Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 35

SPORTS Scoreboard; 2F. Soccer; 3F. Baseball; 4F. Business; 5-6F. Statesman Journal Salem, Oregon Friday, July 6, 1990 rarif fa mm Wnmlbll ewm to rest a reputation for choking in big matches with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory on Center Court.

The upset puts Garrison, 26, into her first Grand Slam final. It also means that No. 2 Martina Navratilova, who beat Gabriela Sabatini 6-3, 6-4 in the other semifinal, will go for her record ninth Wimbledon singles title Saturday without having to face Graf, her conqueror the past two finals here. Navratilova's record against Garrison is 27-1. Graf had not lost before the final in a major since Navratilova beat her in the Navratilova also reaches finals Gannett News Service WIMBLEDON, England Is this a chink in the armor, a dent in the dynasty or a kingdom collapsing? Steffi Graf, who Tor two years has ruled women's tennis with an indomitable will and an impregnable forehand, was outsmarted, outplayed and taken out of Wimbledon in the semifinals Thursday by fifth-ranked Zina Garrison, who laid Thursday particularly in an abysmal first set and struggled with an erratic serve.

And she often pulled punches, easing back on the forehand just to get it in. "After you get beat a couple times, your confidence goes down and you maybe take something off your shots," Garrison said. "It seems like you can slow Steffi down now, make her take a step back. I was not afraid of her power." Graf admitted, "There were times today when I wasn't going for my shots, especially the forehand." Like in Garrison's quarterfinal upset of Monica Seles, her match Thursday was a tactical marvel. She located every Graf weakness and tendency, relentlessly playing to them.

Graf said: "She went for the right shots and knew where I was going with my shots. And she played hard to the end. She didn't make mistakes like she's done before." Graf was referring to the old Zina. The one who had never reached a final in 33 previous Grand Slams. The one who always let down in the next match after beating an elite opponent at a major.

The one who always blew the big shot at the big moment. Men's semifinals preview Page 3F semifinals of the 1986 U.S. Open. She'd reached 13 consecutive Grand Slam finals and 22 consecutive finals in all tournaments. For the first time since taking over the No.

1 ranking in 1988 the year of her Golden Slam sweep of all four majors and the Olympic gold medal the 21 -year-old West German is vulnerable. Graf committed numerous errors One out short Keizer man just missed no-hitter Bevens recalls '47 World Series if" ran for Furillo. After Gionfriddo stole second, Yankees' manager Bucky Harris ordered Bevens to intentionally walk Reiser, who represented the winning run. "He was a left-handed hitter," said Bevens, a right-hander. "He thought the odds were for me to pitch to a right-hander." Harris' decision to walk Reiser has been debated, but Bevens said he sees no reason for hindsight.

"It's alright," Bevens said. "Lavagetto could have popped it up." But Cookie Lavagetto didn't Batting for Eddie Stanky, Lavagetto stepped to the plate and drove Bevens' second pitch off the right-field wall for a double. Lavagetto not only broke the no-hit spell for Bevens, he knocked in two runs to even the Series at two games apiece. "High and away," Bevens said of the pitch Lavagetto hit. "That's what my instructions were high and away, he couldn't hit away." Looking back on that day, Bevens said he wasn't disappointed.

"I was just happy to be there in the World Series," he said. Nine years later, the Yankees' Don Larsen made history when he threw the only no-hitter in World Series play. Ironically, it Turn to Bevens, Page 4F. By Capi Lynn The Statesman Journal At times, Bill Bevens of Keizer would like to forget what happened one fall day in 1947. Other times, he hopes he never forgets.

The recent flourish of no-hitters in major league baseball has brought back memories of that day Oct. 3, 1947. Bevens was pitching for the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although Bevens, 73, has had two heart attacks and two strokes in recent years, he remembers every moment of that game as if it was yesterday. He was one out away from recording the first no-hitter in World Series history.

With the Yankees leading 2-1, Bevens, who played for New York from 1944-47, took a no-hitter into the bottom of the ninth inning. The Yankees were three outs away from a 3-1 lead in the series. Bevens got lead-off batter Johnny Lindell to fly out, walked Carl Furillo and got Spider Jor-gensen to hit a pop foul for the second out. When asked if he felt confident of getting the no-hitter at that point, Bevens said, "No, nothing was for sure." Pete Reiser then batted for Hugh Casey, and Al Gionfriddo w'. VI r- fMlv, 1 Local golfers have aces up their sleeves By Joe Petshow The Statesman Journal Golfer Morna Gurgurich picked the wrong day to not play for money.

