The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 25

3 PAGE Spoirte TVRADIO 2C GOLF 3C BASEBALL 4C NHL6C CLASSIFIED I7C SATURDAY, June 10, 2000 News-Leader Questions? Story Ideas? Call 836-1118. 10 Tigers escape unscathed in ninth Emotions high lor Morris From Our Staff Tigers 4 Cardinals 2 It was the start of what could be a difficult stretch for Springfieldian Jim Morris, who helped dedicate the sparkling new Connie Morris Learning Center at Rivercut Golf Course in memory of his late wife on Friday. Next week, Morris will endure a flurry of tributes and memorials to the late Payne Stewart, the PGA Tour star who was like a son to Morris. A two-out single by Deivi Cruz drove in Palmer for a 1-0 Detroit lead in the second. With two outs in the third, Juan Gonzalez singled and scored when Bobby Higginson drilled a 30 pitch off the screen-fence facing the right-field bullpen for an RBI double and 2-0 lead.

The Tigers went up 3-0 in the fourth when Robert Fick tripled and scored on an RBI grounder by Brad Ausmus. Palmer made it 4-0 with his 12th homer, leading off the sixth. Because Jones was successful, however, Garrett Stephenson, who won his first eight decisions, lost for the second straight time as he was outdu-eled by the Tigers' pitchers. "That's the way they pitched McGwire all night," Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa said. "They were mean and nasty.

I give them credit." Stephenson (8-2), was never in command, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings. Weaver (3-5) allowed four hits including Thomas Howard's two-run homer in eight innings. He struck out five. string, to the plate. "That's the best part about the game, when you're facing their stopper," McGwire said.

"He went right at me." Jones got two quick strikes, then McGwire put his classic big swing on the next pitch. Slightly shaken, Jones then ran the count full before getting McGwire on a called third strike. "He struck me out," said McGwire, who went O-for-4 with three strikeouts. "But you look forward to those kinds of situations. Sometimes it turns out good, and sometimes it doesn't." McGwire has one home run since May 24.

with one when it went foul. I got lucky." Jones, tied for the major league lead in saves with 18 in 19 chances, started the ninth, attempting to preserve the second straight win for Jeff Weaver. But Shane Halter, inserted as a defensive replacement at third base for Dean Palmer, misplayed Jim Edmonds' leadoff grounder for an error. That brought up McGwire, who missed the previous two games with a sore ham Il1Sid6l Puryear. 3C InSidC: Box score.

4C I mm pi mm Belmont lacks flair without favorites The Associated Press MTV') (TO Lakers Ill Pacers 104 fl SERIES: Los Angeles leads 2-0 NEXT GAME: 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis FAST FACT: Glen Rice and Ron Harper each scored 21 points to ease the loss of Kobe Bryant, who sprained an ankle in the first quarter and did not return. The Associated Press DETROIT Todd Jones figured he was in trouble, judging from the sound of the ball leaving Mark McGwire's big bat. But Jones got a break. The monster shot hooked foul, Jones struck out McGwire, then got a double-play grounder to end the game and the Detroit Tigers beat the St Louis Cardinals 4-2 before a crowd of 39,081 Friday night, second-largest of the season at Comerica Park.

"Big home runs off me have a very distinct sound," Jones said. "This one had that. It was like 'Zzzzzf like a golf ball off a driver. I knew I'd gotten away Ducks enjoy historic victory From Our Staff AMARILLO, Texas For the first time ever, the Ozark Mountain Ducks celebrated at the TJilla Villa on Friday night. Ozark, which had lost its previous nine meetings at Amarillo dating back to last season, mmTT finally broke DUCKS through with an 8-4 win the first- UlllAS place 'Dillas 4 at their home stadium.

The win was sparked by Ducks pitching coach Mike Smith (3-5), who struck out a franchise-record 13 batters. The teams meet at 7:05 p.m. tonight in the series finale, with Mark Hampton (3-3, 7.14 ERA) scheduled to pitch for Ozark. In the series' first two contests, both Ozark losses, the Ducks bats were strong, but their usually dependable pitching failed them. On Friday, the Ducks banged out 15 more hits and scored eight runs, six off Amarillo starter Mike Leach (4-2).

Smith benefited from the outburst, scattering seven hits. His 13 strikeouts is three off the Texas-Louisiana League record. Curtis Underwood continued to swing a hot bat for Ozark, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. It was the first baseman's fifth straight multiple-hit game. The Ducks had a one-run lead before a Rick Van Assel-berg sacrifice fly and a Wil Poli-dor RBI single made it 6-3 in the eighth.

