The Bakersfield Californian from Bakersfield, California • Page 17

'No contract, no play', Sparky warns Yankees etjr ifakrraMfl (LaUfflrwan marcm )977 17 Sparky Lyle says if he isn't signed by opening day he won't play out his option. He just won't The New York Yankees' left-handed relief ace arrived in camp a week met twice with club president Gabe Paul while the rest of the American League champs worked out. Why didn't he suit up 9 ASSOCIATED PRESS "Why should Lyle wanted to know. "They're going to have to do something one way or the other first." The Yankees originally offered Lyle the same $90,000 he received last year. Sunday, Paul raised the offer to an estimated $250,000 for two years.

"They're not even close to what I want." said Lyle, who Rumor has Hale Montreal-bound VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) New Los Angeles Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said catcher Steve Yeager would improve his hitting this year because of special tutelage by onetime infielder Jim Gilliam. Something must be going right because yesterday Yeager hit his second homer in as many days as the Dodger regulars defeated the reserves 5-4 in an intrasquad game. "Yeager is swinging awfully well," said manager Tom Lasorda. "He's one of the spring projects for Jim Gilliam, our batting instructor.

Steve hit only .214 last year and I believe he can hit at least 30 points higher." "The hitting has been gratifying, we've shown a lot of power early," noted Dodger vice president Al Campanis. Wasco's John Hale, rumored to be headed for Montreal in a deal with the Expos involving Jose Morales and Teddy Martinez also homered. Steve Garvey and Dusty Baker drove in runs with doubles. Garvey had a two- run double in the first inning off last season's National League Comeback Player of the Year Tommy John. Baker's double, his second of the game, produced the decisive run in the eighth inning.

Right-hander Rick Sutcliffe. who's only 20, finished his two innings by striking out Garvey and Reggie Smith and allowing only two hits. Crystal Water breaks Santa Anita mark ARCADIA. Calif. (AP) Crystal Water broke the track record in the 40th running of the $273,550 Santa Anita Handicap yesterday as he edged longshot Faliraki and favored King Pellinore to win the I'-j-mile race in 1-591-5 Ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr.

who already had won three races on this sunny afternoon, the 4-year-old. California-bred Crystal Water bettered the Santa Anita Handicap record of 1.59 3-5 set by Quicken Tree, carrying 118 pounds, in 1970. a mark which equalled the 12,336 watch lady cagers NEW YORK (AP) Delta State's Lady Statesmen set their own pace slow and deliberate and held it for a 79-62 trouncing of Immaculata College yesterday and Carol Blaze- jo wski scored a record 52 points in Montclair State's 102-91 triumph over Queens College at Madison Square Garden. The setting was the first- ever all-women's basketball doubleheader at the Garden, attended by a surprising 12,336 fans who kept up a continuous roar. Miss Blazejowski's total was the best scoring by man or woman at any level since the Garden was rebuilt in 1968, officials said.

She surpassed the former women's high of 47 set last year at the Garden by Delta State sensation Lusia Harris. Delta State, the nation's top-ranked team, confidently ignored the running skills of Immaculata, which shadows them in the rankings. The 6-foot-3 Miss Harris scored 31 points, divided almost equally between the two halves, as the Lady Statesmen never were seriously challenged by the No. 2 Mighty Macs. Fibak stomps Gerulaitis MONTEREY, Mexico (AP) Poland's Wojtek Fibak easily beat American- Vitas Gerulaitis of New York 6-4, 6-3, then tried a little Spanish.

"I am very lucky to win the second final." he said. "It was a very good match. The 'publico was Fibak, 22, who lost the first Mexican tournament stop in Mexico City last week to Hie Nastase of Romania, earned $30,000 for his victory. track record by Bold Bidder in 1966. Crystal Water, carrying 122 pounds, ran fifth in the field of 13 through the early stages of this race as raki, 114 with Eddie Maple aboard, set the pace.

He was followed by another longshot. Austin Mittler, with the first female jockey of this race. Robyn Smith, in the saddle. King Pellinore. high- weighted at 130 with Darrel McHargue, also raced in the middle of the park and like Crystal Water made his bid coming around the final turn and in the stretch.

