Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 6

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1992 Sports THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL To report sports news telephone Steve Guertin, 468-3521 DIGEST UVAH scramble golf tourney is scheduled The UVAH Scramble Golf Tournament will take place on the Ukiah Municipal Golf Course this Saturday. A donation of $45 will include green fees and a cart for the four-person team scramble. Tee times will be assigned. Several hole-in-one prizes and team prizes will be available, including a 1992 Buick Park Avenue, golf clubs, a vacation package and airplane tickets to Germany. Proceeds will benefit the Ukiah Valley Medical Association for the Handicapped.

Registration forms can be picked up at the golf course. TRIVIA Who holds the record for the most victories in a season by a relief pitcher? (Answer at bottom of schedule) SCORES Men's B-4 Softball Valley Paving 19 Raley's 1 Broiler 10 Budweiser 7 Women's C-4 Softball Valley Paving 15 A.C. Wringers 5 SCHEDULE TUESDAY BASEBALL Hawaii Movers vs. Mendocino-Blue Jays at Anton Stadium (11 a.m.) LITTLE LEAGUE South Ukiah Blue Jays vs. Laytonville at Cloverdale in championship bracket of T.O.C.

(6 p.m.) North Ukiah Lions vs. Fort Bragg at Willits in consolation bracket of T.O.C. (6 p.m.) COLT LEAGUE Superior Propane vs. Sports-A-Foot (5:45 p.m.) Ford Street vs. Masonite (8 p.m.) MEN'S B-2 Gino's Factory Lttrg.

vs. Codgers (Fl, 6:45 p.m.) Sports Attic vs. Fidelity National (F2, 6:45 p.m.) Redwood Plaza Car Wash vs. Louisiana Pacific (8 p.m.) Mill Creek 2 vs. ACR-Taco Bell (9:15 p.m.) WOMEN'S C-3 The Tack Room vs.

Bottle Marino's (Fl, 6 p.m.) vs. The Pub (F2, 6 p.m.) Lyly and Sons vs. Savings Bank (7:30 p.m.) Trashy Waste vs. Project Sanctuary (9 p.m.) WEDNESDAY BASEBALL Hawaii Movers vs. Mendocino Blue Jays at Willits High School (5 p.m.) Ukiah Merchants vs.

Humboldt Crabs at Arcata (7:30 p.m.) PONY LEAGUE Mendo-Lake vs. Hiatt Logging (5:45 p.m.) Vic's Place vs. Savings Bank (8 p.m.) MEN'S B-3 Century 21 vs. Miller Draft (F2, 6:45 p.m.) Market vs. Selzer Realty (Fl, 6:45 p.m.) Old Timers vs.

House of Pizza (Fl, 8 p.m.) If Divers vs. Beeler's Muffler (Fl, 9:15 p.m.) WOMEN'S C-2 Lucky Distributors vs. Quail Run Therapy (Fl, 6 p.m.) Eel River Fuels vs. Retech Royals (F2, 6 p.m.) (Answer: Roy Face won 18 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959.) Connors suffers early Wimbledon loss WIMBLEDON, England (AP) The magic missing from his game and the enthusiasm drained from his heart, Jimmy Connors left his 20th and probably final Wimbledon as a pained loser. Connors, who thrilled crowds at the All England Club last year with a display of guts and great tennis, was listless on court Monday and downright depressed after an opening-day loss to Luis Herrera.

"I get to a point in a match where things just get too painful," said Connors, who produced moments of brilliance but lacked bite against Herrera. "My hips go and my knees get too sore and my back stiffens up. "I hurt every day. I just don't hurt as bad two out of three sets. Three out of five is rough," he said.

"I don'tenjoy being around the tennis anymore. I basically come with a bad altitude." Last year was a joyride for Connors and his fans. He reached the Thompson continues to win in Late Model Redwood Valley's Bud Thompson recorded his second-straight season victory in Late Model Main Event racing at the Ukiah Speedway Saturday night as the Late Model racers returned after a week off. David Lancaster was the early leader in the 30-lap feature until Steve Kruger moved to the outside to take over the lead at lap three. A caution on lap five resulted when Kruger and Rich Cosman Jr.

tangled in turn one, also taking out Clay Caturegli, Rick Stacy and Denny Cashada. Mike Caturegli was quick to take the lead on the restart, with Thompson, Ed Shouse and Mike Martin in hot pursuit. Thompson moved to the front on lap 10 and Martin slipped into second place following another caution at lap 11 when Gary Sellars spun. Thompson managed to hold off Martin the remainder of the race to win. Cashada was the winner of the Late Model Trophy Dash, with Stacy second and Thompson third.

