The Daily News from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania • Page 5

Bearcat Tossers Unsettled "Our situation is very unsettled at this stage, probably more so than at any time in my eight years as coach," Huntingdon's Ed Hoffman reports on the Bearcat baseball outlook. "The potential is there, but we've got to position the players to get the best nine on the field at the same time. No spot is considered 'sewed up' and we'll have to rely heavily on underclassmen with only four seniors on the Huntingdon has six lettermen among the 34 candidates and is hoping to improve upon last year's 8-6 season mark. The Bearcats gained a share of the Huntingdon-Mifflin Counties League title with a 6-2 log, but lost a 5-4 playoff to champ Lewistown. Veterans on hand include seniors Bob Perow (inf-of), Marty Kyper (inf-p) and Tim Henry (2b), and juniors Tim Shetrom, (cf), Joe Hammers (c) and Tim Kyper (p-of).

"A lot depends on how things go early in the season. The kids have to commit themselves right from the beginning," Hoffman stresses. Jim Park is again serving as assistant coach. Huntingdon's 14-game card opens Tuesday, March 30, against visiting State College. The complete schedule: MARCH College APRIL At Juniata Valley Tyrone (2).

1:30 p.m. Union At Chief Logan Hollidaysburg Lewistown Valley Mount Union MAY Logan Altoona, 8 p.m. MH League Games Midland After Another Title By POHLA SMITH HERSHEY, Pa. (UP1) Perennial PI A A Class AA contender Midland, in the finals for the fifth time in six years, has proven its earlier District 7 title victory over Turtle Creek was no fluke. The Leopards downed the Eagles 62-55 Thursday night in the semifinals of the state tournament, but they left the floor silently.

Coach Ed Olkowski sealed the locker room door and let no one in. "I wouldn't say the boys are down, but there's no whooping and shouting in the locker room tonight," Olkowski said. "They know they played a bad game tonight, and they know they are going to have to play a whole lot better Saturday night if we're going to win the championship." There are probably many who would agree with Olkowski's assessment of his team's play, but there is at least one person who believes favorite Midland is beatable: Holy Ghost Pep Coach Tom Kaczor. Kaczor's District 1 run- nerup got the right to meet Midland with a 63-48 semifinal victory over District 3 run- nerupWyomissing. "I think we are a better team atid we're going to beat them," Kaczor predicted Thursday night.

"If we don't shoot well they are going to run on us. So the key to beating them is to get the ball in the basket because it's easier to fast break on a rebound. We're going to have to stop (Chuck) Gomez and (Jim) Slappy. They did all the shooting." Gomez, a standout football player, scored 24 points and smooth Slappy had 18 as the Leopards broke away from the Eagles in the fourth quarter. The Leopards will have to keep their eyes on 6-6 Holy Ghost standout Mark Spain, who will be looking for a chance to revert to his widely recruited form after being limited to six points by Wyomissing.

Three teammates more than made up for Spain's low output. John Curley had 17 points, Dave McKenna 15 and Kevin Cuskley 13. "They were too agile for our big men," said Wyomissing Dick Sherry. 'The team lost its composure and started taking wild shots. We couldn't catch up that way." Rockets Seeking Balance Southern Huntingdon track and field coach Ted Nypaver is trying to work more balance into the program.

The trackmen had to carry the load last spring as the Rockets turned in a 4-5 record. Nypaver hopes to switch some of the track boys into field events hoping to get the necessary balance. "We have experience in practically all phases of the track events. Most of our depth is in the mid to long distance races. We hope to come up with better scoring balance in our meets this 1 Nypaver commented.

The Rockets have nine lettermen among the 30 candidates while four others just missed earning their monograms. Returning veterans include seniors Randy Shives (distance, hurdles,) Greg Ott (mid and longdistance), Gary Mitchell (880, mile and relay), Brian Peterson, (dash, triple, jump, long jump) and Tom O'Donell (triple lump, high jump and long jump); and sophomores Alan Painter (distance, shot put), Dana Wright (pole vault, 220, triple jump), Tim Bair (440, 880, relay) and Rich Nearhood (dashes). Senior Mark Black (shot put, discus), junior Mark Kimmel (440, intermediate hurdles, relay) and sophomores Terry Cohenour (pole vault) and Bob Colyer (javelin, dahses) fell just short of letters. Frank Baker is assisting Nypaver with the track program. The Rockets open their schedule Wednesday, March 31, against visiting Northern Bedford.

