Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 1B

I l3 tEftfSIIKfS V. Section, Monday 4, 1068 r' wY'? tf Sports in Brief 3B Tri County Capsules 3B Jack Flowers 4V V4 Business TODAY Assistant Sports Editor Sutton Serves Two Masters A guy felt like barking "TENNN SHUNNN" at Pvt. Donald Howard Sutton as he strolled oaf. (or was it marched out?) of the Dodgertown clubhouse Sunday afternoon. But, on second thought, maybe that wasn't such a bright idea.

As a visitor was to find out, 22 year old Don Sutton takes his Army life as seriously as his civilian occupation, which is throwing baseballs past National League batters for some 25 grand a year. "Got a plane to catch at 6:20," Sutton said as he headed toward Holman Stadium for one last look at his Dodger teammaj'es who were winding up their first spring training intrasquad game. He had three more hours left on his three day pass in Vero Beach before returning to Ft. Gordon, Ga. Ah, Ft.

Gordon, vacation mecca of the Peach State where Don Sutton, Los Angeles pitcher is serving a 4 month active duty stint as an Army Reservist where Don Sutton is earning considerably less than $2,000 a month as an egad! trainee and where Don Sutton says life ain't all that bad. Making the Best of It "Sure, it gets a little boring at times, but I kind of enjoy it," Sutton admitted, adding that he was an acting (trainee platoon sergeant) in his company, which makes life in the Army somewhat more enjoyable at the bottom. "I look at it fins way. It's something I've got to 1o. so why not do a good job at it." He was named the outstanding trainee in basic before entering Signal Corps School where he'll be until his active duty time is up April 15.

There have been critics who point ilo the Reserves as a haven for athletes who choose to dodge the draft. But don't call young Mr. Sutton an artful dodger. "I had to decide whether to give up two years of my career or a couple of weekends a month. The decision was not too hard to make.

And if I have to go to Vietnam or anywhere because of a Reserve callup, I'd be proud to serve. I don't regret the time I've spent in the Army one bit." Weekend Baseballer Sutton hopes he'll continue to get weekend leaves through the rest of spring training. Dodger officials wouldn't exactly frown on fthem since Sutton, after only two years on the job, has worked himself into the starting pitching rotation with notables such as Don Drysdale and Claude Osteen. Saturday, he threw 10 mmu'es of batting practice. If all goes well, he would like to pitch an inning under game conditions next weekend.

"At Ft. Gordon, I've been throwing to Dave Giles, who's a catcher in our organization. My arm feels good. The only thing that will be missing is that fine edge you get from throwing in competition, plus working on cutoffs, bunting Sutton could use a good start this season. Last year, he was 1 6 before June 15 and 10 9 the rest of the way.

With the start of the National League season only a few silly millimeters away, a few people at Dodgertown would like to see Don leave his country defenseless if only on weekends. Mk li Wyf JH ifornitnitt vr.v Wilson To Miss Action It's Astros vs. Astros By JOHN MONTAGUE TODAY Sports Writer Pitcher Don Wilson became the first casualty of the Houston Astros' spring training ramp Sunday afternoon. The former Cocoa hurler, who gained instant fame as an Astro rookie last year when he pitched a no hitter against Atlanta, was circling the bases when his spikes caught the corner of the first base bag. The result: twisted right ankle.

"It's nothing serious, but it will probably keep him from pitching in any of our intrasquad games thl week," said manager Grady Hatton. The first intrasquad contest is set for 12:30 p.m. Monday at Cocoa Stadium. The Astros have been divided into two squads Hancken's Heroes, managed by coach Buddy Hancken, and McGaha's Marauders, skippered by coach Mel McGaha. "John Buzhardt, Danny Coombs, Pat House and Denny Lemaster will pitch two Innings each for one team," said Batton, "and Skip Lockwood, Joe Moel ler, Chris Zachary and Ron Crook will go the same for the ohter group." There will be similar intrasquad contests Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons es Batton begins his toughest task of spring training: deciding which pitchers will make his club.

