Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 8

8 THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1992 Sports THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL To report Stow Ouerttn, 468-3521 DIGEST Sprint Cars are coming to Ukiah Speedway The mighty-winged Sprint Cars of S.O.R.A. are scheduled to take to the Vi -mile high banked oval of Ukiah Speedway this Saturday night, combining with the Northwest Racing Promotions Late Models and Mini Stocks to provide a full night of racing excitement. The S.O.R.A. Sprinters last appeared at Ukiah in August of 1 990 and proved to be quite a crowd- pleasing division. Competitors hale from all over California and Western Nevada as a traveling show, participating on dirt tracks as well as asphalt.

Mike Tippets of Campbell emerged as the Main Event winner in 1990, recording his first-ever feature victory. Previously favoring dirt track racing, Tippets' victory gave him a change of heart about the asphalt, and he is eagerly looking forward to his return to the Ukiah oval. Another driver to watch will be Ukiah's own Kevin Pierachini, well known to Ukiah fans as the 1990-91 Pink Cadillac driver who will be piloting the pink sprinter of John Hansen in his second S.O.R.A. event. The gates open at 5 p.m., with sprint qualifying getting underway at 5:30 and racing beginning at 7.

Last week's racing action produced two new feature winners. Jalopy Car driver Larry Bates recorded his first season victory. Cloverdale's Clay Caturegli took top honors in the premiere Late Models, capturing his first-ever Main Event win. Mike Yaw was first to the checkered in the Mini Stock division behind the wheel of Don Young's car as he struggled to maintain point position through persistant engine failures. TRIVIA Who was the last pitcher to win 20 or more games in the National League in consecutive seasons? (Answer at bottom of schedule) SCORES Colt League Baseball Superior Propane 5 Mendo Mill 6 SCHEDULE THURSDAY COLT LEAGUE Mendo Mill vs.

Superior Propane in League Championship Series (7:30 p.m.) MEN'S B-1 Ukiah Merchants vs. Superette in best 2-of-3 Championship Series (6:45 p.m.) WOMEN'S C-3 Savings Bank vs. Project Sanctuary (6:30 p.m.) Trashy Waste vs. The Pub (8 p.m.) COED SOFTBALL Ukiah Daily Journal vs. McCalPs at Frank Zeek (6 p.m.) Real Goods vs.

Penofin (7:15 p.m.) Burger King vs. Ukiah Machine and Welding (8:30 p.m.) FRIDAY COLT LEAGUE Superior Propane vs. Mendo Mill in Championship Series (If neccessary, 7:30 p.m.) MEN'S B-5 Retech vs. Aces (Fl, 6:45 p.m.) Computer vs. Bulldog Brothers (F2, 6:45 p.m.) Granny's Boys vs.

H.L. Weaver (8 p.m.) Silver Streaks vs. Pardiiii Appliance (9:15 p.m.) (Answer: Jpaquin Andujar of the St. Louis Cardinals, with 20 wins in 1984 and 21 wins in 1985.) Cubans beat U.S. baseball team BARCELONA, Spain (AP) The official Olympic Dream Team, the U.S.

hoopsters, and their baseball equivalent, the Cubans, made two more brutal wake-up calls to their opponents from around the world. Magic Johnson out with a bum knee? The Dream Team plugs in Michael Jordan at point guard and blows away Germany, 111 -68. The out-of-position superstar shifted gears to post 15 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers. The U.S. baseball team goes ahead 5-0 against its nemesis in the first inning? De nada it's nothing.

Los Cubanos bounce back with nine runs and roll to their fourth straight victory, 9-6, making them the Olympics' only unbeaten baseball team. "We had nine more opportuni- Dream Team whips Germany ties to play offense and go for it," Cuban coach Jorge Fuentes said. "I would have been worried only if it was 5-0 at the end of the game." A three-run homer by Antonio Pacheco, combined with four U.S. errors, quickly erased the five-run American lead Wednesday night. A wild pickoff throw and a wild pitch by the shaky U.S.

bullpen led to two more runs and put the game away for the Cubans. "Maybe trie five-run first inning we had was the worst thing that happened to us. I think it gave us a false sense of security," U.S. coach Ron Fraser said. "I told our guys, Cuba doesn't roll over." The Cubans now have a 32-13 record against the United States over the past six years, and hold a significant psychological edge if the two teams meet again in the medal round.