The complete schedule: MARCH Bedford APRIL Mountain So. Huntingdon and So. Fulton at Tussey Mountain Valley Southern Fulton 20-Hancock, Md. and Fulton at So. Huntingdon 27-AtMcConnellsburg WAY 3-At West Perry Kishacoquillas So.

HILTON HEAD, S.C. (UPI) Three Pennsylvania golfers finished in the top six Thursday in the opening round of the Heritage Golf Classic. Jim Simons of Butler was in a twelve-way tie for fourth place with a three points behind first-round leader Bob Murphy who led the pack with Jerry McGee, of Danville, shot a and Pittsburgh's Jim Masserio shot a 38-33-71. Message Clear To Union Girls HERSHEY, Pa. (UPI) Union's male co-coaches couldn't even go into the locker room at the half, but their message apparently got through.

"You tell the girls to hurry up with their business in there," a base voice belonging to either co-coach Bll Eustice or Ed Jamison was heard to shout at the half of the Golden Damsel's Class AA semifinal with Sharon Kennedy Cristian Thursday. "We've got some things to discuss." There was no real need to rush. The well disciplined District 9 champion already was leading 26-11 and it coasted from there to a 54-34 victory, its 24th straight. The Damsels tried today for their 25th win and state championship against District 1 itlist Darby-Colwyn, which earned a 48-42 semifinal victory over St. PiusXofPottstown.

The losers met this morning in a consolation match. In girls' Class AAA action later today, Allenown Dieruff met Emmaus in a semifinal and a replay of their District 1 title game which Emmaus won. District 9 Bradford met District 7 runnerup Franklin Regional in the other semifinal. The previously Golden Eagles, now 27-1, were no match for the Damsels. Using a fast break and a tight zone defense, Union won the game in the first quarter, running up a 13-3 lead.

The Damsel scoring was balanced. Jody Heeler had 11 points. Boef Vidunas and Dianna Roland each had eight points and La Donna Shick seven. Gloria Pasci and Carol Baumbeck scored eight each for Kennedy. Silky smooth Tanya Criston led the way to Darby-Colwyn's victory with a game high 23 points.

The Lions, who fell to 18-3, were led by Cathy Glutz and Vicki Oleski with 12 points each. Murphy Leads Heritage Golf By DAVID MOFFIT Sports Writer. HILTON HEAD, S.C. (UPI) Bob Murphy is a movie buff. Not your ordinary buff, mind you.

He makes movies of himself whenever he has trouble with his golf swing. That, explains Murphy, is how he cured himself of driving the ball too far left. And that's why he's the leader going into today's second round of the star-filled, $215,000 Heritage Golf Classic at this luxury island resort. "I'd been hitting three, four shots a round to the left and it was really frustrating me," the portly Floridian said. "I went home after my finish last week (at Jacksonville) and took some stop-action Huntingdon Loses Tenth Volley Game The Huntingdon girls' volleyball team lost its tenth and final game of the season Thursday to Central at home.

The Bearcats were defeated in two games 15-8 and 15-12. "Both games were close and exciting," said Bearcat Coach Judy Weller. "There were a lot of volleys, dives, set-ups and hustle in both games. "It's been an up and down season for us. But think the girls have improved 70 per cent since the beginning of the season," the coach added.

Huntingdon's junior varsity team lost to Central in three games. The Bearcats dropped the first game 15-11. won the second 15-12 but lost the final 154. The Bearcats, who closed the season at the 0-10 mark, are looking ahead to next year, according to the coach, when they will have most of their starters returning. pictures.

