News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 47

3C IT NEWS-PRESS, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1989 Funderburke eyeing Missouri La Salle moves info rankings; Gators out By The Associated Press breath with 13:56 remaining in Loyola Marymount's 104-101 victory over UC Santa Barbara. He was admitted to Centinela Hospital the night of the incident and released two days later. Both Loyola Marymount and Oregon State have 5-1 records. Bo Kimble scored 51 points for the Lions in their victory over UC Santa Barbara and had 57 points during a 129-120 exhibition loss to Athletes in Action last Saturday night. Elsewhere The National Collegiate Athletic Association's investigation of suspended Illinois forward Deon Thomas is drawing to a close, with one more round of interviews expected Wednesday in Champaign.

Illinois, its football program already hit with probation, took a precaution by suspending freshman Thomas during in-house and NCAA investigations about alleged recruiting violations. Reports have Thomas receiving $80,000 and a Chevrolet Blazer to attend Illinois instead of rival Iowa, but Thomas denies that. Iowa assistant coach Bruce Pearl, who, according to reports, taped a telephone conversation with Thomas, said that the Chicago native told him he did receive those inducements. Forward Nathan Buntin, who scored 49 points and 31 rebounds in two Missouri victories last week, was named Big Eight Player of the Week. The 6-foot-9, 216-pound senior from Detroit had 24 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in Missouri's 89-88 road win over lOth-ranked Arkansas.

He then scored 25 points and topped his personal rebound record with 16 as the fourth-ranked Tigers defeated Bradley 86-77. "I can tell him to stay, but that doesn't mean he is going to stay. I don't know what he is going to do." Funderburke's disappearance has puzzled fans and Indiana athletic officials. "It kind of shocked us," said Eric Ruden, assistant sports information director. "He was coming off a good tournament and he seemed to be relishing his sixth-man role.

We didn't know he was unhappy." Funderburke was averaging about 16 points per game coming off the bench, and eight points as a starter. The 6-foot-8 forward was named to the all-Indiana Classic team after totaling 34 points, 16 rebounds and two blocked shots off the bench. After leading Columbus (Ohio) Wehrle High School to a state title his junior year, Funderburke was suspended from the team four games into his senior year for disciplinary reasons. He said he went to Indiana to get the discipline from Knight he felt he needed to become a better basketball player. Loyola Marymount: Lions center Hank Gathers, who collapsed on the court during a game Dec.

9, won't play for Loyola Marymount tonight at Oregon State against the 21st-ranked Beavers, it was announced in Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount sports information director Barry Zepel said Gathers was underdoing tests Monday and more testing was scheduled for today. An announcement will be made later in the week as to Gathers' availability Saturday night when the Lions entertain seventh-ranked Oklahoma, Zepel said. Gathers, a senior who led the country in scoring and rebounding last season, collapsed at the free-throw line while trying to catch his INDIANAPOLIS Missouri coach Norm Stewart said Monday that missing Indiana player Lawrence Funderburke has inquired about transferring to the Big Eight school, but the staff there has advised the player against it. Stewart, in an interview broadcast on Indianapolis television station WTHR, said he contacted Coach Bob Knight and the Indiana athletic department and informed them of the inquiry.

"Lawrence Funderburke contacted the University of Missouri, called our office on last Friday," Stewart said. "I was not in the office at that time, and they called me and I came back to the office. "There is a procedure to follow. We went a little beyond that normal procedure because of my association and friendship with Bobby Knight. I have not talked to the player.

To my knowledge that is where the situation stands now. WTHR reported that the Missouri staff counseled Funderburke to remain at Indiana and work out his differences. Funderburke has been missing from the Hoc-sier basketball team since Knight kicked him out of practice Thursday. When the rest of the team returned to the locker room, Funderburke already was gone and he did not accompany the team to its game Saturday at Texas-El Paso. Funderburke's mother, meanwhile, said Monday she wanted her son to stay at Indiana, but that he would make up his own mind on the matter.

"I'd prefer that he stay at Indiana," Laura Funderburke said in an interview with The Indianapolis News. "But my son is a grown man now and he has to make up his own mind. Complete poll 2C By The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA La Salle coach Speedy Morris said Monday it's too early to tell just how good his Explorers will be this season, even though they cracked the national rankings for the first time during the 1980s, "If we beat Villanova Thursday, it would be a real nice Christmas present to be ranked and to be 5-0," Morris said after La Salle entered The Associated Press' Top 25 at No. 23, the only new team in this week's poll. Only Florida (2-2) dropped from the rankings, following a 1 05-94 loss to Texas Saturday.

