Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 36

QUOTE OF THE DAY TRIVIA i Before Saturday night, when was the last time a left-handed pitcher younger than Cole Hamels struck out 15 batters in a game? (Answer at bottom of page) "They wanted to see a guy who gets more air time than I do." President Bush on his staff getting to meet Colts quarterback Peyton Manning 34 25 24 17 Facts, opinions and other fun stuff and news to use for the South Jersey sports fan on the go. Wednesday, April 25, 2007 www.courierpostonline.corasports Batting Ryan Howard third 863 votes WEB EXTRA Visit courierpostonline.comsports to cast your vote in the new poll. ONLINE POLL What has been Phillies manager Charlie Manuel's worst move of the season so far? Yelling at Howard Eskin Replacing Pat Burrell too early Moving Brett Myers to bullpen AjiLsJJi 'M tH: Ml 0 rii CALENDARTICKETS QUICK SHOT WED. THUR. FRI.

SAT. SUN. MON. TUE. I WAS I WAS FLA FLA I FLA I at ATL I at ATL 8i 7:05 3:05 7:05 7:05 1:35 7:05 7:35 CSN CSN CSN CW CW CSN CSN PAGE FROM THE PAST Once on verge of majors, Mondile now coaches lads While A -CAR'S CarofTo-; morrow has only been used for three races so Phillies ticket office: (215)463-1000; www.phillies.com TELEVISION BOXING ESPN2: Featherweights, Jason Litzau (20-1-0) vs.

Aido Valtierra (24-7-0). 9 p.m. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WGN: Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, 2:10 p.m. ESPN: Detroit at Chicago White Sox, 8 p.m. CSN: Washington at Phillies, 7 p.m.

NBA PLAYOFFS TNT: First round, Game 2: Denver at San Antonio, 7 p.m. ESPN: First round, Game 2: Washington at Cleveland, 8 p.m. TNT: First round, Game 2: Golden State at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS VERSUS: Conference semifinals, Game 1 N.Y. Rangers at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

VERSUS: Conference semifinals, Game 1 Vancouver at Anaheim, 10 p.m. SOCCER ESPN2: UEFA Champions League, playoffs, semifinal, Chelsea FC vs. Liverpool FC, at London. 2:30 p.m. ESPN CLASSIC: UEFA Champions League, playoffs, semifinal, Chelsea FC vs.

Liverpool FC, at London (same-day tape), 5 p.m. far, from a fan's perspective it seems that at least some objectives have been met. The main one is that the races are more competitive, with more passes and challenges for top positions in the final few laps. Yes, the top teams and drivers will still be among the leaders, but maybe now they'll all be racing a little closer in the future. -Jeff Wolfe 0 i Vrflll.H Hi! fv.l i CHECK IT OUT NBA Playoffs, 7 and, 9:30 p.m., TNT: Clearly all the fun in the first round is in PLAYOFFS the Western Conference.

To- L-'V ti1 If-' or, malm I I kf night, you can watch two reasons why. First, Denver tries to go up 2-0 in San Antonio against the Spurs. Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony combined for 61 points in Game 1, so let's see what happens in the second game. At 9:30 p.m., eighth-seeded Golden State tries to go 2-0 against top-seed Dallas. One win is a surprise, two is a trend and the Mavericks would be on the verge of sj.

spoirs CHRIS LaCHALLCourier-Post Steve Mondile sits with sons Tyler (left), Austin (center) and Steven. By KEVIN CALLAHAN Courier-Post Staff Steve Mondile only has to turn on the TV to be reminded how close he was to playing in the major leagues. "There are guys who are still playing who I played with," said Mondile, 41. "To take a step back now and see how close I was I didn't seem to realize it then." The 6-foot-3 Mondile graduated from Gloucester Catholic in 1983 where he played varsity baseball two years for the Rams. He was named All-South Jersey and All-State as a senior when the right-hander went 10-1 and helped coach Al Radano's team reach the state finals.

