The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 30

8C Wednesday, June 20, 2001 THE TENNESSEAN www.tennessean.com SPORTS: SOUNDS Minors: Sounds worry Greer may imperil future i Opening dates The years the current Triple-A stadiums opened: International League Louisville 2000 Buffalo 1998 Rochester 1997 Syracuse 1997 Indianapolis 1996 Durham 1995 Norfolk 1993 Ottawa 1993 Charlotte 1990 ScrantonWilkes-Barre ..1989 Richmond 1985 Columbus 1977 Toledo 1965 Pawtucket 1946 Pacific Coast League Memphis 2000 Sacramento 2000 Oklahoma 1998 Tucson 1998 New Orleans 1997 Edmonton 1995 Salt Lake 1994 Iowa 1992 Colorado Springs 1988 Fresno 1987 Las Vegas 1983 Nashville 1978 Calgary 1966 Tacoma 1960 Omaha 1948 Portland 1926 "We are investigating all possible options to retain all franchises as active, and until we are satisfied which of these are potential solutions, we are not prepared to discuss hypothetical options." If facilities become a factor in which teams get nudged down or out, Sounds management feels Nashville may not be in a good position "I think it highlights why a stadium is so important to us," said Al Gordon, majority owner of the Sounds. "WeVe got to be competitive, in the market and in the eyes of the major league teams. Greer Stadium is not a competitive product This just highlights the need for a new stadium" Out of 30 Triple-A franchises, only seven play in stadiums older than Greer, which was opened in 1978 Calgary, Portland, Omaha and Tacoma in the Pacific Coast League, and Columbus, Pawtucket and Toledo in the International League. The Calgary franchise is already set to move to Albuquerque, as the latter city voted to upgrade its stadium after losing its previous team to Portland this year. It's safe to say the remaining six teams are firmly entrenched in their respective communities, aging facilities notwithstanding.

Talks between the Sounds and Metro to build a new stadium in Nashville have not been productive, and the team is looking outside Davidson County in hopes of staying in the area The Sounds think more fans would be attracted to a new stadium, but see other benefits to having a new park. "The more attractive and more competitive venue we have to offer the fans and players, certainly the better off we'd be," Gordon said. pw) linos BT107 39 IT924 Speed Control AMFMCass CD Power WindrowsLocks AMFMCass IT 3rd Row Seal Powr WindowsLocks "Major league teams are looking for the best facilities for their players." PCL President Branch Rickey HI wouldn't say the Sounds are in danger if contraction comes to pass but he wouldn't say they aren't either. "I'd say ifs strictly premature which two Triple-A teams would face contract," he said. "Until you know the major league approach, it would be impossible to project the minor league Call 297-4111 To Replace Your Firestone Tires Pet GB ,678 Hermansen, Secrist hit HR MB ejMF To Replace Your Firestone Tires American Conference Central Division Salt Lake (Angels) 41 30 Iowa (Cubs) 37 34 Col.

Springs (Rockies) 30 38 Omaha (Royals) 33 40 Eastern Division New Orleans (Astros) 42 25 Oklahoma (Rangers) 38 34 Memphis (Cardinals) 36 36 001 2001 Taurus Pel GB .627 .528 6 .500 .478 10 .201 Ranger Reg. Cab mustang nr "III" 33 36 Nashville (Pirates) Pacific Conference Southern Division i null Pet GB .485 33 35 33 39 Fresno (Giants) Tucson (D'backs) Sacramento (Athletes) 32 39 Las Vegas (Dodgers) 32 40 Northern Division IC1 67 IIC102 AFTER 52,000 REBATE Vour Choice Pet GB .639 .529 8 .471 12 .403 17 -IV I Jf m' UY 46 26 36 32 33 37 29 43 Tacoma (Mariners) Calgary (Marlins) Portland (Padres) Edmonton (Twins) Monday's resuHs I 1 Tl St HPHlUflC 1 iM Omgf cn mnc $1500 Rebate $2,000 Customer Cash 8 in STOCK TO CHOOSE FRO 111! After Tourus Rebate, After Mustang Rebate Nashville 7, Memphis 0 Iowa 4, Calgary 3 Colorado Springs 9, Tucson 8 (1 1) Omaha 10, Edmonton 6 New Orleans 1 Tacoma 0 Portland 5, Oklahoma 4 Fresno 13, Sacramento 1 Las vegas 12. Sari Lake 4 Yesterday's results Nashville 8, Memphis 6 Iowa 3, Calgary 0 Colorado Springs at Tucson Omaha 4, Edmonton 3 New Oneans at Tacoma Oklahoma at Portland Sacramento at Fresno Salt Lake at Las Vegas AC Inspection in sir: Morcraft Battery Starting At gj 2001 F-150 Reg.Cab 2001 ZX-2 Coupe SOUNDS 8, REDBIRDS 6 By MAURICE PATTON Staff Writer In the days after his first home run of the season, on May 12 at New Orleans, Nashville outfielder Chad Hermansen joked that he didn't have another one left. It was beginning to look less and less like a joke until last night, when the team's all-time leader in homers hit a three-run blast to get the Sounds on the scoreboard en route to an 8-6 victory over Memphis at Greer Stadium Reed Secrist matched Hermansen's third-inning shot with his own three-run homer in the same inning. Nashville rallied from a 4-0 deficit before an announced capacity crowd of 10 J39 for its ninth win in the last 12 games and the seventh of its 10-game homestand.