But the top-weighted star finished 4 1 --j lengths behind Faliraki. Ancient Title, the second choice of the crowd of 69.000. never figured in this race. is asking $500,000 over three years. "I told Gabe I'd play for the same thing I got last year for the next three years, but the money I want guaranteed for when I'm out of baseball is the problem.

I want guaranteed money that's going to be there come hell or high water, if the club is defunct or not." What else did the 32-year- old Lyle tell Paul? "I told him I wasn't going out on the field until I knew something. Once I see what's happening I'll go out on the field. I just want to know if we have a chance to get together or if we don't have a chance. "I said I either wanted to agree with them or be traded by the time the season starts. One thing I don't want to do is play out my option.

I will not play here without a contract. If they haven't signed me or they haven't traded me, I won't play when the season starts. That's it in a nutshell. "I'd rather stay here, but it doesn't matter. It's beyond me why they offered me the same contract.

I think it's a bunch of baloney, especially after we were in the World Series." The only one happy with the Lyle situation is Reggie Jackson, who has been the center of media attention all week. "I appreciate your being late and everything." Jackson told Lyle. "It takes Heat off me." The Yankees also are having salary problems with starting pitcher Dock Ellis, a 17-game winner. "Their offer." said Ellis' lawyer, Tom Reich, "is less than the average salary being paid to a rotation pitcher on a winning team." Meanwhile. California Angels shortstop Bobby Grich.

one of last season's wealthy free agents, was placed in traction. Grich. who has been plagued with back spasms that have kept him from working out, was to be examined today by an orthopedic specialist. Koch halfway to goal after tough Citrus win Gary Koch swings into a victory dance after sinking putt on 18th green to wrap up victory in Florida Citrus Open yesterday in Orlando. Koch, a PGA rookie this season, closed with a two-under-par 70 for a 14- under total of 172 and a two-shot victory.

(UPI Telephoto) ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Gary Koch set out on the pro golf tour this year with a two goals in mind one of an immediate nature, one more far-ranging. "I wanted to win a tournament and make the top 60 (money-winners for the year)," the slender Koch said. "More importantly, I wanted to continue to improve. "I'm awful young, only 24.

I figure if I can continue to improve every year, then by the time I'm 27 or 28 or 29. well, I ought to be just fine, be in fine shape." He achieved that immediate goal a tour victory and an almost-certain grasp on a spot in the top 60 with his two-stroke triumph and the $40,000 first prize yesterday in the friendly, familiar confines of the Rio Pinar Country Club course, a favorite playground for Koch since the age of nine. And the victory, his second in as many years on the tour, put him firmly on the road to Despite stomach injury Borg cools off Gottfried MEMPHIS (AP) With a strong serve and a vicious passing game, top-seeded Bjorn Borg defeated Brian Gottfried 6-4. 6-3. 4-6, 7-5 to win the singles title of the $175,000 U.S.

National Indoor Championships. A capacity crowd of 5,012 yesterday watched Borg test his injured stomach muscle against the fourth-seeded Gottfried. "I didn't feel anything in my stomach." said Borg. who entered the tournament after a 2'a-week layoff. "It's still a little tender, but I don't feel anything during the matches." Nevertheless, Gottfried, one of the hottest players on the professional tennis circuit, gave Borg a stiff workout.

"After the first two sets. I got very tired in my legs," said Borg. who picked up the $28,000 winner's share. In the match, Borg. the world's second ranked player, served 11 aces and broke Gottfried's service four times.

The match began and ended with a service break by Borg. "Bjorn. you played too well for me today." said Gottfried, 25. as he accepted the $14,000 second-place MERCEDES BENZ SANGERA BUICK OPEL INC. 325-0763 LIVE ACTION! LA: DODGERS STARTS MARCH 10 RADIO dial 10-10 i share.

"I hung in there and tried to make a fight of it." For Borg. the victory ended a week of controversy in which he complained about a linesmash and a public address announcer. The linesman, removed during Borg's second match, was not permitted to call any more matches involving the young Swede. In the doubles finals, top- seeded Fred McNair and Sherwood Stewart beat Stan Smith and Bob Lutz 4-6. 7-6.