The 64-year-old Jefferson woman was one of two golfers Thursday to hit a hole-in-one on the par-3 No. 8 hole at Salem Golf Club. Len Hicks of Salem equaled her feat later in the day. Danny Moore, head professional at Salem Golf Club, said two aces on the same hole on the same day is a rare occurence. Gurgurich, when told of Hicks' ace, joked: "What a ratty thing to "do to spoil my fun." Gurgurich, a 15-handicapper, 'used a 5-iron to ace the eighth hole from 135 yards.

It was her third hole-in-one in 40 years of golfing. She finished her round Thursday during play in Salem Golf Club's 18-Hole Ladies group with an 88. Her score included a nine on the first hole. "I thought 'what a bad day this is going to Gurgurich said of her poor start. She plays tournaments throughout the Willamette Valley, including scratch events in Portland.

"They usually make a lot of money off me in those," she said. But Gurgurich was the big winner Thursday after her fortunes took an about-face on No. 8. "A 5-iron is plenty of club," she said. "But I have a friend from Albany who always told me you're never going to get one unless you get it there.

"It went pretty straight, and it bounced just short of the green," she said of her tee shot. "It took one bounce, and the second bounce went into the hole. "It was pretty fun to watch But we weren't playing for any money." The stakes weren't too high for Hicks, 72, and his playing partners: older brother Cleo, Carl McLeod and Bill Smith, the only one of the four who has never scored an ace. "We get on him about that," Hicks said. The foursome has been playing together for about 20 years.

Hicks aced No. 8 playing 155 yards from the men's tees with a4-iron. It was his second hole-in-one in 50 years of golf. His first ace came four years ago at Meadowlawn. "The pin played today way back in the corner on the left-hand side," Hicks, a 19-handicapper, said.

"(The shot) hit on the green and pulled up pretty well." Hicks finished with a round of 87. Gurgurich, whose other aces came on No. 12 at Salem in 1985 and on No. 17 at Battlecreek in 1979, said she always thinks hole-in-one on the par 3s. Moore said Thursday's pair of aces, while rare, are not as unusual as what happened two years ago on Salem's No.

8. Moore said Harry Carson and Larry Sundin, playing in back-to-back foursomes, each aced the par-3 hole. AP photo Bill Bevens threw a one-hitter against Brooklyn but lost Game 4 of the 1947 World Series. Near no-hitter has place in Oregon sports history one," Lightner said. After finally escaping the locker room, Lightner said they went to Bevens' apartment.

"Then the phone started ringing. He let one guy come up and interview him. Then he said, 'Let's get out of So they left with their wives and went to a bar where Lightner said some of the Yankees hung out. "The owner, he kicked everybody out, pulled the shades down, and we sat there and drank booze until 5 in the morn By Capi Lynn The Statesman Journal When Al Lightner was asked to submit ideas to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for a videotape of something memorable he had seen or done, Bill Bevens' pitching performance in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series flashed through his mind. Lightner, a longtime Oregon sportswnter and member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, saw the Yankee pitcher almost record the first no-hitter in World Series history.

Bevens, who got Lightner a locker room and dugout pass for the game at Brooklyn, took a no-hitter into the bottom of the ninth inning against the Brooklyn Dodgers. But, with two outs, Cookie Lavagetto spoiled the bid with a two-run double. "I was down behind the dugout when it happend," Lightner said of Lavagetto's hit. "I was right by the bat rack when he hit the ball. "If he got that no-hitter, I was going to be the first one out there.

But that didn't happen." Instead, Lightner waited, then later accompanied Bevens to the Yankees' locker room. "He comes in and sits down with his face facing the inside of Bevens was a little under the weather for Game 5 that day. "He had to shag balls in the outfield during batting practice," Lightner said. "He never got off the bench. I don't think he could find the outfield." Lightner said he still has the scorecard he kept during the famous near no-hitter.

He said he feels honored to have shared that day with Bevens. "Every World Series that comes up they go back to Bevens' game and have film clips of it," he said. "Today, he still gets calls and mail dang near every day wanting his autograph." his stall," Lightner said. "He sat with his head bowed. Nobody said anything; it was real quiet.