David Lancaster won the first Heat Race, with Pierce winning the second Heat Race. A four-car collision on lap one of the Jalopy Trophy Dash eliminated Creg Gustafson, who was towed to the pits with a broken tie rod. Larry Bates went on to take the honors and recorded his fourth Trophy Dash win of the season. Troy Willey was second, with Casey Saunders third. The first J-car Heat Race was won by Gary Cantrell, who led all 10 laps.

Saunders managed to steal the lead from Fort Bragg's John Patterson on lap three and won the second Heat Race. Cantrell jumped to an impressive lead in the Jalopy Main Event as the rest of the field struggled to pass rookie John Dalerio. Saunders was the first to free himself from the pack at lap 11 and eventually overtook Cantrell at lap 22 to win the Main Event. Defending Mini Stock champion Mike Yaw recorded the victory in the Trophy Dash, holding off points leader Ken Ingram, who finished a strong second. Santa Rosa's Don Austin won the first Heat Race, with Jesse Kohler second and Jim Banthrall third.

Yaw held off Dan Harris to win the second Heat Race. A first-lap collision in the Main Event resulted in the elimination of Dale Curtis and Richard George and sent Harris to the pits for repairs. Harris was able to catch the tail end of the pack at the restart. Austin took the lead from Banthrall on lap two, but Harris managed to get back towards the front when Perry Bates and Paul Moore tangled in turn one on lap 19. When the green flag came out, Harris bolted to the outside and overtook Ingram on lap 22, then set his sights on Yaw.

Harris managed to overtake Yaw on lap 24 and held on for his fourth Main Event win of the year. Ingram finished second, with Yaw third. Other top seeds advance third round at the French Open and Wimbledon, then rode a series of incredible comebacks to the U.S. Open semifinals. But 1992 has been a downer for Connors, who turns 40 in September.

He lost to Michael Stich in the first round of the French Open last month and was defeated 6-2, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 by Herrera on Monday. "My tennis is way past disappointment," said Connors, a two- time Wimbledon champion who said his chances of returning next year arc less than 50-50. "I've been through all that, and got through it without ever crying and shedding tears." Connors, who has won more singles matches (84) than any other man at Wimbledon, was knocked out in the first round for only the second time in lus 20 years on the grass courts. Connors provided moments of high drama in his match with Herrera, saving three set points with lunging shots before losing the third set and then saving four match points in the next-to-last game of the match. It was the only whiff of excitement on an opening day in which all the top seeds won with surgical- like precision.

The top six men's seeds won in straight sets and top women's seed Monica Seles also breezed to victory. Top men's seed Jim Courier, halfway to the Grand Slam after victories in the Australian and French Opens, defeated Markus Zoecke to win his 24th straight match. Second-seeded Stefan Edberg, a two-time Wimbledon winner, Glenn Daily' Journal' Blue Jay hurler Kyle Heath will be eligible to again tonight If needed at Cloverdale when the South Ukiah Little League champions meet surprising Laytonvllle. Both teams are undefeated In two games. Blue Jays win 19-1, travel to Cloverdale By GLENN ERICKSON Journal Sports Editor Emeritus Both of Ukiah's Tournament of Champions Little League teams travel for games tonight at 6 p.m.

The undefeated South Ukiah Blue Jays travel to Cloverdale, and once- beaten North Ukiah goes to Willits for a battle of survival. The South Ukiah champion Blue Jays capitalized on first-game nerves and pitching wildness of Cloverdale Monday night at Ukiah's North Bechtol diamond to trounce the Astros, 19-1, after scoring six runs the top of the first. Tonight, the Blue Jays travel to Cloverdale to meet surprising Laytonville, which blanked Round Valley (Covelo), 11-0, on Sunday and shocked host Willits, 4-3, Monday. Meanwhile, North Ukiah, which lost to the Blue Jays, 16-9, on Sunday, travels to Willits tonight to battle Fort Bragg, which stayed alive Monday by eliminating Round Valley, 30-3. Lake County teams got underway Monday, with Kelseyville edging rival South Shore, 7-5.