"Any time you can contribute, it feels good," Hermansen said after his second homer of the season and the 73rd of his Sounds career, which also pushed him past Skeeter Barnes for the top spot in franchise career RBI with 234. "It doesn't seem I've done much of that this year." "What a lift for Chad," Sounds Manager Marty Brown said. "It was nice to see him drive the balL He and hitting coach Jeff Livesey have been working in the cage on some things, and hopefully it'll continue to help. If it doesn't, it won't be Lick of effort." The six-run uprising which also featured an Adam Hyzdu double that extended his hitting streak to 19 games gave Nashville starter Scott Karl (4-3) a little breathing room after Memphis got to him for four runs in the second. Luis Garcia keyed the Redbirds scoring with his three-run double, following a solo homer by ex-Sound Darrell Whitmore to lead off the inning.

game Nashville right-hander Steve Sparks (1-2, 552 ERA) gets the start against Memphis righty Fred Rath (4-2, 610) in the 7 p.m contest Sghts A number of light bulbs were replaced in the Greer Stadium guitar scoreboard before last night's game, greatly improving its readability. When asked what prompted the repairs, operations director Chris Snyder replied: "Dim light bulbs. You couldn't read the score." An opinion column in Monday's Termess-ean pointed out the bulb problems. The scoreboard was erected before the 1993 season IT839 IC211 Memphis ab Saturracf 3 rhbi Nashville ab rhtH 1 0 0 Greenlt 2 2 10 1 2 3 Hrmsncf 3 113 1 2 1 Hvzdurf 4 110 Automatic, flir a ail i i uoiac a i rV, jr." VUSIUHSUIimtJ, flir Conditioning, nmFHICass, Power Steering 1 1 1 Scnst3b 0 1 0 Wood 59 Garciass 5 Sutton 1b 4 Ortega rf 4 Whtmorlf 4 Lucca 3b 4 McDnldc 3 Ptevch2b 4 Zncnrop 2 r'TvJ, 1 o- 2 1 lilt, speed 1 1 0 Haadtb 4 113 4 110 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Martep 1 1 0 Wlknsp ruumrui, id udiu Zetec Engine ric X'J vA 'fii V'j I) iiJ 1. 1 2 0 0 0 Rdmn ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taylorp 0 0 0 0 bmskipn 1 Tabakap 0 Hisrmnp 0 Bieserph 1 0 0 0 Ptersn 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 Karip 10 0 0 0 0 0 Moodyp 0 0 0 0 Hdzulb 20 1 1 Krnuthp 0 Totals 366 mm 9 6 Totals X8 9 8 iJMil Li OLaiM VgvC Hy? AFTER 1,500 REBATE Memphis Nashville 040010100-692 006011 00x -890 AFTER OOlftEBATE New 2001 Crown Vi, op Filter Change Only Zancanaro 2.

DP Memphis 1. LOB -Memphis Nashville 4. 2B Garcia, Hyzdu, Hernandez. HR Sutton (1), Whitmore (7), Hermansen (2), Secrist (6). ok IP ER B8SO Memphis Zancanro 2-7 Tabaka Heiserman Karnuth Nashville Karl 4-3 Moody Marte 2001 Excursion 2001 F-250 Styleside 523 8 5 0 0 13 1 All Excusions in stock IT184 1 1 IT260 7.3 Powerstroke Wilkins 1 TaylorS, 8 1 --i Turbo Diesel, nir Conditioning, Trailer Towing Pko.

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