St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 40

20 Sports SILCU13 POST-OISFATCH Mar. 30, 1984 mm II mm uo mmm Near loud "A if'-'' 7) By Arnold Irish Of Btt Fost-Ottpalc Staff PITTSBURGH Better times may be just around the corner for Ricky Davis. He's trying to put his game back together as the Steamers close in oa a Major Indoor Soccer League playoff berth and the Western Division championship, in that order, against the Pittsburgh Spirit in a 7:05 game tonight at Civic Arena. The Steamers (22-18). who lead the Western Division, have magic numbers of five (to make the playoffs) and seven (to win the title).

The Spirit (27-1 3), a strong third in the East, already has qualified for the playoffs. It may seem odd to think of Davis, the Steamers' scoring leader with 32 goals and 13 assists in 36 games, as being in a slump. Steamers Coach Dave Clements certainly doesn't regard it as that especially in view of the fact that for three games and part of a fourth, the world's foremost American-born soccer player was on the shelf with a bruised back. But nobody is more demanding of Davis than he is of himself, and he views it as a slump. What Is more, he admits the pressure of breaking out of it weighs heavy on his shoulders.

Yeah, it he conceded. "It's been frustrating. It makes me want to knuckle down. Fortunately, the team is winning. That's the important thing.

Giorgio Chinaglia (who was Davis' teammate with the Cosmos) was a player who used to let things like that bother him. If be didnt score in a game, or a series of games, you couldnt talk with him whether you were his wife or anybody else. "I've never thought of myself as a purebred scorer, though. I'm not someone like Chinaglia or (St. Louisan) Steve Moyers, who could make a goal out of nothing.

Not someone with a knack for sticking the ball in the goal." A great many MISL defenders and goalkeepers would disagree with Davis' modest opinion of his skills. MISL, he can and will play much better in the days and years to come. "We've still seen maybe only 20 to 30 percent of the best that Ricky Davis can be." the coach said. 'And tnay be the Steamers' own fault I think we haven! served him best" Clements believes that the team's system may have wasted some of Davis' skills, and the coach has been scheming to correct that problem by installing some variations that will give Davis situations to which he is best suited. "We may just be starting to see it now, because I'm beginning to play where I'm most comfortable." Davis said.

"I'm playing forward, attacking low, but drifting as I read. Before I was either straight up front with a Bernie James on my back Don Ebert can take that kind of punishment, but I'm not that durable or playing a midfield role with two pure forwards and undertaking the significant defensive responsibility of being first back when the play broke down." Cements announced that forward Don Ebert and midfielder Larry Hulcer have fully recovered from a jammed foot and knee surgery, respectively, and will return to the lineup against Pittsburgh. "It's the first time all season I've had an opportunity to pick a team from among healthy players," Clements said. Midfielder Daryl Doran has scored in the Steamers' last four games, getting six goals in that span. Pittsburgh has a three-pronged scoring attack.

Jan Sybis leads the way with 30 goals and 26 assists for 56 points. He is complemented by Zeee Kapka (22-32 54) and Paul Child (33-20 53). The Steamers' Slobo Ilijevski (20-12), whose 3.34 goals-against average is the league's best, will be opposed by either Peter Mowlik (14-5, 3.95) or Joe Papaleo Sports Time Cable To Carry Steamers The Steamers are one of five Major Indoor Soccer League teams whose games will be televised by Sports Time Cable Network when it premieres April 3. The Kansas City Comets, Wichita Wings, Cleveland Force and Memphis Americans are the other teams that will be featured. Sports Time plans to offer several regular-season and playoff games this season.

For the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons, the network will telecast a Friday night "Game of the Week" in addition to selected games on Sundays. tven his misses have that world-class look. He hit a post last Saturday in Wichita with a shot that looked so true Davis threw his arms up to signify a goal. "I thought it was in," he said. He almost took the crossbar off with a sizzler last Sunday in Kansas City.

Later that day. he narrowly missed with a death-defying bicycle kick on which he was undercut by two Comets players at the peak of his leap. "It was my first bicycle in five years, and I landed on my head I've got a lump to show for it," he said. Davis forte may be the broad scope of functions he performs. "The skills of (the Baltimore Blast's Stan) Stamenkovic are easily defined, but mine aren't," Davis said.

