South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 31

8C Sun-Sentinel. Sunday, February 19, 1989 -EUttQEFGftT SYAYts COLUHC3IIS PAlH BEACH UF's Fernandez working on offense ire PREMIUM WHITEWALL tOAii P15580R13 teas 'I75i3 WIS P205TSH15 iS80t3 DOM "'S3 (ww tawa P22V7W1S P2357! BRAKE SPECIAL WI1aW Or afKMt FWfcwlaK rotors Of drums 4888's Add Auk) Oecfc hyuhc ystam Mtac pad bvmJ sofTW fwD ein OIL CHANGE $1295 Up to 5 ql 0 10W40 Filtsjr snd lube Spci ft ryp Eil'l trnotl CaVsi WHEEL ALIGNMENT $2495 Hunt Computtw Wheal Ahgn Ahgn From End to Thrust An-gms 4-VVheM Akonnwnt AvSh laoat at Comparable Savtnos Stuns Eiira ion some mooersi bi Jj Mi(lS UF past FSU 5-1 55 5270 N. STATE RD. 7 (441) 486-7374 kw nm-ht 1 Blka. North of Comtnareial Blvd (Nam to Famtty FirniHw Ft Laudardata) ffHB Continental Cablevision Proudly Presents Gidcumb pitches By HOLT HACKNEY Special to the Sun-Sentinel GAINESVILLE Jeff Gidcumb is picking up where he left off last year.

So are his University of Florida teammates. Gidcumb, a senior righthander who set a school record for victories (16) last year, allowed five hits in the No. 5 Gators' 5-1 victory over second-ranked Florida State Saturday before a UF-record 4,305 in the first of a two-game series. Florida (10-0) tied a school record for consecutive wins at He has hit safely in all six games in which he has played this season, racking up three home runs, eight runs batted in and three game-winning hits. Going into the weekend's two-game series against Florida State, Fernandez is batting .381.

He credits the improvement to working this summer at Arnold's baseball camp with batting coach Dave Howard. "On the time off, when the kids were eating, coach Howard and I worked on my mechanics and my confidence," Fernandez said. "My problem was staying back and going to the opposite field. What I'm concentrating on this year is reacting. I know I'm strong enough to hit the ball out if I see my pitch.

But if I don't see the pitch I want, I have to react better." A CENT Ft CHARGER SR 70 folorminct SUW BeMtf Rao $464 P17570SR13 ttu Pt570SFtt4 P2OSy70SRU P21S70SH14 tfiatl P22S70SR14 1J P21570SR1S IMM P22570SRtS 9Ba.11 P23S70SR15 IJMU tnja CHARGER SR 60 P20560SR13 K3H 60SR14 SS7.4 P22560SR14 fjH P23S'60SRt4 B2 "SR" Speed rated for quattty and aniegmy taoiaied tread (Mocks lor Qood traction and Two tough Steel balls for protection and staMrty on corners Rawed wttrtastyftted Hack lettering CHARGER 8R BLACKWALL P1B560SR14 S49.M P19S60SR14 $61. P19560SR15 S82.M P2O560SR15 MM P24S60SR14 P23S60SR15 P24560SR15 P2M-60SR15 P2756GSR15 P21S6SSR15 mm 04 8RM. 11 RM. REPLAY 584-8300 VfestOf441 Monday Feb. 20 shortstop" An NWA Wrestling Free-For-AII Witness the best in professional wrestling as NWA superstars collide in the finals of the Bunkhouse Stampede plus experience classic title challenges including an Intense World Heavyweight Championship match.

See all the brightest stars in the NWA including: "Total Package" Lex Luger; "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes; "Nature Boy Ric Flair; Barry Windham; Bam Bam Bigelow; The Road Warriors; The Midnight Express and many morel H4.95 i.M -v 4l. 1 iV By JEFF BROWNE Staff Writer GAINESVILLE Major league catchers, almost without exception, have a major flaw. The good defensive catchers generally can't ui ana ine good hitters usually aren't as adept behind the plate. So it was that Florida's Jose Fernandez, despite less-than-sterling batting statistics, could be const rlprpri a major league Fernandez prospect after his junior season. Fernandez, a former Cardinal Newman High and Palm Beach Junior College player, hit .231 last season for the Gators.