Mondile went on to Gloucester County College and was 4-2 on the mound before transferring to Kentucky Wesleyan College, where he played three years and went 20-8 overall. He was selected All-Great Lakes Valley Conference and Ail-American as a junior. Mondile, who graduated with a degree in communications, signed as a free agent in 1987 with the Baltimore Orioles. Roland George, a former star pitcher at Pennsauken, was the scout who signed Mondile. Ironically, when Mondile was released from the Orioles after five seasons in the minors, he became a major-league scout and signed Jonathan George, the son of Roland and a former Camden Catholic ace.

"That was an incredible turn of events," Mondile said. "I'm not sure if that ever happened in baseball." Mondile played in the Orioles organization from 1987 to 1991, reaching Double-A and playing Triple-A in spring training. He was a teammate of Cal and Billy Ripken and was Curt Schilling's roommate in the minors. "I'm pretty good friends with Curt," Mondile said. "He is a good guy." Also stocked in the O's organization at the time were Mike Mussina, Ben McDonald and Arthur Rhodes.

So Mondile had some big-ticket arms to beat out and compete with on the path to the major leagues. Mondile, who coached at Gloucester Catholic and for Brooklawn American Legion after being released, returned to professional baseball in 1997 as a full-time scout for the Florida Marlins and then the Cincinnati Reds. However, in 2004, Mondile had the opportunity to become an owner of The Hit Doctor in Washington Township, where he is partners with Bob Shannon and Mark Connors. "The timing was right because my kids started to need their dad around and the traveling of scouting was getting old," Mondile said. "I would be gone for a month straight during spring training." Although Mondile is home, he still puts in long hours in baseball, working all year with clients from as young as 4 and 5 years old to high school, college and even some pro players.

"Our indoor facility is 10,000 square feet and all about in- RICKEY HENDERSON THIS DATE III HISTORY Throughout the history of America, there have been times in which it's been a somewhat popular thing to degrade our flag. One of those times was in 1976, but Cubs center fielder Rick Monday didn't let it happen on this day. Rick Monday rescued the American flag from two trespassers who tried to set it on fire in the outfield of Dodger Stadium. The incident happened in the fourth inning of a 54, 10-in-ning loss to Los Angeles. In other baseball happenings: In 1997, Matt Williams hit three homers and David Justice homered twice as Cleveland and Milwaukee combined to match a major-league record for home runs in a nine-inning night game with 11.

Cleveland hit a club-record eight in all, including three in one inning as the Indians beat the Brewers 114. And for those of you who love bases on balls, in 2001, Rickey Henderson of the Padres set the major-league walks record with his in San Diego's 5-3 loss to the Phillies. ting practice and shag some balls," Mondile said. Mondile lives in Deptford with his wife of 12 years, Teresa, and their sons Steven 11, Tyler, 9, and Austin (AJ), 3. He is now involved in coaching his own kids in the Oak Valley Athletic Association league in which he once played.

"It is a lot of fun," Mondile said. "It is an opportunity for me to be with them." Mondile still lives in the neighborhood in which he grew up. "My mom (Norma Mondile) has lived in Oak Valley since December 1959 and I have been here my whole life," Mondile said. "What a tight-knit town." On Saturday, Oak Valley celebrated its 50th anniversary of Little League with a gala ceremony. The Oak Valley Little League is lucky to have one of its own who was on the doorstep of the major leagues now coaching again.

"I try to help all the kids," Mondile said. Being so close to the big leagues helps Mondile now as an instructor. "I can relate with kids, I've been there," Mondile said. "I can relate to what they are going through." Reach Kevin Callahan at Cambell's Field to host charity softball game Eagles tackle Jon Runyan and other spoils celebrities are scheduled to participate in the first Celebrity vs. Law Enforcement softball game to benefit Special Olympics at 1 p.m.

Saturday at Campbell's Field. Eagles guard Todd Herremans, Cleveland Browns center Hank Fraley, former Eagle Vince Papale and former Flyer Brian Propp also are scheduled to play in the game. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. For more information, call (609) 896-8000 or visit sonj.org. A football clinic for all youth and high school coaches will be held 6-10 p.m.