After Amarillo trimmed the lead to 64 in the bottom of the eighth, Jeff Motes and Van Asselberg hit RBI singles in the ninth to seal the win. InSldS: Box score. 2C The Associated Press I I ftp AUTO RACING sets record to take pole BROOKLYN, Labonte, the 45th of 46 drivers to making qualifying attempts on Friday, set a new track record with 189.883 mph for Sunday's Kmart 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Michigan Speedway. Starting second is Ricky Rudd, who earlier set the track record with a lap of 189.021 mph on the 2-mile, high-banked oval. Third quick was Jeff Gordon at 188.610.

Rusty Wallace was fourth at 188.122, followed by Joe Nemechek at 188.053 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. at 187.754. Defending race winner and Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett failed to qualify after blowing an engine. He will try to qualify today. BASEBALL Angry Rocker blows up in bullpen Ohio An angry John Rocker stalked off into the clubhouse Friday following a pregame throwing session in which he was agitated with reporters.

Rocker appeared angry as soon as he stepped out of the bullpen. Rocker threw for about 10 minutes, with most of his pitches far from the strike zone. After four pitches landed in the dirt, Rocker's bullpen catcher moved up a few feet. Finally, a frustrated Rocker tossed a ball into the stands and stalked off into the clubhouse. Cubs get Brown in three-way deal CHICAGO -Outfielder Brant Brown, whose muffed catch almost cost the Cubs a trip to the postseason in 1998, was reacquired by Chicago on Friday as part of a three-way trade with the Texas Rangers and the Florida Marlins.

The Marlins sent Brown to Texas for right-hander Chuck Smith, a minor leaguer. The Rangers then dealt Brown to Chicago for outfielder Dave Martinez to bolster their injury-depleted outfield. BASKETBALL Tulsa coach takes job at Illinois CHAMPAIGN, Self, who led Tulsa to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament, was hired Friday as basketball coach at Illinois. He replaces Lon Kruger, who quit last month to coach the Atlanta Hawks. Self led the Golden Hurricane to a 74-27 record in three seasons.

He takes over an Dlini team that returns all its starters and key reserves from a 22-10 season. The coach met his new players Friday after completing details Thursday night on a $900,000 a year contract. Kruger was paid $750,000 a year. Seattle notches first WNBA victory CHARLOTTE, N.C-Edna Campbell scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half as the Seattle Storm recorded the first victory in franchise history Friday night, 67-62 over the winless Charlotte Sting. After being held to just one field goal in the first half, Campbell shot 6-for-lO in the second half, including a 17-foot jumper with 17.4 seconds left to give the Storm a 652 lead.

Charlotte's Andrea Stinson then missed two 3-pointers before Seattle's Sonja Henning sealed the win with two free throws with seven seconds left. Also in the WNBA on Friday night, Astou Ndiaye-Diatta had 18 points, helping the Detroit Shock to a 80-76 victory over the Indiana Fever and Yolanda Griffith scored 24 points as the Sacramento Mon-archs defeated the New York Liberty 77-56. Glance, 2C yr 1 i I i. i- NEW YORK-Although the Belmont Stakes will lack the excitement of a Triple Crown bid for the first time in four years, Aptitude could complete a unique three-horse sweep. Should Aptitude, the probable post-time favorite, win the l'j-mile Belmont today, it would mean the first three finishers in the Wood Memorial would have won the Kentucky Derby, Preak-ness and Belmont in the order of their finish in the Wood.

Fusaichi Pegasus beat Red Bullet, with Aptitude third, in the Wood Memorial on April 15 at Aqueduct. Fusaichi Pegasus then beat Aptitude in the Derby, and Red Bullet beat Fusaichi Pegasus in the Preak-ness. Also dimming the glamour -of the Belmont is the fact that there will be no rubber match between Fusaichi Pegasus and Red Bullet. The Derby winner injured his right front foot when he was startled in his stall last Saturday. The connections of Red Bullet, who skipped the Derby, decided it wasn't in the colt's best interest to race 1 mEes at this time.

Of the 19 Derby starters, the only one who will have started in all three races will be Impeachment, third in both the Derby Preakness. He has lost seven straight races since win-' ning his debut Dec. 26. "If they (Fusaichi Pegasus and Red Bullet) were in there, they'd be the first and second choice, granted," said D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of Commendable, who goes into the race not having won in six starts dating to his winning debut Aug.

14. "But the playing field has changed," Lukas added, noting the Derby and Preakness winners would be facing fresh horses at a distance seldom raced in the United States. It. LOS ANGELES This wasn't just Hack-a-Shaq. This was Hack-a-Shaq in hyperdrive, Hack-a-Shaq hysteria and it still didn't work.

