Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 26

2D Reno Gazette-Journal Saturday, April 7, 1990r Masters A' I- Loss From page 1D have to learn to relax." That was easy for Whitfield to say. Opening day was a little different for those just out of college or high school. Starting second baseman Tim Donohue, a four-year player at the University of Washington, said: "I'm not nervous yet but I think I will be later when the game starts. We (the team) haven't really been talking about opening day a lot. We try to keep our minds off the game.

We don't want to think of baseball all the time." Shawn Barton, who played in Reno last year and has been in the minor leagues nine seasons, said opening day is always a special time. "It's always exciting," Barton said. "We all love to play ball and today we're all just hoping we have a winning team. This game is all about winning." Even with close to a decade of experi ence, tsarion saia ne was sun nervous, as turned out, however, he wasn't called on to play Friday. "I just don't want to screw up," Barton Sox From page 1D says Jack Hoffman, who along with wife Katherine is at the game with their 6-month-old baby, Carilyn.

"It's her first baseball game," Jack says. "All last summer we came out here when Katherine was pregnant. We were joking with (Sox general manager) Jack Patton that the baby was so influenced by the game that her first word was Well "Jack's a great baseball fan," Katherine says. "And I've learned to be one. We'll be out here again Saturday, but we're going to get a babysitter.

The baby didn't want to miss opening night." Neither do teenagers Rick Minkler, Sandy Ucovich and Evanja Costa of Reno, huddled together under a blanket. "We don't come that often," Minkler says. "A couple of times a year, but if it's a good season, we'll be out here more." "We like baseball," Costa says. "Plus, it's Friday night and it's something to do." It's 6:30 p.m. on the first Friday in April, 30 minutes till the scheduled start of the opener.

Two of Reno's blow-dried television sportscasters are on opposing sidelines getting ready to do their evening broadcasts. The flag in center field is flapping stiffly in the strong wind and the fans are starting to arrive in bigger numbers. It's awkward weather too cold for light jackets and said. "On opening day you're always thinking of just doing your job. You're not too worried about the other guys, you just try to go out and have a good first game." The Silver Sox also were trying to get used to one another.

Starting shortstop Joel Chimelis, under contract to the Oakland A's, said Thursday night's short practice gave him little opportunity to meet his teammates. "I'm still getting used to the other players. I also feel strange just being with a team that does everything differently," said Chimelis, who is in his third season with the A's. "It's not like an average opening day should be. I'm nervous because I don't know what to expect from myself or the other players.

I don't know how things will work out. Maybe after the first inning all the nervousness will go away and I can start having fun." Jeff Whitney, who pitched 2 xh innings of scoreless relief, said he was glad to be done with the spring training grind. "We spend the whole winter gearing up for next summer and you never think that opening day will ever get here," Whitney said. too warm for the inebriated bozos who always seem to go shirtless no matter how frigid the temperatures. Early arrivals are buying as much hot chocolate and coffee from the concession stand as they are cold drinks.

In other words, it's a typical Silver Sox night game in April. "We knew it would be cool," says Patton as he surveys the crowd. "We're just glad it didn't rain and most of the bad weather blew over. I think a lot of people would stay home on a normal night, but this is opening night. I think they'll come." They do.

By game time, more than 500 are in the stands watching as the two teams are introduced. Leroy Simpson says he isn't cold. "Nan," he says. "It's not too bad. I can shiver with the best of them." The crowd watches as 1976 Reno manager Johnny Goryl, now the coordinator of minor league field operations with Cleveland, throws out the first pitch.

Sox catcher Barry Blackwell catches it and then hands the ball to Goryl as the fans cheer. It's 7:10 p.m. when left-hander Chuck Alexander goes into his windup for the first time. Alexander kicks high and throws a fastball to Stockton's right-handed leadoff hitter, John Finn. Plate umpire Bob Brooks watches and calls the pitch which is high ball one.

The California League season is under way, and it's a long way to September. From page 1D Craig Stadler, Bill Britton and Mike Hulbert. Britton shot 74, some of it in a late-afternoon shower. Stadler had a 70 and Hulbert a 71. Jacobsen, once tied for the lead, was sandbagged by a pair of back-nine double bogeys and finished with a 75.

But his problems were as nothing compared with those of Donald, that 34-year-old journeyman who set the pace with a 64 Thursday in his first competitive round at Augusta National. He went a stroke-a-hole higher on this trip over the old course Bobby Jones built, found all the trouble he avoided Thursday and finished with an embarassing 82. "I'm not ashamed," Donald said. "There's 30 million people who wish they could play in the Masters." And, Floyd said, there's nothing to be ashamed of. "I can empathize with Mike," Floyd said.

"There's something about the Masters mystique that does it to you. It happens to all of us. It happened to me. "In 1965, in my first Masters, I shot 68. The next day I was paired with Arnold (Palmer) and I shot 82 or 83 I don't remember and missed the cut." Donald didn't.

