Any bedraggled team can stagger “The only consolation (to the way But, one Fes the feeling that maybe along losing twiceas often as it wins. things have been going) is it lookslike the city will show interestin this year's But the Braves have a 14-gamelosing it's going to be so bad it'll be a “Bad NewsBraves,” that the fans may streak going and not many major laugher,”’ Turner told Atlanta Journal take tothis team the samewaythosein league baseball teams have ever been sportswriter Ron Hudspeth. ‘Maybe New York responded to the Mets back able to make that claim. that's better than comingcloseand los- in the early ‘60s and they werelosing Only four have had longer losing ing and having a tragedy.’ more than 100 gamesa season. streaks in the past 18 years. The Turneris one of the most optimistic Braves’ Coach Chris Cannizzaro Philadelphia Phillies set the all-time men youarelikely to meet. Hereally played for the Mets in those days and record when they dropped 23 in a row in felt the Braves would have a good team insists that the big difference between 1961; the New York Mets lost 17 this season. Afterall, he paid out a bun- the Mets then and the Bravesnowis atstraightin 1962; the Montreal Expos 20 die to sign Andy Messersmith, Mike titude ne and the Detroit Tigers 19 in Marshall, Gary Matthewsand Jeff Bur“That onedidn't care whether it won 1975. roughs and those four figured to be a or lost,” said Cannizzaro. ‘This one If the redhot Pittsburgh Pirates pretty good nucleus for any team does sweep their current four - gameseries Injuries sidelined Messersmith, Matagainst Atlanta (they play a Two Join Seahawks doubleheader tonight), the Braves thews and a half dozen others and SEATTLE (UPI) — The Seattle come home Friday night to open a Marshall was dropped at his own request. Seahawks Monday signed free agents homestand against St. Louis only one ‘I don't knowhow topull lineups out Greg Champlin, a wide receiver from gameshyof the club record set in 1906 when the Boston Braves lost 19 in a of a hat,” frustrated Manager Dave the University of Denver, and Jim Bristol replied the other day to the row question of what could be doneto stop One gets the feeling that’s what the fans are looking for, The Braves reported Mondaythey had alreadysold the Braves’ skid Wespent moneyand we tried,” said Turner. “We're doing the best we can Gagnon, defensive end from Wisconsin River Falls Champlin was a basketball player at Denver and has not played football since high school BYU Wheelchair Athletes Win; Seek Sponsors for More Meets Stil. proudly displaying medals they wonlast week in the Rocky Mountain Regional Wheelchair Games, two BY athletes wholost theirlegs in separate accidents are looking forward to the Pacific Coast Games in San Diego May 19-22 Curt Brinkman and Mike Johnson, both of whom set regional records in the games at Englewood, Colo., are seeking sponsors to send them to the San Diego competition and to the national meet of the Wheelchair Athletic Associationin San Jose, Calif record of 6:08. Johnsonset a record in the 100 yard dash in 19 secondsflat, wneeled the 880-yard dashin 3;04.9, set a national record of 87-7 in the javelin, wonfirst in table tennis and the slalom to cope withlife,” he said Both menare senior students at BY and are married. Johnsonhas two sons and Mr. and Mrs. Brinkman are ex. pecting their first child this summer yard Johnson is majoring in health science These courageous athletes also won seven medals in the Para - Olympiad in Toronto, Canadalast August. Curt took the gold in 100 meters with a new record, bronze medals in lawn bowling tington, W. Va., was nearly killed by an artillery booby trap explosion near Da Nang, Vietnam, in 1967, losing both and a silver medal in the 50 freestyle swim andphysical education, and Brinkman is a psychology major anddiscus, and fourthin the shotput Johns, 28 and a native of Hun: legs, the thumb hand. A day in a near-by hospital he was hidde with a matt er a bed and cov as communist tr qualify in San Diego for additional events and to eliminate some of our competition for the national games. Johnson explained. In the Colorado contests Brinkman place finish Yeat, but Although we are both record holders in our divisions, we hope to Wecompete uot only for ourselves, also to help other fellows in medals and a silver in class 4 Wheelchair athletes are classified for tion according to their degrce WE COMPETE not only for ourselves, but also to Mountain Regional Wheelchair Games last week and are now seeking sponsors to send them to the Pacific Coast Games andthe national Wheelchair Athletic As sociation meet. Brinkman won the silver in the dis get them interested in some competi tion we know that it will turn their lives around, as it did with us dded that th tendency for handicappedto stay at od overran the area i Johnson was American He ed national Veteran of the las worked us a draftsman and hospital counselor for youth Brinkman won two gold medals, a silver, and a wheelchairs who might be dis was a strap bronzein class 5. Johnsontook five gold couraged,” Johnson said, “If we can ago when he help other fellows in wheelchairs who might be dis couraged, said BYU's Mike Johnson (right), Johnson + and Gurt Brinkman won several medals at the Rocky and two fingers on his Jeft hand and middle finger of his right Mike garnered thegold in table ten nis and lawnbowling, silver in the100 meter dash, and bronzein the javelin Last month Curt competed in the Busioi Marathon, traversing ihe 26 mile course in 2:43.25 for a second June 16-19 ing pipe 6 Shelley, Idaho boy six years ers chang on irrig rinkling systems. He brushed 12,000 volt line on a power pole jusiiess and the his injuries required am putation of both legs. cus, bronze in weight lifting, gold in home and become depressed. "Maybe finished high schoo! the 100 yard dash with a record of 18.9 our example will help to get them out of from Ricks College seconds, and gold in the mile with a the house, to socialize, to compete, and BYL Thereafter, he graduated entering |