"I'm not the best ballhandler on our team or the fastest runner or the strongest shot But I try to make myself as proficient as possible in all departments." Davis demonstrated how effectively be can package those skills when just before midseason he scored 10 goals (including three hat tricks) in four games and 22 goals In 1 3 games. It remains Cements' contention that, while Davis has made a smooth adjustment from outdoor soccer to the un Eldorado's Karen Van Meter can't stop Susan girls Class A high school basketball Rees of Bradford from grabbing a rebound in tournament in Champaign. Rees effort was not Thursday's first quarterfinal game of the enough, however, as Bradford lost, 73-43. Idot'ade Pounds Kurtek and the rest of the Lad Eaeles Thorpe Leads TPC With A 68 Golf He played in winds that were in the 10-20 mph range, with higher gusts. And they were tricky, shifting winds.

But the conditions were mild compared with the gale-force blasts that rocked and buffeted the morning players. Morning winds were clocked In excess of 45 mph and actually knocked players off-balance as they attempted to make a swing. "I've been out here (on the PGA Tour) for 14 years and I can't recall playing In conditions quite that windy," said former PGA champion John Mahaffey, who worked In the worst of the weather. "On the 18th, in the fairway, the wind knocked me off-balance on mv backswing and I had to back away Compiled From Newt Services PONTE VEDRA, Fla. Jim Thorpe evaded the assorted perils of the wind-whipped Players Club golf course without a bogey Thursday and finished with a four-under-par 68 and the first-round lead In the $800,000 Tournament Players Championship.

Thorpe, who played In the afternoon half of the field, was quick to point out, however, that he got a big break in the weather. "The afternoon players definitely had a couple of strokes advantage," said Thorpe, who Is In his sixth season on the PGA Tour. were able to get the ball inside almost at will against the shorter Panthers. "We were a bit outmatched as far as height," Bradford Coach Ellie Banning conceded. "It seemed like they got inside no matter what we tried." The Panthers (22-5) have gotten by on quickness and a pressing defense all season, Hanning said.

But in Eldorado, they were up against a team that was not only tall but surprisingly quick. They bandied the ball better than what we thought they would," Hanning said. When not working the ball inside in their half-court offense, the Lady Eagles were beating the Panthers down the court for fast-break layups, which was just fine with Kmucha. "We have tried to work on the transition game all year long," she said. Considering all the easy shots, Eldorado's field-goal percentage of .588 (30 for 51 was not too surprising.

The Lady Eagles also enjoyed a 42-22 rebounding advantage. Kathy Etienne (22 points, six rebounds) and Karen VanMeter (12 points, 11 rebounds) helped VanHooser inside. Eldorado Jumped to an 8-2 lead and was up, 27-14, at the half. The Lady Eagles led by as many as 34 points in the second half. Teutopolis 53 Chats worth 41 How 'bout them Shoes? The Lady Shoes from Teutopolis gave Chatsworth the boot In Thursdav'i second quarterfinal contest at the University of Illinois.

The unbeaten Lady Shoes (27-0) raced to an 11-2 lead In the first quarter and never looked back against the Bluebirds (27-3). "I think that was really the difference in tie game," Chatsworth Coach Don Gibb said of the Shoes' quick start "We had to expend a great deal of energy trying to get back Into the ballgame. We just kept having to fight uphill all day." The Bluebirds pulled to a one-point deficit, 13-12, on a baseline jumper by Sarah Weber early in the second untouchable status probably is due more to his physical uncertainty. "We'll listen to every proposal that's made," said McDonald. "We have to keep an open mind.

"You probably wouldn't believe the name of one of our players that hopped into a trade discussion yesterday." McDonald, of course, wouldn't say, but the rumor circulating in the Cardinals' camp was that even prized prospect Andy Van Slyke, who had a poor spring, had been mentioned in trade discussions. Center fielder Willie McGee sat out Thursday's game and will sit out today's at Winter Haven with a strain In his left wrist McGee originally suffered the injury about 10 days ago and he aggravated It while sliding Wednesday. He Is not expected to miss the opening game. Third baseman Ken Oberkfell also sat out with a hamstring injury, although he pinch hit REDBIRD NOTES: "Gussie Busch Day" will be celebrated April 15 at Busch Stadium in honor of the Cardinal owner's 85th birthday. An eight-foot birthday card signed by Cardinal fans will be presented to him at the game.

The card will be available for signing Monday through III. Class A Girls By Jim Thomas Of tha Post-Dispatch Staff CHAMPAIGN, 111. One can only wonder what Sue VanHooser of Eldorado High would be like on two legs. VanHooser suffered a knee Injury In Monday's supersectional victory over Mater Del. "She had quite a bit of swelling on the backside of the knee," Eldorado Coach Wendy Kmucha said.

