The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 45

PPT 8P fill 3 The Beacon Journal Saturday, August 9, 1997 American League Top of the Second Maybe the White Sox should give Albert Belle yet another chance to start over, this time by trading hira to the Cubs. Page D2. Fishing There is a lot of movement both up and down on the second day of the BASS Masters Classic in Alabama. Page D3. College football A former Boston College player says last year's coaching staff knew about gambling by many players on the team.

Sports in Brief, Page D2. What Akron linebacker Nate Boyd lacks in physical talent, he more than makes up for in heart. PageD6. Pro football Third-string quarterback Erik Wil-helm throws two second-half touchdown passes to lead the Bengals past the Lions. Page D3.

Baseball Sean Casey hits two home runs and drives in five runs as the Akron Aeros thump the Reading Phillies 13-7. Page D5. Texas 6 Cleveland 5 Toronto 6 Detroit 3 Baltimore at Anaheim National League Chicago 3 Los San Diego 1 San Frandsco 4 Montreal 0 Florida 6 Atlanta 4 Colorado 5 Pittsburgh 3 ITS League Baseball, Page 4 Boston 8 Kansas City 2 Minnesota 9 New York 1 Seattle Chicago 0 Angeles 10 Cincinnati 5 New York 6 Houston 1 St Louis 6 Philadelphia 1 Major Home is sweet, but not that sweet Herta has fastest qualifying time for Miller 200 at Mid-Ohio, but downplays any 'home-track advantage' Herta set a track record as he clocked the day's quickest lap, a time of 1:06.277, to earn the provisional pole. But his teammate, Rahal, was 17th with his 1:07.533. "It's a track that we have a good set-up for.

We had one last year, next door, the duo can get to the track for testing more often than other teams. So it wasn't much of a stretch to assume that Rahal and Herta would be fastest, because they knew the track and had a better set-up on their Reynard Ford-Cosworth machines. By Jason Butler Beacon Journal stqff miter Lexington: At the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course yesterday, the only thing more prevalent than Miller beer advertisements was the phrase "home-course advantage." It seemed that everybody was talking about how Bobby Rahal and Bryan Herta should have an edge in the Miller 200, because Team Rahal is headquartered in Hiliiard, just 60 miles away. After all, since they're right Herta, who lives in New Albany and attended Ohio State, conceded that there are some benefits to being locally based. "The home-track situation is a nice feeling," he said.

"With the team being from here, we have a lot of local fans who come to the race." But Herta downplayed any major on-track benefits stemming from the team headquarters' proximity to the track. See RACE, Page D3 Viv I in i Bryan Herta ana we improved it a ut- qualify- tie bit tor this year, Herta said. Well, after yesterday's Associated Press Bryan Herta is a young man in a hurry as he drives his car to the provisional pole at Mid-Ohio yesterday. ing session, that morsel of popular Last year at Mid-Ohio, Herta wisdom proved half-right finished fourth and Rahal fifth. Rangers 6, Indians 5 Mb toss nDlam MM I i i til i Fans boo after Jackson and Lopez combine to blow a 5-3 lead to Rangers in the ninth BY SHELDON OCKER Heacon Jimrnal sltiff writer The booing cut across age and racial lines.

It was heard from the luxury suites to the bleachers. A heartfelt message from heartsick fans who were not going to take it anymore. The Indians lost last night, and they lost ugly, blowing a two-run lead in the ninth inning, as the Rangers came away with a 6-5 decision at Jacobs Field. Beacon Journal photo Pat Milton is in winning form at the WADGA Championship. Milton's putter tried and true Cleveland's Central Division lead dwindled just a little to three games, as the second-place Brewers did the smart thing by not scheduling a game.

It didn't take a genius to figure out why the Tribe lost. Closer Mike Jackson Rangers at Indians Time: 1:05 7:05 p.m., today. TV: Ch. 8: 1:05 p.m.; SPTCH: 7:05 p.m. Radio: WAKR 1590-AM.