"I've got 28 pitchers in said Hatton. 'Take away the five kids who we know need more minor league seasoning and that leaves 21. "Now, I can only keep 11 so that means 10 pitchers are going to be disappointed." In the past, Hatton has used a five mian rotation, but he is thinking strongly of a four man rotation this season the "Big Four" obviously being Larry Dierker, Mike 1 1 a Lemaster and Wilson However, he can't overlook Continued on Pago 4B DON WILSON first casualty Griffith, Frazier Fight Choices NEW YORK (AP) Emde Gritfith and Joe Frazier, the two smaller fighters, were rated solid favorites Sunday to win the title fights in the boxing spectacular in the new Madison Square Garden Monday night. Griffith, of New York, was a rising 8 5 favorite to retain his world middleweight championship over Italy's Nino Benvenuti in the opening title 15 rounder This was scheduled to start at 9.30 pjm EST. Frazier, 24, a 205 pounder from Philadelphia, held firmly as the 2 1 choice over Buster Mathis, 23, the 245 pound giant from Grand Rapids, Mich, in the dash of unbeatens for New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Illinois recognition as world heavyweight champion.

This bout will follow the middleweight contest. A crowd of more than 16,000 was to contribute to a record indoor gate of between $600,000 and $700,000 the record is 4511,000 at prices ranging from $10 to the slow moving $100 ring Frazier Mathis side seats for the inaugural boxing 'show in the 20,000 seat arena. The Garden will pay $505,000 to the four featured fighters $175,000 each to Griffith and Frazier, $80,000 to Benventi and $75,000 to Mathis and with the heavy promotional expenses this won't produce much of a profit. The profit will come out of the promotion's share of the closed circuit television to arenas and theaters in more than 70 cities Griffith WiWMMM in the United States and Canada and the television to Italy, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Although three of the four featured fighters are Negroes collecting big several black militant groups said thejf will demonstrate and picket outside the Garden.

They arelprotesting the deposing of Cassias Jlay as world heavyweight champion. The World Boxing Association and New York Athletic Commission stripped Clay of title recognition when he refused to enter Benvenuti military service. He is appealing his conviction for draft evasion. Jerry Quarry of Bellflower, and Jimmy Ellis of Louisville, will meet for the WBA's title on April 27. The winner probably will oppose the survivor of the Frazier Mathis flght Clay said he backed the protest movement but was not against the heavyweight fight.

He told this to Lester Bromberg of the New York Post and said Gocoas 7 A A Bid for Real From the start there was no doubt Vero Beach had the best team In the District 7 AA basketball tournament. But then suddenly there was Cocoa winner of only eight games during the regular season in the championship game and playing on a even keel with the powerful host Indians before losing 43 43 in overtime Saturday night. This was after Vero had blown Eau Gallie and Titusville off the court And both of those teams had beaten Cocoa during the regular season with relative ease. Sure! there must be some miracle behind it all. The Tigers couldn't be as good a basketball team as Vero Beach.

"Yes, we are," insisted Cocoa coach Danny Tharpe, who at one time this year saw his Tigers lose nine games in a row. "It has just taken us a long time to mature. Most of these boys were inexperienced when the season started. They didn't understand exactly what they were doing. They didn't have confidence in our system." Then there was illness.

"From Christmas until our last couple of games, we had somebody out of the lineup. We Switchhitter Parker Right Against Right Mathi's Aga'm Roland Schwartz isla stocky little guy out of Cincinnati who sells brass and bronze ingots fop a living and consorts with amateur boxers for his kicks. He. has managed American teams in international competition, promoted innumerable amateur shows, conducted" clinics for boxers and officials and refereed on all levels including the Olympic Games. At present he occupies a unique position as the world's leading authority on Buster Mathis vis a vis Joe Frazier, position he will continue to hold until Monday night.

As referee of the final heavyweight bout inthe United States try outs for the 1964 Contained on Next Page ByJOHNCLENDENON TODAY Assistant Sports Editor Yes, that really was switchhitter Wes Parker batting righthanded against a righthanded pitcher and slugging a triple to where else? right field. This uncommon chain of events, all part of the "The Grest Wes, Parker Experiment," happened on a. sunny Sunday afternoon In Vero Beach as the Los Angeles Dodgers staged their first spring training intrasquad game at Holman Stadium. Parker, better known as the Dodger with the "Golden Glove" and lead bat, slugged a pair of triples in the' scrimmage which ended in a 3 3 deadlock between team's captained by coaches Preston Gomez and Danny Ozark. The 27 year old first baseman, who woa the "Golden award last season as the National League's best fielding first baseman, has never been known for his hitting exploits.

