Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 14

Statesman-Journal, Salem, Oregon Section Wednesday, August 3, 1988 BOFti Scores; 2D. Major leagues; 3D. The NFL; 4D. The NBA; 5D. ANCHORAGE, Alaska Oregon's senior Little League baseball champions from Keizer advanced Tuesday in the western regional tournament with a 6-3 victory against Montana.

Bryan Priem, a 6-foot-3 right-hander, pitched the victory, striking out eight and walking three. Jim Herschbach, Oregon's manager, said: "We won because of excellent pitching from Bryan, numerous hits and out standing defense. "It could have been a lot closer game. I'm sure Montana will be in the finals." Oregon received a first-round bye. That, coupled with Montana's 11-4 victory Monday against Hawaii, the defending regional champion, should enhance Oregon's title prospects, Herschbach said.

"We're in what you might say the driver's seat," he said. "Anytime you win a winner's bracket game, you have to feel good about it." Oregon plays Washington at 4 p.m. today. If it wins, it will advance to the championship game. Last year, Oregon lost the championship game to Hawaii, which finished third at the senior Little League World Series.

Although both teams collected nine hits, Oregon got the more timely ones, Herschbach said. Oregon scored one run in the first inning when Casey Flicker singled, stole second, took third on a single by Brett Bunch and scored on a passed ball. Oregon scored three runs in the second. Jason Arrington walked, advanced to second and third on passed balls and scored on a single by Mike Hostettler. Hostettler scored on a double by Rick Imel, who later scored on a balk.

Big Leaguers win VANCOUVER, Wash. Salem's Big League baseball all-stars beat Alaska 7-5 Tuesday in the opening round of the district tournament. Jim Grossnickle went 1 for 2, had two stolen bases and scored two runs. aerosol) odd FeegioDfaa el's adlwance Dm Legoooi pBaw flu'- ffl if A I il mil V' nu, ii ir li urn i- II i iHimiiiniiMh-iniiilTnimiiiitiiiiniiiii Backlund, Greggs pace Salem team to state semifinals By Marc Schlotthauer Of the Statesman-Journal The Salem 76ers scored early Tuesday night, then hung on for a 10-6 American Legion state baseball quarterfinal victory. "I'm real happy to get past these guys," 76ers' coach Dan Gordon said.

"Going into this tournament, I figured about eight teams had a legitimate shot at the state title. Now that only four teams are left, I have to feel good." Salem opened with four runs in the first. Chip Sell reached first on pitcher Jeff Mansur's fielding error, and moved to second on Don Lien's single. Jeff Rediger then bunted, which Mansur bobbled, leaving everyone safe. One out later, Brett Backlund's double scored Sell and Lien, and Sean Greggs followed with another double, scoring Rediger and Backlund.

Leading 6-2 entering the fourth inning, Salem padded its lead with four more runs. Rediger hit a lead-off single and moved to third on Kevin Brunstad's single. A wild pitch by Mansur scored Rediger, and a second double by Backlund scored Brunstad. Greggs then greeted relief pitcher Jamie Stencil with a towering two-run homer. Brett Backlund threw no-hit ball through five innings but was touched for five runs in the sixth.

Derek Johnson and Jeff Barnett each singled to start the drive, and Backlund then hit Chris Summers to load the bases. Catcher Mark Beam and first baseman Tyson Jacobs followed with back-to-back doubles, accounting for four runs. A wild pitch moved Jacobs to third, and a groundout by Mike Johnston scored Jacobs. Backlund, who will play quarterback in Saturday's Oregon Shrine Football game, took an extra day's rest from pitching because of football practice. "I've been throwing a lot of footballs, so my arm is pretty tired," he said.

"I wanted to pitch seven or eight good innings tonight. I knew I was going to have a rocky inning sometime; I'm just glad that was all." Backlund and Greggs paced five Salem players with two hits, with each scoring twice. Backlund went the distance, finishing with eleven strikeouts and five walks. Salem next meets Grants Pass, game times and sites will be determined today. Statesman-Journal photos by Bruce Thorson Salem 76ers Chip Sell (left) and Brett Backlund (right) hit and pitched their way to victory Tuesday night against The Dalles.

immm fuel OD ps dleffeaft SaDeinm. 11 By Reid English Of the Statesman-Journal The Salem Dodgers played sharp baseball for eight innings Tuesday night, but one bad inning gave them a 10-4 Northwest League setback to the Eugene Emeralds at Chemeketa Field. Eugene scored nine runs in the sixth inning to come from a 4-1 deficit and win. The bizarre inning included two hits, three walks, two hit batters, two errors, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly. Eugene manager Paul Kirsch said, "We got a lot of breaks in that inning, but we'll take them any way we can get them." Salem pitcher Bill Parham, who hit 20 home runs as a first baseman at Georgia Tech this past spring, lost control and walked the first three batters in the sixth.

Parham, in his third start, had limited Eugene to two hits in five innings. Salem manager Tom Beyers said: "It caught us all by surprise. He had been doing so well." Parham, who pitched six innings in his previous start, said he probably got tired. "The plate started jumping on me," he said. "This is all new stuff to me, but I felt good going into the inning." Jeff Vanzytfeld, who also pitched well in his previous effort, was the losing pitcher in relief.

