New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung from New Braunfels, Texas • Page 5

Friday, June 9,1995 Herald-Zeitung 5 Sports Day To talk with Sports Editor Thomas Godley about Sports Day, call 625-9144. ext. 24. Herald-Zeitu Sports Day The Press The Day's Quote "Maybe. Maybe I did.

I'm not afraid to say it. I'm thinking 'I gotta make And maybe I tensed up." Orlando guard Nick Anderson when asked If he choked while missing four straight free throws in trie final seconds of Game 1 against the Houston Rockets. In the news Water park world bodyboarding championship moves to August Schlitterbahn Waterpark's annual Continental Airline's Flow Rider World Bodyboarding Championships have been 'rescheduled for August. Originally set for June 8-9, competition will now be held on Saturday, August 26 and Sunday August 27. Pilot Point advances at state AUSTIN (AP) It took the first no-hitter in Class'EA state high school baseball tournament ever for Pilot Point to advance to today's state championship match.

Russ Horton allowed just three baserun- ners, all-on errors, as the Bearcats (26-4) eked out a 1-0 victory over Grand Saline (216) on Thursday. Grand Saline's Justin Harvath, losing for the first time of the season, allowed only two hits himself. But Pilot Point made a first-inning an error, a single and a ground out stand up for the victory. In the other 2A game, East Bernard whipped Coahoma 10-3. In Class D'Hanis edged Maud 7-5 and Corsicana Mildred defeated Loraine 14-1.

In Class 3A, Hallettsville blanked Graham 11-0 and Luling whipped Gilmer 8-2. Coppell defeated Nederland 9-4 and Lamesa slipped past Corpus Christi 1-0. In the Class 5A semifinals, Sugar Land Elkins whipped Corpus Christi Mpody 11-6. Football passing camp begins in June at New Braunfels HS The Hill Country Football Passing Camp is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon June 12-15 at New Braunfels High School Football Field.

Incoming 6-9 graders (1995-96) are invited to attend. The fee is $60 for early registration until June 5th and $70 on the day of registration, Register by return mail or at the NBHS; Field House between 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m, Monday, June 12. The ciamp will emphasize fundamentals of throwing and catching the camper will have the opportunity to participate in numerous individual drills as well as team-oriented drills. Team competition and "special" passing games will be conducted.

The camp also will benefit running backs and defensive backs. For more information, call Scott Forestor at 625-5713 or 609-1355. SVHS golf tournament to benefit senior scholarship program The Smithson Valley High School Booster Club Golf Scramble has been rescheduled for Saturday, June -17 at the Rebecca Creek Golf Club in Spring Branch. The tournament, originally scheduled for April 22 was reset because of conflicts with spring sports activities. Proceeds from the tournament will go to suppcrt the SVHS athletic program and college scholarships awarded each year by the Booster Club to senior student ath- letes.

Four-member team will begin with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Prizes for low team scores, longest drive and closest to the pin will be awarded. A hole-in-one contest will offer a $5,000 cash prize. The $45 individual entry fee includes greens fee, cart and a barbecue lunch. To enter, golfers can mail a $45 check with name, home address and phone number to: SVHS Booster Club, 2218 Estate Gate, San Antonio, Texas 78260.

Include current handicap and home course. For more information, call SVHS Athletic Office at 885-2376. Youth soccer referees needed The Youth Soccer League is offering classes during the first two weekends in July. Certified referees can earn up $100 per day officiating high school and club soccer. The classes are scheduled for 8 a.m.

to noon July and 1 to 5 p.m. July 2 and noon to 5 p.m. July 9. For more information, call 6061727. Wimbledon on the Horizon Newcombe Tennis Academy sends top-ranked junior to All England Club By THOMAS GODLEY Sports Editor Final exams and high school graduation arc history.

Now Damien Roberts is ready to be tested on the grass courts at Wimbledon Juniors in England. The 17-year-old South African who trains at John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels boarded a jet for London today. In two weeks, he plans to take on some of the best junior tennis players on planet. Roberts is ranked No. 115 in the world in the under-18 division by the International Tennis Federation.

