The Journal News from White Plains, New York • Page 23

SECTION Open League to begin playoffs Page D5 Horse Racing National Baseball Local sports D2 D3 D4 Wednesday, July 19, 1989 The Journal-News, Rockland County, N.Y. Sworn) LATEST mm mm Vul mm mm mmr ViM mm mm By Bob Green The Associated Press TROON, Scotland Not since the days of the Grand Triumvirate, almost a century ago, have three men caught the fancy of British golf in the manner of Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam. It was the Golden Age of British golf. A decline began in the years between the world wars and Americans began to dominate: Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen won eight British Open titles in an 11-year period. Following World War II, Arnold BRITISH OPEN TOMORROW, 9 A.M., ESPN In the period from 1894 to 1914, Harry Vardon, James Braid and John H.

Taylor won 16 of 21 British Opens. Braid and Taylor won five each, Vardon six. Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson continued American domination, accounting for 12 British Open victories. Now the pendulum has swung again and three Britons have established themselves in the tight little cadre of players who rank at the top of world golf. And all three Lyle, a burly Scot; Faldo, an outspoken, trouble-prone Englishman; and Woosnam, a small, fiesty Welshman called 'Little Woosie' by his peers are.

among the leading contenders for the 118th British Open Please see BRITISH, D3 SCORES AMERICAN YANKEES at Chicago rain) Baltimore 4 Seattle 3 Oakland 7 Detroit 2 California 1 Toronto 0 Minnesota 5 Cleveland 4 Kansas City 9 Milwaukee 4 Texas 8 Boston 1 NATIONAL METS 9 Houston 0 Philadelphia 6 Cincinnati 5 Atlanta 7 Montreal 6 San Diego 17 Pittsburgh 4 Los Angeles 4 Chicago 1 San Francisco 7 St. Louis 3 HEADLINES LOCAL Martin to coach Hofstra Ex-Dominican coach faces new challenge By John Humenn Staff Writer Rich Martin, the master builder of baseball teams, has a new project. Martin, who transformed the Dominican College program into a small-school powerhouse in the Northeast, has accepted the head coaching position at Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island. "They're committed to building a strong Division I program," said Martin, a 39-year-old Brooklyn resident. "They're going into the new Colonial Conference with Fordham, Lafayette, Drexel and Bucknell.

Up to this point I think they've had a program they haven't pushed. RICH MARTIN tin. Jl-J. Tl -f In TlY.l fV f' fl rff if. jt ll -i aian pnoIoranK becerra jr.

Sid Fernandez takes a cut at the ball in last night's 9-0 victory over the Houston Astros. Fernandez went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Mets uncork win after 'pep talk' LITTLE LEAGUE: Stony Point will host South Orangetown at 7 p.m. in the District 18 Junior Little League Baseball (13-year-old) final at Stony Point's Veteran's Memorial In the Major Little League Softball (11-12-year-old) final, Pearl River will host Haverstraw at 6 p.m. at Anderson Field.

GOLF OUTING: The 12th annual Gilroy International Golf Tournament will be held Friday at the Rivervale Country Club, Rivervale, N.J. Tee-off time is 10 a.m. and openings are still available. The cost, which includes all fees, a shirt, and dinner at Hanchar's Restaurant, Congers is $75. Call 353-2020 for reservations.

1 AAU HOOPS: Leigh Benevento of New City was named to the All Tournament Team in the Hudson Valley Knights AAU Girls' Basketball Joust Tournament held last weekend at SUNY-New Paltz. Benevento, who plays for the Knights 1 6-and-under team, also won the "Hot Shot" contest in her age group. REC SOFTBALL: Commissioners of men's and women's rec Softball leagues can phone in the standings of their leagues to The Journal-News Sunday from 6-10 p.m. Phone: 578-2465. LOOKING BACK 5 years ago today in Rockland County: Haverstraw won its third straight District 18 Senior Little League championship by beating Stony Point, 4-2.

Jamie Blattstein had two hits and struck out nine in Svb innings and Mike Hennessey drove in two Haverstraw runs. Mets 9, Astros "The president of the college (James Shuart) has asked that the programs be built up in what are considered the secondary sports baseball, wrestling and soccer." Martin, who coached the Chargers for six years, was first approached about the position by Hofstra's assistant athletic director Harry Royle last month. After four weeks of negotiating, Martin decided to make the move. "If (Hofstra) was an established program, I may not have done it. But I like building," Martin said.

"I didn't think there was too much more I could do here (at Dominican)." Other factors contributing to the decision were that Hofstra offered Martin a full-time position and excellent facilities. Martin was employed part-time by Dominican, which shared Kennedy-Reedy Field in Tappan with St. Thomas Aquinas College. "The field and the facilities are nice," said Martin, who coached at Bishop Lough-lin High in Brooklyn prior to coming to Dominican. "I've been coaching 22 years and I've never had my own field.

That was a consideration." Making the move with Martin are former players Marty Castro, Dave Parouse and Dave Messina, who will be assistant coaches. In six years at Dominican, Martin compiled a 143-65 mark. He leaves after having won four consecutive District 31 titles. Thirteen of his former players have signed professional contracts. "We wanted to try to keep him at the college," Dominican athletic director Steve Kelly said.

"He brought in some good kids and he's put the baseball program on the map." Please see MARTIN, 05 Next: Astros, 7:35 p.m. Radio: WFAN-660. TV: Ch. 9 Cone (6-5) vs. Clancy (5-6).