"I hit balls for about five straight hours before I figured out what was wrong. My left hand was gripping the club too strong. I was hitting the ball farther, but I had lost my rhythm." Murphy was right on target Thursday when he shot a five- birdie, no bogey 66 in the opening round of the Heritage Classic. That gave him a one- stroke lead over veteran Don January and two over a large group of 68 shooters, including Hubert Green who won at Doral two weeks ago and won last week at Jacksonville. Gibby Gilbert, Dave Stockton, John Schroeder, Butch Baird, Peter Oosterhuis, Danny Edwards, and Marty Fleckman all shared third place with Green at the start of today's play.

Hale Irwin, this year's leading money winner and champion here in 1971 and 1973, was in a huge group at 2-under 69 that included Gary Player, J.C. Snead, and Tom Weiskopf. Lee Trevino was at even-par7l. Defending champion Jack Nicklaus was upset with himself after opening with a 1-over 72 "which could just as easily have been a 68." But he was a lot better off than former Hilton Head resident Johnny Miller, winner here in 1972 and 1974, who opened witha4-over75. Schroeder lay claim to the wildest first round of all those who shot in the 60s Thursday.

Schroeder hogeyed four of the first six holes to go 4 over then birdied eight of the last 12. "The first six holes." said Schroeder with a shrug, "Iput the ball in the center of every fairway and then couldn't hit the green." Fluke Goal Aids Boston STEVE KRAUSE. United Press International. "A goal like that happens to a player once in 10 years," said Jean Ratelle, "and this was it." Ratelle was talking about his fluke goal Thursday night that started the Boston Bruins to a 4-2 win over the Chicago Black Hawks. The victory moved Boston to within two points of clinching first place in the NHL Adams Division.

Ratelle's goal tied the game at 1-1 at 5:22 of the second period and Hank Nowak scored the tie-breaker at 8:07 on an equally peculiar play. Chicago had taken a 1-0 lead at 2:16 of the period on a goal by Pit Martin. But while the Bruins were on a power play, Ratelle, from an impossible angle to the side of the Chicago net, tried to pass the puck into a swarm of players crowding near the crease. Instead, the puck bounced off a skate and behind suprised goalie Gillcs Villemure. Less than three minutes later, Nowak batted a pass in front in an effort to keep the puck moving.

It hit J.P. Bordeleau and bounded into the net to put Boston ahead for good. "AH I was trying to do was get the puck in front of the net," said Ratelle. "I didn't even see it deflect. You know, a goal like that happens to a player once in 10 years and this was it.

It's the first time it's ever happened to me. It was lucky and so was Hank's. But it was two goals and two points. Who cares how we get 'em." The actual-game winner, at 19:10 of the second stanza, was more conventional. Bobby Schmautz fed Wayne Cashman at the goal mouth and he lifted the puck into the net and Boston led, 3-1.

Boston's Terry O'Reilly and Chicago's Dennis Hull scored goals in the third period. In other NHL games, Philadelphia defeated the New York Rangers, 4-1, and St. Louis trounced Pittsburgh, 5-2. In the World Hockey Association, Indianapolis topped Houston, 4-3, Quebec downed Edmonton, 7-5, and San Diego routed Cincinnati, 9-1. Blues 5, Penguins 2:.

Chuck Lefley scored two goals to offset a record first period tally by Pittsburgh's Jean Pronovost and give St. Louis the victory. Pronovost's goal, his 51st, came just six seconds into the game. Lefley's goals gave him a team record tying 41. Flyers 4 Rangers 1:.

Gary Inness kicked out 36 of 37 New York shots in his Philadelphia debut to give the Flyers their NHL record 34th home ice victory. Tom Bladon, Bill Barber, Andre Dupont and Don Saleski scored the Flyer goals. Rene Leclerc's second goal of the game in overtime pushed Indianapolis past Houston Marc Tardif scored his 65th and 66th goals to guide Quebec past Edmonton and Norm Ferguson also scored twice to pace San in its clobbering of Cincinnati. THI DAILY NEWS, Huntingdon and Mount Union, March 26, 1976 PAGE 5 Rifle Shoot To Be Sunday The Huntingdon County 4-H Junior Rifle Club will hold a trophy shoot Sunday, March 28, at the Alexandria Sportsmen's Club. All members of the club are eligible to enter and trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in Classes and C.