Last season, he batted .247. an effort to cover up Wesley's deficiency, the author of the Dodgers' handbook notes that he wasrone' of theVfew Los' Angeles players to hit close to his, lifetime average in 1967. Thus, Parker has decided 'to hit strictly from the right side of the 'plate this year, His first triple Sunday came off lefthander Claude Osteen, the second off righthander Alan Foster. Parker was hesitant to prejudge Sunday's exploits as a sign of greater things to come. But he was obviously pleased.

"I'm sure of one thing," Parker admitted. "I won't do any worse against righthanded pitching than I did last year hitting lefthanded "I thought about changing last season. Buzzie (LA general manager Bavasi) asked me to wait until January when we worked out In Los Angeles. I feel that I can see the ball better from the right side. "But I'll have to wait and see what happens in the exhibition games," Parker added.

Dodger manager Walt Alston, not exactly hep on Parker changing from his role as a switchitter, is willing to give Wes a chance. Even Wes can't feel too confident about the move until he goes up against righthanders like Juan Marichal and Jim Bunning. But until then, he'd rather fight than switch. were sick, or hurt, or something all the time. "When everyone finally got together they began to understand what we were doing.

Once they understood, we had confidence and that was all we needed." Cocoa's effort against Vero Beach will go down as the best of the Tri County season, overshadowing New Smyrna BeacVs two wins over Titusville and Cocoa Beach's victory over Monroe. Vero Beach is the Tri County champion, and deservedly' so. Man for man the Indians are the best around. As a team, they have proved it all year. However, Vero can't be declared the favorite in the regional tournament, Friday and Saturday at Orlando Junior College, with Winter Park, Rivena Beach and Orlando Evans.

That distinction has to go to Evans. But the Indians do have a chance. On a good night, Vero is capable of beating anyone. It wdl take four good nights in a row for Vero to win the state championship. But one thing seems certain.

Vero Beach may never be pressed harder than it was by Cocoa Saturday night and still come out on top. District Winners To Travel SmcM to 'today GAINESVILLE The three Tri County representatives in the state high school basketball regional playoffs Friday and Saturday will all be playing on foreign courts. Vero Beach, winner of the District 7, Class, AA tournament on Its own court, wijl face third 'i rated Orlando Evans Friday night' at 9 p.m. in the Region Two tournament at Orlando Junior College. Winter Park; will meet Riviera Beach at 7:80.

In the Region Two, Class A tourney, Monroe, champion In District 8, will go up against Daytona Beach Seabreeze In a 7:30 game atwDeLand High Continued 'en Page.4B he intended to watch it on closed circuit television. "I'm with the black power people protesting," he said. "They're behind me against injustice. I am the best and everybody knows they can't have a champion so long as I'm around Clay said it will be a good fight and he picked Mathis to score an upset. "I pick Mathis to beat him," he said.

"He's heavier, taller, got a longer reach and is faster. He's a better all around fighter, I saw Frazier against Scrap Iron Johnson. He forced the fight but he couldn't do anything with Scrap Iron's jab." Frazier outpointed Johnson in 10 rounds last May. Johnson has been working as a sparring partner Will) Mathis, and he predicted the king sized fighter would win. Mathis, who has height (6 foot 3 to 5 lltt) and reach (76 inches to 73W advantages, is unusually nimble for his size.

He has displayed a fast stinging jab and a swift, hurting left, hook. His left could be decisive' if he doesn't panic under Fr'a zierVexpected furious assaults. Frazier, 19 0 with 17 knockouts, goes right after his opponents with the aim of scoring a knockout with every punch. He usually is wide open in so doing. "I'm going to knock him out," said the confident PhQadel phian.

"Ill get him in five or six, or maybe earlier." "I've never been knocked down or knocked out," said Mathis. "I'm going to win.1' Mathis record is 23 0, including 7 knockouts. But his opponents have been nobodies while Frazier has fought some name fighters, even if they were over the hill. Griffith, 30, 5 7V4, 155 pounds, and Benvenuti ,29, 5 11, 160, will be meeting for the middleweight crown for the third tune within a year in a very profitable rivalry for both. Griffith's purses for the three fights amount to about $315,000 and Benvenuti's to around $250,000.

The handsome, rangy Italian dethroned Griffith on a 15 round decision in the old Garden last April 17. Giffith regained it the sime way in New York's Shea Stadium on Sept. 29. The rubber fight probably will go to the one who takes charge first. Benvenuti surprised with his quick getaway and his variety of punches in the first one as Griffith apparently took him lightly.