Yet coach Joe Arnold never lost faith in Fernandez, and neither did professional scouts. The Kansas City Royals drafted him after last season and were prepared to pay him well. "He's one of the best catchers in the country," Arnold said. "Potentially, he's a great catcher. If he gets his offense going on a consistent basis, he'll be a good major league catcher.

If he doesn't, he'll be a good backup major league catcher." Fernandez on defense is that good, Arnold said. His quick release and strong arm make him a can't-miss prospect. And, at 6 feet 3, 190 pounds, the left-handed batter looks like a good hitter. FROM PAGE 1C Crack, thud. It sounds pretty good to the Hurricanes a hot prospect about to get a second shot at Division I baseball.

Santangelo, who left the University of California after his freshman season with an injured throwing arm and an equally ailing ego, is making the most of another shot at major college baseball. He's the hottest Hurricane hitter, leading No. 1-ranked UM (6-0) going into the weekend's Tennessee series with a .529 batting average. The fourth-year junior reached base nine straight times through Games 2 and 3 against Central Florida and homered in Game 2. As a leadoff hitter, Santangelo fits nicely into coach Ron Fraser's running game.

The 5-foot-10, 167-pound switch-hitter has speed. He has stolen four bases in five attempts. F.P., which stands for Frank-Paul, brings more than physical gifts to the Hurricanes. He brings leadership, a gift from having a high school football coach for a father and a high school principal for a mother. He Is big on mottos, inspiring little sayings that push him and his teammates to excel.

They are plastered all over his apartment and his psyche. He writes them under the bill of his cap, on the covers of his classroom notebooks, on empty blackboards. You have only failed when you have failed to try. Winning is an attitude. Balance your highs and your lows.

Those are some of the daily homilies he has written on the blackboard in the UM locker room before a practice. "People thought it was corny at first," outfielder Jeff Borgese said. "But it caught on. Now everybody's writing quotes under their caps. Now F.P.

comes up with an inspirational quote before every game." Santangelo has On a Mission scribbled under the bill of his cap. He had Hard 90, a reminder to run the basepaths hard, embroidered on his warmup jacket. Those who work the hardest are always the last to surrender! That's one of his favorites. It's also the one that most appropriately summarizes his struggle back to if il ipll 946-7000 East of 441 FR319 RADIAL him because we know this summer he worked very hard. Basically, he started all over again.

He put last year behind. It's been nice to see him get off to a good start." The patience Arnold showed last year paid off, first against Vander-bilt when Fernandez hit a lOth-in-ning home run to help UF clinch the regular-season Southeastern Conference championship. Then, while Fernandez contemplated offers to turn pro, he remembered Arnold's faith. "That's why I decided to stay here," Fernandez said. "I didn't think it was fair for me to leave without producing for Coach Arnold.

I felt I owed him something. It wasn't that I needed a good year to turn the scouts around. They already believed in me. It was more a sense of loyalty." No. 5 Florida hosts No.

2 Florida State this afternoon at 4 in the second game of a two-game series. FSU right-hander Gar Finnvold of Boca Raton (1-0, 0.93) will go against UF left-hander Johnny Wiggs (2-0, 2.77) Florida coach Joe Arnold said senior center fielder Mike Moberg is considering playing at UF in 1990, taking advantage of the NCAA's medical redshirt rule. Moberg, a former St. Thomas Aquinas player, broke his right leg and sustained ligament damage to his right knee last weekend during a game against Georgia Southern. He is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday.

at Sac City." UM had an advantage in seeking his service. His juco coach, Jerry Weinstein, was a former UM assistant whose Sac City program has fed the 'Canes standouts that include Greg Vaughn, now an up-and-coming minor leaguer with the Milwaukee Brewers. Santangelo's coaches at Sacramento and UM hail his work habits. They call him the quintessential blue-collar player, the first to arrive at practice, the last to leave. "I'm a believer in hard work and that you can't turn it on and off," Santangelo said.

"You go hard whether it's a series at Florida State or a practice. You turn it off and sometimes you can't turn it on. "I don't think I have as much talent as a lot of players. I'm not a natural hitter. It comes through work, and I'm a switch hitter so I feel I've got to get twice the work in.