Hot under the collar, Johnson ignites Mets By Ed Christine Staff Writer NEW YORK Nobody could remember seeing Mets Manager Davey Johnson so angry. There was no mistaking Johnson's feelings at a team meeting prior to last night's 9-0 win over the Houston Astros. "Just a little chat," Johnson called it, although Howard Johnson said it was "the maddest I've ever seen him." Give it a few more days before passing judgement, but for one game, at least, the results were better. Pitching. Hitting.

It was all there. Even some decent base running and fielding. This time Sid Fernandez wasn't nearly as dominant as his 16-strikeout performance last time out not as overpowering. runs with a homer to center in the first. The homer was Johnson's 25th, the RBIs were 60 and 61.

HoJo also started the five-run third with a single. i Biggest hit there was Fernandez's two-run single to right. That followed a bases-loaded walk to Mackey Sasser after the Astros had switched from starter Bob Forsch to lefty reliever Dan Schatzader. There is a reason Johnson doesn't hold more meetings: He doesn't like them. Word is that pressure was applied to hold this one from people in high places.

Owner Fred Wilpon's name was mentioned as the one turning the screws. "Davey chewed our butt and we deserved it," said Keith Hernandez. "He's an easy manager to play for. He never singles anybody out. For him to chew us out, the ultimate player's manager, it really soaked in.

He pulled us up." "We've been embarrassed the last couple days by guys who were more aggressive than us," the manager said. "We've played poorly. We've been kind of quiet." Still Fernandez pitched seven innings of shutout ball, gave up only three hits, struck out six and for good measure drove in two runs with two hits. His five-game totals show a 4-1 record and 1.43 ERA. He has struck out 40 in 37 innings, given up 22 hits and only seven walks.

Nobody in baseball is doing it better. "Sid has really come into his own," the manager said. "All his pitches are working. He's even throwing quality changeups." "I have more confidence in my pitches," Fernandez said. "I'm pitching inside.

I feel good about myself and pitching inside has helped a lot." A little offense helps even more. Howard Johnson provided the first two Tyson and HBO network mutual admirers Career contract INSIDE a oossibilil Abraham said the idea of a liftime deal with Tyson was first suggested last Oct. 26 at Las Vegas. He and Tyson attended a meeting at which an unsuccessful effort was made to settle the dispute A said Seth Abraham, a vice-president of HBO, which in halfway through an eight-fight, $26.5 million deal with Tyson. Tyson's defense against Carl "The Truth" Williams Friday night at the Convention Center will be the fifth fight in that package.

A suggested format has "been sketched out as to what we have in mind," Abraham said Tuesday from his New York office. Abraham said he has not discussed money with Tyson, estranged manager Bill Cayton or promoter Don King. al contract. "Mike was talking about loyalty," Abraham recalled. "He said HBO had been loyal to him and said, 'I don't care if I fight for anybody other than HBO.

Let's do a lifetime deal." Tyson has been criticized in the media for disloyalty to Cayton. To reach an agreement, two sets of negotiations must be held, Abraham said one with Tyson and King and one with Cayton. "The promoter has Mike's mind, body and spirit," Abraham said. "The manager has a contract." Under the the suggested lifetime agreement, Abraham said: "Mike would fight three times a year on HBO. Every 18 months he would be able to do a pay-per-view fight.

HBO would handle the production and have the delayed broadcast rights." Money would be based on the talent pool. "We would create a pool of and B-minus fighters and pay accordingly," Abraham said said. Please see TYSON, D3 By Ed Schuyler Jr. The Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. Home Box Office is so fond of Mike Tyson that the cable television network would like to sign him for his entire boxing career.

The 23-year-old heavyweight champion apparently is agreeable to such an arrangement. "It was Mike who suggested it," Kur A MIKE TYSON 3 mJ on-going between Tyson and on one hand, and Cayton. Tyson is trying to break Cayton's manageri- A jack of all trades, Munoz settles in at shortstop and finished the season hitting .217 with one homer Staff photoVincent DiSaivn PLAY AT HOME: South Orangetown catcher Cheryl Swift (left) tags out Haverstraw baserunner Debbie Risi on a play at the plate last night in the championship game of the District 18 Senior Little League girls' Softball tournament at Pearl River. Haverstraw won 6-5 in eight innings. 1 Story, Page D3 To make matters worse, Munoz was once again without a regular position.

He spent the early part of this season bouncing between all four infield positions and the outfield. All that has changed, however, in the past month when Elmira manager Mike Verdi discovered he had to make a major improvement in his infield. "The manager asked me if I wanted to play shortstop," Munoz said. By John Humenn Staff Writer The last season and a half has been rough for Lou Munoz, but his gritty determination and optimistic attitude are beginning to pay off. Since signing as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox in December 1987, Munoz, a 23-year-old Suf-fern resident, has had his share of adversity.

With Class A Elmira of the New York-Penn League last season, Munoz never did find his batting eye and 14 RBI. Not playing every day and not having a set position didn't help! During spring training this season Munoz was pro- moted to Class A' Winter Haven of It doesn't take a genius to figure out what Munoz's reply was. "I've been making the routine plays and a few spectacular ones and that's what you have to do (to play shortstop)," Munoz said. "I've only made two errors all year playing all those positions. "Defensively, I'm playing as well as I can.

Offensively, I'm starting to come around. I feel a lot more comfortable this year. I know what to expect." Please see MUNOZ, D5 I- MINOR LEAGUE REPORT his ankle sliding into second base. Ironically, the injury occurred during the team's final exhibition game. The injury cost Munoz his spot on the Winter Haven roster.

When the ankle healed, the former Suf-fern High and Rockland Community College star found himself back in Elmira. lou munoz the Florida State League. That was before he broke.