Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 63

Saturday, November 1 5, 1 997 3H CarsonDouglas Carson City resident shares CARSONDOUGLAS, Reno Gazette-Journal his journey Pitcher: Tom Urbani has spent parts of 4 seasons with St. Louis and Detroit. Lisa J. Tolda (lett)Reno Gazette-Journal and special to the Gazette Journal (above) ABOVE: Tom Urbani pitched tor the St. Louis Cardinals.

LEFT: Urbani shoots pool in the game room of his Carson City home. A iC ri i Jr ii rtin i him ii n-mrif Mark addi- Eichhom and John Orion lion to himself. "It's hard to say at this (Carson High) level that guys are going to make the majors or not, but there arc six guys here right now that have a legitimate shot at playing professionally or at least at a four-year college." The Carson-Douglas iirca, of course, has produced four big leaguers of its ow Osborne, Shaw Estes, Charley Kerfeld and Matt Williams. "I'd love someday to have a program like Ron (McNutt) has," Urbani said. "What he docs for the school is unbelievable.

And I love the way he relates to kids. They're not afraid of his information; they trust him." Urbani's clinics today and Sunday will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. with sessions lasting about I Players will be divided by age and position, and each player will gel a signed photo of Urbani. I he cost is $40.

Information: 841-1050. eaguers Glenallen Hill, By Chuck Hildebrand RtNO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Even though he's a major league pitcher, Tom Urbani doesn't talk much about destinations when he works with young baseball players in Carson City. Urbani figures his journey can be of more value to the kids than his accomplishments. And he knows all there is to know about not letting detours become roadblocks. "I think when I'm done playing, I'll look back and say that what I've been through was the best thing that could have happened to me, as a ballplayer and as a human being." said Urbani, a Carson City resident who is helping out in Carson High coach Ron McNutt's off-season program, and will be conducting clinics today at Fallon High and Sunday at Carson High.

"I've played for almost every kind of manager and coach, and I think the best coaches are the ones who realize that they don't know everything. "When I'm working with a kid, I'll show him things and tell him. use this if it'll work for you. If not, bag it. The best feeling is when you've had a kid get better because you showed him something and he ran with it.

"I know I've never stopped learning, and I think it's easier for a kid to relate to something when he knows the guy talking to him has been through a lot." Urbani, 29, has impeccable credentials in that respect. A left-hander, he has spent parts of four seasons in the majors, ith St. Louis and Detroit. He doesn't short-circuit speed guns, but he throws strikes (only 86 walks in 260 13 major league innings) and his career record 10-17 with a 4.98 earned run average belies his resilience. Since first being summoned to the majors by the Cardinals in April 1993, Urbani has been moved on or off various rosters 2 1 times.

In 1993 alone, the Cardinals sent him to Class AAA Louisville three times and recalled him four times. "I know the Louisville airport pretty well," he said, smiling. Urbani also has been traded once and released tw ice, by the Tigers in 1996 and Montreal last year. He underwent career-threatening rota- "I've changed my mechanics constantly during my career. Mechanics mean control, and if you can do something that improves your mechanics, you do it.

That's one thing I tell the kids now you don't have to throw 100 miles an hour to pitch in the major leagues. Pitching is control, and control is mechanics." That's one concept he tries to impart to kids in Carson City, here he bought a home last year at the recommendation of Donovan Osborne, the Carson High graduate who was his teammate with the Cardinals. He says the area is ideal for bringing up children he and his wife, Lisa, have a 2'year-old son, Cody and for imparting what he knows to young players. He tries to blend intensity with enthusiasm, and he thinks the kids have responded favorably. "The talent level here is better than where 1 grew up," said Urbani, who played in a high school league that produced major CHAD STOLOFF Tennis Age: 17.

School: Carson High. Athletic achievement that this award: I won individual Cruz, Calif. "Everything he said was golden. He was the head coach and you knew who was in charge, but he could be loose and fun too. "I remember one time when I was there it was the last game of the year and I'd just been named the MVP of the league.

It's in extra innings and I'm up with two outs and a couple of guys on base. He calls me over, puts his arm around me and says, real quiet, 'let's just show these who's the MVP of this "I was so pumped up, I hit a home run to win the game. Andy knew how to handle situations anil people." After two seasons at Cabrillo, Urbani played two years at Long Beach State before being drafted and signed by the Cardinals in 1990. He came under Riggins' tutelage while in the Cardinals' organization. "He was absolutely the best I've ever seen with mechanics." Urbani said of Riggins.