He allowed two hits, including an infield squibbler. The only well-hit ball was a two-run double just inside the third-base bag by Bobby Holley. However, Vanzytfeld contributed to the uprising in other ways: Missing a throw at first base on what should have been the first out and hitting two batters. "Jeff did enough to keep us out of a big inning," Beyers said. Other than Parham's start, Salem's bright spots were Daniel Cardenas' 3 for 4 and Chris Gettler's three perfect innings of relief.

Greenwell slams Texas Joyner, Clemens receive AL honors Wally Joyner of the California Angels and Boston pitcher Roger Clemens were selected co-American League Players of the Week. Last week Joyner, who has an 11-game hitting streak, batted .519 (14 of 27), scored seven runs, hit three doubles, three home runs and had 11 RBIs. Clemens pitched two complete-game victories during the week, including a three-hit shutout over Texas. He struck out a total of 27 batters and walked five in the two games. Leonard may again fight WASHINGTON (AP) Sugar Ray Leonard, the former World Boxing Council middleweight champion, has scheduled a news conference for today with light-heavyweight champion Don La-londe, indicating that Leonard may once again return from retirement.

A publicist refused to confirm that Leonard would fight, but he said Leonard would answer questions about that. "Basically, this is the time Sugar Ray is going to take all questions on the retirement issue," Fred Sternburg said. "Sugar Ray just wants to take questions, each and every one." Sternburg refused to elaborate, Lalonde and Leonard would likely square off in the newly created 168-pound super middleweight division. Lalonde, who has a 31-2 mark, currently holds the WBC title in the light heavyweight division. Leonard, who has a 34-1 professional career record, has retired from fighting four times.

BOSTON (AP) With the bases loaded and none out in the first inning, Boston's Mike Greenwell was looking for a good pitch to lift." But he did more than get the ball in the air Tuesday night. He put it into the Texas bullpen in right-center for the first grand slam of his career, and the Red Sox took it from there, going on to defeat the Rangers 7-2 for their 21st consecutive home victory, equalling a club record. "If I were on another ballclub, I wouldn't want to be coming into this ballpark," Greenwell said. "We're just playing great baseball here now." Boston manager Joe Morgan said: "Greenwell really got us off on the right track in this one. It was kind of easy, but I hate these games in a way.

"You just wait for some guy after a walk or two to clout one and now your six-run lead is down to two or three. It's just not that easy sometimes." Asked about the 21 -game win- win a game every night. But it is nice to have, I guess. If you have a shot at a record, you might as well try to get it." In equaling the club record of 21 in a row in Fenway Park set by the 1949 Red Sox, Boston moved to within one of the American League record held by the 1931 Philadelphia Athletics. The major league record for the most consecutive home victories is 26 set by the New York Giants in 1916.

Wes Gardner, normally a reliever, was making his seventh start because of staff injuries. Gardner, 4-0 at home and 5-1 overall, allowed three hits in seven innings. He got relief help from Dennis Lamp in the last two innings. Gardner struck out four and walked four, losing a shutout bid on Steve Buechele's 12th homer. The Red Sox nailed down their 18th victory in 19 starts under Morgan early, shelling Texas starter Jeff Russell (8-4) in the third inning.

3 1 1 "WQa i 4 ning streak at home, Morgan leaned back, grinned and said: "Well, tomorrow is the time to break it. That's all I know about it. AP photo "I'm just out there trying to Mike Greenwell gets a high five after hitting a grand slam. Extra pointsc alnsidet Today Austin plans comeback Tracy Austin, the youngest player to win the U.S. Open, will return to professional tennis tonight after a five-year absence to play doubles in the $100,000 Virginia Slims of San Diego tournament.

Because of recurring back and neck injuries, Austin, 25, has been away from the pro circuit since June 1983. She will be paired with Robin White. 1 i rr rm i Ml 1 I Jim' Major Lcsguss American League Orioles 5, Indians 2 Red Sox 7, Rangers 2 Blue Jays 11, Twins 1 White Sox 7, Athletics 5 Tigers 1, Royals 0 Brewers 11, Yankees 5 Angels 10, Mariners 2 National League Mets 3, Cubs 1 Pirates 3, Expos 2 Phillies 2. Cardinals 0 Padres 4, Braves 1 Dodgers 2, Reds 0 The Dodgers' Tim Leary shuts out the Reds. Page 3D Bo Jackson saves the day.

Page4D Mobil is the new sponsor of the Cotton Bowl. Page 5D i uiiiui lun Outdoor and recreational activities are Rollins signs with Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers signed center Tree Rollins to a two-year contract Tuesday. Rollins, 33, averaged seven points and 7.4 rebounds in 1 1 spanns with the Atlanta Hawks before he became an unrestricted free agent. His 2,283 career blocked shots rank second in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 3,104. gum- U.S.

Olympians Steve Lundquist, Nancy Hogshead and Rowdy Gaines (left to right) display the new commemorative coins for the Summer Games..