"Whan you've only played four garpes, it doesn't mean a lot now, although for the fans and the school it's nice." After Villanova, the Explorers play Ohio State, Florida, Temple, Loyola Marymount, Siena and Notre Dame in quick succession. "We'll be able to tell in early January just where we are," Morris said. "If we are healthy after those games, who knows?" The top six teams in the poll remained the same as last week, led by Syracuse, Kansas, Georgetown, Missouri, Illinois and Michigan. The Orangemen (7-0) have been No. 1 for each of the four regular-season polls.

This week they received 35 first-place votes 1,525 points from the nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Kansas 1 0-0) was next with 20 first-place votes and 1,484 points, 31 more than Georgetown (7-0), which had seven first-place votes. Missouri (9-0), with one first-place vote and 1,378 points, held fourth and was followed by Illinois (6-0), 1,279 points, and Michigan (7-1), 1,255 points. Oklahoma, Louisiana State and Louisville each moved up a spot from last week, rounding out the Top Ten. Indiana and Duke held their spots in leading the Second Ten and were followed by Nevada-Las Vegas, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Iowa, Memphis State, UCLA, St.

John's and Alabama. Oregon State was 21st, followed by Arizona, La Salle, Oklahoma State and Michigan State. 7T si. 1 'M Bowling Green fops Spartans By The Associated Press 93. Halftime Louisville 48, Austin Peay 25.

Three-point goals Austin Peay 2-5 (Franklin 1, Tivis 1-41. Louisville 2-6 (L Smith 1-1, Williams 1-2, Hawley 0-1, Case 0-1, Fraley 0-1). Fouled out. None Rebounds Austin Peay 35 (J. Johnson 11), Louisville 45 (Spencer 10).

Assists Austin Peay 12 (Franklin 5), Louisville 29 (L.Smith 8). Total fouls Austin Peay 18, Louisville 15. A 19,114. No. 16 Iowa 59 Drexel 50 IOWA CITY, Iowa James; Moses scored 17 points and Ray' Thompson had 16 to lead unbeaten' No.

16 Iowa (7-0) to a come-from-behind victory over Drexel (2-5) Iowa trailed 32-26 at halftime but started the second half with a 13-5 burst, capped by Moses' layup off a fast break at the 1 3:1 7 mark that gave the Hawkeyes their first lead, at 39-37, since the opening minutes. A basket by Acie Earl gave Iowa a 43-38 with 10:11 left. DREXEL (501 Raab4-8 2-2 10, Arlzin 4-150-08, Raabe 1-4 2-24, M.Thompson 6-10 1-1 13, Lehmann 3-10 0-0 9, Clark 1-1 2-34, Leahy 1-40-02, ArmstrongO-20-20, FenwickO-0 0-00. Totals 20-547-1050. IOWA (59) Moses 5-156-617, Ingram 2-5 1-2 5, Jepsen 3-5 1-J 7, Thompson 7-12 1-2 16, Skinner 0-10-0 0, Garner 0-1 1-2 Lookingbill 2-3 3-4 7, Webb 0-0 2-2 2, Tubbs 0-10-10, Earl 2-60-04, DavisO-0 0-00.

Totals 21-49 15-2 1 59 Halftime Drexel 32, Iowa 26, Three-poinf goals Drexel 3-15 (Lehmann 3-9, Leahy 0-1, Armstrong 0-1, Ariiin 0-4), Iowa 2-11 (R. Thompson 1-4, Moses 1-6, Skinner 0-1. Fouled out None. Rebounds Drexel 31 Ari-lin 8), Iowa 34 (Jepsen 6). Assists Drexel 13 (Thompson, Lehmann 5), Iowa 12 (Garner 4L Total fouls Drexel 18, Iowa 9.

Technical -Ingram. A 15,500. Around the state At Miami, Corey Walker scored 24 points and had 13 rebounds as Florida International opened its season with an 86-75 win over St. Thomas. At Lakeland, senior Donolly Tyrell scored 21 points and grabbed a career-tying 14 rebounds to lead Florida Southern (7-0) to an 82-70 win over Belmont (12-3) At DeLandy Ron Ellison had 24 points as Texas-San Antonio (7-2, 1-0) defeated Stetson (5-6, 1-1) 90-74 in a Trans Amerr: ca Conference game At Tampa, Drexel Deveaux posted a game-high 24 points as Tampa (7-0) defeated Mount Mercy (5-8) 100-74.

