Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 164

1 THE HARTFORD COURANT: Friday April 12, 1996 C5; 13 Sogers warms to situation HBI AVG HBI AVG 0 1 0 290 0 0 0 .400 KANSAS CITY AB Roberts 2b 4 Lockhart2b 0 NEWYORK AB Bogosab 3 Leyrttzlf 4 QWilHamtlf 0 1 2 0 .267 0 0 0 .375 0 0 0 .143 0 1 1 J10 1 2 1 250 Consecutive homers Pitcher plans to make the most of his time in Florida Norman ph TGoodwinlf 4 Offerman ph 1 Lennonlf I Tucker ptwf 1 Macfarlane 4 O'Neill rf 4 Sierra dh 4 TMartinez lb 4 BWilliamscf 4 Qirardi 4 Fox 2b 9 DJeter ss 1 Totak 31 By DOM AMORE Courant Staff Writer 0 0 0 .115 0 0 0 .167 1 2 0 286 1 1 0 .167 1 0 0 .316 I 2 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 233 0 0 0 211 0 0 0 250 1 1 0 .190 1 2 0 273 1 1 0 .136 0 1 I .200 0 0 0 333 0 1 0 170 0 0 0 .176 0 2 0 .400 1 9 I Hamelin 1b power Xavier to rout VTtiellodh NurmaHydh Damon rf-cf RandaSb OHowardss Tat KANSAS CITY NEWYORK 010 000 020-3 9 1 050 000 OUI-5 8 1 NEWYORK Kenny Rogers knew what he was getting into when he signed with the Yankees in January at least he thought so. "I knew before I ever signed that E-Aanda (3), BeWilllams (1). LOB-Kansas City 8 New York 8. 2B-Mcfarlane (3), Vltlello (2), Sierra (2). HR-Slerre (1) off Belcher.

RBI-Vitiello 3 (4). 0'Neill(5), Thursday's games righthander Stacyann Prince pitched a no-hitter in her first career start as Wright Tech (1-0) defeated Prince Tech (0-1) in a CVTC game, in Stamford. Prince struck out eierht and at viueifu. ur rviiB vuy i New Torx it. KANSAS CITY ER BB SO NP ERA 6 2 3 2 94 3.55 0 00 IP I 9 IF 5 1 0 0 0 3 38 ER BB SO NP ERA Belcher 1, 0-1 Jacome NEWYORK Key 1-1 MRIvera Wickman 1 1 0 7 70 4.60 start for the Yankees until April 23 in Kansas City.

Rogers, who has a $20 million contract, left for Tampa Thursday night and will throw in an extended spring training game today. Then he'll return to New York and pitch in relief if needed and return to Tampa to throw April 17 if he is not. He'll re-join the Yankees for good in Minnesota April 19 or 20. "I don't look too; far ahead anymore," Rogers said. Rogers, 3 1, was expected to be the Yankees' No.

2 starter behind David Cone, but was hit hard in spring training, where his work was limited after he was hit in the back with a line drive. With Jimmy Key, who pitched five strong innings to beat the Royals Thursday, ahead of schedule in his comeback from shoulder surgery, and the Yankees committed to giving Dwight Goo-den a chance, there was no spot for Rogers in the rotation. Now he's considered the No. 5 starter, which, with so many off days and rainouts, the Yankees won't need for a while. "If we didn't have three postponements the first week, then Kenny would have started Saturday in Texas and this is all moot," manager Joe Torre said.

Before the season, when Torre named Melido Perez, since injured, the fifth starter and said Rogers would go to the bullpen, Rogers was angry. Said Torre: "He thought he did something wrong, or I was upset about something. I think we've finally gotten him past that." Wetteland unavailable Steve Howe got the final four outs in the Yankees' 5-3 victory. John Wetteland, who would have pitched the save-situation ninth, was not available because of a strained muscle on his right side. Paul Gibson, who pitched for the Yankees in 1993 and '94, and in spring training, signed a minor league contract and 0 0 3 0 36 000 2 2 0 1 27 9.00 is IV, walked nine.

