The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 65

Section Scoreboard 3 Baby Contest 4 Football Contest 8 Steeler Numbers 9 Great Outdoors 10 Baseball Averages 12 Sports The Pittsburgh Press Sunday, September 17, 1978 19 Hits 78 High For Bucs y. fWf 4f f1' Htf" By DAN DONOVAN The Pirates plastered the Montreal Expos to the wall, slapping out a season-high 19 hits en route to a 12-5 win yesterday at Three Rivers. None of the Pirate hits were homers, as they put men on base every inning, failing to score in only the fifth and eighth innings. Frank Taveras cracked out four hits, while Dave Parker drove in four runs with three doubles. Willie Stargell and Dale Berra both singled three times.

The Pirates have won their last five games after a five-game losing streak, and now have won 18 in a row at Three Rivers. They are 48-25 at home this season, ype' Hfc t- vJ-iWl -V 4f Tit fj i '4 'Vvj? 'Ml 1 i WW )OL It 5 7 'liimuiiniiWW Larry Sims slips through hole anthers irw ''A V' ws r'V' Tulane, 24-6 QUITE UPSET os well as his team was Rod Ger- lost both the ball and his shoe while being crunch-aid, Ohio State quarterback-wide receiver, when he ed by Penn State defenders on this play Gambles On Frosh, Lions Have Feast, Pirate Box MONTREAL OTTSMJRGM Cash 2b Oewson cf Valentin rf Perei lb Cromart If Carter Reeceph Parrlsh 3b Speier ss Grtmslvp Behnsenp Umerph Millerp Atktnsonp Mutton on James Papiph Montreal aornn asruH I I Tmrasss 4 0 10 Moreno cf 4 110 Parker rf 4 112 BRobmn If 4 111 SlargeH ID 3 0 0 0 Garner 2b 11)0 BerrtJs 4 0 1 1 Otte 4 1 1 OWujcmnp 5 3 4 0 3 2 1) iUi 5 0 3 2 4 0)1 5 1 30 4 2 2 0 3 111 10 0 9 0 0 0 0 1000 0 0 0 0'. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 14 8 Totals 38 tt 19 9 000 000 713-S 111 103 401-11 Pintburptt Soeler, Bahmen, Perei. Miller. L06 -Montreal 4, PrtMwrgh 9.

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Bati-Grimskev. W.S4. -079. although last year's 58-23 record is out of reach. "I don't know why we play that much better at home," said Parker, who raised his career-high total of rus batted in to 104.

"Unless it is the comfortable surroundings. The giyt are surrounded by their family and kids, if they have them." The Pirate offensive display was aided by four errors, two wild pitches, a balk and several mental errors by the Expos. But it was still an offensive display, in part aided by artificial turf. I think the turf helps any team with a good offense," Parker said. "Especially one with speed like we have." The Pirates also had good pitching, as rookie Don Robinson held the Expos to five hits until he tired in the ninth.

Robinson gave up a two-run home run to Tony Perez-the fourth home run Perez has hit off Robinson this season -and a home run to Warren Cromartie in the ninth inning. He held a 12-3 lead going into the ninth, but when he surrendered three hits and two runs, Pirate Manager Chuck Tanner brought in Ed Whitson to finish the game. Eves though Robinson has given up a team-high 18 home runs this season, the win opped his record to 13-6, the top winning percentage on the team. After a first-inning single by Andre Dawson, Robinson retired 16 straight batters. Taveras, who has been waging a seesaw battle with Parker for the team hits lead all season, stroked four for the third time this season.

Taveras stole a base and one of his hits was a triDle. Parker raised his league-leading average to .321 and is also challenging for the league RBI total. He also made a leaping catch of a Valentine drive at the wall in the eighth inning. The only negative thing about the day was the crowd, which included only 8,079 paid customers. "It can't be the crowd that helps us win at home," Parker said.

"They never ever seem to be big. I thought I was having a pretty good game until the ninth. Then someone threw an apple at my head." The win kept the Pirates alive in their chase of the Philadelphia Phillies and their stretch drive had Tanner wondering about the crowds. "Dave Parker should be the MVP, Willie Stargell should win the Comeback-of-the-Year without a vote, Kent Tekulve should be the Reliever of the Year, if not the Cy Young winner, Don Robinson is the top rookie, Frank Taveras is an All-Star shortstop and Omar Moreno will win the stolen base title," he said. "If that doesn't give people something to see, I don't know what does." The only thing wrong with the Pirates' home is it isn't crowded enough.