Shaquille O'Neal took so many foul shots hitting 18 of 39 that he knocked Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Cousy out of the record books. It was part of another incredible statistical night for O'Neal, who had 40 points and 24 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame an injury to Kobe Bryant to defeat the foul-happy Indiana Pacers 111-104 Friday night and take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. In the entire history of the league, no player had taken so many free throws in a game. Chamberlain set the overall record of 34 in 1962, and Cousy set the postseason record of 32 in 1953. O'Neal left them in the dust long before this one was over, making just enough to allow the Lakers to maintain a slim lead down the stretch.

The shocking numbers followed O'Neal's 43-point, 19-rebound performance in Game 1. Game 3 is Sunday, and the Pacers will be hard-pressed to come up with a crazier strategy to turn this series around and try to become just the third team in league history to come back from such a deficit in the finals. If committing 38 fouls couldn't do the trick, even with Bryant sitting out the final 3 quarters with a sprained ankle, it- t5 Wf ft it i iii The Associated Press Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal passes over Indiana's Austin Croshere Friday night at Los Angeles. O'Neal scored 40 points in the win. maybe nothing will.

Jalen Rose scored 30 to lead Indiana, Glen Rice and Ron Harper both Austin Croshere added 24 and Reggie stepped up in Bryant's absence, scoring Miller had 21 just two coming in the 21 points apiece. Harper was aggressive fourth quarter, with the ball while Rice found his shooting touch and made five 3-pointers after scoring just three points in Game 1. InSIS! 8: Box score. ZC Reboulefs heroics save Royals Belmont Stakes Top players on Lions rosters From Our Staff I WHERE: Elmont, N.Y. I COVERAGE: Starts at 3:30 p.m.

today on KSPR (ABC) Channel 33 Cable Channel 8); KWTO 560 AM Jason Christiansen (1-5) to lead off the 10th inning, and went to third on Johnny Damon's sacrifice bunt. Reboulet followed with an opposite field line-drive single to give the Royals their 14th win in their last at-bat, including nine "walk-off' wins. Pittsburgh's Kevin Young, a native of Kansas City, hit his 100th career homer leading off the fifth inning. "It's a special moment and I just thank God for the opportunity. It's more special because it was here." Expect some nifty passing, long-range shooting and dazzling dunks at tonight's Lions All-Star Basketball Classic.

But also expect some defense to be played, especially down the stretch. The boys' and girls' all-star games, scheduled for tonight at Evangel's Ashcroft Center, should be a lot of fun for all involved. But the players still want to win. The Royals, who have an AL-best 18-7 record at home, just completed their first winning road trip of the season, going 5-4 in Boston, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

They kept it up at home, despite blowing a 54 lead in the ninth. Brian Giles' second homer tied the game off Jerry Spradlin (2-0), who blew his third save in nine chances. The. Royals have allowed a major league-leading 103 home runs. "You feel pretty good when you come back from 5-1, but we've had to come back too much this year," Pittsburgh manager Gene Lamont said.

Rey Sanchez doubled off The Associated Press KANSAS CITY Mike Sweeney and Tony Muser credited Jeff Reboulet for the win. Reboulet credits fortunate circumstances. Reboulet drove in four runs, including a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning, to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. "I've been struggling a little bit offensively," said Reboulet, who entered the game with four RBIs in 55 at-bats. "It's a different guy every night.

I'm just glad to be one of those guys once in a while. They don't come very often." Royals 6 Pirates 5 (10) Reboulet hit a three-run double in the fourth, and Mike Sweeney added four hits, including his 13th homer, as Kansas City returned home from a nine-game road trip with a win. "Reboulet is the hero tonight," Sweeney said. "Many people thought with (regular second baseman) Carlos Febles out of the lineup that we would be missing something. But Jeffs a veteran player who has come through when we needed him." ODDS Post Horse 1 Appearing Now 2.

Postponed 3. Commendable 4. Unshaded 5. Aptitude 6 Globalize 7. Curule 8.

Impeachment 9. Wheelaway 10. Hugh Hefner 11. Tahkodha Hills Jockey Luzzi Prado Day Sfillers Solis Smith Bailey Perret Miqliore Chavez Coa Odds 30-1 6-1 20-1 5-1 8- 5 20-1 15-1 9- 2 5-1 50-1 30-1 InSitle: Our report. 6C InSldS! Box score.

4C Our sports editor is Jeff Majeske, 837-1373 or fax, 837-1381. FOR YOUR INFORMATION BaSSball: Andy Pavelka and Jeff Florke of Blue Eye have signed letters of intent with Crowder Junior College in Neosho. Openings remain in the Price Sports Basketball Academy 2000, June 22-24 at The Courts Sports Complex. The camp for boys and girls in grades 2-9 will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call Dirk Price at 890-9096 or 831-3333. FCOtSlSlI: There will be a monthly meetingcookout of the Kickapoo High School football boosters at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the football stadium. For more information, call Doug Whitten at 882-5541. 4.