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Show CUA Page IB South Edition Lakeside Review Wednesday, June 22, 1983 Beating the 'Bushes' For a Shot at the Majors By KENT SOMERS Review Sports Editor OGDEN Officially, its called the Rocky Mountain Professional Baseball League. But it can be bluntly and descriptively called the "bushes. In fact, this new four-tealeague of Class A independent teams is so far down in the bushes it would take a good dose of napalm to see a city with a AA team. But that doesnt discourage Robby Taylor or Greg Panfiloff, two former area high school players, from giving pro ball a shot the last shot for both of them, they admitted. Both players have college experience and both have had brief, teasing interest from major league clubs, but neither Taylor, a Layton High graduate nor Panfiloff, a Roy High graduate, have stayed with any organization long enough to m have a contract. They hope playing for the Ogden Flyers in the new league will change that. This is just one more shot, said Taylor. One more shot, my last chance. These are words Taylor and . Panfiloff use to describe the Summer of 83. "Its a last chance to go somesaid Panfiloff, who where, played football at Weber State for a year after graduating from Roy and then pitched for Dixie College the following year. Both Taylor and Panfiloff are realistic and know the trip from John Afleck Park to the major leagues is a difficult one. You can almost imagine an old farmer standing in front of the stadium in Ogden saying Yall cant get there from here. But Taylor and Panfiloff have ignored the warnings, end the success of Ogden native Glen Hubbard, who starts at second base for the Atlanta Braves, proves that a Utah kid can make it in the pros. If I can hit, run and field there has got to be a place for me, Taylor said. And if he cant? "At least Ill know where I stand. You can only knock on so many doors and have them shut in your face for 19,000 times before you realize there is something else for you to do. Taylor had an opportunity to play professional baseball for the Angels organization out of high school, but decided to go to the University of Utah to play instead. After two years there, Idolatry is Easier When You're Nine By KENT SOMERS Review Sports Editor It was Alabama in the late and early 70s, P.S.S. a time of Station time) marches, speeches, campus protests and tension as thick as a bigots head. But in 1969 all that didnt mean much to me, a 1960s Washington State and was picked as an honorable mention I small college shortstop for two years, he said. Since his college graduation, he has owned a construction company and worked as a sales manager for another firm. After playing for Dixie, Panfiloff thought he had an offer from the Angels and went to Idaho Falls to play minor league baseball. But the Angels had signed 18 other pitchers that year, and after a brief stay II ; W -- ' i, re- leased. Since then, he has pitched for the Smithfield Blue Sox, an amateur team. His attitude about the game, Panfiloff said, has changed. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself, but now Im trying to have fun and let it flow, and it seems to be working. Continued on ?age 2B v iffTil SlIsKPSIS ' '' ' - ' ',,7 , V4,Mi ' ' r , ff ' V' ' a P- Ji - ' ' " , - Staff phots by Rodney Wright FORMER baseball player LAYTON HIGH Robby Taylor takes fielding practice at were able to for girls 13 to 15 complete their full schedule in spite of flooded fields and wet weather. Minor league first-plac- e trophy winners was the team coached by Sharia and Shannon Fillmore, and Karen Miller. Players on the team were shortstop for the Ogden Flyers, a new minor league baseball team. trophies were awarded to the major league Rachelle Fillmore, Julianne School on June 15. team coached by Pam .Wilson, Jennifer Kendell, Cindy Girls from North Salt Lake, and Jay Tolman. The Clayburn,' Jenny Miller, Ann Woods Cross, West Bountiful, girls won 17 games while losing Smith, Wendy Williams, JennifBountiful and the unincor- only one. Tammy Rose, Julie er Funk, Heather Parkin, porated area of the county south Cole, Anissa Phillips, Renee Cadette Conkle, Sherii Hansen,-Shell- i of Centerville played more than Waters and Lisa Johns. Zumbrunnen, Silvia Rodriguez, 96 games during their season, e named to the Vicki Robinson, Misi Jeppsen, Players which began May 2. were: Cadette Julie Stuart, Heide Olsen, RoThe twelve teams eight in byn Tolman, Michelle Behl, Conkle, Heather Parkin, Sherii the minor league for girls 9 to Melanie Parrish and Tavia Hansen, Aimee Auernig, Eden 12, and four in the major league Franklin played for the teams. Bodily, Jana Remund, Kari First-plac- e Zum-brunne- n major-leagu- all-sta- rs