May 3 at Eastern High School. Dinner is at 5 p.m. Scheduled to speak: Mike Groh of Virginia on QBs; Charley Molnar of Cincinnati on WRs; George DeLeone of Temple on the OL; Phil Petitte of Delaware on the DL; Bob Fra-zier of Rutgers on LBs; and Lou Anarumo of Purdue on DBs. Cost is $10. Contact the Eastern High School athletic department for more information.

Former Eastern basketball star Lynn Milligan has been named head women's basketball coach at Rider University, her alma mater. Nil Raptors' Mitchell named coach of the year Sam Mitchell was honored as NBA coach of the year Tuesday after leading the Toronto Raptors to a franchise-re-cord-tying 47 victories and their first Atlantic Division title. Mitchell won the Red Auerbach Trophy in a decisive vote over Utah's Jerry Sloan. He picked up 49 first-place votes for a total of 394 points in balloting by 128 basketball writers and broadcasters. Sloan had 301 points followed by Dallas' Avery Johnson with 268.

The Boston Celtics are severing ties with guard Sebastian Telfair days after he was arrested in the New York area and charged with carrying a loaded gun in his car. LAST CALL After 21 years, 'Rat man' decides to retire Over a career that lasted more than two decades, Scott Mellanby twice made it to the Stanley Cup finals, played in the NHL Ail-Star Game and became one of hockey's most respected leaders. But he'll always be remembered for killing a rat on the ice during the 1995-96 season. The 40-year-old Mellanby retired Tuesday, less than a week after the Thrashers were swept in the first round of the playoffs. Flyers forward Mike Knuble will have surgery Thursday to repair a small cartilage tear in his right shoulder.

Knuble, who finished second on the team with 54 points this season, had the same procedure three years ago on the other shoulder. Fallen Kentucky Derby winner Barbara will be honored May 5 at the site of his greatest victory. Churchill Downs is planning a tribute to Barbaro and owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson between the sixth and seventh races just before the Derby. Staff and wire reports STIVE MONDILE Age: 41 High school: Gloucester Catholic, 1983 Athletic highlights: Played varsity baseball two years for the Rams. Named All-South Jersey and All-State as senior.

College: Kentucky Wesleyan College, 1987 Athletic highlights: Went to Gloucester County College and played one year of baseball before transferring to Kentucky Wesleyan and played three years. Selected All-Great Lakes Valley Conference and All-American as a junior. Professional baseball: Signed as a free agent in 1987 with the Baltimore Orioles, where he played in the organization from 1987-1991. Coaching experience: Coached at Gloucester Catholic and for Brooklawn American Legion. Returned to professional baseball in 1997 as a full-time scout for the Florida Marlins and then the Cincinnati Reds.

Current profession: Owner of Hit Doctor in Washington Twp. and part-time scout for Phillies. Personal: Married to wife, Teresa, for 12 years. Sons Steven 11, Tyler, 9, and Austin (AJ) 3. Hometown: Deptford struction and having fun with baseball and softball kids," Mondile said.

Mondile stays connected to the major leagues as a part-time scout for Phillies. "No more overnight trips," Mondile said. "I watch guys locally and I will help with pre-draft workouts at the stadium." Mondile has thrown batting practice at Citizens Bank Park. He was good friends with the late John Vukovich, a former Phillies coach. "It was cool for my kids; they got to go over there and take bat ON DECK We catch up with a South Jersey athlete and see how they're doing in college.

TRIVIA ANSWER The Indians' Greg Swindell struck out 15 on May 10, 1987, when was 22. Hamels is 23. CHERRY HILL Haddonlield Berlin Rd. It lifnnno4 Chnnnlnn (856) 354-9510 00 PROMOTIONS proudly presents 111! Oil OFF Sports Memorabilia Show mvm rnuna in iuihl ocoenaMture rnnaiun i0NZrEiiLube; COLONIAL I VAN SFllVIf I REE Comoieta rlUCI FRIDAY 427 SUNDAY 423 SATURDAY 423 10am-fciQpm i 4 Wheel Brake 11 Most Cars inspection uptosqts. MOSlLRrS II Prpm fl-i 1 ima line 11 "TTTfTOn Phillies Catcher CARLOS RUIZ will be appearing Sat, April 28th PM As Akrn We Will Feature Sesm'e Babits.

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