The United States is now 3-1. The Americans knew before the game it might not be their night. The team was fined $600 for having too many people in its dugout, where Larry Bird was trying to hide out from autograph seekers for a few innings on Tuesday. Bird had 19 points to lead the Dream Team to its third straight victory, but everyone was most impressed by the Air Assist show. Typically, Jordan just shrugged it off.

"I do it when I need to," Jordan said matter-of-factly about his pointed switch. "My true position is shooting guard. If my team needs me, I'll do it I feel I can do it because I'm versatile." Magic hopes to be back for Friday's game against Brazil. "I'd have to say he's day-to-day, and we'll see where we are," coach Chuck Daly said. Back-up point guard John Stockton, recovering from a broken leg, may also return Friday.

Some may doubt the U.S. hoop- sters are destined for gold, but none change their clothes in the U.S. locker room. The main topic after Wednesday's blowout was clothing for the medal ceremony, with Nike clients saying they won't just do it put on Reebok warmups. "Nike pays us a ton of money.

I have two million reasons not to wear Reebok," explained Charles Barkley, who managed to avoid any international incidents during the game. Berkowitz wins Ukiah Junior Open He wins the event in two- hole playoff By DAN STEARNS Journal sports writer After shooting a 5-over-par 16 on his first three holes of golf in Wednesday's 9th Annual Ukiah Junior Open, Jay Berkowitz was fast removing himself from any hopes of a decent showing. "I was feeling a little worried, but knew not to get upset," Berkowitz said. "When you're 5-over, you know you have to play well to stay in contention. I was focussing on composure." And after his first five holes, focussed and compossed as he was, Berkowitz scorched the greens and fairways of the Ukiah Municipal Golf Course en route to an even-par round of 70 and the eventual overall boys' championship in a two- hole playoff.

For the girls, Sunol Valley's Jae Jean Ro captured the overall title with a round of 81. Tommy Barrington was the highest local finisher, posting a 64 (nine holes) for second place in the boys' 9-under division. After 18 holes of play, Weaverville's Berkowitz was in a three-way tie for first with Pleasanton's Joel Kribel and Clayton's Brian Lee. On the first playoff hole, Berkowitz and Kribel made par, while Lee incredibly carded a bogey despite an out of bounds and ensuing penalty stroke on Dan Daily Journal Tommy Barrington watches as Glno Buchlgnanl sinks his put In the boys' 9-under division. Barrington took second place In the division with a round of 64 over nine holes.

his tee off. Both Berkowitz and Kribel put their drives in the middle of the fairway on hole two, but Berkowitz put his second shot in the hole with a pitching wedge from 135 yards out. The ball bounced out five inches away, leaving him an easy birdie tap in. Kribel shot a four on the hole. Interestingly enough, Berkowitz captured the Top of the Bay Tournament in Santa Rosa and Windsor Tuesday, beating Kribel by a single stroke.

Over the past three years of golf tournaments, Kribel and Dan Daily Journal Weaverville's Jay Berkowitz Is awarded the overall boys championship trophy by Carolyn Myers at Wednesday's 9th Annual Ukiah Junior Open. Berkowitz won a three-way playoff against Joel Kribel and Bryan Lee. All three shot an even-par 70. Berkowitz have developed a friendship, as have their fathers, who were on hand yesterday to cheer their sons on. And even though Berkowitz dramatically won the touranment, Kribel's performance was equally impressive.

Entering the last three holes of play, Kribel was 3-over-par. He calmly birdied the holes in succession, highlighted by a 25-foot put on the 18th green. "Before it happened (three birdies), I told one of the kids that I would birdie the last three holes," Kribel said "Not to be cocky, but I knew there was some short birdie holes coming up." In the boys' 10-11 division, Ukiah's Nate Gamero carded a third-place 52 over nine holes, while Jonathon Graves took the fourth-place trophy with a 53. Graves also won the Closest to the Pin competition for hole nine in his age group. Other top local rounds included Spencer Webb (76), Brady Wildberger (77), who had the longest drive on hole seven, Aubrey Hoffman (84), Matthew Park (86), Kevin MacDougall (86), Joey Wilberger (87) and Lucas Behnke (93).

