The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 23

SATURDAY, JULY 29. 2000 THE TIMES www.shreveporttimes.com BASEBALL 6 -proposa peer Robert B. BurgeThe Times Shreveport's Raul Marval throws to first for the double play after tagging Arkansas' Jack Wilson Friday night. Cody Ransom had been waiting for Thursday for quite some time. Ransom delivered three hits in four at-bats after suffering through a miserable 3-for-30 stretch.

"It's been a rough season all around," said Ransom, who lifted his average over the .200 mark. "I need to be a little more consistent." The three hits came off Bud Smith, who one-hit Shreveport on May 27. "I Just tried to get some pitches out over the plate and hit them back up the middle," Ransom said. "I had to change my approach because you can't pull a guy like that. If you try to pull him, he has that changeup he can throw." After hitting .122 in a late-season call-up in 1999, Ransom has continued to struggle this season, hitting only .204 with 106 strikeouts.

"This is trying, especially after all the work I put in the off-season," Ransom said. "I had a good spring training, so this has been hard. It's become really taxing mentally. We've got 35 or so games left. The rest of the season is behind me so I just have to focus on what I can do the rest of the way." Feeling right at home: Saying Smith likes pitching at Fair Grounds Field may be a strong candidate for the title of Understatement of the Year.

After allowing only one run In 12 vi innings, Smith is 2-0 this season In Shreveport and 12-1 overall. "I like pitching here," said Smith, who also crushed his first professional home run Thursday. "It has a high mound and our hitters seem to like it here too." Smith's home run apparently surprised the 20-year-old southpaw more than Just about anyone in the park. "I swung as hard as I could," Smith said. "I was stopping at second.

I thought someone caught it." Following the pattern: The first three games of the Captains-Travelers series seem to be following a pattern as far as game time is concerned. Tuesday night the teams took 2 hours, 33 minutes to play, Wednesday followed with a 2:34 and Thursday's game took 2:35. Therefore, Friday's game should have taken 2:36 to play. FllThe Times Shreveport southpaw Eddie Oropesa leads the team with 42 appearances. The reliever has compiled a 2-2 record, two saves and a 2.04 ERA.

Oropesa believes work ethic is a major reason for his success. Texas League Standings Eastern Division 22 15 14 12 Pet. .629 429 .412 J43 .676 .629 .486 .400 GB 7 7 10 Wctiita (Royals) Arkansas iCardmalt) Tulsa IRanqsrs) 13 20 20 23 i-Shraveport (Giants) Wmnoti Division El Paso (Diamondbacks) 23 11 i-Round Rock (Astros) 22 13 Midland (AtnMcs) 17 18 San Antonio (Dodgers) 14 21 i-won first half title THURSDAY'S RESULTS Arkansas 4, Shravaport 1 El Paso 6. Midland 5. 10 innings Round Rock 3.

San Antonio 2 Wichita 4, Tulsa 3 FRIDAY'S GAMES Arkansas it Shrevsport El Paso at Midland San Antonio at Round Rock Tulsa at Wichita TODAY'S GAMES Tulsa al Shravaport Round Rock at Midland San Antonio at El Paso Wichita at Arkansas, 2 Up next: The Captains kick off a four-game series with the Tulsa Drillers with a 7:35 p.m. single game. Kurt Ainsworth 7-6, 3.24) takes the mound against Tulsa's Leiby Guzman (6-8, 4.90). Jason Pugh Moving around never has been a problem for Captains 'pitcher Eddie Oropesa. After defecting from Cuba, the sidearming southpaw was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers which selected him in the fourth round of the 1994 draft.

After stops at four Dodger af Notebook filiates, San Francisco selected Oropesa in the 1998 Rule minor league draft, thus beginning the odyssey that has seen him spend parts of three seasons in Shreveport. This season, Oropesa made another change this time moving from the starting rota- tion to the bullpen. The 28-year-old southpaw has since blossomed into one of Shreveport's most consistent relievers. Oropesa is 2-2 with a 2.04 ERA and two saves in a team-leading 42 appearances. "I caught him in "98 which was my first Oropesa A Captains catcher Yorvit -Torrealba said.

"He was in the starting rotation then. He's a very good left-handed pitcher. He's been very smart out there this year." And very tough to hit. Opponents are hitting a meager .212 against Oropesa. And he has been particularly effective against left-handed hitters, limiting them to a .098 average.

Though this season is not Oropesa's first season to work out of the bullpen, it has been his most successful. "I've done it before," "Oropesa said. "It's nothing different for me, though it was a little different at the beginning the season because I thought I was going to be a starter." Instead, with a talented rotation that now includes three fifth-round or higher draft picks, Oropesa accepted his new role and, thankfully for Shreveport manager Biil Hayes, is flourish- "He's had a good year for himself," Hayes said of Jason Pugh if UjS Gonzalez enjoys return to Texas Oropesa, who has started one game, worked middle relief, been a left-handed specialist and closed games this year. "In the long run, your left-handers have to be effective against lefties. He's done every bit of that.