Michigan St, 37, Bowling Green 37. Three-point goals Bowling Green 5-9 (Whiteman 3-4, Watson 1-1, Venable 1-4), Michigan St. 6-15 (Manns 4-7, Casler 1-1, Smith 1-5, Montgomery 0-1, Wolfe 0-1). Fouled out Watson, Steigenga. Rebounds Bowling Green 25 (Watson, Colbert 6), Michigan St.

28 (Smith 6). Assists Bowling Green 10 (Watson 3), Michigan St. 19 (Smith 12). Total fouls Bowling Green 17, Michigan St. 19.

A No. 10 Arkansas 91 Bethune-Cookman 61 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. Arkansas, led by hot-shooting Mario Credit, forced 31 turnovers and scored the first 21 points of the second half to turn a close game into a Razorback (6-1 rout of Bethune-Cookman (1-5) Credit made 9 of 11 shots from the floor to lead the Razorbacks, who led just 30-27 at halftime. Arkansas outscored Bethune-Cookman 61-34 in the second half. BETHUNE-COOKMAN (61) McKinney3-90-08, Sims 1-20-02, Cunningham 2-9 0-0 4, Carter 3-7 0-0 6, Grant 6-1 10-0 18, Reed 7-132-4 17, DoolingO-00-00, Parson 1-3 2-2 4, Everett 0-1 0-0 0, Parham 0-1 2-2 2, Austin 0-1 0-0 0, 6-861.

ARKANSAS (91) Howell 6-9 6-8 18, Day 6-11 0-0 14, Credit 9-11 4-6 22, Bowers 0-2 0-0 0, Mayberry4-72-2 13, HueryO-2 8-108, Murry 1-3 1-33, Hawkins 0-3 1-2 1, Whitby 0-20-00, Miller 3-4 2-2 8, MarksO-20-00, Hogue2-50-2 4, Davis 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 31-62 24-36 91. Half-time Arkansas 30, Bethune-Cookman 27. Three-point goals Bethune-Cookman 9-20 (Grant 6-8, McKinney 2-6, Reed 1-4, Carter 0-1, Hodges 0-1 Arkansas 5-13 May berry 3-5, Day 2-5, Murry 0-1, Whitby 0-2). Fouled out None.

Rebounds Bethune-Cookman 31 (Parson 7), Arkansas 41 Day, Credit 6). Assists Bethune-Cookman 10 (Grant, McKinney 2), Arkansas 19 (Mayberry 7). Total fouls Bethune-Cookman 28, Arkansas 13. A No. 20 Alabama 63 Baptist 32 TUSCALOOSA, Ala.

David Be-noit scored eight points and Marcus Webb seven as No. 20 Alabama (7-1) reeled off the last 29 points of a 32-6 first half while holding Baptist College (2-7) scoreless for 1 6 2 minutes. Associated Press Austin Peay's Donald Tivis (left) tries to outrun LaBradford Smith of Louisville on a fast break. EAST LANSING, Mich. Bowling Green's Clinton Venable made a three-point shot with 14 seconds left Monday night, giving the Falcons an 81-79 upset over No.

25 Michigan State. Venable's basket came after Michigan State (7-2) rallied from a seven-point deficit to take a 79-78 lead on Parish Hickman's rebound of a missed free throw with 1:02 remaining. Bowling Green turned the ball over with 46 seconds to go but Michigan State's Jeff Casler missed the front end of a one-and-one with 31 seconds to play. Venable scored the winning basket on Bowling Green's next possession. The Spartans called a timeout with 10 seconds remaining but Steve Smith missed a running 10-footer with five seconds left and Venable ran down the ball near midcourt as time expired.

Steve Watson led Bowling Green (7-1) with 20 points in a game that included eight ties and 17 lead changes. Venable scored 15 points and Billy Johnson had 12. Smith's 22 points led Michigan State. The teams were tied 37-37 at half-time following a first half marred by 21 turnovers, 13 by Michigan State. BOWLING GREEN (61) Watson 7-9 5-5 20, Kizer 0-0 0-0 0, Colbert 3-7 2-5 8, Venable 6-15 2-2 15, Whlteman 3-4 0-0 9, Johnson 5-9 2-4 12, Moore 4-8 0-2 8, Hall 1-5 1-2 3, Street 3-3 0-0 6.