But that didn't stop the 6-foot senior from scoring 28 points and grabbing II rebounds for Eldorado on Thursday, leading the Lady Eagles to a 73-43 romp over the Bradford Panthers. 1 The quarterfinal victory at Assembly Hall moves the Lady Eagles (25-5) into the semifinals of the Illinois Class A girls basketball championship. Eldorado is scheduled to play Teutopolis at 9 a.m. today. "No problem," VanHooser said when asked about her gimpy right knee.

"It's happened the last four years." VanHooser's wounded knee has been around long enough to give Just about every basketball fan in Eldorado a chance to offer her a rehabilitation program. VanHooser first suffered a knee Injury as an eighth grader and underwent knee surgery the summer before her freshman year in high school. The knee has bothered VanHooser periodically since then, but hasn't prevented her from becoming the school's career scoring leader. A starter for the last three seasons, VanHooser has 1,374 career points after Thursday's contest. She Is averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds a game this season.

"We played real good," VanHooser said. "Sheri Kurtek, our point guard, had the best passing game she's had all season. She was just putting the passes on the money." Kurtek scored only two points but handed out eight assists, helping Eldorado tie the Class A tournament record for most assists in a game by one team, 21. For much of the game, Cards From page one how the righthander feels Saturday. "Every time he's pitched, he's had soreness two days later," said Herzog.

Dave LaPoint, one of the candidates to start the season opener Tuesday at Los Angeles, pitched seven Innings and gave up just four hits and two runs. George Hendrick hit his second in two days for the Cardinals, who scored the winning run In the ninth on a bases-loaded walk to Art Howe. But the bad news was that first baseman David Green suffered a jammed right shoulder when he was diving back into first base on a pickoff play and may miss Tuesday's game. Herzog said London told him Green could be out three to five days. If Green were unable to nlav in the opener, Howe would play first base against Fernando Valenzuela.

Herzo2 said. A Representatives of reliever Rnir Sutter and the Cardinals have resumed negotiations for a long-term contract that would take effect after this season, when his current contract expires, one of Sutter's agents, Jim Bronner, had said before spring training that if a new contract agreement hadn't been reached by the start of the season, he and Sutter didn't care to negotiate during the season and Sutter would become a free agent at the end of the year. General Manager Joe McDonald, said, "We'll see what happens in the next few days." McDonald and Manager Whitey Herzog both said they had not been trying to trade Sutter, contrary to some reports. "We're trying to win," said Herzog. "We need him." McDonald said, though, that the Cardinals would listen to offers involving any of their players "except Ozzie Smith and Tommy Herr." Heir's Umirmi quarter.

But two baskets by Cheryl Westendorf and four baskets by Doris Carie helped Teutopolis pull ahead, 27-19, at halftlme. Westendorf hit the first two baskets of the second half and the Bluebirds never got closer than eight points the rest of the game. Carie and Angle Deters both scored 1 points and Westendorf added 1 4 for Teutopolis. Notre Dame 69, LeMont 50 Quincy Notre Dame, the defendine Class A champion, will make its fourth straight appearance in the final four. The Lady Raiders will take on Bushnell-Prairie City in a semifinal game set for 10:30 a.m.

today. We've got our trophy, it just depends now on what size trophy we want," Qulncy Coach Jim Shields said. The Lady Raiders (28-2) came out strong, scoring 23 of the game's first 29 points. Lori Vogel, a 5-6 guard, led the charge with 11 first-quarter points. Notre Dame kept the points coming In the second quarter, racing toa43-17halftlmelead.

Vogel, with 20 points, led a balanced attack that also featured Susan Wellman (19), Becky Winking (10) and Jane Duesterhaus (10). Carolyn Paxson (18) was the only player to score In double figures for LeMont's Injuns (27-3). Bushnell38, Atkinson 34 In the only tight contest of Thursday's nimrterflnnU Rushnpll. Prairie City caught the Tlgerettes, thanks to the torrid second-half shooting of Ellen McGrew. McGrew, a 5-8 guard, scored 20 of her team's 25 points in the second half.

She finished with a game-high 28 points for the Lady Spartans (28-1). "I think we did the job the first half, but the second half she got away from us," Atkinson Coach Mick Shinkevich said of McGrew. Val Wancket, a 6-foot freshman, paced the Tlgerettes with 16 points. Atkinson (24-3) was the sernnrt member of the Indian Valley onierence 10 rail in quarterfinal play i nunway. uraaiora was the other.

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