PIRATE NOTES -Bert Blyleven (13-9) faces Rudy May (7-9) today Ross Grimsley, seeking a Montreal-record 19th win, was chased in the third inning The Pirates have won 28 of their last 36 games. Readers: If your sports section today fails to contain many of the late results, it's the result of mechanical difficulties. on way to 35-yard touchdown. team's long placement kicker, this time, and the res alt was a 23 yarder to toe Pitt 30. Tulane couldn't move the ball, but it was close enough for Ed Murray, who kicked a 49-yard field goal with 104 remaining in the quarter to tie the game.

Following the kickoff, Pitt capitalized on a Tulane mistake to start its first touchdown drive. After evading a strong pass rush, Trocano overthrew Jacobs near mid-field, but Tulane's Mike Sims was called for interferance and the Panthers were in business on the Tulane 48. Trocano ran for four, Jones for seven and Trocano hit Jones for eight as the quarter ended with the ball on the Tulane 41. On the first play of the second quarter, Jacobs ran for six and Sims, on his first carry of the game, bolted through the Tulane defense for a 35-yard touchdown run. Schubert's conversation gave Pitt a 10-3 lead.

Tulane followed with its best drive of the game, moving from its own 30 to the Pitt nine from where Murray kicked a 26 yard field goal. After Pitt failed to move the ball on its next possession, Delaney began to get ready on the sidelines and the next time Pitt got the ball he entered the game. With that began Pitt's finest drive of the night, as it moved 77 yards in 13 plays for the score. Jacobs, on the option from Delanry, ran for gains of 10 and nine yards early in the drive. Jones later picked up 16, and when the ground game stalled, Delaney went to the air.

Ho hit Cliff Moore with a 16-yard pass that moved the ball to the Tulane IS. Next be hit Rooster Jones on a pass to the three, but it was called back because Gordon Jones was offsides. But that didnt stop Delaney. He threw to Ralph Still, who made a fine catch, just barely staying in bounds, on the one-yard line. But Delaney was injured on the play, an ankle sprain, and Trocano replaced him with seven seconds remaining.

Starting to roll out, Trocano was thrown for a two-yard loss. Trocano had the presence of mind to quickly call for a time out with one second remaining. When play resumed, Sims scooted around right end for the touchdown on the last play of the first half as Pitt took a 17-6 lead to the dressing room Early in the third quarter, Tulane moved to the Pitt 31, but Neill's tackle knocked the ball away from Marvin Christian and Jerry Boyarsky recovered for the Panthers. With Trocano running for 28 yards and passing for 10 more Pitt moved to the Tulane 37. From there Trocano led Gordon Jones perfectly in the end zone for a touchdown as Pitt jumped to a 24-6 lead.

PrttSbSH Utlu. Tulane .3 14 .3 3 24 0 6 Pltt-FG Schubert 38. Tul-FG Murrav 4. Pitt Sims 35 run (Schubert kick). Tul FG Murray 26.

Pitt-Sims 4 run (Schubert kick) Pitt Jones 37 pais from Trocano (Schubert kick A-3258. Pitt Tul 17 First downs IS 42-150 Rushes-yards 49-73 174 Passlno yards 67 27 Return yards 13 Hjl0 Passes 8-21-4 Punts 20 Fumbles-lost 3-1 998 Penalties-yards 574 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING PtTT: Jacobs, 11 cames for 51 yards; Slmv 5 for 45 and 2 touchdowns; R. Jones, 8 (or 37. TU-LAN6: Christian, 20 for 8: Browner, 11 for 32. PASSING PfTT: Trocano I completions In 16 attempts for 118 yards and I touchdown; Delaney, 3 for for 56.

TULANE: Hontas 8 for 15 for 67. RECEIVING PITT: G. Jones 3 receptions for 91 yards and 1 touchdown; Sims, 3 for 20. TULANE: Anderson, 5 for 52. Rough WVU, By BOB SMIZIK Press Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS Pitt found a running back it had almost forgotten about but didn't find the quarterback it was looking for last night as it rolled past an outmanned Tulane team, 24-6, in its season opener.

Larry Sims, the man who replaced Tony Dorsett for one game last season came off the bench to run for two first half touchdowns to spark the Panthers' early efforts. But neither starting quarterback Rick Trocano, who did not learn of his assignment until early last night, nor backup Lindsay Delaney, took charge of the quarterbacking situation. Both took turns looking good, bad and indifferent Trocano received the majority of the playing time, but part of that was due to an ankle injury suffered by Delaney late in the first naif, just when it ap- Eared he was on his way to a special id of night. While the offense was sputtering, the Pitt defense was playing, as expected, with excellence, limiting Tulane to two first half field goals. Four second half interceptions, three by Willie Marsh and one by Jeff Delaney, halted any thoughts of a Tulane comeback as the Green Wave's record-setting quarterback Roch Hontas was kept well in check before a crowd of 32,658 at the Superdome.