Akert, Denise Van Ieperen, Jolynn Ford, Melissa France, Jayme Ranck, Lori Stacey, Meagan MacKay, Janell Rivera, Julia Ann Thornley, Maren Miner and Lori Bryson. Minor league are; Jada Gillespie, Ann Hills, Tonia Averett, Jodie Warhurst, Hillie Thurston, Linda Jensen, Robyn Tolman, Renee Zumbrunnen, all-sta- rs Heidi Olsen, Cori Conkle, Nanette Steiner, Misi Jeppsen, Silvia Rodriguez, Julie Stuart, Tarenah Bazzaz and Michelle Behl. A Bonnet Ball Tournament didnt care about many things in those days, but I did care about the Atlanta Braves and, more importantly, Hank Aaron. Being a Hank Aaron fan in those days was easy. I never had to worry about Hank (we e were always on a basis, although we never met) going into a slump. I was never concerned about him hitting less than .290, driving in less than 100 runs and hitting less than 32 homers. And, most of all, I never worried about him becoming a free agent or admitting himself into a drug rehabilitation center. Finding an idol in those days was easy. Hank was quiet, modest and let his Adirondack do the bragging for him. I can remember him walking to the batters box, pausing with the bat resting between his legs and pressing his helmet down on his head and then stepping to the plate. He looked bored, like he was laughing inside that people would actually pay money to see him do something that came so easily to him. And that was the secret of Hanks appeal, at least for me. Like anyone with style, he made what he did look easy. He flowed as easily and consistently as the'Mississippi River, moving in what appeared to be slow, lazy motions, but accomplishing feats. And what more could a boy ask of his idol? Oh sure, there were people like Jim Bouton, author of the book Ball Four, who tried to tell me that after he retired, Hank sat in the stands in minor league ball parks, drinking beer instead of scouting players like he was paid to first-nam- Softball League Concludes Regular Season Action More than 60 BOUNTIFUL old con9 15 to from years girls cluded their regular season of softball in the Bountiful Bonnet Ball program at Washihgton er kid who only wanted to play ball at the YMCA, hit wiffle balls in the backyard and try to justify swatting my sister on the head. he transferred to Central in Idaho, Panfiloff was (Pre-Sup- will be held in Murray July 5-- Jay Tolman, Pam Zumbrunnen and Lora Jensen will coach the major-leaguteam, while Dan Nelson, Connie Bodily and Gin-nStacey will coach the . squad. Bob Van Iepefeh was named president of the Bountiful Bonnet Ball League for 1984. He will be working with committee members Ginny Stacey, Connie Bodily, Marci Eggett, Kathy Thornley, Joan Kendall, Barbara Marek, Betty Pack, Stan Ila Gillespie and Connie Conkle. e y minor-leagu- e, Cor-bridg- e, Miniaturized Rodeo record-set-tin- g do. THE STOCK and the cowboys and cowsmaller in the Sunset Little Buckaroo Rodeo ALTHOUGH But I knew it couldnt be true. But my naivete disappeared a year ago as quickly as one of Hanks homers did in 1969 with from north Alabaa ma in the stands. Mr. Aaron was sceduled to speak at Utah State University during my senior year there, and I told people about my idol. I told them how he threw Cardinal pitcher Steve Carlton out when he tried to stretch a double into a triple. You didnt do that with Hank in right field, I said. I told them about his modesty and how he never received the publicity he should have. And Mr. Aaron came and he spoke. He said something about how lucky we were to be in college and that we should take advantage of opportunities, a typical campus speech. It wasnt Mr. Aarons topic that troubled me, it was how he looked and how he talked. He was not as articulate as I had expected. He kept his head down when he spoke, reading his speech. He was older, paunchier and shorter than I expected. He was, well, average. He answered questions after his speech. He was opinionated and confident. He wasnt what I expected. He wasnt the quiet unassuming Hank I had known when I was girls were last week, some of the spills were just as rough as Derrall Eves (below and right) can attest. nine, but it wasnt Henry Aarons fault it was mine. him, one of my childhood idols, to be perfect, to meet my expectations. I wanted him to speak perfectly, act like a saint and be the things I always thought he was. Perhaps thats what people mean when they say there are no heroes today. Maybe they mean there is no one who fits their stereotypes, no one who doesn't make mistakes. Id like to talk with Mr. Aaron now, find out what kind of man he is, and tell him what Hank kid. And meant to a maybe Id get a piece of that kid back the piece that was left in an auditorium at Utah State. I expected J ' 1 r; fijjt Staff photos by Dan Millar |