Tota I 32-60 1 2-20 8 1 MICHIGAN ST. (79) Redtield 4-8 2-2 10, Steigenga 1-1 1-1 3, Peplowski3-33-59, Smith 10-19 1-322, Casler 1-10-1 3, Manns 8-13 0-0 20, Montgomery 1-2 0-0 2, Wolfe 0-1 0-00, Zulauf 0-1 0-00, Stephens 2-4 0-1 4, Hickman 2-3 2-2 6. Totals 32-56 9-15 79. Halftime Baptist's six first-half points were the fewest allowed in a half by Alabama since Dec. 6, 1947, when Birmingham-Southern scored five in the second half of a 41-22 loss.

equal their best start since the 1982-83 Final Four squad also opened with an 8-1 mark. The outcome was never in doubt. Smith made a jump shot three seconds into the game and Felton Spencer followed with a three-point play 41 seconds later before Austin Peay scored at the 18:45 mark on Javin Johnson's rebound basket. No. 9 Louisville 93 Austin Peay 59 LOUISVILLE, Ky.

Denny Crum became the winningest basketball coach in Louisville history as the ninth-ranked Cardinals (8-1) beat Austin Peay (4-4) behind LaBradford Smith's 18 points. Crum, 444-149 in his 19th season, received a standing ovation from the 19,114 fans in Freedom Hall when the milestone was announced. Bernard "Peck" Hickman was 443-183 in 23 seasons with the Cardinals (1944-1967). Louisville's seventh straight victory also enabled the Cardinals to BAPTIST COLL. (32) Hall 4-15 2-2 10, Tutt 2-11 0-2 4, Grant 0-3 0-0 0, Nance 1-8 0-0 2, Oliver 1-62-2 5, Solomon 0-0 0-2 0, Moses 1-3 0-0 3, Gibson 3-6 0-0 8, Powers 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals 12-524-832. ALABAMA (63) Horry 1-3 0-0 2, Cheatum 4-8 1-3 9, Benoit 4-8 0-0 8, Waltes 1-40-0 3, Lancaster 2-9 2-36, Rice 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 2-4 2-3 7, Sanders 1-4 0-0 2, Wilson 0-0 1-2 1, ich 1-3 2-24, Webb 3-4 1-17, Campbell 4-62-2 10, Lawrence 0-0 0-1 0, Askins 1-3 1-24. Totals 24-56 12-19 63. Halftime Alabama 32, Baptist Coll. 6.

Three-point goals Baptist Coll. 4-10 (Gibson 2-5, Moses 1-1, Oliver 1-2, Tutt 0-1, Nance 0-1), Alabama 3-12 (Brown 1-2, Askins 1-3, Waites 1-3, Horry 0-1, Lancaster 0-1, Rich 0-2). Fouled out Moses. Rebounds Baptist Coll. 32 (Tutt 12), Alabama 46 (Cheatum 9).

Assists Baptist Coll. 8 Nance 4), Alabama 14 (Waites, Horry 4). Total fouls Baptist Coll. 20, Alabama 10. A 3, 127.

AUSTIN PEAY (59) Howard 6-12 1-2 13, J. Johnson 9-173-521, Brown 4-13 1-3 Tivis 1-9 2-2 5, T.Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Franklin 3-6 2-2 9, Boykin 0-4 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, D.Johnson 1-2 0-0 2, Baynham 0-0 0-0 0 Totals 24-639-1459 LOUISVILLE (93) Sullivan 7-11 0-014, Kimbro 1-30-02, Spencer 4-8 5-6 13, Williams 6-8 1-2 14, Smith 8-9 1-2 18, Harmon 6-130-0 12, Holden 3-4 2-5 8, Smith 3-7 0-2 6, Hawley0-1 0-0 0, Webb 1-3 0-0 2, Case 2-3 0-0 4, Howard 0-0 0-0 0, FraleyO-IO-2 0. Totals 41-71 9-19 EK13 SOX From page 1C ab bi Batter ab bi Batter Manning cf 5 0 1 0 Ireland ss 5 12 0 Cmpnrisss 6 2 4 0 Milbourne2b 10 0 0 Landestoy2b4 1 1 2 Gonzalei lb 6 12 2 6 0 2 3 6 13 2 Cedenorf Hendrick If 4 110 4 0 2 0 4 111 3 12 1 4 111 10 10 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 Driessen lb Putnam dh Jackson 3b Harlow rf Castillo Clements Spencer If Allen 2b Mollnarodh 1112 Johnson dh Thomascf Hicksc 2 0 0 0 5 110 5 2 3 0 4 3 2 1 Gulliver 3b Totals 46 12 19 12 Totals 38 5 11 3 SENIOR LEAGUE STANDINGS North Division Pet. GB MO Streak Home Away St. Petersburg 21 14 .600 5-5 Won 2 13-5 8-9 Orlando 17 17 .500 3' 6-4 Won 2 9-7 8-10 Winter Haven 17 19 .472 4-6 Lost 1 10-9 7-10 Bradenton 16 19 .457 5 6-4 Won 5 7-11 8-9 South Division Pet.

