Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 17

P01T Steve Klein Sports Editor 377-1071 Lansing State Journal Wednesday, April 14, Page 1C 1993 TIGERS HOME OPENER LocEcer Tiger attack successful on all fronts in record 20-4 barrage of Oakland BASEBALL TRYOUTS Tryouts for boys' junior baseball will be at 5 p.m. Monday at the Harry Hill baseball diamond. Tryouts are for 13- and 14-year-olds. Players can not turn 15 before Aug. 1 Players need to bring gloves to the tryout.

For more information, call Mark Eggleston at 394-6453. Scoreboard -J 1 1 TJ I -A 1 Tigers 20, Athletics 4 Red Sox 6, Indians 2 Jays 6, Mariners 5 White Sox 4, Twins 0 Rangers 8, Orioles 3 See details. Page 3C '-V' Astros 9, Expos 6 Cardinals 9, Dodgers 7 Giants 3, Marlins 1 Phillies 4, Reds 1 Braves 3, Cubs 2 Mets 8, Rockies 4 Pirates 6, Padres 4 a See details. Page 3C 12 By JOHN BATTLE Lansing State Journal DETROIT It was a perfect day for baseball sunshine, mild temperatures and a large crowd. And the Detroit Tigers didn't disappoint any of the 49,674 fans who paid to celebrate opening day.

The Tigers exploded early and often, routing the Oakland Athletics 20-4 Thursday at newly renovated Tiger Stadium. "If we play hard every day, -j there is no reason why we can't beat anybody," Tiger shortstop Travis Fryman said. "We needed a win like this to get the team going. We have lost some tough games on defensive mistakes and a win like this will send a message to the other teams in the league." The Tigers got off to a fast start, scoring four runs in the first inning. With one out, Lou Whitaker lined a single to right, stole second and came home on Fryman's bloop single to center.

Cecil Fielder, who finished 4-for-4 and scored two runs, singled to left, moving Fryman to third. After Kirk Gibson took a called third strike, Rob Deer blasted a 1-2 pitch from Oakland pitcher Storm Davis into the upper deck in left field. Mickey Tettleton struck out to end the inning, but the damage was done. Tiger pitcher Mike Moore, who set the A's down in order the first two innings, got some more help from Tiger hitters in the second. With two outs, Davis gave up consecutive walks to Phillips and Whitaker.

Fryman, who finished 3-for-5 with five RBI and four runs scored, singled to left, scoring Phillips. Fielder then dribbled a ball down the third base line, which Davis fielded and threw wildly to first. Whitaker and Fryman scored as the ball rolled into left field. Fielder advanced to second, but was stranded when Deer struck out to end the inning. With the score 7-0, Oakland started a rally in the top of the third as Moore began to lose his control.

Moore walked Dave Henderson, Mike Bordick singled to center and Lance Blankenship singled to left, loading the bases with no Rickey Henderson then forcing home Dave Z-', "In a game like this one it's easyl to lose your rhythm by waiting so; long to pitch," Moore said. "They had runners on base and it was the first time in the game I had to pitch from the stretch." The Tigers got a break when Oakland's Jerry Browne grounded into a double play. Bordick scored on the play, but Detroit got out of the inning with a 7-2 lead. Detroit added another run in the third inning when Tettleton scored on a fielder's choice. The Tigers removed all doubt; from the outcome with an eight-run outburst in the fourth off Oakland's Mike Mohler.

Fielder singled to open the inning, and after a Gibson strikeout, Deer singled to center. Tettleton followed with his second homer of the season off the left field foul pole to give Detroit a commanding 11-2 lead. See TIGERS, Page 4C Lansing State JournalCHRIS HOLIVIES Cecil Fielder connects on one of his four singles Tuesday. Fielder scored twice in Detroit's 20-4 rout of the A's. Celtics 96, Pacers 90 Magic 110, Bucks 91 Cavs 112, Hawks 109 Knicks 93, Bullets 85 Rockets 126, Lakers 107 Sonics 129, Wolves 95 Spurs 1 10, Kings 100 Blazers 101, Clippers 99 See details.