Setting a record of his own was Pitt's Gordon Jones who broke the Panther's record for yards received in a career when he took a pass from Trocano in the third quarter for 37 yards that gave him a total of 1,628 in four years, surpassing Bob Longo's 1,621. Coaches like to tell their players that they'll play as they practice. The Pitt Panthers would have no trouble believing that after their first quarter. As it was for the three weeks of preseason practice, the Pitt defense was excellent. And as it was for the three weeks of pre-season practice, the Pitt offense was erratic.

The defense that was supposed to carry the Panthers did so in the first Juarter, but an astonishing decision by oach Jackie Sherrill led to excellent Tulane field position and resulted in the quarter ending in a 3-3 tie. On Tulane's first two possessions, its total offense was minus seven yards. Pitt did no better the first time it had the ball, but on its second possession, it moved for two first downs and allowed Mark Schubert to kick a 39-yard field goal. Taking over on their own 48, the Panthers moved for a first down on a 12-yard run by Rooster Jones and for another on runs of seven and nine yards by Freddy Jacobs. But the next three Plays gained only two yards and the anthers had to settle for Schubert's field goal.

Tulane's offense came slightly alive following the Pitt score, but not without an assist from the Panthers. After moving for a first down on the ground, the Green Wave picked up 15 yards on a face mask penalty against tackle Bill Neill which put the ball on the Panther 48. Pitt stiffened there and Tulane's Frank Wills punted to JoJo Heath who called for a fair catch on the five, i When Pitt failed to move the ball, Sherrill sent Dave Trout in to punt for the first time in his college career. On an earlier punt, Sherrill used Joe Gas-parovic ana he kicked the ball 44 yards into the Tulane end zone. Gasparovic kicked 50 of Pitt's 51 punts last year.

Bat Sherrill went to Trout, the 19-i in the closing seconds, they were assured of being shut out for the second time in 14 years. The artificial surface, soaked by a morning rain, seemed to affect Fusina and definitely bothered his receivers, who often slipped while running their routes. Whatever effect the wet field, which dried beneath an emerging sun in the second half, had upon Schlichter was not nearly as significant as the Penn State defense. Perhaps Hayes was gambling on Schlichter's record: The 18-year-ola had never started a losing game in high school. The outcome of the decision was to showcase a freshman with a brilliant passing arm, but overmatched against traditionally one of the finest college defensive units in the nation.

Afterward, the OSU coach admitted (Continued from Page D-4). 52-10 "We're jost not in their class," Cignetti said flatly. "We've played some great teams in the East, and Penn State will be a good team, but it doesn't have the speed Oklahoma has. We won't play anyone as good as Oklahoma nobody will." West Virginia averted a shutout when Hoffman worked a 90-yard drive in 17 plays, throwing short passes and getting solid run production from Fulton Walker and Dane Conwell. The drive paid dividends when Steve Sinclair kicked a 36-yard field goal that made the score 31-3 for the half.

There were a few bright spots for the Mountaineers. Fullback Fulton Walker had a good day, gaining 43 yards on nine carries and returning two kickoffs for 36 yards. He had a 66-yard return, but it was shortened to 10 by a clipping penalty. And it was Walker who scored the. only WVU touchdown, a four-yard maneuver five minutes into the final quarter that made the score 45-10.

WMl Virginia- 0 3 7 10 7- 52 OkMhom 17 14 14 Okl-Slms 41 run (von Sehamann kk). OkK-Rooers 33 run (von Sehamann kick). Okla FG von Sehamann oo. Okla Rooers 76 run (von Sehamann kick). Okla Watts 9 run (von Schaman kick).

WVU-FG Sinclair 36. Okla Rogers 4 run (von Sehamann kick). Okia-Hlcks 11 pass from Watts (von Schaman 5 run (Sinclair kick). Okla-WrioM 7 run (von Sehamann kick). A 71,187.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING WEST VIRGINIA Conwell 14 carries 74 yards; Walker 9 for 43 1 TD, Dixon 4 for 35, Alexander 3 for 10, Hoffman IB for minus four, Thoma', 1 for minus 7, Luck 5 for minus 8. r-kLAHOMA Sims for 114, 1 TD, Jones 7 for 54, King 5 for 49. Loft 5 for 46, Nixon 5 for 40, WcKIm 4 for 30, Wright 6 tor 21. Ropers 4 for li Anderson 3 for 6, Joyner 2 for 3, Watts 3 for 0, Pegues, 1 for 4 WEST VIRGINIA Luck 5 completions of 10 attempts for 62 yards, 1 Intercepted; Hoffman 4 of It, for 7 yards, 2 Intercepted. OKLAHOMA Watts 4 of 12, 1 Intercepted; for 62 yards Lot of 5 for 31 yards 1 Intercept.

r.cf.fr& WEST VIRGINIA Lewis 3 CJtctte; for 45 yards; Ooooan I for 16; Thomas I for Waer 2 for Alexander 1 for 0, Conwell 1 for minus 7. OKLAHOMA Kimball 3 for 44; Rhoctes 2 for 38; Grayson 1 for 11; Hicks 1 for 11, 1 TD. ed with the poise and courage of the youngster who was last season's Ohio high-school player of the year. His counterpart, Chock Fasioa, who (offered through five sacks and some erratic early throws, passed sparingly but effectively in the second half and-commanded a rushing attack that came to life witk a robust, 80-yard drive in the third quarter. Overall, the Lions, while less than spectacular, were capable of making folks forget the two previous weeks with the exception of one striking reminder.