He's got a slider and a curve and he's able to sink the ball against right-handers. Hopefully, he's opened some eyes in the organization." Oropesa's second save of the season came on July 23 in a 3-2 victory over Round Rock. On the schedule, that game looks like any other, but it, along with Oropesa, now has a place in Shreveport baseball lore. That victory marked Texas League victory No. 5,000 for the Captains and Oropesa was more than happy to join winning pitcher Kurt Ainsworth as part of team history.

"I feel very happy about it," Oropesa said. "I've pitched here three or four years. It's good to be part of something like that, especially when you've been here a couple of years." Oropesa's work ethic has played a major role in his success this season. While in Cuba, Oropesa pitched on the same team as New York Yankees' ace Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez. Despite Hernandez and his younger brother, Livan, reaching the majors in relatively short time, Oropesa remains focused on making yet another move the one that will take him to the big leagues.

Thursday's late box Travelers 4, Captains 1 ARKANSAS SHREVEPORT abrhbi abrhbi Wilson ss 4000 Magruder 4010 Saturnarl 4120 Marval 3b 4000 Pearson tb 4100 Allen rf 3010 Haas 3b 4010 ZunigaZb 4020 Leon If 4111 Flaherty 1b 4 010 Maier2b 3012 Oropesap 0000' Gamckc 4010 Hansom ss 4130.4 Wootfcf 4000 Piressc 4010 Smith 3121 Faircloth If 30 ft Lambert 1 000 Clark ph 1000 Corps 2000 Young ph 1 0 00 Messman 0000. Summers 1b 1000 Totals 3S484 Totals 351101 Arkansas 310000 000 -4 Shreveport 000 000 100-1 Zuniga. Corps DP Arkansas 1. LOB Arkansas! 5. Shreveport 8.

2B-Saturna. HR Smith (1). CS Haas, Allen. IP ER BB SO Arkansas Smith W.12-1 7.2 10 1 1 1 7 LamberS.t 1.1 0 0 0 0 Shreveport Corps 4-5 7.0 7 4 1 0 4. Messman 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 Oropesa 1.0 0 0 0 1 3 2:35.

The Rangers unloaded Gonzalez in November in a nine-player deal so they wouldn't lose him without compensation. Gonzalez is a free agent at the end of this season and the Rangers were worried his asking price would be too high. Gonzalez turned down an eight-year, $148 million deal from the Tigers in the spring and also nixed a trade with the Yankees in June because New York would only offer him a one-year deal worth $12.5 million. "I think It's different for El Duque and me because maybe he has more talent than I do," Oropesa said. "I know I need to stay focused and keep pitching good.

Wherever I go, I'll do my best. I'm going to go out and pitch my best, no matter where lam." Ryan Cox's first time in Louisiana proved to be humorous as well as memorable. Cox scattered four hits over six innings and struck out eight in his Double-A debut, an 8-3 -victory over Arkansas on Tuesday. 'As with most players trying to make a first impression, Cox struggled with a slight case of nerves, which for the most part were not related to pitching. "I was more worried about hitting," said Cox, San Francisco's fifth-round selection in the 1999 draft.

"I hadn't hit in three years." The tentative Cox went 2 at the piate, but picked up the victory on his first day In Louisiana. A tough year became worse for San Antonio third baseman Luke Allen. Allen, who reportedly saw a ghost while staying in the Missions' hotel in Shreveport, suffered a season-ending injury when a bad-hop grounder shot up and hit him in the eye, dislodging his eyeball from the eye socket. Jason Pugh is a writer for The Times. Write him at P.O.

Box 30222, Shreveport, LA 71130-0222. E-mail to sportsshreveporttimes.com Clark yn -lx 1 lbJ AP i The Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas Fans witnessed a rare sight Thursday night in Texas Juan Gonzalez signing autographs during batting practice. In his first game back in Texas since being traded by the Rangers to the Detroit Tigers during the offseason, Gonzalez was all smiles. Fans took advantage of the occasion, forming a line that extended from the field to the top of the lower section to get the signature of their former hero, who accommodated them for about 15 minutes. Gonzalez later rewarded his fans with a three-run homer in the fourth inning to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.

He made a slow trot around the bases, and was cheered as he approached the plate. That changed to boos in the eighth inning when Gonzalez came up with two on and the Rangers by four runs. He flied out to end the inning and finished l-for-3 with an intentional walk as Detroit lost 7-3. Gonzalez refused interview requests before and after the game, but spoke fondly of his time in Texas in a statement handed out by his adviser Luis Mayoral, a former Rangers employee. "Coming back to Texas, where I have so many friends and family is something very important to me," the statement said.

"I spent 14 great years with the Texas Rangers organization and my time at the major league level was full of great moments, and I know that I always gave the Rangers my best" I Juan Gonzalez (right) signs autographs before a game against the Rangers Thursday. It was Gonzalez's first trip to The Ballpark since he was Where are they know? Carlos Mendoza Did you know? Doug Clark The Captains have gone almost three years without a 100-run producer in their lineup. Keith Williams was the last Captain to reach the century mark in RBIs, knocking in 106 in 1997. Williams' total is a Shreveport single-season record. Carlos Mendoza spent last season in Shreveport as a 19-year-old shortstop.