Prince also hit a homer, triple and drove in five runs: Howe 1 0 0 0 0 19 MRIvera Ditched to 8 batters in 7th. Umexi-Hnma Welke: First, Brlnkman; Second, Kaiser; Third, Cousins. A-1 7,51 9 Crystal Blair went 5-for-6 with Staff reports John Kubachka, Larry Papuga and Rob Baehr hit consecutive home runs in an 1 1-run third inning as Xavier-Middletown (2-0) defeated Hillhouse (0-1) 20-3 in an SCC interdivisional baseball game Thursday in New Haven. Xaiver, which had 16 hits, also scored seven runs in the first inning. Kubachka (two doubles, four RBI), Ross Aresco (three RBI) and Tim Magner each had three hits for Xavier.

Hillhouse's Tobe Carberry, in his first game since missing last season with an ankle injury, hit a two-run homer in the seventh. In other baseball games: Wright Tech-Stamford 15, Prince Tech-Hartford 3: Dave Morales hit a three-run homer and Enrique Valentin a three-run double to highlight a 12-run fifth inning as Wright Tech (2-1) defeated Prince Tech (0-1) in a CVTC game in Stamford. Softball Wright Tech-Stamford 28, Prince Tech-Hartford 3: Junior things would go different here," he said, smiling. "I just didn't expect it to be to this extent." Rogers, 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA with Texas last year, is heading back to Florida to throw in an extended spring game because he is not yet needed. "I just mentioned to them we should find a way to get me some work and this is what we came up with," said Rogers, who will not will report to Triple A Columbus.

With Ruben Sierra at DH, Jim Leyritz made his first start in left field since '1993. Probable pitchers for the Rangers series: David Cone (1-0) vs. Ken Hill (2-0) today, Dwight Gooden (0-1) vs. Roger Pav-lik (1-0) Saturday and Andy Pettitte (2-0) vs. Kevin Gross (2-0) Sunday.

three RBI for Wright Tech. r. Boys lacrosse South Windsor 6, Wert Haven 4i Greg Pohl scored two" goals as South Windsor (2-0) defeated host West Haven (1-1). With score tied at 4 with 4:08 left Thang Vu and Pohl each scored in a 14-second span. Ryan Joy had oneV goal and four assists and Weinstein 12 saves for South Wind- sor.

West Haven's Mike Biancur (four goals) tied the score at 4 with 7 minutes left. All that work, but Mitchell hurt Sierra gets a double, first homer Continued from Page CI IB BASEBALL SIRLS LACROSSE ByTOMYANTZ Courant Staff Writer HALL 17, WINDSORS Hall 17, Windsors Glastonbury al Conard, ppd. to April 27, 11 a.m. Mercy at Southlngton ppd. to April 17 Slmsbury at South Windsor, ppd.

TBA 1 Am BOYS VOLLEYBALL eafc Meghan Bermlngton (4); Krlsten Mullady (2), Alexis (2), Rachel Trlngall (2), Beth Barber (2), Ann Robinson, Melissa Cart Coscarelll. Megan Bruce, Lauren Haymond; Karen Per kno, Katie Scaroto, Stacy PautoV.v BOSTON If your arms are still sore from shoveling snow, consider those of the Red Sox grounds crew. Its driveway was the outfield at Fenway Park. Starting Wednesday and ending late Thursday morning, the crew of about 15 shoveled a 6-inch blanket of snow off the grass. No plows were used because of the damage they would do to the soggy turf.

The snow was put into electric SiMa Glastonbury 3, Bloomfleld 0 (15-7, Northwestern Regional 3, Hall 0 (15-13, 15-9. 15-11) HitWIlMsi Brian DeManby (5 kills). Mike Valltsky (5 kills); Jamie Hale (7 kills), Mark Teal (7 assists). Records: 1-1 0-2. Hend 3, Guilford 0(1 5-5, 15-8, 15-9) HicMtchtu Mike Fllanwoskl (6 kills), Walt Welch (4 kills).