Competition starts at 8 a.m. Sunday and concludes at 4p.m. There will be three matches on the program of shooting at a stationary target with .22 caliber rifles. The first is a four-position match which includes 20 shots from the standing, prone, sitting and kneeling positions. The second match is prone position only for those shooters who do not desire to enter the four-position division.

The other match is a four-man team. Refreshments will be available at the site. Healthy Portland Has Wilkins Smiling Again The dreams that fill Portland Coach Lenny Wilkins' head these days are not of winning National Basketball Association championships. They are simply of seeing his team healthy. His Trail Blazer squad, playing as a healthy unit for its fifth straight game, Thursday night held off the Washington Bullets for a 108-105 National Basketball Association victory and its fourth win during that span.

"Man, how I like to see these guys play when they are healthy," said Wilkins. "I saw it for seven games to begin the season and I have seen it for the last five. If that's any indication, we could really be powerful." The most prominent addition during those last five games has been 6-11 center Bill Walton, who missed 21 games with a stress fracture. Against the Bullets he had nine points and four rebounds but helped the Blazers shut off Washington's fast break in the final period. Washington, which trailed by as many as 11 points in the third period, reeled off a 13-4 outburst early in the final period and took the lead.

94-93, with 5:14 left on Len Robinson's three-point play. Then with Walton adding three free throws and rookie guard Lionel Hollins four free throws, the Blazers stormed back into the lead with an 8-2 burst. Lloyd Neal's three-point play with 2:03 left gave Portland a 106-100 lead it never lost. Neal, another of the Blazer casualties this year, plays with a face mask to protect a fractured cheek bone that caused him to miss 10 games earlier in the season. "With Neal and Walton, we have height, strength and movement," added Wilkins.

"And Hollins, why he may just become one of the NBA's finest guards before he's through." Sidney Wicks led Portland with 25 points and Neal added 17. Hollins and Geoff Petrie each had 16. Phil Chenier had 24, Len Robinson 20 and Dave Bing 17 for Washington. In other games, Buffalo ripped Cleveland, 109-94, Phoenix tripped Atlanta, 107-98 and Houston smothered Golden State, 123-104. There were no games in the American Basketball Association.

Braves 109, Cavaliers 94:. Bob McAdoo, Jim McMillian and Randy Smith combined for 86 points, including 28 in the fourth period, to spark Buffalo. McAdoo led all scorers with 36 points while McMllian added 25 and Smith 25. Dick Snyder led Cleveland with 21. Suns 107, Hawks 98:.

Paul Westphal scored 27 points to help Phoenix post its eighth straight home victory and pull the Suns to the .500 mark. Curtis Perry had 19 and Gar Heard and Alvan Adams 14 apiece for the Suns. Rockets 123, Warriors 104:.. Guards Mike Newlin and Calvin Murphy combined for 48 points to snap a three-game Houston losing streak and a four-game Golden State win string. Newlin had 26 points and Murphy 22 while Jamaal Wilkes of the Warriors led all scorers with 29.

Seaver Is Tough In First Hurdle When Tom Seaver pushed himself into the middle of the heated labor negotiations between players and which possibly might cost him his place on the New York Mets' was some speculation how all the turmoil would affect his pitching. The three-time Cy Young Award-winner tried to assure one and all that there was no need to worry. When the work was there to be done, the war of words would be left behind. Seaver got his first chance to prove his point Thursday and he responded admirably by allowing only two hits and no runs in four innings during a 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at St.

Petersburg, Fla. "It was very good," Seaver said. "It wasn't like a first game, it felt more like my third. I felt I could have pitched seven Seaver has yet to sign a contract for 1976 and last word from Met management still had the ace right-hander up for trading bids. Another important pitching spot was turned in during that exhibition game as Pete Falcone, making his Cardinal debut after his trade from San Francisco, struck out seven batters in the first three innings.

He allowed three hits and walked one. The only run of the game was scored in the sixth inning after Lou Brock opened with a single off Bob Apodaca and Bake McBride tripled. Los Angeles received two encouraging pitching performances from Don Sutton and Ron Bryant, who combined to shut out Philadelphia, 7-0, at Vero Beach, Fla. Sutton, who was 16-13 last year, yielded only two hits and struck out three in six innings and Bryant, a 24-game winner for the Giants four years ago, also was for only two hits in three innings. Davey Lopes led the Dodger attack with a double and a homer, driving in three runs.