"Most pitching coaches will stand behind the pitcher or the catcher and react to what the ball does. Mark would stand halfway between the pitcher and catcher, off to the side, and without even seeing where the pitch went, he could tell you where it was just by watching the mechanics. I was always there the next day, orking to get back. "And except for last year, it worked out that way. I was sitting there with a 1.80 ERA in Ottawa and didn't get a call (from the Expos), and I'm wondering, what's going on here?" Staying positive in the face of adversity also meant learning all he could along the way, even if he didn't care for the methods of some of his managers and pitching coaches.

He says, for example, that he won't do' what Cardinals manager Tony La Russa did in 1 996 after he sent Urbani down. "He told reporters the next day that I'd pitched like it was batting practice" Urbani said. "1 mean, what good does that do? I knew I hadn't pitched well. "I've been lucky, though," he says. "I played for some guys I learned a lot from." At the top of his list are Andy Messersmith.

the ex-major league pitcher who was Urbani's coach at Cabrillo College in Aptos, Calif, and Mark Riggins. his pitching coach at various stops in the Cardinals organization. "Talk about a coach who was both your boss and your friend. Andy' was the ultimate," said Urbani, who grew up in Santa Carson Senators Athlete of the Week Carson senior decides Georgia Tech is school for her tor-cuff surgery two years ago. Y'et he endures.

"Right now I'm just biding my time until the expansion draft (Tuesday, when the new Arizona and Tampa Bay franchises are stocked)," Urbani said. "I pitched pretty well in the Expos' organization the second half of last vear (he was 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 30 games for Class AAA Ottawa) and I feel good. "Teams will know more about what they can do after the draft. My agent has been talking to some teams, and Japan is also a possibility. But I'm hoping it's close to home, because I have a family now and I don't want to be moving around all the time anymore." "All the time" isn't too much of an exaggeration in Urbani's case.

"The first thing you think when you get sent down is, my career's over," he said of his promotions and demotions. "It's like being fired from a job, except it's something you've dreamed of your entire life. You get there, and then it's taken away. It's really a roller coaster. "But I've always thought, I'm going to go down and do what they ask and figure I'm gonna make it back.

You're allowed 72 hours to report when you get sent down, but "Reno is pretty much my home track," Tiearney, now living in Los Angeles, said. "I've got a good crowd behind me. hopefully. I've got to do my best. "I've been there every year and the crowd's always behind me.lt more fun when they're JIM KRAJEWSKI always cheering you on." Tiearney, 19, moved to Los Angeles seven months ago to be nearer the numerous motocross tracks and to gain experience racing with veteran riders.

He also had a job opportunity working with his godfather in a film editing business Unfortunately, work has cut down on the amount of time he can spend riding. "It's gotten to where I can't ride as much as I like to, lately not much at all. This weekend I won be in very good shape." "I'm still totally. 1 00 percent into it. Right now I'm at the point where I have to work so I can go riding Living down here, a lot of riders already have a good account going so they don have to work, they can just ride as their job.

They're able to go race and win." One drawback to living in Southern California is a lack of free ndmg areas. Riders must pay to ride in most places. Plans: Attend a Division I college outside of Nevada, play tennis at college and earn a degree. Personal information: Hometown is Carson City. Parents are Marty and Stuart Stoloff.

Sister is Erica. Most influential person in your life: Parents and sister. Favorite athlete: Michael Johnson. Favorite TV show: "Friends," "Seinfeld." Favorite food: Italian. Favorite music: Everclear.

Hobbies: Soccer, skiing, basketball, hanging out with friends and joking around with Mrs. Hixenbaugh. Best asset: Hard worker. Worst trait: Stubborn. Greatest sports memory: Winning zone over the No.

1 player from Reno High. In 10 years I'd like to be: Married with kids and have a sports car. People don't know this about me but: I served peanuts on a commercial airliner to all of the passengers two years ago. qualified you for zone for tennis. Sundaq, r.ov I'cmDcr io Call now for reservations (702) 533-20)0 C2 first place net.