Page 5C ation by gets, and deserves, ov DETROIT He was part of Bless You Boys, that glorious Detroit Tiger team of 1984, the World Series season. Remember? r. Well, Kirk Gibson was Whalers 3, Islanders 3 "Canadiens 3, Sabres 2 (OT) TNordiques 6, Senators 2 Leafs 2, Blues 1 (QT) 'Biackhawks 3, Stars 2 rLightning 5, Jets 3 -Flames 4, Oilers 2 'Kings vs. Canucks (n) I II See details. Page 5C back in a Tiger uniform Tuesday wearing the same No.

23 he wore when he used to smack towering home runs, steal bases and dive head-first for fly balls. But when the Tigers laughed their way to a 20-4 home-opening victory over Oakland, they didn't need-Gibson's bat, his speed or his glove. They had more than enough punch from Rob Deer, Travis Fryman and BOB GROSS highlights play in Detroit just once to learn how to appreciate the fans." Gibson left the Tigers in 1988 and was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He helped the Dodgers win the World Series that season and in 1990 signed again as a free agent with Kansas City. He was then traded to Pittsburgh in 1992 and picked up as a free agent by the Tigers two months ago.

"I realize this may be the last time around for me," Gibby said. "All I want to do is help this team any way I can to be a winner and I'm thankful for the opportunity. When I played here, it was tremendous. We won and we had fun. I tried to give it my best every single game because that was the only way I knew how to play the game.

never wanted to have a bad game. But baseball is a game of ups and downs and sure, I had my downs just like any other player. But when I had those bad games, I became very frustrated and my temper sometimes got the best of me and I expressed it by throwing the bat or helmet. But that was just me. I've always wanted to win.

Losing isn't fun." Michigan State fans know all about the kind of hustle Gibby always presented when he played flanker for the Spartan football team in 1979 and set career records with 122 receptions, 2,347 yards and 24 touchdowns. "I still recall those days," Gibby grinned. "I keep track of the Spartans, believe me." The contributions Gibby makes to the Tigers in his second fling could be from playing the outfield, pinch-running, pinch-hitting or being the designated hitter. But he doesn't care. "I feel good to be back and I'll do what ever Sparky asks me to do," he said.

"I can see a lot of positive things happening in this organization, things that haven't been like that the past few years. Mr. Hitch (Tiger owner Mike Hitch) is doing some wonderful things. He is spending money because he loves baseball and he loves Detroit. The stadium looks beautiful and I sense the fans really enjoyed themselves today.

It's like the old days." Bless you Kirk. What do you think? You can write to Bob Gross at 120 E. Lenawee Lansing 48919. Baseball: Baltimore at Texas, 8:30 p.m. ESPN Basketball: Atlanta at Detroit 7:30 p.m., Ch.

47, 50, 66, WTBS Basketball: Miami at Chicago 8:30 p.m., WGN See listings. Page 2C Kirk Gibson, an integral part of past Tiger teams, is making the most ot what he says may be his last time around. Gibson was 1-for-3 with an RBI on Tuesday. Spartans lliiinr I Mickey Tettleton, each of whom belted three-run homers, and from Cecil Fielder, who had four singles. Gibson was the designated hitter.

He batted fifth, went l-for-3 and drove in a run. He also struck out twice. The 49,674 fans haven't forgotten what Gibby did in 1984 when the Tigers won the World Series and again in 1987 when they won the American League East. When Gibby strolled to the plate in the first inning, everybody in the stadium stood and gave him a thundering ovation. In his first at-bat, he struck out.

But this time, instead of returning to the dugout and slamming his helmet on the floor and his bat in the rack, he just shook his head. "Sure I hated to strike out," he said, standing in front of camera lights during the post-game interview session and wearing a Michigan State shirt. "I wanted to do well. I was pumped. Driving to the park on the same expressway as before and looking at the same buildings, then getting to the stadium were all coming back to me.

It was just like the old days." Tiger manager Sparky Anderson expected Gibby to get an ovation. "Hey, this man gave it his best when he played here and those fans out there remember that," said Sparky, who had just won his career game. "Every player ought to Tierffacts The Tigers scored 20 runs Tuesday to set an opening-day record, breaking the 15-run mark set in 1922. Tuesday was the Tigers' 93rd opening day. Sparky Anderson is one win away from the 2,000 mark.