With a solid performance in England, he could boost his ratings and possibly break the top 100. By 1996 he hopes to be a firmly entrenched in the top 80. "That's my goal," said Roberts, sporting a British accent that should blend right in at tea time. "With some success this summer, it is definitely within reach." Coaches and trainers at Newcombe Tennis say Roberts has the skills to someday be playing on the pro circuit. His backhand is already a powerful weapon.

Developing his serve and baseline game is the next step. From there it's a matter of mental focus and desire. "Once you are in the top 50, there really isn't that much difference between players' physical skills," Roberts said. "It's mainly mental after that." During the next weeks in London, Roberts must qualify in two grass court tournaments before making the main draw at the All England Club. That in itself will be a hefty task, considering only 64 players qualify for the prestigious event.

"It's tough because there is no qualifying for that," Roberts said. "You are either straight in or not in at all. If I can do well in the two tournaments, then hopefully I'll make the draw." Suffice to say, the high-caliber field makes advancing past the second round an even greater challenge. "The best players in the world arc there, so you've got to be on top of your game early," he added. Traveling the world to compete in tennis tournaments is just part of life for Roberts.

Since age 14, the game has taken him to cities in Japan, England and France. He reached the doubles finals of the Orange Bowl Tournament in Florida last December with partner Louis Vosloo. It was a highlight in his young career. Only the top junior players in the nation competed in the tournament. "South Africans have always been known as good doubles players," Roberts said.

"Doubles helps my singles game as well. It's like a bonus." Since arriving at Newcombe Tennis Ranch nine months ago, Roberts also has won (he Houston Senior Tournament, the Louisiana Senior Open and the Dallas Championships' for under 18 players. More impressive are his titles in his homeland. The honors include capturing the South African Nationals at age 14. That same year he played in Paris at the World Championships.

Two years later he won the South African Masters Tournament, competing against the top 12 players in the country. He prefers the hardcourts but appreciates clay surfaces because it improves his power game and develops patience and finesse. It also does plenty for focus, and players at this level understand the importance of mental toughness. "Staying positive is important," he said. "At this point I know what I have to do.

It's just a matter of working hard and talking to myself on the courts and getting away from the tendency to be negative. A lot of it is mental now." The mental fortitude of players such as Ivan Lendl, and more recently Jim Courier, have always inspired Roberts' play. When he arrives in England he hopes to take a bit of that resilience with him. If all goes well, it may payoff in the form of Herald-Zeitung photos by MICHAEL DARNALL A sizzling backhand is the prime weapon in Damien Roberts tennis arsenal. The 17- year-old South American who trains at Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels is set compete in the Wimbledon Juniors Tournament.

He leaves today for England. better accommodations. Roberts will be staying at the YMCA near Wimbledon for a week and a half while training with lennis pro Warren Jacques. Making the main draw means Roberts would be put up at the London Hilton. "A bit nicer than the he joked.

At Wimbledon, the grass courts will require more serving and volleying. Roberts expects to utilize plenty of both. While there he 'II have the opportunity to watch the big boys such as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Boris.Bccker. Even better, he will meet people from all over the world. "That's the great thing about tennis," he said.

"Being here at Newk's and getting to travel, you meet so many different and inter- esting people from all over the world. You learn a lot from it." The Newcombe staff has done much to give personal attention to his game. Phil Hendrie, head tennis pro at Newcombe, has contributed significantly to Roberts' game. John Newcombe, Clarence Mabry and Owen Davidson also have honed specific skills. Upon returning from England, Roberts plans to settle in Austin where he has received a tennis scholarship from the University of Texas.

In the meantime, he will train with former 1985 Wimbledon finalist Kevin Curren. From there the game no doubt will take him as far as he wants to go. Rockets edge leaves Magic coach wary in Game 2 By BOB BAUM AP Sports Writer ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The Orlando Magic have had this feeling before, this ugly, persistent gnawing that follows a loss that should have been a win. Coach Brian Hill can only hope the response is the same as it was last week, when his team was stunned 94-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals in Indianapolis.