Records: 3-0; 0-2. BASEBALL CCC Wests Glastonbury at Conaro Windsor si Bloomfleld; Hall at Slme- bury. CCC EaebEaat Hartford at Far- 1 CCCEast Enfield al Hartford Public, ppd. to Tuesday at Enfield Windham at Manchester, ppd. to Tuesday CCCSeutk New Britain at Piatt, ppd.

to Tuesday Bristol Central at Bulkeley, ppd. to April 18 CCCWest Conard 13, Bloomfleld 1 Windsor 12, Weaver 2 NWC Berlin at Farmlngton, ppd. to today St. Paul at East Catholic, ppd. to April 23 coc East Hampton at Portland, ppd.

TBA Berkshire Gilbert at Northwestern, ppd. TBA Nonnewaug at Thomaston, ppd. to April 23 SCC Mar Xavier 20, Hillhouse 3 Cheshire al Hamden, ppd. to today Notre Dame-West Haven at East Haven ppd. to April 20, 10:30 a.m.

Shsehan at Branf ord, ppd. to Saturday, 10:30 am. West Haven at North Haven, ppd. to April 20 NVL Crosby al Naugatuck, ppd. to April 20, 1 p.m.

Sacred Heart vs. Kennedy, ppd. TBA Wolcott at Watertown, ppd. to Saturday, 1 p.m. TorrlngtonatWIlby, ppd.

to April 18, site TBA Associated Press Roger Clement talks thing over with pitching coach Al Nipper in the third inning Thursday. I H.HI and no sign that there was anything wrong with his rotator cuff." Key, who will be 35 this month, was 35-10 for the Yankees in 1993 and '94, but made only five starts in 1995. After surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff, Key was not expected back until the middle of this season and it was not certain he'd be the same. He was Thursday, for 19 batters and 70 pitches. "He wanted to stay in," Torre said, "but he didn't fight me too much This is a big-picture thing.

We're not just out to win one game with him. This is why we can't get overly excited. He has made remarkable progress, but he did have major surgery." Key gave up a run in the second when Mike Macfarlane doubled to left, moved to third on a grounder and scored on Joe Vitiello's sacrifice fly to center a ball Bernie Williams dropped for a two-base error. Kev struck out the next two. CCCWest CONARD 13, BLOOM FIELD 1 turn MSM1-U I MSN- 1 I 4 South Windsor at Enfield; Windham.

at Rockvttte. CCC Senate Bristol Cen- tral at Southlngton; Piatt at BulkeleyM (Colt Park); Brletot Eastern at Matc ney: New Britain at Newtngton NWCi PlainvUle at St Thomas Aqul-' nas; St. Paul at MkMetown; North-, west Catholic at East CathoKc. COCi Cromwell at East Hampton: Lyman Memorial at Coventry; RHAM at Be--v con Academy; Bolton at Cheney Tech; Vlnal Tech at Portland. NCCd 1 Ellington at Somera; Eaat Windsor at E.O.

Smith; Tolland at Stafford: Avon at Windsor Looks; SuffleM at Granby, Canton at Eaat Granby i CVTCt O'Brien Tech at Bullard Han. i. vena; Goodwin Tech at Kaynor Tech; Piatt Tech at Prince Tech; Norwich Tech at Wright Tech; WH- cox Tech at Whitney Tech. BenV aklrei Litchfield at Wamogo:" Thomaston at Wolcott Tech; Lewie Mills at Terryville; Housatonic Re- i glonal at Northwestern Regional, 3:45 p.m.; Shepaug Valley at Gll- Nick Allgaler and Jon Martin; George Garrison, Marco Romero (1), David Quay (4) and Ashley Cul-len. WP Allgaler; LP Garrison.