Matt Hooper had the longest drive for hole seven for the 12-13 boys' division. Yesterday's tournament had the largest turnout in its golfers, including a record 12 girls. See GOLF, Page 9 Mendo Mill captures Colt title opener By STEVE GUERT1N Journal sports editor Wednesday night's Colt League Championship opener proved to be one whale of a game. Ryan Dickinson lashed a double to right-center field to score David Morrison with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, leading Mendo Mill to an exciting 6-5 victory over Superior Propane. The win means Mendo Mill (11-4-1) can wrap up the Ukiah Colt League Championship with a victory tonight at 7:30.

A win by Superior Propane (11-4) tonight would force the game into a winner-takes-all title game Friday at 7:30 p.m. With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh, Morrison led off the inning with a ground ball that was misplayed by Superior's shortstop. Superior Propane then suffered a communication breakdown. Morrison easily beat the throw to first base on the play, but the first baseman threw the ball wildly back to the pitcher. With no one paying attention, the ball rolled into left field, allowing Morrison to take second.

Dickinson followed with a double to the right-center field wall that easily scored Morrison from second with the game-winner. Dickinson, Morrison and Jesse Anderson each had two hits to lead Mendo Mill. Morrison scored three of his team's six runs and had a pair of RBIs. Andy Davidson, Jason Squires and Aaron Pickle each had two hits for Superior Propane. Squires had two RBIs.

Superior Propane scored the game's first run in the top of the second inning. Jarrod Ruoff hit a two-out single to score Pickle, giving Superior a 1-0 lead. Mendo Mill took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. With two outs and no one on, Mendo Mill had seven consecutive batters reach base in the outburst. Tod Ehmann started the rally See MENDO, Page 9 Greens, tees and fairways; Nuel Emmons Golfers are also athletes Like millions of others who.

appreciate quality athletes, I have spent the last few days ignoring a normal work schedule and viewed as much of the 1992 Summer Olympics on television as much as And as always, the poise, condition and ability of those performing athletes is astound-1 ing. Perfection and poetry in motion is observed in every event, especially so in the individual exercises. Generally, except during the' days of Olympic competition, the mention of sports brings forth a vision of team activi- ties. An athlete, male or female, is rated by how well they excel among their teammates over the opposition. Seldom do any of us give immediate thought to those who do solo performances.

Yet it is among these solo performers where the most dedication, the greatest mind and body coordination and outstanding discip- line becomes evident. And when viewing the gymnasts, a swimmer, a diver or a track star, we do not hesitate to acknowledge these individuals as great athletes. So how does this enter into a golf column? Many people do not recog- nize the golfer as a true athlete. Yet to develop the skills required to be an outstanding amateur or compete on the PGA Toiuythe golfer must be coordinated, disciplined and dedicated as any of those who perform individually and are recognized as great athletes. Actually, in the normal tournament of 72 holes and an average round consisting of some four hours, the golfer called on to execute shot after shot with the same coordina- tion, discipline and ability that- a diver does in a series of eleven dives, or a track star or swimmer does in a single event which lasts only minutes or seconds.

Often overlooked is the fact that golfers must bear the pressure of perfect execution for hours and days, and on upwards of 260 swings that will establish victory or defeat: Additionally, they must accept and adapt to a variety of conditions that can't be regulated as in other individual arenas. Golfers are of all heights, shapes and weights. Rippling muscles, amazing strength or lightning speed is not required to achieve greatness on a golf course. But like the athletes who compete in the Olympics or in professional sports, anyone who dominates in golf is indeed a true athlete. Fox puts A' back into first MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Eric Fox hit a three-run homer off Rick Aguilera in the ninth inning Wednesday night, giving the Oakland Athletics a 5-4 victory over Minnesota that moved them into a tie for first place with the Twins.

Oakland, outhit 14-7, has won six straight and moved into the AL West lead for the first time since July 4. The A's only other sweep in the Metrodome was from Aug. 6-8, 1982, the year the stadium opened. The A's trailed 4-2 when Aguilera (1-5) relieved Bill Krueger, who held Oakland to four hits in eight innings and retired 14 of his final 15 batters. Jerry Browne and Harold Baines hit pinch singles, Rickey Henderson flied out, and Fox sent a 1-1 pitch over the right- field fence for his second home run See ATHLETICS, Page 9.