It was the other way around in the return. Nino seemed overconfident while Griffith was finely trained and grimly determined. He was the boss from the opening bill and was strong at the finish. "I know what he can do and he knows what I can do now," said Griffith. "I feel I can do it better.

I'm going to win and it could be by a knockout." 1 Tale ol Tape GRIFFITH BENVENUTI Ag W.ioM Htlght Chnt tormol Chst txpondtd RMCtl Bictpt Fofrm WolK Colt Flit WtgM Htlght. Chtst normol Chut (xpandtd Roch Blnpi Fortarm Walr Coif TH 3d 41 it 14 lit MS lltt. ti 44 i) 1M 3 11 41 a Iff. 11 MATHIS Zl I Hi 41 50 7 "ft 1 teScores SndincM BASEBALL High School Tri County Saturday's Results Melbourne 2, Merritt Island 0 Melbourne 5, Melbourne Central C.tholic 0 Vero Beach 8, Martin County 2 Eau Gall.e 8, Merritt Island 7 (11) Pet. GB Vero Beach 3 0 1.000 Melbourne 2 0 1.000 Eau Gallie 1 0 1.000 1 Satellite 1 1 .500 1 Melbourne CC 1 2 .333 2 Cocoa 1 3 .250 2 Chisholm 0 0 .000 1 New Smyrna 0 0 .000 1 Titusville 0 0 .000 1H Monroe 0 0 .000 1 Cocoa Beach 0 0 .000 1V4 Florida Air 0 0 .000 lVx Gilford 0 0 .000 1 Merritt Island 0 2 .000 2V4 Tuesday's Games Vero Beach at Palm Beach Delray Beach Carver at Gilford Monroe at Melbourne CC New Smyrna Beach at Cocoa Beach Titusville at Merritt Island Eau Gallie at Cocoa Friday's Games Melbourne at Gilford Eau.Gallie at Cocoa Beach Cocoa at Titusville Verb Beach at West Palm Beach Forest Hill Saturday's Games Vero Beach at Melbourne Melbourne CC at Merritt Island Cocoa" Beach, at Cocoa GOLF Tri County Pet GB Cocoa 5 0 1.000 Vero Beach (B) 4 0 1.000 tt New Smyrna 2 0 1.000; 1H Melbourne Vera Beach (G) Mt Eau Gallie 1 1 Titusville 1 .500 "'Jar Satellite 1 2 .333 3 Merritt Island 1 3 .250 3H Melbourne CC 0 2 .000 4 Cocoa Beach 0 3 .000 4 Mondays Matches i Vero Beach and Jupiter at Riviera Beach Tuesday's Matches Cocoa at Eau Gallie Cocoa Beach at Melbourne Titusville at Satellite Friday's 'Matches Cocoa Beach at Cocoa Merritt Island at Satellite Melbourne at Titusville TENNIS High School Tri Connty PcU GB Florida Air 3 0 1.000 Cocoa 4 0 1.000 lf Vero Beach (G) 1 0 1.000 1H Melbourne 4 1 .800 1 Cocoa Beach 2 i .687 2 Satellite 2 2 .500 24 Eau Gallie 0 2 .000 3tt Titusville 0 2 ,000 Jtt Merritt Island 0 4 .000 44 Tuesday's Matches Cocoa at Eau Gallie Melbourne at Cocoa Beach Titusville at Satellite Thursday's Matches Jupiter at Vero Beach Friday's Matches Cocoa Beach at Cocoa Merritt Island at Satellite Melbourne at Titusville TRACK' Tri Connty Tuesday's A Melbourne Central Catholic, Melbourne, Eau and Merritt Island at Titusville Wednesday's Meet Riviera Beach and Dan McCarty at Vero Beach Friday's Meek fi At I Satellite Invitational BASKETBALL High School Tri Connty, Saturday! Rcsnlti A District 7 AA Vfrn Tferh 19 rVuU.

a 44U5 1.1 overtime sJi District 5 A ,1, uajrwua oeaca oeaoreezavRj, Nam Kmvrna Roanl, 4 rH? m.M.t'T.i 'l Mnnrn f.i rltt T.t.nJ mm 1M District J5 Xl uuiora im, Florida Alrb Academy (championship) 8 w.milli VUIUU VLUUUC OB, ft WPB North Shore 48 (concor latlon). Continued on Next Pag ip A a Jtrl rv.