HR: Ricky Barrett, Peter Ruff, golf carts with wagons and small payloaders, which left the field on sections of plywood. The snow was loaded into dump trucks beneath the stands. Despite these efforts and those required for much of the seating area including shoveling and spraying with hoses the game against Minnesota was delayed 90 minutes. It started at 2:35 p.m. Water was squeegeed into outfield surface drains and many wheelbarrows of drying agent were spread on the warning track around the park and over other wet areas around the outfield.

Stiil, the outfield was soggy for the game, which the Twins won, 6-5. The sloshy outfield may have contributed to right fielder Kevin Mitchell straining his left hamstring in the seventh when he caught Dave Hollins' before he caught it, he hit a wet spot," manager Kevin Kennedy said. "That was one of the dangers we were concerned about." Mitchell had to leave the game and is listed as day-today. I "The conditions were terrible," Mo Vaughn said. "I'm surprised no one else pulled a muscle." David voipe.

Records: conard l-u Bloomfleld 0-1 WINDSOR 12, WEAVER 2 The Red Sox rewarded the 15,594 fans the smallest crowd at Fenway since July 22, 1994, against Seatttle (11,776) with complimentary tickets for a game during the next homestand: April 24-25 against Texas, April 26-28 against Kansas City, April 30-May 1 against Detroit and May 3-5 against Toronto. Fans need to exchange ticket stubs at the Red Sox ticket office. Exchanges will start Saturday at 9 a.m. and tickets are subject to availability. The bleachers and right field corner seats were closed because snow still remained.

Charles Nagy (1-0, 1 .50 ERA) who attended UConn, is scheduled to start for the Cleveland Indians tonight against Aaron Sele (0-0, 5.40). The last time Nagy pitched against the Red Sox was in Game 3 of the American League Division Series Oct. 6. He was the winning pitcher (seven innings, one run) in the 8-2 victory that sent the Indians to the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners. The scheduled matchups the rest of the series are Dennis Martinez (1-1, 3.21) vs.

Jamie Moyer (1-0, 1.64) Saturday, Chad Ogea (first start) vs. Tom Gordon (1-1, 5.1 1) Sunday and Jack McDowell (0-1, 2.77) vs. Tim Wakefield (0-1, 9.64) Monday. Westbrook at Haddam-Killlng- worth, ppd. to April 22 CVTC Wright Tech 15, Prince Tech 3 in sms in Kim i "Same Jimmy," Royals manager Josue Zamora, David Terrerro (4) Bullard-Havens at Norwich Tech, ppd.

to Tuesday and Kereme Morren; lodd gamer' bod tsoone saw. "Me nas tne same old sinker, and he's tough to knock Cheney Tech al Ellis Tech, ppd. on and 'Brendan Leveaque WP Cameron; LP Zamora. Wl I OA Piatt Tech at O'Brien Tech, ppd. Hector Rodriguez.

Records: 1-1 I OA Windsor 1-0. SCC Inter SOFTBALL our. his velocity is coming back. The Yankees scored all five runs, two earned, in the second when the Royals handled the ball as if it was still snowing. Ruben Sierra tied oen, 30 p.m.

aaenoeai neoaerrf; r-Kllllngworth at Valley Regional' 1 (Wlnthrop Middle); cogtnehaug at Hale-Ray: Morgan at Old Saybrook. Prapei Mary Immaculate at W8-Ifama, 3:45 p.m. ECCr New London at Klllingry, 3:46 p.m.; NFA at Ston--Ington, 3:45 p.m. SCC Wan Shsfton' at Notre Dame-West Heven, 2 p.m.;: 1 Brenford at Wilbur Croea; Derby at, Weet Haven; Lyman Hal at Hand, 3:45 p.m.; Xavier at North Haven; Guilford at Sheehan. 3 :45 p.m.; Der-, CCCSeUi XAVIER 20, HILLHOUSE 1 Piatt at New Britain ppd.