Cloverdale fans, loyal to the core, suffered as the Astros fell behind 6-0 in the first inning as the Blue Jays opened up with six runs in the first on four straight hits, including a three-run, grass-cutting double by Jo Jo Triana. Also hitting the ball solidly were Alex Rapport, Kyle Heath and Marty Baker. Included in that introductory inning also were a well-placed bunt-single by Jesse Gardner and walks to Zack Hayden and Bryan Arrington. The top of the first look 20 minutes to play, and the Blue Jays went back to work soon thereafter with four more in the second. Starting Cloverdale pitcher Ryan Warren threw hard, but also made it tough on his catcher, Chris Lands, by being high, wide and low on many of his flame-thrown pitches.

Fielding and throwing errors didn't help the Astros. Cloverdale's only hit was a whistling, low line drive that rocketed off the bat of Nick Angeli. Pitcher Ryan Warren, whose sister, Krista, played third, wile their father and mother, David and Joy, managed and coached the Astros to a 10-2-1 season, was hit by a pitch to give Cloverdale two on with one down in the first. But the defensively-tough Rapport raced to glove a sinking line drive off the bat of Astro Mike Castillo for a big second out, and after walks to Sean Garland and Robert Hopkins forced in Angeli from third, Blue Jay starter Marty Baker got out of the inning on a strikeout. Heads-up infield defense by South Ukiah foiled other Cloverdale scoring bids in the third, fourth and sixth innings.

Krista Warren had a runner- advancing sacrifice, Ryan Warren a sparkling defensive play at short where a strong-arm rifle peg to first caught a runner, and catcher Chris Lands, among others, showed athletic promise. Rapport, who again had a strong game defensively in right field, was 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. Gardner went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, including a double, Heath was 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs, and Triana scored twice and had three RBIs. See TOC, Page 7 Olympic 'Dream Team' works out SAN DIEGO (AP) Imagine trying to split up the playing-time pie among 12 superstars. That's the job facing U.S.

Olympic basketball coach Chuck Daly, and he has the support of his players. Take Michael Jordan, for instance. He helped the United States win the Olympic gold medal in 1984, and just last week led the Chicago Bulls to their second straight NBA title. Jordan said the Olympic players, 11 from the pro ranks and Duke's Christian Laeltner, the college player of the year, left their egos outside UC San Diego's cramped Main Gym as they opened a five- day training camp on Monday. "I think that the camaraderie we're establishing here is something that no one is ever going to forget," Jordan said.

"Everybody here has so much unique talent. You don't ever have See DREAM, Page 7 joined Courier in the second round with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 rour of American Steve Bryan. Stich, the defending champion who's seeded third this year, swept to a victory over Stefano Pescosolido. Fourth seed Boris Becker, a three-time champion, defeated Omar Camporese 7-5, 6-3, 7-5. Fifth seed Pete Sampras had 10 aces in a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Andrei Cherkasov and No.

6 Petr Korda won (7-4), 6-4 over Christian Bergstrom. Other seeded men advancing were Goran Ivanisevic (No. 8), Ivan Lendl (10th), Brad Gilbert (13th), Wayne Fcrreira (14th) and Alexander Volkov (15th). Seles, undefeated in Grand Slam play since 1990, was a winner over Jenny Byrne. Like Courier, she can complete a Grand Slam by winning Wimbledon and the U.S.

Open. Darling looking good in A's win OAKLAND (AP) Ron Darling now has as many victories any pitcher on the Oakland Athletics. But he wants something more. "Statistics don't interest me that much," Darling said after allowing two hits over seven-plus innings in Monday night's 7-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. "As a pitcher, you're concerned with whether your team wins when you pitch.

"I think we're 7-7 in the games I've started, and I have to do a lot better than that in my remaining starts." Darling is 7-4 with a 4.03 ERA, but on the A's, as likely didate ptfipx starfer staff ace. Mike Moore (7-6, Dave Stewart (6-5, 3.98), Bob See DARLING, Page 7 Steppes take Father-Son golf honors Father Larry and son Verle Steppe captured the 1992 Ukiah Father and Son Father's Day Golf Tournament Sunday with a combined one-over-par 71 on a very hot golfing day. Both the Steppes are adults, and the two have been frequent golfing winners at various tee functions over the years. A record field of 170 golfers, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, set off on a shotgun start at 9 a.m. by Bo Strong, Ukiah Men's Golf Club captain, which made the day a success.