Ills and Albie Lopez alowed three runs in the ninth to give away the game. On the other hand, it can be argued that the Indians should have been light years ahead of Texas by that time. But they wilted in the face of an assault by Ranger pitchers Tanyon Sturtze, former Cleveland lefty Scott Bai-les and John Wetteland. Nevertheless, the proximate cause of the defeat lay at the feet of Jackson and Lopez. See TRIBE, Page D5 sr Old reliable club helps her capture a seventh WADGA championship BY TOM GAFFNEY Beaem Journal sUiff writer Pat Milton thought it over and decided it was a day for trusty equipment, not fancy stuff.

That's at least part of the reason she won her seventh Women's Akron District Golf Association Championship yesterday at Medina Country Club. Milton, a Munroe Falls resident, shot a 3-over 75 in the final round for a 54-hole score of 14-over 230. That was 6 shots better Beacon Journal photo Indians starter Bartolo Colon had a decent outing last night and even left with a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning. However, the bullpen blew the game in the ninth inning. than runner- Score retiring is like losing a friend Announcer may not be best ever, but he is all ours Herb Score gives out an autograph to a young fan yesterday, hours after announcing he would retire as Indians announcer at the end of this season 5SL la i up Janet Frey-Shaheen of Canton (80-236).

Past champion Maryann Ambler of Stow (79-240) finished third. During the first two rounds on Tuesday and Thursday, Milton had alternated putters. One was a newly purchased Bobby Grace face-balanced putter that is all INSIDE The field has been narrowed to two at the USGA Women's Amateur Championship, Page D6. Ernie Els fires a 63 to take the lead at the Buick Open, Page D6. Terry Pluto 0 i The man is shy.

Most people don't know that about Herb Score. If you are an Indians fan, you probably consider Score a friend -even if you never met him. Growing up with Score's voice on the radio, telling you about the He saw it, he said it -and sometimes, he even got it right "If not, I just correct it," he said. "I don't worry about it." Does he ever listen to tapes of himself? "Why would I do that?" he said. "I heard that garbage going out, Rose mum on his plans for the future Hits leader focuses on fans, not managing Reds By Ed Meyer Heiuvn Journal stuff teriler Pete Rose steadfastly refused to comment yesterday on reports that the Cincinnati Reds want him to become their manager if Major League Baseball lifts the ban that it imposed on him in 1989 for gambling.

As Rose signed autographs for hundreds of ardent admirers during an appearance at the Howe Road Target store in Cuyahoga Falls, he said he wouldn't talk about anything else but his fens. But Thursday, Reds general manager Jim Bowden raised speculation about Rose's return to baseball by saying that he might consider hiring Rose to manage the team if he is reinstated. Rose managed the Reds from See ROSE, Page D5 Associated Press steamroll the game. He never thought fans listened to the Indians just to hear him. He did no second-guessing of managers.

Seldom was he critical of players. "You may think you know why a player messed up," he once said. "Later, you find out it was something else not the guy's fault at all. I never liked to jump to conclusions." And he seldom did. Score's nasally voice and sometimes bumbling style was the per- "I couldn't put three words together when I was kid," he once said.

Maybe that is why Score waited until yesterday to announce this will be his final season behind the microphone. He could have gone one more year, even more. The Indians left the decision up to him. But Score wanted to leave on his own terms, and with a minimum of fuss. What he feared was some sort of soppy farewell tour.

For all his faults as a broadcaster, Score never let his ego Indians for the last 34 summers is like having him in your home. As the late Nev Chandler once said, "Herb Score has seen more bad baseball than anyone on the face of this earth but it never seemed to bother him much." And he kept talking. Sometimes, it made sense. Sometimes, he said, "And the score is Indians 6, and the Indians 5." Actually, he said that a few weeks ago. But that was Herb being Herb.

why should I hear it again coming back in?" But this is a guy who was so shy, he couldn't sleep the night before he had to give a speech in English class. He was so shy, he was president of the Letter-man's Club a prestigious position at his high school yet Score insisted the vice president lead the meetings and give the talks to the student body. He was so shy, Rocky Colavito used to help find him dates. that sophisticated equipment should be. The other was a basic Wilson model that she has used for 15 years.

Milton had rounds of 79 and 76 with the two putters in her bag. Yesterday, she decided to go with the ol' reliable. "My putting was shaky the first two rounds. I felt more comfortable with the one I have used for years," said Milton, who is a mem-See Golf, Page D6 See Pluto, Page D5.