News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 23

SECTION II1SIDE NEWS-PRESS KEWS-PRESS SCORELIKE Call 332-5600 or (800) 848-0515 and press 8018 Touch tone only Scoreboard 2C Outdoors, tennis 3C Baseball 4C NBA, NHL 5C Preps 5C College basketball 6C SPORTS EDITOR: TOM HAYDEN, 335-0357 (Monday Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26 1997 Of (D In jju ired Gireemi well commes back home Slough going helps get you Alva resident suffers herniated disc in Japanese camp He is injured. He is not retiring." Sroba said the extent of Green-well's injury is unknown. "We don't know if it'll be a three-week thing or a two-year thing," Sroba said. Sroba said Greenwell hasn't been returning telephone calls and was Tigers'sprtag-trainingcamp.

Greenwell, 33, is home and having his back checked out according to his agent Joe Sroba. Although there was speculation at the Boston Red Sox camp Tuesday that Greenwell might retire because of the injury.Srobasaidthatwon'thappen. "He is not retiring," Sroba said. A ByGLENN MILLER News-Press staff writer Shortly after Mike Greenwell said hello to Japan, it might be time or him to say sayonara. His Japanese baseball career is on hold because of a herniated disc.

The Alva resident and former Boston Red Sox left fielder injured his back recently diving for a ball in the Hanshin 1 i nzzan i it. The Japanese experience would have been something new for Greenwell, a 1982 North Fort Myers High School graduate. From 1982 to '96, Greenwell played for the Red Sox. Greenwell signed with Hanshin in January. The contract reportedly calls for $2 million this year and is rumored to be part of a three-year deal.

He earned $3.7 million last year while with the Red Sox. Red Sox notebook 4C Barr fops Arellano for crown Fort Myers fighter wins by TKO in 10th By TOM HAYDEN News-Press Sports Editor PUNTAGORDA Next. Freeman Barr dominated Andres Arellano, scoring a lOth-round technical knockout Tuesday to win the International Boxing Council Americas middleweight title at the Charlotte County Memorial Auditorium. Now, Barr wants a rematch with Rito Ruvalcaba for the North American Boxing Organization title. "I would fight him tonight for the title." Barr said about a possible rematch with Ruvalcaba.

Ruvalcaba scored a technical knockout over Barr in November. It was Barr's only loss after the Naples fighter had dominated the early rounds only to be weakened by the flu and leg cramps. But Tuesday, Barr had no problem with stamina and his left hand a powerful package of jabs, hooks and uppercuts were too much for Arellano. With only seconds left in the 10th round, a right hook by Barr opened a deep cut over Arellano's left eye. The cut was so bad that Arellano could not answer the bell.

"My plan was to jab and jab him and use my speed," said Barr, who trains out of the SJC Boxing Club in Fort Myers. "Then when he drops his left hand, I would come over the top and snap the right When I saw the cut I just threw my arms up in the air." Barr improved to 12-1 in front of 1,200 fans, including legendary boxer Beau Jack and women's boxing champ Christy Martin. Three other area fighters won on Tuesday's card. Cape Coral's David Armstrong earned a shot at the IBC Americas lightweight title with a second-round TKO of Augusto Reyes of Miami. Chris Yslas of Lehigh Acres scored a first-round TKO over Billy Hampton of Valdosta, Ga.

Joey Ne-gron of Fort Myers stopped John Thomas of Valdosta, only 58 seconds into the fight Scott Erickson of Lehigh Acres beat Sites Hampton of Tampa when Hampton couldn't answer the bell for the second round. CELEBRATION: Canterbury players congratulate each other after their 67-62 victory against Coral Gables ACE in the South II Regional championship Tuesday. The Cougars now advance to the Class A Florida Finals in Lakeland on Monday. Canterbury aces Coral Gables to advance to state semifinals um nyrupain HAVING GROWN UP in Southwest Florida, I have seen some drastic changes in the local wilds. I used to hunt ducks in ponds that now are street addresses in Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres, and I was similarly incovenienced when they turned my favorite dove field into the Edison Mall.