to Tuesday Mar 7(U)IM-M I IIM2 14 1 Hartford Public at Weaver, ppd. to wiin a nomer into tne upper aecK in right, his first. Mike LaBella. Matt Way (5), Jason Serra (7) and Larry Papuga, John Redway(5); Ramer Wadley, Reggie by at West Heven. Mb Torrlngton at Anaonia (Nolan Field): Stored "I was aggressive today, a little more," said Sierra, who doubled off wadley (2), Ronald Butler (4), Tobe Carberry (5) and AMn DeSHva, Naehring's home run not enough the center field wall in the seventh Frank Jones (8).

WP LaBella: Heart at Croeby; Holy Cross at Sey- mour; Wolcott at Naugatuck; Water-town at WHby. Othersi Darien at St Joseph. LP R. Wadley. HR John Kubachka, Larry Papuga, Rob "I was swinging the bat good, but I wasn't hitting the ball hard, the way Baenr; tobe carberry.

SOFTBALL April a CCCWest Conard at Bloomfleld, ppd. to April 18 NCCC Avon at Granby. pdd. 10 April 25 East Windsor at Tolland, ppd. to May 2 COC Cromwell at Portland, ppd.

TBA Vinal Tech at Rocky Hill, ppd. to May 11, 11 am. NVL Kennedy at Sacred Heart, ppd. to April 18 SCC Inter Hamden at Amity, ppd. to April 20, 10:30 a.m.

CVTC Wright Tech 28, Prince Tech 3 (5) Records: Xavier 2-0; Hillhouse 0-1. Twins 6. Red Sox 5 CVTC WRIGHT tech is, prince tech 3 us nit- ill eel 12)1 Stt I Elliott Navaro, Jaaon Aponta (5), HM AVG 1 2 2 .333 0 I 0 .156 0 1 0 233 0 1 0 .194 0 0 0 .176 OH jN 0 0 0 .161 0 0 273 2 0 0 .091 1 2 9 2M BOSTON AB Greenwell If JnVaJantnu i Canaecodh I MVaughn tb 4 Mitchell if i Hoaeycl Cordaro2b 3 O'Learycf-rf 9 Stanley 9 Naehrlng3b 4 Tot IS HM AVG I tl 10 0 .179 1 1 1 .424 0 0 .476 0 0 0 .100 0 0 0 .141 1 2 1 333 ma 1 0 0 .391 0 0 0 .115 III MINNESOTA Knoblach2b 4 Lawton rf 4 Molitor dh 9 DHollinaab 4 Rabouletto 1 GMyersc 4 RKally ct 5 Stahoviak lb i Maaraast 1 Backer If Tot 34 Witfrado Santiago (5) and Roberto Santiago; Enrique Valentin, John Purdy (2), Ed Velei (7) and Rudy BOYS TRACK Dejesus. wp purdy; LP A ponte. HR Dave Morales.

Prince Tech 0-1 Wright Tech 2-1 Ellington 133, Rocky Hill 21 Fermi 91, West Springfield (Mass.) 45 Hartford Public 123, Eaal Hartford 24 Putnam 73, Old Saybrook 88 011 010 030-5 8 2 000 020 003-5 7 3 MINNESOTA BOSTON GIRLS TRACK CCC West! Slmsbury at Hal; Conard-. at Glastonbury: Bloomfleld at Wind- sor: Wethersfleld at Weaver. CCC last! Fermi at East Hartford; HartJ ford Public at Manchester; Rook-, vine at Windham: South Windsor at Enfield. CCC leetta Maloney at Br Is-. 1 tol Eastern; Southlngton at Bristol.

i Central; Newington at New Britain; Bulkeley at Piatt. NWCi Farmlngton' at Berlin; St. Thomas Aqukiaa at PlalnvKle; Eaat CathoHo at North-' weal Catholic; MkMletown at Paul. COCt Cromwell at Lyman Memorial at RHAM; Bacon, Academy at Bolton. NCCCi E.O.