But Palmer, now 60, did. The four-time Masters winner struggled to an 80 and missed the cut for the seventh consecutive year, time with a 156 total. Greg Norman, the muscular Australian who has come so close so often, also failed to make the field that will play this weekend. He matched par 72 and was down the road at lai. Rookie Robert Gamez, a two-time winner this season, also missed at 76-149.

Floyd was still well back of the leaders when he made the turn in 35, but went in front largely thanks to his pet par-5s. Gaudette scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Dons starter David Aherd. UNR took the lead for good in the fifth. Rod Nettnin and De Ricco walked. Nettnin scored on Pro's looping double down the left-field line.

"I was trying to hit the other way because the wind was blowing out to left," Pro said. "I was expecting something off speed. (Ahern) threw me a fastball inside that I was able to get a piece of. Luckily, it dropped in." PACK NOTES: De Ricco, UNR's all-district player, returned to the lineup Friday after missing 16 games. He broke four bones in his cheek during a game March 10 at San Diego.

De Ricco walked his first three up and had been walked in eight straight plate appearances. CONFIDENT LOOK: Four-time Masters winner Arnold Palmer walks on the second hole following his putt. Palmer, however, didn't make the Masters cut. Associated Press half of the inning. First, he threw wild to first in an attempt to pick off Arnie Sambel.

Sambel ended up on third and scored two batters later on Jim West's single. West reached second when Cintora started a would-be double play by throwing the ball into center field. Paolo Delia Bordella singled West home. The Wolf Pack tied the game with two runs in the fifth, though. Again, San Francisco errors two by French figured in heavily.

French made a good play to get to Sullivan's bouncer up the middle but threw past Taylor at first, moving Sullivan to second. Sullivan scored when French couldn't field Gaudette's softly hit bouncer. Eventually, UNR From page 10 Tress picked up his team-leading third save of the season. "I told Izzy in the fourth that he had to go nine," UNR pitching coach Dave Lawn said. "He did exactly what we needed him to do with a doubleheader (Saturday) and another game on Sunday.

They went through four pitchers. That should give us an edge the rest of the series." The prospect of Cintora winning his fourth game wasn't looking as solid when Lawn talked to his pitcher in the fourth inning. The Dons led, 4-2, in large part due to two Cintora fielding errors in the top UNR hosting Washington, Southern Oregon in track School product Kamy Keshmiri, the national champion in the discus. Keshmiri is coming off recent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and isn't scheduled to compete for another two or three weeks. He was out Friday, tossing the discus in the 180-foot range and looking as strong as ever.

A little frustrated about not being able to compete right away, but strong nonetheless. "Kamy's been throwing for about a week," said Keshmiri's father and coach, Joe. "Look at him. He's throwing 180 feet and he's unhappy. He just has to be patient.

We'll just have to see how his knee develops. He will be fine." UNR's top entrants today will include javelin thrower Derek Cha-chere, distance runner Brian Pres-son, middle-distance runner Anthony John, triple jumpers Hillary Miller and Wayne Horn, middle-distance runner Renee Manfredi, distance runners Chrissy McGee and Natalie Wood, discus thrower Dori Babcok and high jumper Dena Baker. r'K VJSH i4 and light duty trucks CSTr P15580R13 ALL 13" fcs-r 1 r-1 1 pv Initio y(i P18580R13 w1-- II II 1 1 I 1 club -Aili. 1 1 '4v pKS I KAALVE STEMS, RUMujpr psrh vW 1 99 I fe0m HAZARD WARRANT P20575R15 allis 1 By John TrentGazette-Journal University of Nevada track coach Roger Bowen was a busy man Friday. He was in the middle of picking up some recruits at the airport when he stopped at Mackay Stadium to direct his team's practice.

And to give some last-minute instructions in preparation for the Wolf Pack's home opener, set for noon today against Southern Oregon and the University of Washington. "We've got to get some hurdles," Bowen said. "I don't know where our hurdles are at." About that time, a truck full of hurdles from Bishop Manogue drove through the Mackay Stadium gate. One more problem resolved. Despite the apparent hassle, Bowen is pleased his team will have a chance to host a meet.

Washington's women are coming off a dual-meet victory against Par-1 0 fnp Orpcrnn uhilp Snuthprn Oregon will give UNR's men a chance to experiment by putting its athletes in unaccustomed events. "This should continue to tell us something about the kids," Bowen said. One UNR athlete who won't be competing today is Reno High Street Sportscards Baseball Football Cards 846 Street (next to Gazins) Sparks 359-4115 VAN CONVERSION s.ocknot SALE PRICE $19,999 MARKET VALUE $26,750 Reno Dodge 7Du Kietzne Lane EARN M0T0RH0ME INCOME LISTEN TO OUR TAPE 849-5151 1 WiV assiio fi P2 7fP5 iyArmm izw I AM 1270 HOME OF ALSO HOME tihji for Jmk WITH JOE GARAGIOLA I II IW' 9705 South Virginia Street 2660 Hwy. 50 East 1417 Industrial Way 2001 Prater Way I DON'T MISS IT 4-6PM SUNDAYS I 852-1314 883-1314 782-7109 359-8220.