Still, even within the past year I have been privileged to tramp some really wild Southwest Florida woodlands, complete with panther, bear, deer and, just last weekend, wild turkeys. WhatI didn't realize, however, is that I also was tramping down the primrose path. I became something of an eco-snob, assiduously avoiding what I BYRON STOUT Outdoors guessedtobe sterile, programmed outdoor experiences, until I recently took my family to Six Mile Cypress Slough neseive. iiumw ii uauuuaiu wains .1 i i men wuuiu a--uiiiniuuaic vji ate electric scooter, we needed some fresh air after too many goodies at the Greek Fest and I thought we miglit at least see some pretty wildflowers. And for the record, the yellow- thrnStfiri nnrnle irises were eynnisite.

ButwowlWhatamarvelousplace to see wildlife really in the wild. I've that's a cypress swamp, albeit one with a boardwalk winding through it You get to see all of the lush ferns and rotting logs without ever having your shoes sucked of in black ooze thntcmellclilrpcnmethinonrettv unsnbbbish.Butthat's not the best thingabout the boardwalk. Wildlife remains wild The great thing about the boardwalk is that it confines visitors to an i entirely predictable path, so the animals', don't have to think twice about unexpected encounters. They Just go about their business like the people aren't even there. The first thing we noticed was a baby alligator on Gator Pond, but it basically was acting like most suburban gators, which is to say fresh from the taxidermy shop.

I began to notice something was up, however, when we passed by an anhinga with its neck feathers all puffed out like a boa, set to dry in the evening sunlight The snakebird was so used to passers-by that, at a distance of only 10 or 12 feet it paid us no mind whatever. I thought at first it might be sick. But then I realized we people on the boardwalk, long established as unth-reatening, therefore were simply boring. The best examples of people ignores were the dozens of gray squirrels. Sure, you've got squirrels in your own neighborhood, but you've llso got fearsome housecats, speeding cars and barking dogs.

If you want to see a really relaxed squirrel one that actually will turn its back on you try SixMile'ssquirrels. the Otter Pond, Stacey saw, on cuean otter. It stared at her for a bit but it was pretty busy and had disap peared by the time I brought up the rear. Far across the pond, a flock of snowy egrets clambered across the surface blanket of water lettuce, spearing at this and that and almost straight below was an American bit down for the winter. Bitterns are fairly uncommon herons, and shy at that but this one was roughly as concerned as a plastic flamingo.

Likewise, a tiny downy wood pecker telegraphed taps through the cypress, ibis swooshed their orange bills off in an inky pond, and gosh! I might have gone on missing that stuff for way longer than I had to. Write Byron Stout at Sports, News-Press, P.O. Box 10, Fort Myers Ft (941) 3354494 or fax computer E-mail NPLlfemol.com TENNIS MAC IS BACK: Nuveen TourstandoutJohn McEnroe had been added to the field as a wildcard for next week's Nuveen Masters at the Kensington Golf and Country Club in Naples. McEnroe will replace Jose-Luis Clerc, who has withdrawn because his mother is ill. His first match McEnroe in the $300,000 tournament will be Wednesday against Mel Purcell.

The tournament begins Monday. unavailable for comment "He's pretty upset about the whole thing," Sroba said. Greenwell had returned home from Japan early this month and was scheduled to go back last Friday. Sroba said doctors advised him not to return because the long flight would stress his back. JL BRUCE FINENews-Press need two possessions to come back," said Eisenfeld shortly after being mauled by both his celebrating teammates and classmates.

"That was it" The free throws were especially special for Eisenfeld after he went scoreless in the first half, and hit only two shots in the second half, both 3-pointers. He finished with eight points. SeeCQUGARS5C Prep coverage 5C LOCAL GOLF: The Lehigh Acres Honorary Mayor Tournament will be held 8:30 a.m. on March 9 at Cypress Pines Country Club. The format Is a four-person team scramble.

The tournament benefits youth sports. Entry deadline is March 7. Info: Kenny McDanieL 369-8216. -i SOCCER: Greater Fort Soccer Club registration to noon and Sunday Kelly Road Complex. per child.

runs April 5 May 24. The league to all Lee recreational players. Info: Metzger at WHAT'S NEXT By CHRIS WALSH News-Press staff writer SOUTH LEE COUNTY They were the free throws that every kid dreams of. Leading 65-62 with 11 seconds remaining and a trip to the state tournament on the line, Canterbury junior guard Mark Eisenfeld calmly buried two free throws to help the Cougars finish off Coral Cables Aca-. demy of Community Education (ACE) 67-62 on Tuesday night in the Class A South II Regional Final.