Second place net went to Matt Teixeira. Greg Peterson, Cheryl Cummmgs and Michael Walker. Third place net finishers were Mickey Munley, Tom Maruca. Lon Harmon and Marilyn Harmon Proceeds from the tournament went to the St Ann Building fund Baseball Maior league pitcher Tom Urbani will conduct two clinics today and Sunday Urbani, who pitched for the St Louis Cardinals last season and is a free agent entering next season, will hold a chmc at Fallon today and at Carson High on Sunday Urbani also pitched for the Montreal Expos and Detroit Tigers The clinics cost $40 per student and will concentrate on pitching, hitting and defense Each student will receive an autographed bail and a picture. Times are from 10am to 4 with three sessions scheduled during the time frame.

For more information call 841-1050 Soccer tryouts: The Carson Valley Soccer Club is holding tryouts at Jacks Valley School. Today tryouts are for boys ages 1 2 and under and 14 and under On Nov 22. tryouts are for boys 16-under. 17-under and girls 12-under. 14-under and 16-under.

To submit items call Jim Kraiewski at (702) 788-6345 or fax to (702) 327-6702. Or mail to Reno Gazette-Journal Sports. P.O. Box 22000, Reno 89520. ADJUSTABLE BEDS WAKE UP FEELING REFRESHED INVIGORATING MASSAGE NO MORE SLEEPING IN A RECLINER In Carson, Tiearney was five minutes away from an abundance of free dirt tracks.

"I'm still having fun at it." he said. Also racing tonight are Kenny Lash from Gardnerville and Tim Brian from Reno. "It'll be fun to get back riding with them," Tiearney said "If the race gets a little boring. (Lash) will take someone out in a corner He likes to give the people their money worth He II give people a good show Wrestling: Ex-Carson High wrestler Chad Donvtto is a freshman on the University of Pennsylvania wrestling team. Donvito will wrestle in the 142-150-pound weight class for the Quakers, the two-time defending Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association and Ivy League champions The team was ranked 14th in the Amateur Wrestling News preseason poll and its recruiting class was ranked 1 1 th.

"Mixed with several nationai-caiiber veterans is the best recruiting class in Pennsylvania wrestling history, head coach Roger Rema said a press release The Quakers will participate the Reno Tournament of Champions on Jan 4. St. Ann's Golf Tournament: Joe Knowles. Jim Harrison, Don Ham and Carne Ham won first place gross with a 64 in the St. Ann tournament at Dayton Valley Country Club Ruban Ramirez.

Lester Williams. Michael Galvm and Steve Ramirez won ELECTRICALLY SWT" mL H. A fM I a 1ST, It only took one trip for Mimi Utt to decide where she wanted to attend college. The Carson senior ent to Atlanta on Oct. 10 and returned convinced that Georgia Tech was the school for her.

She signed a letter of intent on Nov. 1 2ahe first day of the early signing period. Utt helped lead the Senators soft-ball team to a northern Nevada Zone championship last spring and a second-place finish at last season's state tournament. It was the second year in a row that Carson as runner-up to Galena. "When you go to a school for a isit you ind of know Utt said.

"There's something about everything that leaves no doubt in your mind. The only thing I was considering was how far away from home it was." She'll play pitcher and will also do some hitting for the Yellow Jackets. Utt had trips planned to other schools but those fell by the ay-side after going to Georgia. She as impressed by the coaches and the team and the academic reputation of the school. Another big factor as the athletic complex, remodeled for the 1996 Olympics and the site of many Olympic events.

"Last summer I played on a team in L.A. and I talked to my friends there and they said, every one that goes on trips, that you get a feeling hen you're on a trip to one here you just know every thing, all aspects of the school." Utt's academic course may not come as easily as selecting a school did. She may study Biology but is inclined to try several different courses before deciding on one. Utt will also play basketball for the Senators. Practice begins on Monda.

Motocross: Ex-Carson City resident Justin Tiearney is looking forward to a hometown crowd as he races in tonight's Arenocross at the Reno Livestock Events Center. Si 555J TV! j4 I I 0 jrp; RELIEVES DISCOMFORT OF ARTHRITIS, ACID REFLUX, BREATHING DISORDERS, SWOLLEN LEGS I FEET fE.