AMERICAN LEAGUE: Red Sox win i home opener, 6-2. Page 3C NATIONAL LEAGUE: Lee Smith sets saves record. Page 3C STATISTICS: Complete standings, box scores. Page 3C TIGER NOTES: Tony Phillips happy to be a contributor. Page 4C TIGER OWNER: Mike Hitch finally reaches the big leagues.

Page 4C Corrin Convis, the Michigan State women's swimmingj and diving coach, is resigning, effective June 15. Convis, who will receive her master's degree May 1 5, plans to pursue other career opportunities. Convis was an assistant coach for the men's and women's teams for one season before taking over the head coaching position. See story. Page 4C his year's recruits mainly Michigan-bred Journal Jeopardy By NEIL KOEPKE Lansing State Journal EAST LANSING Coach Ron Mason and his assistants are bringing an ail-American recruiting MSU hockey recruits Chris Slater, defenseman, 5-10, 170, Mattawan a Steve Ferranti, center, 5-11, 180, Sterling Heights Josh Wiegand, right wing.

5-11, 180, Northville, Tony Tuzzolino, forward, 6-2, 175, Amherst, N.Y. Brian Crane, 6-1, 175, left wing, Grosse Pointe class to Michigan State. In the years ahead, the Spartan are hoping that at least one and maybe more develop into Ail-American hockey players. in 35 regular-season games for the Kalamazoo Junior Wings. Ferranti, who chose MSU over Lake Superior State, was one of the top scorers in the NAJHL with 31 goals and 44 assists for 75 points in 39 games for the Detroit Freeze.

Tuzzolino played for the Niagara Scenic and had 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points in 35 games. In his first year with the Michigan Nationals, Crane scored 30 goals and added 21 assists for 51 points in 36 games. Wiegand spent the last two. sea- sons at Omaha of the USHLThis year, he had 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points in 35 games. One Canadian recruited by MSU was forward J.F.

Houle, the son of former Montreal Canadiens forward Rejean Houle. The younger Houle, who attends Northwood Prep in Lake Placid, N.Y., visited MSU but opted to play at Clarkson, which is in Potsdam, N.Y., and closer to his home in Montreal State that he didn't bring in at least one Canadian. "It wasn't by design. It's just the way things worked out," Mason said. "We were looking to get a more Michigan influence on the team like we had in the past." The incoming freshmen include defenseman Chris Slater, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, Mattawan; center Steve Ferranti, 5-11, 180, Sterling Heights; right wing Josh Wiegand, 5-11, 180, Northville; forward Tony Tuzzolino, 6-2, 175, Amherst, N.Y.; and left wing Brian Crane, 6-2, 175, Grosse Pointe.

Slater, who picked MSU over Michigan last fan, is an offensive-style defenseman who's considered by many coaches to be the top col-. lege-bound defenseman in the nation. Under NCAA rules, Mason can not comment on the four new players until their letters of intent have been received. However, he can assess the class as a whole. "We've tried to upgrade certain Today's question Name the team that won a World Series before winning an opening day game.

Call 485-731 6 and press 2 to answer the question. The first caller with the correct answer will have his or her name and hometown appear in the next day's paper. Please spell your name and leave a phone number. Tuesday's answer The infielders in the famous Abbott and Costello routine were: who is on first, what is on second, I don't care is at shortstop and I don't know is the third baseman Bob Pell, Holt MSU HOCKEY overall, finished fourth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association at 18-10-2 and got nosed out for a NCAA playoff berth. 1 Departing seniors include leading scorer Bryan Smolinski, an All-American now playing with the NHL's Boston Bruins, left wing Rob Woodward and defenseman Wes McCauley.

Slater, Ferranti, Tuzzolini and Crane played in the North American Junior Hockey League. Wiegand played in the U.S. Hockey League. Slater had 10 goals and 46 points areas and I think we did that in intelligence and puck movement with this class," Mason said, "All five shoijld be four-year players. "Slater was outstanding in the national (junior tournament).

He may have been the best player there. The others will meet our needs and we feel will develop into very good players. They'll give us a good mix with the players we have coming back." The Spartans lose three players from a team which was 24-14-2 mmhmmbmms The four players who wii. sign letters of intent today the first day of the spring signing period and the one player who signed with MSU in the fall, are Americans. Four are from Michigan.

Mason said it's the first time in 14 recruiting years at Michigan.