7-6. McNair and Stewart split $10,000 while Smith and Lutz shared $5,250. Bv BOB GREEN AP Golf Writer that long-range goal of continued improvement and placed him solidly among the seemingly endless ranks of the emerging young men who are turning the rich tour into their own, private plaything. Throw out Jack Nicklaus, and the average age of the winners this year is 25.7. "I can't think of any place I'd rather win than here in central Florida." said Koch, a resident of nearby Temple Terrace, a product of the University of Florida whose legions of alums followed Koch with almost constant cries of "Go, Gators, Go." He won it with a gritty, last-round 70, two-under-par, and a 274 total over the hot, humid, heavily-wooded Rio Pinar course Thai's where he played his first competitive tournament at the age of nine and the site of his victory, at 15, in the national peewee competition.

"When you're playing at that age. you're always dreaming of being on the pro tour," he said. "Rut I don't believe I really thought, at that time, that I'd ever make it." Koch, admittedly disillusioned and disappointed with relatively poor play only last week, nailed this one down with a scrambling par nn the 14th. an eight-foot birdie putt on the 15th and a routine par on the very tough Kith. "After that 1 figured I could par in and win it." said Koch, who started the day with a two-stroke advantage and never relinquished the top spot despite challenges from Joe Inman and South African Dale Hayes.

"It's a comfortable feeling." Hayes, who carried two putters in his bag, and the fidgety Inman, each with a closing 68, tied for second at 276. Steve Melnyk was fourth, his best finish in years, with a 68-277. At 278 were Bob Zender, Australian Graham Marsh and Victor Regalado of Mexico. Marsh and Zender had 71s, Regalado a seven- under-par 65. Masters champ Ray Floyd was 69-280, with other established stars well back.

Defending title holder Hale Irwin was 74-286, Arnold Palmer 75-287 and Lee Trevino. in his second start since major back surgery last year, was out of the money a 76-295. The leaders: Gary Koch, J40.000 Dale Haves, 518,500 Joe Inman, Steve Melnyk, S9.400 Granam Marsh, $7,267 Bob Zender, Vic Reqalado, Bill Rogers, 15,900 Mihe Reid, ll.ltk Dale Douglass, $4,286 Bill Kratiert, Ray Floyd, S4.286 Grier Jones, S4.286 Miller Barber, 14,284 Puny Zoeller, S4.286 Lanny wadkins, 52,800 Mike Morley, 52,800 Danny Edwards, $2,800 Mac McLendon, $2,800 Ken Still, 52,800 George Burns, 12,100 Andy North, 52,100 Forrest Feiler, $1,767 Jim Simons, $1,767 Mark Hayes, ,767 Bill Malign, 51,420 Bob Lunn, 51,420 Ben Crenshaw, 51,420 Howard Twjtty, 51,420 Wally Armstrong, $1,420 Jay Haas, $1,420 Tony Jacklin, 51,420 71-49-68-68-276 48-69-71-68-J76 69-67-71-71-778 66-71-69-73-779 71-68-68-73-780 69-71-71-69-280 70-73-68-69-280 71-73-67-69-280 71-69-71-69-280 73-67-71-69-280 72-73-48-48-281 74-71-67-69-281 69-70-71-71-281 71-70-48-72 -281 69-49-48-75-281 70-73-47-72-282 72-68-72-71-283 72-71-49-71-283 71-73-67-72-283 71-71-73-69-284 74-71-49-70-284 71-69-73-71-284 48-73-71-72-284 67-74-70-73 284 72-70-69-73-284 69-72-70-73-284 Barker claims net win SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Young Sue Barker won the $100,000 San Francisco women's tennis tournament yesterday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Virginia Wade in an iinal Miss Barker. 20. kept her opponent off balance throughout most of the match with deep baseline rallies and well-placed ing shots.

It was the fourth time Miss Barker had made the finals in six tournaments on this season's pro circuit. She lost her three previous final matches to Martina Navrati- lova. The Paignton. England, resident broke Miss Wade's serve six limes, three times in each set. Front-Axle Disc Brake This Week Only! SO AJ7 Most American Cars WITH THIS COUPON 1 Shock Absorbers Our regular everyday fill 11 I low price for four Delco Wl Big Shock Absorbers Delco Big Shock Absorbers are designed to cushion your car against rough roads, and restore the smooth ride you paid for.

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