The Paris News from Paris, Texas • Page 15

Sports The Paris News, April 19; 1989 Paris bombs Panthers to lock up district title 'SLIDING INTO SECOND: Paris High's Trey Walters slides safely into second base as North Lapar's John Spencer awaits the throw during action Wildcats garner "Ist-place playoff spot with victory By Rich Killmon Sports Writer The overcast sky did not dump any rain on Hub Hollis Field Tuesday night but the runs came pour-, ing in for the Paris Wildcats as they locked up the District 10-4A Championship with an, 11-0 mauling of the North Lamar Panthers. The Wildcats, now 8-1 in district play, assured themselves of at least a tie for the district crown with the victory. Should Paris lose its last three games and Mount Pleasant should win its last four, then the teams would have identical 8-4 records. shells Mineola to avengeIst-round loss Paris, however, would claim the district crown because it would have beaten Mount Pleasant two out of three times in head-to-head meetings. If the Wildcats beat Sulphur Springs Friday night, they will win the title outright.

Eric Blease broke out of a one- for-25 hitting slump with a bases- loaded triple in the fourth inning that broke the back of the Panthers. Blease, a lifetime .400 hitter, had gone 0-19 in his last 19 trips to the plate. "It felt good," Blease said. "I wasn't under any pressure (to get a hit). In a situation like that up eight runs you just go up and hit the ball." Leading 5-0 going into the fourth inning, the Wildcats took advantage of Panther mistakes and quickly brought the 10-run rule into effect to end the game after five innings.

Steven Walker led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt byKyleBrakebill. Michael Johnson was nicked by a Chad Fleming pitch and given a free trip to first. Trey Walters laid down a perfect bunt that rolled toward third base just out of the reach of Fleming to load the bases. Walker and Johnson both scored when a Fleming pitch bounced off home plate and over catcher toby Fitzgerald's head. Walters motored all the way over to third.

After Curt Lowry flied out to center field to give Paris two outs, Bruce Harmon struck out but rea- Please see Title, Pg. 2B Pats roll for .10 jl st-inning runs to 13-1 By Tim Waits Sports Editor PATTONVILLE Throughout the Prairiland Patriots' sizzling five-game winning streak in District 13-3A, none of those victories could have been any sweeter than Tuesday's 13-1 shellacking of the Mineola Yellow Jackets. It was a game that called for a revenge, fort Patriots, as the Yellow Jackets handed the Patriots their only district loss in the league opener. "Our kids have been waiting for that one," said Patriots Coach Bill Scudder of the revenge factor involved. "We haven't said much about it but I know it has been in the back of our minds." Although the Patriots waited patiently to get another crack at the Yellow Jackets; they wasted no time at all putting the game as they ambushed starter Kyle Slayton for 10 first-inning runs.

Slayton retired only one batter before being yanked in favor of Bobby Curtis. Meanwhile, Patriot starter Martin Babb retired the last 13 Yellow Jackets in order. Babb finished the five-inning game by allowing just two hits, striking out eight and issuing no walks. In the first, the Patriots sent 15 batters to the plate, eight of which -got'a base hit. Shannon Baker led" off trie first- inning parade with a double down the left-field line.

Wade Sparks reached on a bad-hop single. Babb shot a ground ball by shortstop Kerry White to drive in Baker from second. A Jack Kindle base hit loaded the bases. Sparks trotted home from third when Giovanni Scarano drew a base on balls. Babb scored on Kevin ground ball.

White threw wide of home. Catcher Jesse Jackson dropped the ball upon applying the tag on Babb. Mineola recorded its first out of the inning when Shannon Osborne grounded to third baseman David Sinches, who stepped on the bag to retire Scarano. Sinches overthrew home in an effort to get Kindle com. ing home.

Trevor Upchurch's bloop single reloaded the bases for P.G. Morrison, who bounced a single past second baseman Rodney Glower to bring in Mowery and Osborne. Baker picked up his second hit of the inning by slapping a single to right to score Upchurch and Morrison. Sparks also got his second hit of the inning, lacing a single to left. Please see Patriots, Pg.