Smith at East Windsor; Somara at Ellington; Wlndaor Locke at Avon; Granby at Suftleld; Stafford at Tol-' land; East Granby at Canton. CVTCf Kaynor Tech at Goodwin Tech; Prince Teoh at Piatt Tech. Bertiaairei' Litchfield at Wamogo; Northweet-r ern at Housatonic; Terryville at Lewie Mills, 3:45 p.m. Nsajaraaai Anaonia at Torrlngton. SkereBeas Haddam-KHIIngworth at Valley glonal; Morgan at Old Prsaet Mary Immaculate at WH- Kama, 3:46 p.m.

ECCl KHHngfy (I New London, 3:45 p.m.; Slomngton at NFA, 3:45 p.m. QVCl Woodstock i. at Pariah HW 3:45 p.m.; Graseo Tech at Ellis Tech, 1:30 m. SCC Mm Wilbur Croea at Weal Haven at Derby; Mercy at Cheshire; Hand at Lyman Hal, 3:45 p.m.; Eaat Haven at Sacred Heart; Sheehan at Guilford. Otksni Old Lyme at North Haven, I p.m.

CVTC E-DHolllna (1), QMyara (1), JnValantln (3), MVaughn (1), Naehrlng (1). LOB-Mlnnaaota 10, Boston 7. 2B-Molltor (4), RKally (1). Stahoviak (2). MVaughn (1).

HR-Greenwell (1) off Radke; Naehrlng (2) off Stevens. RBI-Molltor (5), RKelly IS), Stahoviak (3), Qreenwell 2 (6), Naehrlng 3 (5). SB-Knoblauch (2), Lawton (1), Molitor (1), Meares (1). Ellington 98, Rocky Hill 38 Wethersfleld 66vy Enfield 4014 BOYS TENNIS WRIGHT TECH 2S, PRINCE TECH 1(5) Fairfield Prep 7, West Haven 0 a Mearea. up Minnesota i ooaron i ER BB SO MINNESOTA Frews Tera ncMfet hi et i it 471 (17)! I Granby 7, Canton 0 Hall 7, Bristol Central 0 Lawton grounded to Mo Vaughn, who allowed the ball to go between his legs.

Stahoviak scored and so did Knoblauch, all the way from first. Cordero retrieved the ball in shallow right, but his throw home was up the third base line. Lawton stole second and scored on Molitor's double to left-center. There could have been a play on Molitor, but Dwayne Hosey threw wide to second. Vaughn refused to blame the condition of the field, which had been pounded by a wet snowstorm Tuesday night and Wednesday.

"I've made that play 1,000 times before," he said. "I don't know how it got by me." Twins starter Brad Radke (3-0, 1.42) became the first in the majors to win three, allowing four hits, two unearned runs and two walks in six innings, and striking out seven. In the ninth, Naehring followed walks to Troy O'Leary and Stanley with a first-pitch homer off Dave Stevens. Stevens retired Greenwell, Valentin and Jose Canseco to earn his second save. After the game, Vaughn was still shaking his head over his error: "I don't know how it got through me." It has been a familiar lament for the Red Sox.

you line. I got started today." With two out, Joe Girardi beat out a roller down the third base line and took third on Andy Fox's first major league hit. Girardi scored on a double steal as Fox got in under the tag. It was the Yankees' second steal of home; Dion James did it on a double steal Sunday. "We're not tearing the cover off the ball," Torre said.