The 104 degree temperature was ignored as much as possible. Jim Brown and Brady Bechtol were the overall winners of their division. Cheryl Steppe, wife of Verl Steppe, and daughter Jamie were winners in the Daughter division. Verle teamed with son Brian to win the 12-13 age group. Don McMullen and Beans Davi won the division.

Don and Amy Crawford took the division, and Diane Fitrakis and Stephen Johnson won the Mother and Son competition. Following are the winners in the annual Ukiah Men's Golf Club Father's Day competition, by age groups, with the father listed first. 7-Under: 1. Larry and Jason Claunch (91), 2. Mike and Pete Crudo (97), 3.

Jerry and Jerry (Jr.) Ward (107). 1. Gary and Eddie Leonard (106), 2. Larry and David Foord (111), 3. John and Dustin Meier (120).

Dink and Brandon Farmer (85), 2. Bo and Ben Strong (90), 3. Joe and Nate Garnero (99). Verle and Brian Steppe (88), 2. Bill and Michael Bracewell (99), 3.

John and Luke Behnke (107). Rick and Joey Wildberger (90), 2. Estor and Laban Menton (93), 3. Tracy and Dennis Thurston (103). 1.

Pat and Ben Wilson (77), 2. Matt and David Staples (89), 3. Keith and Brian Tiemon (105). Tennis Tidbits Chris Kretchmer Some other awards for Deerwood Tournament All good things must come to an end, and so it goes for this year's County Tennis Tournament. Before we close the book on the 28th edition of the county's premiere tennis event, "Tidbits" would like to present a few awards of its own.

The best point of the tournament came in men's doubles. Disgusted at whiffing at an overhead, Brad Parmley collapsed on the court with his eyes closed. Unknown to Parmley, his partner Justin Snider tracked down the ball and continued the point all by himself. Parmley finally opened his eyes just in lime to be nearly hit by the ball. Suddenly realizing that the point was still in progress, Parmley jumped up, continued the rally and finally dumped the ball into the net.

The biggest surprise of the tournament was the play of Ken "Boris" Vanderstoep, the men's 'C' singles champion who made a name for himself at the tournament. As one spectator remarked, "He started the tournament a and ended it as an For best racket swap, after losing his men's 'A' doubles match and being unhappy with the new strings on his racket, Ed Kowalski found a spectator whose five-year-old son played the same style racket. gave the kid a coo- 'kie, 'borrowed, his racket and won the-men's Masters Singles championship with it. The Beach Boys award goes to Brendan Cusik, who defaulted to Ben Shapiro in the first round when he did not show up for his match. Worried that Cusik may have gotten the wrong time, the concerned tournament director called his house and was informed that Cusik had decided to go surfing instead.

The best comment came from Dr. Glenn Miller in men's doubles, who spent several years delivering babies in Ukiah. Miller looked across the court, pointed at an opponent, then told his partner, "I delivered that guy." In a milestone, when Brad Parmley faced his doubles partner for the men's Novice Singles title, they weren't sure if they were supposed to play a best of three sets or five. They played the first five-set match in the 28-year history of the tournament just to be safe. In the worst luck for a two event champion category, Bev Firby, who won both the women's 'C' singles and the 'C' mixed doubles, left her racket in her car during the heat of the day and returned to find it melted.

In the most unusual event, serving for the match in men's Open 'A' singles, Phil King hit a ball through the net. The amazing thing was that the net was virtually new. No hole, no tear, no slight of hand. In 25 years of watching tennis, from beginners to professionals, I've never seen this happen and I have yet to find anyone else who has seen it either. The best 1992 addition was the Junior events.

The events presented a great showcase for local junior tennis talent. The happiest non-player was Linda Hassett, a local Shaklee distributor who provided an energy drink to Ed Kowalski and Heather Penny. Kowalski won his tournament, and Penny wemt on an eight-game run before coming back down to earth. What's in that drink Linda? The biggest story of the tournament was the heat. It was hot.

Very hot! But despite the heat, the players went out and presented the spectators with some great tennis. What dedication!.