2B READY AND WAITING: Prairiland first baseman Shannon Osborne anticipates action during the Patriots Tuesday afternoon game against Mineola. Photo by Dec Edwards The Patriots won 13-1 to take a two-game lead in District 13-3A. Rangers bounce back to beat Brewers By The Associated Press ARLINGTON The Texas Rangers have nicknamed Cecil Espy "Straw." He showed why he's the straw that stirs the Rangers' offensive drink Tuesday night with three singles, a triple, three stolen bases and three runs scored in a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. "It was the best game I've had as a big-leaguer," Espy said. "I've never had four hits before." night frustrated losing pitcher Don August, who exchanged words with Espy after a fifth-inning triple.

"He threw me a purpose pitch knocking me down just before the triple," Espy said. "I think he was trying to give me something to think about. I don't think he was trying to hit me. Then I got the triple off him and I said something. It was no big deal." Espy got a standing ovation from the crowd of 21,528 fans after he grounded out in the eighth.

"That made me feel good," he said. August said Espy, who has 10 steals, is almost unstoppable on the bases. "He is a good baserunner and I was too slow to the plate," August said. "He had a great night. When guys like Espy get on base, it takes away from your concentration." Milwaukee manager Tom Tre- blehorn said, "Espy does a nice job leading off.

We have to contain him. He ran quicker than we can get the ball there." Each time Espy scored he was driven home by Rafael Palmeiro. Meanwhile, Bobby Witt, 2-0, pitched a four-hitter. August, 1-3, was touched for 10 hits in six innings as the Rangers, baseball's hottest team this season, boosted their record to 11-2 and snapped Milwaukee's four-game winning streak. Texas took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Espy led off with a single, stole second and third and scored on Palmeiro's single.

Milwaukee tied it on Paul Molitor's second home run of the season in the third. But Espy triggered a two-run outburst in the bottom of the third. Again he led off with a single and stole second. After Scott Fletcher walked, Palmeiro scored Espy with a single. Fletcher took third and scored on Ruben Sierra's sacrifice fly- Espy scored again in a three-run fifth inning after leading off with a triple.

Fletcher walked and Espy scored on Palmeiro's grounder to first, beating Terry Francona's throw to the plate. Fletcher scored when Francona let Sierra's grounder go into right field for an error. Palmeiro took third and scored on Julio Franco's sacrifice fly for a 6-1 lead. J. Surhoff hit his first homer in the eighth for the Brewers' final run.

Yankees 2, Blue Jays 0 The New York Yankees saved a couple of raves for a couple of Daves. The Yankees had gone the final 83 games of last season and the first 12 this year without pitching a shutout. But Dave LaPoint and Dave Righetti combined on a seven- hitter as the Yankees continued their domination of the Blue Jays in Toronto with a victory. "It seemed like every time they hit the ball we were standing in front of it. I think, more than anything, that took the wind out of their sails tonight," said LaPoint, who scattered five hits in 6 2-3 innings and won for the first time since signing a three-year contract as a free agent last winter.

The Yankees won for the fourth Please see Baseball, Pg. 3B Dragons fall twice to Richland College From Staff Reports DALLAS Paris Junior College dropped both ends of a double-header Tuesday in non- conference action with Richland College. The Dragons lost the first game 4-3 and the second 7-0. Mike York, in relief of starter David DePriest, was the losing pitcher in the first game. He entered the game in the fifth inning and gave up three runs on four hits while striking out two and wlking none.

DePriest pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits with one walk and two strike outs. Mike Robinson was the only bright spot for the Dragons as ournon nit nislirst homer in Please see Baseball, Pg.3B Schramm leaves Cowboys; Jones gets DCOWbOV GM leaVeS 08 PWaEagles will play the fourth American 29 years. Rozelle and Schramm first met i he went 2-4 at the plate. Beau Tindall was the losing pitcher in the second game. He gave up all seven runs on five hits while walking four and striking out two.