"That's one of our weapons." Said Girardi: "That's a first for me. I'd like to take the base home, but it's hard to get home plate." Derek Jeter and Wade Boggs walked to load the bases, and two runs scored when third baseman Joe Randa bobbled Jim Leyritz's grounder and threw wildly. Paul O'Neill singled to left to make it 5-1 Starter Tim Belcher (0-1, 3.55) pitched five innings and Jason Jacome three, shutting out the Yankees the rest of the way. With Key gone, Kansas City threatened in the seventh. Bob Wickman, who inherited a bases-loaded, no-out situation from Mariano Rivera, got out of it by striking out David Howard and getting Bip Roberts on a 1-2-3 double play.

After Wickman allowed three hits, including Vitiello's two-run double in the eighth, Steve Howe got the final four outs for his first save. Continued from Page CI ah error. But the Twins' run was tainted. Paul Molitor's blooper fell for a single in front of Kevin Mitchell in right. Neither second baseman WilXordero nor Mitchell got any kind of jump.

After Molitor stole second, Roberto Kelly lined a two-out double off the base of the wall in center to put the Twins ahead, 2-0. In the fifth, with Kelly on first and two outs, Valentin was the target of more boos from the crowd of 15,594. Scott Stahoviak doubled off The Wall. Kelly had just rounded Valentin caught the relay from Mike Greenwell. Valentin hesitated before he threw home, and Kelly slid under the tag of Mike Stanley.

"Tim was screaming at me to throw home but I didn't hear him," Valentin said. "That play, a man scoring from first on a double off The Wall, usually doesn't happen." Kennedy said Roger Clemens (0-2, 3.00 ERA) deserved a better fate. He had a good fastball and struck out eight in six innings. He allowed six hits and walked four, throwing 129 pitches. As for the defense, Clemens said, "It was disheartening.

The culmination came in the eighth against reliever Mike Mad- Maloney 7, Piatt 0 EM 1.42 3.24 1.31 110 ERA 3.00 Prlcllla Mendez, Yantra Cosme () 0 2 7 0 0 1 2 2 0 1 0 0 ER BB SO I 1 1 1 I Radke 94 Mahomet Guardado Stevens 2 BOSTON Clemens 0-2 MMaddux Notre Dame-West Haven 4, Xavier 3 Shepaug 4, Gilbert 1 Windsor 8. South Windsor 1 Fermi at Bulkeley, ppd. to April 17 and Betty Perez; Stacyann Prince and Crystal Blair. WP Prince; LP Mendez. HR: Prince.

Records: Prince Tech 0-1: Wrloht 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 It in 13 22 SO Belinda Tech 1-0. SIRLS TENNIS Guardado pitched to 2 batters In Bth. HBP-by Branford 4, Mercy 3 MMaddux (Knooiaucn). re-UMyere. umem-nome.

Kosc; First, Clark: Second, Morrison: Third, Bar-nett. A-1 5,594 (33.871 Cheshire 7, East Haven 0 PlainvUle 5, Aqukiaa 2 South Windsor 4, Windsor 3 Wethersfleld 7, Piatt 0 Bloomfleld at Enfield, ppd. to May 2 Bristol Central at Conard, ppd. to April 24 SOUTH WINDSOR WEST HAVEN 4 GIRLS LACROSSE I I 1 4 111 I 1 1 0-1) BOYS LACROSSE NFA at Guilford, 4 p.m.; Conard at Southlngton, 3:30 p.m. SW Greg Pohl (21; Ryan Joy, Brandon Hemp, The no Vu, Clrrf BOYS VOLLEYBALL South Windsor 8.

West Haven 4 Minnechaug (Mass.) at HaH, ppd. TBA Southlngton at Avon, ppd. to today, Rios: WH Mike Biancur (2), Chris Guarino. Keith Malia. lain: SW Mike Weinstein.

12; WH Frank Dellavalla. 14. dux, the second of three Red Sox pitchers. The Red Sox had gotten to 3-2 on Greenwell's two-run homer in the fifth. His first of the season, to right-center, tied Fred Lynn for 14th on the Red Sox career homer list at 124.