"Pretty soon, (Joe) DiMaggio walked over and patted his back and said, 'Tough luck stud. I let you down, but we'll get 'em Consolation from DiMaggio wasn't enough, even though the centerfielder kept his word and hit a game-winning home run in Game 5. Lightner said Bevens stayed in the locker room until after dark to avoid the press and autograph seekers. "He didn't want to talk to any ing." Lightner, chuckling, said Payton's agent: Contract talks are in distant future draft choices as guidelines. "We definitely have to look at Danny Ferry's contract, and we also have to look at Pervis Ellison's contract," Goodwin said.

Ferry, last year's No. 2 selection overall, was paid $2.5 million to play in Italy last season. Ellison, the No. 1 pick, signed for $2.3 million a year. Goodwin said there is a lot of hype in Seattle, speculating on how much Payton will sign for.

"Seattle doesn't have a player making over two million," Goodwin said. "Dale Ellis makes $1.5, and Xavier McDonald $1.7. For a rookie to come in and top them is going to be kind of different. "Seattle doesn't want to talk numbers probably because they don't want to make a big uproar." By Capi Lynn The Statesman Journal Gary Payton and the Seattle SuperSonics won't be sitting down for contract negotiations at least until next month, Payton's agent said Thursday. "We haven't even started, and we probably won until aftei August 1, when the salary cap goes up," said Aaroi.

Goodwin of Cali- fornia Diversified Enterprises in Los Angeles. The salary cap, which was $9.8 million a team last season, will be raised about 22 percent to more than $12 million a team next season. "It makes it a lot easier on Seattle," Goodwin said. "It will make negotiations a lot easier. They have a couple of free agents chey want to sign.

Payton was the Sonics' first-round pick in last month's NBA draft. The 6-foot-4 guard from Oregon State was the second selection overall. Goodwin was not willing to discuss dollar figures in terms of what he and Payton will be asking for, but he said they will be using the contracts of last year's top Scores Outdoors Today's spotlight: Jose Canseco Hot spot: Softball tournament Rivers The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO For Jose Canseco, an All-Star American League: Minnesota 7, Boston 4 Milwaukee 4, Oakland 3 Seattle 4, Cleveland 1 Kansas City 15, Detroit 3 Toronto 9, California 2 Texas 3, Baltimore 2 See roundup, Page 4F National League: St. Louis 4, San Diego 1 Montreal 11, Houston 0 Cincinnati 9, Philadelphia 2 New York 9, Atlanta 8 Pittsburgh 9, Los Angeles 6 See roundup, Page 4F What hot. Stark Street Pizza girls fastpitch Softball tournament in Salem.

Who, when, nere: Fifty-seven teams from Oiegon, Washington and British Coiurnoia will compete in three age divisions: 16-under, 16-under ana 14-unoer. The tournament begins at 4.40 p.m. today and continues through the championship games at 5:15 p.m. Sunday at Wallace Marine Park. Other games will be played at tne State Fairgrounds and Phillips field in Bush's Pasture Park.

What to 'tee. Twenty eight teams wili conipme in the ayb 18-under division, in ie and 12 in the There aiso taunting him," Canseco said. "They gave you $4 million, you hear me, boy? I'm making a million more than you are, you big, overrated, three-toed sloth with no arms." Canseco, smiling and laughing all the way, was referring to Clark's comments last week after hearing that the Oakland slugger had a five-year, $23 million contract. Clark said, "Let that jerk over there have all the fun he wants." The players do not know each other personally. Fisherman's river summary as provided by the National Weather Service: Station Ft Chg.

Corvallis (Willamette) 0.4 Albany (Willamette) 2.8 3.3 0.1 Jefferson (Santiam) 2.9 0.0 Salem (Willamette) 5.4 0.0 Oregon City (upper) 3.1 Oregon City (lower) 7.0 -1 .4 Estacada (Clackamas) 1.5 0.0 Sandy (Sandy) 8.3 0.0 Foss (Nehalem) 2.7 Tillamook (Wilson) 2.5 Beaver (Nestucca) 3.5 Siletz (Siletz) 2.9 Tidewater (Alsea) 2.1 Mapleton (Siuslaw) 3.6 uame appearance is more than a chance to play against baseball's best. It's a chance to heckle San Francisco's Will Clark. "I heard what he said, Jose Canseco will be an exhibition team, "-'iay begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday arid 8 a.m. Sunday.

and I'm looking forward to 1 1.