However, the Venezuelan product struggled at the plate, hitting only .202 in 111 games with three home runs and 34 RBIs. Mendoza currently is at the Giants' Single-A affiliate in San Jose where he is hitting .271 with two home runs and 35 RBIs. Mendoza Gonzalez played nine full seasons and parts of two others in the majors for the Rangers. He left as a two-time MVP and the Rangers all-time leader in seven categories, including home runs, RBIs and runs scored. Gonzalez was in the starting lineup in his first game back, hitting fourth as the Tigers designated hitter.

He was greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos during pregame announcements, then dolled his cap to cheers as he strode to the plate for the first time to lead off the second inning. Home Phone: School Doug Clark leads Shreveport with 63 RBIs in 2000, putting the outfielder on pace to knock in 85 runs. lEnsnucfojm LIE: EKEEETTE QDEF UTME TOEECX ENTRY FORM Name: Zip: Email: Years Attending Present Grade Level: GPA: tf-fWlriXW-j Player Avg. AB 28 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS SLG OBP Jed Allen, OF .242 98 364 36 88 19 2 7 44 20 80 8 7 .363 .284 4 Doug Clark, OF .275 102 389 79 107 17 5 9 63 35 80 9 4 .414 .339 8 Chad Faircloth, OF .230 21 50 3 11 0 0 0 3 2 10 0 1 .220 .250 0 Tim Flaherty, 1B ,.208 78 221 25 46 10 0 8 31 29 78 7 2 .362 .319 5 Chris Magruder, OF .262 101 366 65 96 25 3 1 28 52 59 13 6 .355 .364 5 Raul Marval, 2B .240 29 75 1 18 0 1 0 7 5 6 0 0 .267 .293 4 Matthew Priess.C .240 36 96 11 23 3 0 5 16 9 17 0 1 .427 .305 1 Cody Ransom, SS .204 101 357 44 73 15 1 4 31 33 106 9 3 .286 .270 19 Johnathan Summers, 1B .303 30 89 12 27 7 1 1 7 4 21 0 0 .438 ,340 1 Yorvit Torrealba, .271 82 317 39 86 14 1 3 23 27 48 2 3 .350 .335 8 Travis Young, 2B .230 63 213 24 49 3 3 3 18 13 45 7 6 .315 .283 2 .265 98 328 46 87 22 0 15 56 36 43 3 3 .470 .338 17 All Others .221 570 85 126 27 0 17 85 75 138 1 2 .358 .318 30 Total .244 3,435 440 837 162 17 73 412 340 731 59 38 .364 .317 104 Pitcher W-L ERA GS CG SHO SV IP ER HR HB BB SO WP Avg. Kurt Ainsworth 7-6 3 24 21 21 0 0 0 116.2 104 50 42 8 3 44 91 4 .236 Edwin Corps 4-5 3.29 31 9 1 0 0 87.2 95 40 32 7 0 23 47 2 .275 RyanCox 1-0 3.00 1 1 0 0 0 6.0 4 2 2 0 0 0 8 0 .182 LuisEstrella 0-2 3.54 12 0 0 0 1 20.1 14 9 8 0 0 10 13 1 .206 Randy Goodrich 4-2 3.93 36 0 0 0 12 50.1 62 24 22 7 0 13 33 2 .300 Kevin Joseph 3-7 4.25 16 15 0 0 0 82.2 78 40 39 5 4 39 56 3 .259 JoeMessman 5-2 3.24 36 0 0 0 1 58.1 48 25 21 7 0 22 46 6 229 Benji Miller 3-5 3.34 42 0 0 0 4 562 51 31 21 8 1 25 48 2 .239 Eddie Oropesa 2-2 2.04 42 1 0 0 2 53.0 42 21 12 3 1 25 53 2 .212 Erasmo Ramirez 0-2 6.27 27 0 0 0 1 33.0 46 25 23 5 3 15 22 0 .346 RyanVogelsong 4-8 4.19 21 21 1 0 0 118.0 116 62 55 14 9 58 121 2 260 Ail Others 16-14 3.81 60 36 1 0 3 227.0 254 122 96 17 8 84 174 1 286 Total 49-55 3.69 104 3 6 24 909.2 914 451 373 81 29 358 712 25 263 Total Years Involved in am Recommending this State- (EhtQIimtfi Extracurricular School Activities- Personal Goals: Personal Interest and Hobbies: Student Athlete ft- jwaiitiwMMiiiiiiiiwiioMiriMiiBriiHMriiwniiMmMmaRmwii MAIL TO KTBS CHANNEL 3 P.O.BOX 44227 SHREVEPORT, LA 71134 On deck this week wrap up their eight-game homestand on against Tulsa before heading to Arkansas for a three-day road trip that begins Thursday.

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