But with runners on first and second and two outs in the eighth, Matt East Hartford at Simabury; Glaston-bury at Hall; Northweetern Regional at Conard; Enfield at Newington. i 4 p.m. Southern officials decide to sit out lacrosse season Navigators win in 11th, remain unbeaten By DAVID HEUSCHKEL Courant Staff Writer Representatives from the Southern Connecticut Lacrosse Officials Association informed the CIAC Thursday they would not work this season, CIAC executive director Mike Savage said. The southern board's refusal to officiate high school games in Fairfield Country stems from a new deal that would cut game fees starting next season. According to the three-year deal accepted by the northern board of officials last week, southern officials would be paid $65 a game this year, but $58.50 next year and $60 the following year.

Southern officials have been paid $65 the past four years. "There will be no next meeting as far as the CIAC is concerned, unless the request comes from the southern board," Savage said. "There are a number of replacement that are available that Fairfield County athletic directors will be working with." Savage said he received a call', before the meeting from a Fairfield i County athletic administrator ask- ing the CIAC to authorize the for-mation of a lacrosse officials group to work southern games. "Our response is we do not authb- rize," Savage said. "If there is a group of individuals interested in officiating lacrosse, they have the right to organize and seek business from those schools.

We've given them the green light to do that We're not going to be a party to the' demise of the Southern Connecticut Lacrosse Officials Association." Savage said officials of the north- ern board have offered to help cover games betweh southern schools. Replacement 6fficials are also be-' ing considered. out grounder by Jason Moler. With two outs, Dan Held singled in Jeremy Kendell, who reached on a walk. Rock Cats' home opener tonight: The Hardware City Rock Cats open their new $10 million stadium tonight at 7 against the New Haven Ravens.

Construction of the stadium began in June and was funded mostly by state money. The New Britain franchise had played at Beehive Field since 1983. The new park has 12 skyboxes, two picnic pavilions, a store with Rock Cats merchandise and a 69-foot video scoreboard. The Rock Cats won their first three games before losing 9-6 to Binghamton Wednesday. The Rock (Cats are led by third baseman Chad Roper, who is hitting .474 with one homer and four RBI.

Mark Foster (0-1) took the loss. The Navigators got a solid performance from righthander Rafael Medina, who allowed five hits and three walks and struck out eight in five innings. After allowing one in the first, the Navigators got to righthander Carlton Loewer early. Loewer was Philadelphia's top draft pick in 1994 out of Mississippi State, but Norwich figured him out. After Pledger's home run tied it, Norwich scored two more runs on singles by Sloan Smith and Ledee.

Norwich made it 4-1 in the third when Ledee singled in Tate See-fried, who reached on an error to start the inning. The Phillies scored one in the fifth and ted it in the ninth. Bobby Estalella Angled off Matt Dunbar to start the ninth and scored on a one- By ROBERTO GONZALEZ Courant Staff Writer They had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the 11th. There was no way the Norwich Navigators could lose. Right? Right.

But it wasn't easy. First Ricky Ledee struck out. Therj Grant Fithian did the same. But Dan Donato dropped a first-pitch single into left field and the Navigators had a 5-4 victory over the Reading Phillies before 4,471 in the home opener at Dodd Stadium in Norwich. didn't think I'd get a chance to hit that inning," Donato said after the Navigators improved to 5-0.

"With the type of hitter Ledee is, I thought for sure he'd win it. Fithian Eastern League isn't a bad hitter either." So Donato, who singled in the first but had done nothing after, followed a simple philosophy: "I just told myself to go out aggressively and just try and enjoy it. Fortunately, it dropped in." Center fielder Kinnis Pledger had a home run and three singles for Norwich. The homer led off the bottom of the first. "That home run set the tone for me," Pledger said.

"I hadn't been swinging the bat well to that point and it gave me confidence to continue on." Dan Rios (1-0), the Navigators' fifth pitcher, got the victory, allowing one hit in 2 Vs innings..