Only two of the runs were earned runs. Rodney Bryan relieved Tindall in the fourth inning and gave up one hit the last three in- ings of the game. He gave up no runs or walks and struck out four. PJC is now 11-25 on the season with a 4-8 conference record. The Dragons will be in action Wednesday when they face Panola in a double-header at Hub Hollis Field.

Game time is set for 2 p.m. DCowboyGM Dallas the same day the NFL accepts Jones By The Associated Press tee that includes Bill Walsh, who recently stepped down as coach of the San Francisco will be phia Eagles will play the fourth American Bowl at London's Wembley Stadium and its own feet. It will not be a developmental league and it will not be a minor league. It will have the best players we can have, within financial limitations. The main thing is it must be sound financially." Schramm's main job will be to answer what Rozelle described as "hundreds of te about in YORK The man who built America's Team is now going to build Europe's League.

Tex Schramm, the only president the Dallas Cowboys have ever had, made it official Tuesday he's leaving'the Cow- uestions about the new league of 10-12 boys to take over as president of experi- split between Europe and North mental International Football League, an offshoot of the NFL that both Schramm and NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle insist will be independent. The announcement came the same day NFL owners approved without a dissenting teams America. They include stadium availability, television, conflict with other European sports, obtaining players and the other problems vote the sale of the Cowboys for $146 million to Jerry Jones, the Arkansas oil mil- lionairewhoseinsistenceonbeingahands- af- players. 18 a era an a Sch said "Wewant to on owner socks to jocks" -made tb across wa Schramm dispensable. and make it into an international sport." i he NFL has been across the water quite wm Sch "Wrf 11 a bit in the past half-decade this sum- the NFL and help from a six-man commit- mer the Cleveland Browns and Philadel- Moreover, NFL games will be telecast live next season for the first time in England, which in the past has been content to show edited one-hour versions, usually from two days to a week late.

Only the Super Bowl has been televised live overseas, the last one to 58 countries. Tuesday was an emotional day for the 68-year-old Schramm, whose role with the Cowboys has been sharply reduced since Jones bought the team for $146 million in February. The 45-year-old Jones immediately made it clear that he's a hands-on owner, hiring Jimmy Johnson as coach in place of Tom Landry, who had been the Cowboys' only coach. It followed an emotional year for Schramm, one in which the Cowboys fell to a 3-13 record, worst since the expansion years; Landry was fired by Jones; and Schramm's "closest friend in football," Rozelle, announced he was retiring after 29 years. Rozelle and Schramm first met in 1947, when Schramm was public relations man for the Los Angeles Rams and Rozelle was a student at Compton Junior College helping with football programs.

Jones reiterated that he will be active in running all areas of the Cowboys even though history has taught old-line teams, in which the owner ran the football operation, that the game has become too complex not to be turned over to experts. "Someone's got to turn off the lights in the building at night," he said. "If I do that, am I taking someone's job or saving money?" Schramm, meanwhile, will begin looking into how to run the international league, aided by a committee of one representative from each of the six divisions Lamar Hunt of Kansas City, Dan Rooney of Pittsburgh and Victor Kiam of New England from the AFC, and Norman Braman of Philadelphia, Mike Lynn of Minnesota and Walsh from the NFC. Schramm, however, stressed it will not necessarily be a developmental or "farm" league, although NFL teams will be free to fit. send players to the IFL and free to take unsigned players from it.

"My first job is to go over and see how the people feel," he said. "This league is going to stand on its own feet. Well have the best players we can get within the financial structure." Schramm, who spent five years at CBS between 10 years with the Rams and his 29 years with the Cowboys, will also work on television contracts, both within the United States and Europe. NBC and ABC are both reportedly interested. The loss of baseball leaves them with a void in sports programming for spring and early summer, when the IFL expects to play.

Schramm said he expects the league will start with 10 or 12 teams and play perhaps 12 games per season. He mentioned no specific sites for teams although he said cities like Memphis, Jacksonville and Baltimore, which are bidding for NFL expansion franchises, were possible candidates. Overseas, he cited Italy as the country with the best organized existing American football structure, along with England, West Germany and Scandinavia..