GB L10 Streak Home Away W. Palm Beach 27 11 .711 7-3 Won 1 12-6 15-5 Fort Myers 20 17 .541 6V4 7-3 Lost 1 13-7 7-10 GoldCoast 16 19 .457 5-5 Won 1 9-6 7-13 St.Lucie 9 27 .250 17 3-7 Lost4 4-14 4-14 Monday's scores W.Haven at St. Pete, ppd G. Coast 12, Fort Myers 5 West Palm 13, St. Lucie 3 Today's games Orlando at Bradenton, 1:05 G.

Coast at Fort Myers. 7:05 W.Haven at St. Pete, 7:05 St. Lucie at West Palm, 7:05 Sunday's scores HOW THEY SCORED Suns' second: Hendrick singles. Molinaro homers.

Thomas walks. Hicks singles. Gulliver hits into force play. Campaneris singles. Landestoy flies to left.

Gonzalez strikesout Suns 2, Sun SoxO. Sun Sox's second: Jackson doubles. Harlow singles home Jackson. Castillo pops to catcher. Spencer grounds to third.

Allen grounds to first. Suns 2, Sun Sox 1. Suns fourth: Hicks singles. Gulliver doubles. Campaneris pops to second.

Landestoy singles home Hicks. Gonzalez singles home Gulliver. Cedeno singles home Landestoy. Hendrick reaches on Ireland error, scoring Gonzalez. Johnson walks.

Thomas strikes out. Hicks lies to right. Suns a. Sun Sox 1. Sun Sox's fourth: Harlow flies to center.

Castillo singles. Spencer reaches on error. Allen hits into force play, reaches base on throwing error, which scores Castillo. Manning grounds to short. Suns 6, Sun Sox 2.

Suns' fifth: Gulliver doubles. Campaneris singles. Landestory grounds to short. Gonzalez flies to left. Cedeno singles home Gulliver and Campeneris.

Hendrick hits into force play Suns 8, Sun Sox 2. Sun Sox's seventh: Ireland and Dries-sen single. Putnam flies to left. Jackson fly ball dropped, scoring Ireland. Harlow walks.

Casyllo grounds to short, scoring Driessen. Spencer flies to left. Suns 9, Sun Sox 4. Suns' eighth: Hicks and Gulliver walk. Campaneris singles.

Landestoy sacrifice fly scores Hicks. Gonzalez double scores Gulliver. Cedeno lines to second. Hendrick singles home Campaneris Johnson tlies to center Suns 12, Sox 4. Sun Sox's ninth Putnam singles Jackson hits into double play Harlow walks.

Castillo singles advances to second an error which scores Harlow. Spencer pops to second Suns 12, Sox 5. game in the second inning with an injury. Monday's victim was right-hander Eric Ras-mussen, who departed with a sore elbow. He's scheduled to have it looked at by a doctor today.

Last week left-hander Don Hood left in the second inning with arm trouble. Hood could be ready by Wednesday. Both pitchers were making their first start of the SPBA season. The Suns struck first, scoring two runs in the second off Rasmussen. Left fielder George Hen-drick led off the inning with a single.

DH Bobby Molinaro followed with a two-run homer over the right-field wall. Rasmussen's outing lasted only three more batters. He left the game with a sore elbow. He was replaced by Dick Drago, who shut the Suns down in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, he kept the Suns at bay, for the moment.

With two outs and a 3-2 count on first baseman Orlando Gonzalez, Drago nipped the outside edge of the plate with a called third strike. Then came the fourth. Drago, who entered the game with a 1 0.24 ERA, allowed five hits and four earned runs in the inning. This is a different Suns team than the one that visited Fort Myers back on Nov. 1 to open the inaugural SPBA season.

On opening day Fort Myers beat the Suns 13-0. On Nov. 2 the Sun Sox blasted the Suns 8-2. Gold Coast started the season 0-5. Later in the season the record was 2-1 0 and then 3-11, according to Weaver.