Twins hoping find relief Bullpen's closer position up for grabs during spring training The Canterbury Cougars (25-7) advance to the Class A Florida Finals In Lakeland, where they will play Orlando Central Florida Christian (18- With the victory, the Cougars (25-7) advance to the Class A Florida Finals in Lakeland. Canterbury will play Orlando Central Florida CLOSER Top candidates for the Minnesota Twins closer's role: EDDIE GUARDADO: Appeared In a major league-high 83 games with a 5.25 ERA, a 6-5 -record and four saves GREGG OLSON: Averaged 32 saves during five seasons with Baltimore In early '90s. Had eight saves and a 5.02 Aguilera said. Aguilera and Kelly are right In the past decade, six of the 10 World Series champions have featured a closer with at least 30 saves. Three of the teams had pitchers with 21 or more GOLF GREEN MACHINE: PGA Seniors champion Hale Irwin won the Senior Slam on Tuesday with a 13-under-par after two rounds In San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.

Irwin took a $250,000 purse, with another $250,000 to be divided between runner-up Dave Stockton (4-under), Raymond Floyd (2-under) and Jack Nicklaus (1-under), Sports briefs 2C IRWIN 15) on Monday. In the other semifinal, Malone (28-8) will play Miami Northwest Christian (28-5). The title game will be Tuesday. Christian (18-15), which defeated Ocala St John Lutheran 57-36, in a state semifinal Monday. "I knew if I hit one, they would TO FlflE ERA last season with Detroit.

I DAVE STEVENS: Saved team-hlgh 1 1 games last year with a 4.66 ERA. Lost the role after two stints on the disabled list. I MIKE TROMBLEY: Had a 2.45 ERA with 10 saves at Triple-A Salt Lake City and a 3.01 ERA and six saves during 43 appearances for the Twins. saves, and only the 1990 Cincinnati Reds didn't have a 20ave pitcher. See CLOSER 4C Twins, Red Sox notes 4C Around the camps 4C COLLEGE W.Forest 71, Ga.

Tech 55 Cincinnati 63, So. Miss 49 Illinois 87, Penn State 65 N. Dams 69, Miami 60 Pittsburgh 77, UConn 74 Virginia 58, Va. Tech 77 Texas 68, Texas 57 Kentucky 74, Tennessee 64 BSt.Joe's78,UMass63 Coverage 5C GETTING CLOSER? Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Mike Trombley stretches out his arm during practice at the Lee County Sports Complex. He Is one of four candidates for the closer role, which also 'could come down to a system.

JOSER. MENDEZ News-Press OUTDOORS MEETING TIME: The Naples chapter of the Florida Conservation Association will meet at 7 p.m. Thurs- da vat 1 the vJP A GUIDE TO Naples GETTING QUI, Beach Club Hotel. Guest speaker Doug Haymens, Department of Environmental Protection. Info: (941) 77M502.

gol3C ssnt By DAVID DORSEY News-Press staff writer What a relief the Minnesota Twins will have if they can harness and develop what they'll be looking for this spring: a go-to closer. The role hasn't been held by one man for the Twins since 1994, when Rick Aguilera saved 23 games. With Aguilera now Intent on being a starter, several pitchers once troubled Dave Stevens, emerging Mike Trombley, durable Eddie Guardado and newcomer Gregg Olson could step into that role. Whether the team needs a true closer or can handle the job by committee remains to be seen, but Manager Tom Kelly and Aguilera say the former works better than the latter. "I think it's best for the bullpen because everyone knows their roles, and it adds confidence to the team," PRO BASKETBALL PRICE NOT RIGHT: Houston's Brent Price tore a ligament in his right knee Tuesday and will be sidelined therestoftheseason.

Price tore his anterior cruciate ligament against the Los Angeles Lakers when he banged knees with Lakers guard Nick Van Exel. "You're looking at four to six months before he can get back to the court," physician Dr. Walter Lowe said. NBA coverage 6C The Myers will hold at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Soccer Cost Is $30 Season through Is open County Scott 936-0300..