Al Fitzmorris worked five shutout innings and Kansas City took advantage of two unearned runs in the third inning to beat the Chicago White Sox, 2-0. Fitzmorris allowed only two infield singles. In other exhibitions Thursday, John Ellis hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to lift Texas to a 10-8 victory over Baltimore; Ed Herrmann drove in two runs with three singles as California beat Oakland, 4-1; a two-run double by rookie outfielder Gene Richards and run-scoring singles by Bob Davis and Dave Winfield highlighted a six-run sixth inning that carried San Diego to an 8-5 triumph over the Chicago Cubs. Pinch-hitter Jose Morales drove home an unearned run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to enable Montreal to squeeze by Houston, 5-4; Dwight Evans hit a three-run homer and John Balaz a two- run blast to power Boston to a 7-2 victory over Minnesota; Al Oliver hit a two-run double in the sixth and made a saving catch in the bottom of the inning to help Pittsburgh beat Detroit, 4-2. Dave May scored from second on a double error by third baseman Ed Brinkman in the 10th inning to give a split squad of Atlanta Braves a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees; Bob Oliver, seeking a job with the White Sox, hit his second homer of the spring to lead Iowa of the American Association to a 5-2 success over the parent club; Alan Ashby homered to ignite a fiverun, ninth-inning rally to lift Cleveland over Milwaukee, 8-7; and Tom Paciorek and Cito Gaston had scoring singles for Atlanta's other split squad in a 7-6 win over Cincinnati.

Murtaugh Not A Bit Worried BATON ROUGE, La (UPI) Fred Schmertz, 87, for 41 years the director of the Millrose Games in New York, died Thursday at the Baton Rouge Medical Center after a long illness. Schmertz broke his hip a month after the 1974 games and never returned in any capacity to the games. He is survived by his wife, Rose; a spn. Howard, of Bellmore, N.Y-. ho succeeded him as director of the Millrose Games; a daughter, Justine Herzog, of Baton Rouge; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren Mount Union Finishes On 7-3 Record The Mount Union girls' volleyball team was defeated by State College in its last match of the season at home Thursday.

The Trojans finish with a 7-3 record. State College won the first game 15-12, Mount Union took the second one 15-13, but State College came back and won the third 15 13. "The teams were evenly matched and the games were well-played," said Trojan Coach Marge Wharton. "Overall it has been a good season. I am proud of the way the girls have developed for a second year sport.

Last year, the games were mostly serving matches. "This year the girls have come along in setting up the ball and playing more of an offensive and defensive game, "Wharton said. BILL MADDEN. Sports Writer. BRADENTON, Fla.

(UPI) Easy-going Danny Murtaugh isn't worried one bit about his Pittsburgh Pirates' chances this year. As far as Murtaugh is concerned, any problems the Pirates might have are strictly in the minds of the sports writers. "They've been saying we're not a good defensive club," says Murtaugh. "Well, maybe we weren't last year but that was because we were breaking four men in at new positions. This year they've had a season under their belts and I'm sure we'll be okay.

"Let's not also forget that if we were so bad defensively, how come we've won five out of six division championships?" The four men, who were playing relatively new positions last year, were Willie Stargell (leftfield to first base), Rennie Stennett (outfield to second base), Rchie Zisk (rightfield to left) and Frank Taveras, who played more games at shortstop than in any previous season. The Pirates' hitting image has also been magnified because they have not had three outstanding starters since the days of Vern Law, Bob Friend and Wilmer Mwell. However, 22-year old southpaw John Candelaria showed great promise upon being recalled late last year, and during the off- season, the Pirates landed 16- game winner Doc Medich from the New York Yankees. Along with Jerry Reuss (18-11) and Jim Booker (13-11), they give the Bucs their best front four in years. "Yeah," says Murtaugh "so now they're saying I've got problems in my bullpen because Ramon Hernandez (35) and Pave Giusti (36) are of advancing age.