The Suns are now 16-19. They've won 13 of their past 21 The difference? "Well, we got healthy," Weaver said. They're also closing in on second place. Fort Myers manager Pat Dobson, however, doesn't hear Gold Coast's heavy footsteps coming closer. "Why should I think about them?" Dobson said.

"I got to think about our club." While the Suns' health has improved, the Sox have become injury-prone. Fort Myers' best pitcher, Rick Waits, hasn't pitched in three weeks. Dobson expects Waits to pitch against first-place West Palm Beach Wednesday. The team leader in homers and RBI, right fielder Amos Otis, missed Monday's game with a pinched nerve in his neck. The second inning of Monday's game was indicative of Fort Myers fortunes recently for the second time in a week a starting pitcher left a Gold Coast 020 421 030-12 Fort Myers 010 100 201- 5 LOB Gold Coast 16, Fort Myers 12.

2B Gulliver (2), Gonzalez, Thomas, Jackson. HR Molinaro. SB Thomas, Campaneris. SF Jackson, Gulliver, Landestoy. Gold Coast IP ER BB SO t1 8 4 2 2 4 Grimsley 2 3 10 2 0 Fort Myers IP ER BB SO 3 2 2 2 I Drago 2 6 4 4 1 2 Riccelll 2 5 3 2 1 2 Coleman 2 4 3 3 2 0 La Roche 1 1 0 0 0 1 Bradenton 9.

St. Lucie 4 St. Pete 15. West Palm 12 Orlando 8, Gold Coast 2 Fort Myers 5, Winter Haven 2 Fort Myers' Spencer joins teammate Ireland in getting a Giant job NOTEBOOK ByGLENN MILLER News-Press Stall Writer surprised these guys are playing great baseball." Although the quality of play is good, attendance has been low. "We're a little concerned about the attendance and that's understandable," Flood said.

"I think we're going to do better from here on in." Ludicrous quote of the season: St. Lucie Legends general manager Ray Negron said of his club's poor attendance, "Had we not had injuries, we would have been drawing 4,000 a game." Sun Sox bullpen catcher Herb Erhardt brings unusual credentials to the job. At 21, he's about half the age of some of the Sox players. The 1985 graduate of Cape Coral High is an infieldercatcher in the New York Yankees' farm system. "This is great," Erhardt said of spending his winter with the Sun Sox.

"I love It's a lot of fun. Everybody's been helpful tome." Indeed, Erhardt can often be seen tak-ing grounders at third base or a few cuts in the batting cage. Erhardt singled out catcher Castillo as a particularly helpful player. Before Friday's game against the Winter Haven Super Sox, Erhardt took' batting practice swings off Sun Sox coach Tony Torchia. Erhardt spent part of the 1989 season with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees of the" Class A Florida State League.

He believes the Sun Sox could win the FSL "They'd do great," Erhardt said. Does Erhardt see himself playing in the SPBA in the year 2003? "That would be fine," Erhardt said. "I'd love to still be playing when I'm 35." 1,176 Ireland was third in the league in hitting going into Monday's game, at .393. Kim Allen is third in stolen bases, with 12. Rich Gale is sixth in ERA, at 3.45.

Tonight is Charlotte County Night. Discounts are available at Charlotte County Stadium and the Punta Gorda Holiday Inn. Pitching coach Joe Coleman was activated Monday. Shortstop Johnnie LeMas-ter was placed on the disabled list retroactive to Dec. 13.

LeMaster has a sore heel. SPBA commissioner Curt Flood was asked to assess the league near the midway point of its inaugural season. "State of the league?" Flood said. "I think we're doing great. We've been in the baseball business just a few weeks.

I'm not Fort Myers Sun Sox outfielder Tom Spencer was named manager of the San Francisco Giants' San Jose Class A farm team In the California State League. The past two years, Spencer was a coach with the Cleveland Indians. Spencer nas five years experience as a minor-league veteran. He hopes to return to the major leagues in the near future. "I hope it's just a year of transition," said Spencer, referring to managing San Jose.

Sun Sox infielder Tim Ireland also coaches in the Giants' organization. He was recently named a coach with the Phoenix Firebirds of the Pacific Coast League. Sox catcher Marty Castillo is a walking bruise. Friday night, a foul tip banged his left knee. He crumpled to the ground as if shot, but Castillo stayed in the game.

Before Saturday's game, Castillo was asked what would keep him out of a game. "Taking me to the hospital," he said. Prior to Monday night's game, Castillo had thrown out 12 of 22 base-runners attempting to steal on him. Sox Stats: Fort Myers has slipped to third in the league in average attendance,.