Matt Bahr was very much in evidence again, kicking four field goals, the longest covering 41 yards. In three games, Bahr, who missed a 30-yard attempt against OSU, is nine for 11. When Penn State's reserve defense, held the Buckeyes, with Greg Castigno-la at quarterback, on the five-yard line Slams the Mountaineers 456 yards to 212, and surprisingly continued to successfully pass the football, gaining 105 yards through the air. "That was nasul what we did today," Switxer said of his passing attack. But yes, much to the distress of the Mountaineers, Oklahoma has added passing to its Wishbone attack.

Starting quarterback Thomas Lott, occasionally using the I-formation, drove his offense scores without even breaking a sweat. Which is quite a feat considering the game time temperature was 94 degrees (99 according to a Norman radio station). It took no more than six plays get the ball in the end zone. After the Mountaineers failed on the first drive, Lott marched his troops 67 yards in only five plays, capped by halfback Billy Sims, breaking out of the galloping 41 yards for a touchdown. Sims led all rushers with 114 yards eight carries.

His quick trot created enough of a breeze to fan the Oklahoma defense, which three plays later gave ball back to the offense. Defensive back Darrol Ray intercepted a Dutch Hoffman pass at the 41 and weaved to WVU eight. Lott then ran six yards and one play later, faked a run inside and rolled left. Generously, he pitched to Jimmy Rogers, who escorted him on the left ran two yards for the touchdown. Rogers later scored on a seven-yard to start the second quarter and on four-yard ran 44 seconds into the third quarter.

So, with seconds gone in the second quarter, WVU Coach Frank Cignetti found himself down, 24-0, and without star running back Robert Alexander. Alexander looked like he might have a good day, after he gained 10 yards on his first three But on screen pass, he was hit by three defenders and was lost for the game with knee injury. By BILL HEUFELDER Press Sports Writer COLUMBUS, Ohio Coach Woody Hayes threw a freshman quarterback to the Lions yesterday with disastrous results. Art Schlichter was intercepted five times, lost a fumble and took a pounding as Pens State smothered Ohio State, 19-0. The identity of the Buckeye quarterback was a mystery until Schlichter and his predecessor, Rod Gerald, who was switched to split end, came out to-" gether for the first OSU series.

When the Buckeyes had the ball for the last time Schlichter (pronounced SLEES-ster) was pondering a collegiate debut that brought 12 completions in 25 attempts. However, the 88,203 packed into Ohio Stadium for the third largest crowd in its history had to be impress Oklahoma By JOHN CLAYTON Press Sports Writer NORMAN, Okla. For the Oklahoma Sooners, it was just another day in the sun. For The West Virginia Mountaineers, it was a solar eclipse. The second-ranked Sooners beat the 100 degree heat and did worse to the Mountaineers yesterday in a 52-10 blackout at sunburned Owens Stadium.

By halftime, 88 of the 71,458 spectators were treated for heat exhaustion. By the end of the first quarter, the Mountaineers were suffering from overexposure to Oklahoma. Before you ask, this was not the worst defeat in West Virginia football history. That distinction went to the 1904 loss to Michigan, 130-0. But it might have been that bad bad Oklahoma's first team stayed on the field.

The first team offense and defense needed only 15:12 to open a 24-0 lead. The Sooner starters then took two minutes of the second half to score two more times to breeze on to victory. Nonetheless, Sooner Coach Barry Switxer wasa't optimistic going into the contest "I thought at the beginning it was going to be one of those days where everything goes wrong," he pointed out. "I told my captains that I wanted to kick off and defend the south goal because there was a little bit of a wind blowing. They go out and win the toss and start saying, 'We wanna kick, We wanna kick And then they take the north goal and we end up kicking into the wind." Of course, that was the last mistake of the game.

Oklahoma's offense looked like it was generated by solar power. It was on the field for only 24 plays, but scored 31 points and gained 219 yards. The first-team defense did its share in only 17 plays, holding the Mountaineers to only two yards total offense, intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble. Overall, Oklahoma outgairj-d to to in the the and run a his a a.