Well, the way 1 see it, age is nothing more than experience and I'll take experience in my bullpen any day-" STRENGTHS: In Stargell (.295, 22 homers, 80 RBIs). Dave Parker (.308, 25 HR, 10 RBI) Zisk (.290, 20 HR, 75 RBI), Al Oliver (.280, 18 HR, 84 RBI) and Manny Sanguillen (.328, 58 RBI), the Pirates still have one of the most awesome hitting teams in baseball. Medich and Candelaria added to vets Reuss, Rooker and Bruce Kison give Bucs a formidable five starting pitchers. WEAKNESS: Regardless of Murtaugh's protests. Pirates are not a defensive team on a par with their closest NL East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies.

The bullpen is also suspect. NEW FACES: Medich (16-16, 3.51 ERA), is the most important one, coming over from the Yankees in the Willie Randolph trade. OUTLOOK: Unless the Phillies falter, Pirates will probably finish second in the division this time around. DETROIT (UPI) The Detroit Red Wings heard nothing encouraging Thursday on the condition of their star rookie forward, Michel Bergeron, who suffered a serious cut above his right eye in a game Wednesday night against Washington. General Manager Alex Delvecchio said club doctors reported only that the league's leading rookie goal scorer was resting comfortably at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital.

The cut on Bergeron's eyelid required four stitches to close. Today's Sport Parade MILTON RICHM AN UPI Sports Editor LAKELAND, Fla. (UPI) Rusty Staub has something he'd like to say in behalf of Cleon Jones. He doesn't think the New York Mets are "lily white." That's the first thing he wants to say and the second is that a lot of people are all wrong about Cleon Jones. Neither Staub nor Jones are with the Mets any more, but they certainly aren't in the same boat.

Staub is with the Detroit Tigers now. He has a nice new three-year contract with them at $140,000 a year and the right field job is his automatically because the Tigers gave up Mickey Lolich, who won more games for them than any other lefthander in their history, and Billy Baldwin, a fine looking young outfielder, to get him from the Mets three months ago. The Chicago White Sox got Cleon Jones for a cheese sandwich, he cost them nothing because they're not sure he can do them any good and until they are, he'll remain under a minor league contract, working out with the White Sox and hoping to land a job with them. Jones' association with the Mets suddenly ended last summer when he lost a showdown with Yogi Berra. You could say they both lost.

Jones drew his release from the ets after refusing to go to the outfield upon being instructed to do so by Berra, and Yogi lost his job as manager of the Mets not long after that. "It's unfortunate he had to have it happen," says Staub, talking of the way Jones left the Mets. "I love Cleon. He's one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet and I enjoyed being on the same club with him and playing ball with him. He's a good ballplayer, much better than he's generally given credit for.

Unfortunately, he has a certain gait, a certain way of walking and running, that prompts people to think he isn't giving it everything he has. At the end of 1973, nobody put it out there any better than he did. He was simply phenomenal, at bat, in the field, everywhere, and I don't forget that. I hope his being with the White Sox now turns out to be something good for him." When Jones reported to the White Sox training camp a couple of weeks back, a reporter asked him how he felt about the Mets and their policy toward black players. It was a loaded question because the Mets have exactly the same policy for black players they do for white ones.

Feeling rejected, though, Jones struck back. He accused the Mets of being "lily white," making something over the fact the only black players they have now are outfielder-first baseman John Milner and reliever Tom Hall. Cleon Jones hasn't changed his mind. He still believes what he said was true but I think basically he was talking out of a sense of frustration. Rusty Staub can't go along with Cleon Jones' thinking here either.

"I honestly don't think you can accuse the Mets of being 'lily he says. "Certainly, Cleon can point out where the Mets don't have too many black players right now, but if you show them a way of getting a Dave Parker or any other good black ballplayer, they'd jump. I know they would." Staub is happy with the Tigers and they're happy with him. "Our ballpark is made for a left-handed hitter like him." says Ralph Houk, the Tigers' long-ball minded manager. "As a team, we had only 30 homers by left-handed hitters last year." FRONT END ALIGNMENT 95 1170 Ajr conditioning and mag wheels extra..