Based on that painful experience, the Magic don't think they'll be suffering from any emotional hangover tonight when Orlando and Houston meet in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. "I don't know of any game in my two years here that was tougher to come back from than Game 4 against Indiana," Hill said Thursday, "and this team came right back and responded with some of its best basketball of the year. So I have no doubt in my mind that we'll play well tomorrow night." They'd better, or they face the prospect of going to Houston down 2-0 in the bcst-of-7 series, with the next three games scheduled for the Summit. "There will be a lot of pressure on us," Orlando's Anfernee Hardaway said. "It would be devastating if they come in and win tomorrow's game." Houston's remarkable 120-118 overtime victory Wednesday night was the chief subject of dissection after Orlando's practice Thursday.

Players and coaches said they'd never experienced anything quite like it, with the abrupt and extensive momentum changes, the four missed free throws by Nick Anderson in the final 10.5 seconds of regulation and the phenomenal 3-point shooting by Houston's Kenny Smith and Robert Horry. The Magic believe their defensive breakdowns led to too many open shots for the Rockets gunners. Orlando wanted to double- team Hakeem Olajuwon on virtually every possession. But they were so eager that sometimes they'd inadvertently triple-team him. "There were too many cases when we had three people down there and they had two or three people open on the wing," Hardaway said.

The biggest mob of reporters at Thursday's interview session surrounded Anderson, who had to talk over and over about how a player NBA Finals glance Orlando vs. Houston Wednesday, June 7 Houston 120, Orlando 118, OT, Houston leads series 1-0 Friday, June 9 Houston at Orlando, 9 p.m. Sunday, June 11 at Houston, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 Orlando at Houston, 9 p.m. Friday, June 16 Orlando at Houston, 9 p.m., If necessary Sunday, June 18 Houston at Orlando, 7:30 p.m., if necessary Wednesday, June 21 Houston at Orlando, 9 p.m., if necessary who made 75 percent of his free throws could miss four in such a crucial situation.

All-Star cast Submitted photo The New Braunfels National Little League 10-year-old All-Stars were named this week. The team recently began practicing for the District 31 All-Star Tournament to be played in Seguin starting June 19. The players are (front, left to right) Ryan Hopkins (Orioles), Luis Castilleja (Royals), Tyler Matthews (Angels), Kevin Kelly (Rangers), Kyle Cameron (Rangers), Jeremiah Kester (Pirates), (back row) Austin Powell (Athletics), Jason Miori (Pirates), Ross Matt (Rangers), Jose Bustos (Angels), Frank Valadez (Braves), David Whitby (Athletics). basketball brawl gets lawyer eye witness By JEAN PAGEL Associated Press Writer LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) It isn't too often that a district attorney sits courtside literally at the scene of an alleged crime. Bill Sowdcr was four rows up from ihe Texas bench at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum when a brawl broke out Feb.

5, 1994, between Aggie basketball players and Texas Tech fans. "1 kind of saw everything that led up to it," the district attorney said. So Sowder has asked the slate attorney general's office to take over the prosecution of an player accused of slugging a Red Raider fan in the mouth. Lubbock County last year charged forward Joe Wilbert, 22, with Class A misdemeanor assault. Wilbert's trial date was postponed this week; no new date has been set.

The brawl capped a tense game thai Texas won 89-88 in the final seconds. Widely played TV footage shows a jumble of punches and pushes between the exiling Aggies and angry Tech fans. "It was just a vast confusion and melee, to tell you the truth," said Wilbert defense attorney Travis Shellon of Lubbock. A police report said fan Scott Patterson got hit in the mouth as he tried breaking up a scuffle between coach Tony Barone and a Tech student. Patterson suffered swollen lips and cut gums, the report said.

The 6-6, 215-pound Wilbert later showed his skinned knuckles to sponswriters and gave this explanation: 'They went for coach and Tony (Barone) and I stepped up for them because we're family." Sowder wasn't district attorney at the time. He is, however, an graduate whose diploma hangs in his courthouse office. "I think the main thing is to avoid the appearance of impropriety," Sowder said. "Let somebody who wasn't there and didn't go to or Tech bundle it.".