I don't feel good unless I get 200 to 250 hacks a day." Hard work and a positive outlook aren't his only allies. He's also big on visualization, the practice of mentally rehearsing for games. He has been doing it for two years, and his technique is strikingly similar to that of UM quarterback Steve Walsh. "I'm a believer that the body doesn't go anywhere the mind hasn't gone first," Santangelo said. "Before games, I sit in bed and for about 15 minutes I visualize what I want to do in the game.

I visualize everything, the other team's uniforms, making plays, what I want the paper to say about me the next day." Santangelo was unaware that Walsh also uses visualization but said he admires him and has a photo of Walsh in his room. Santangelo says he doesn't know Walsh socially but met him briefly at a party. "He's kind of like me," Santangelo said. "He doesn't have the greatest tools in the world, but he works hard and goes out and wins. That's why I look up to him." Now F.P.

has budding young South Florida shortstops looking up to him. He has a new girlfriend, he's getting B's as a communications major and he's hitting everything thrown his way. But he's trying to take it all in stride: "It's always nice to get off to a good start, but it's a long season and I haven't proved anything yet. This game's about consistency. You have to balance your highs and your lows." Just as it says on the blackboard.

Singles winners for the Gators include Warren Brooks at No. 2 over Roberto Trevino 7-6, 6-2, Scott Mager at No. 4 over Stephan Kulti 7- 6, 6-4, Jeff Mager at No. 5 over Ahmed Afifi 7-6, 6-2 and Doug Proudian at No. 6 over Omar Trevino 6-2, 6-3.

Women's tennis NOVA UNIVERSITY 8, ST. LEO 4 Singles Jennifer Johnston (SL) J. El Ca-bralea 3-6. 7-6 (7-5); Lauren Walker (SL) d. Stephanie Williamson 6-3.

6-3; Laura Caplln(N) Courtney Southerland 6-1. 6-0; Polrler (N) d. Ackerman 6-3, 6-3; Wongaam (N) d. Flalg 6-0. 6-2; McKlnney (SL) d.

Crui 6-2. 8-0. DouMee Johneton-Walker (SL) d. Cabralaa-Polrler 6-3, Williamson-Kaplan (N) d. Southerland-Ackerman 6-0, 6-2; vvangsma-oruz (N riaig-MCKinney 6-1, 6-2.

nuri VMIVWBIiy l3-). the 1 ill 1 1 iijl. the start of the season set by the 1956 team. FSU fell to 6-1. "Gidcumb came out with his good stuff today," Florida coach Joe Arnold said.

"He was in mid-season form." Steve Zerr's two-run home run, his third of the season in 13 at-bats, and Bill Minnis' RBI on a fielder's choice gave the Gators a 3-0 first-inning lead. Herbert Perry later added a solo home run. Today, Florida senior Johnny Wiggs (2-0) will face sophomore Ricky Kimball (0-0). Game time is 1:30 p.m. Last year, Fernandez said he tried to jerk every pitch for a home run, hence his weak batting average even though he hit nine homers.

And those occasional long balls didn't ease remorse about his average. "It got to a point last year, after the Georgia series, where I was 0 for 12," Fernandez said, "that the whole year started coming down on me. I told Coach Arnold to take me out. I didn't think I'd been contributing to the team." But benching Fernandez "never entered my mind," Arnold said, "because of the job he was doing with the pitching staff and playing defense. Last year, I didn't care about his offense.

It wasn't important for him to be a great hitter. "This year we expect a lot out of blood-and-guts work, but the doctor told him his arm would be stronger than it ever was, and now it is." He was stubbornly devoted to getting his baseball dream back on track. His parents knew just how stubborn and competitive he could be. When he was 8, he locked himself in a closet after a baseball game and wouldn't come out. "He pitched well, got all the team's hits and scored their only runs and they lost," Mrs.

Santangelo said. "We were supposed to go to the airport and fly off to meet his father after the game, but F.P. wouldn't come out of the closet. He felt he had lost the game." He spent his year off at Sac City formulating new goals. He wrote them on that blanket and hit thousands of balls in the midnight quiet of the garage.

"I had no confidence when I left California," Santangelo said. "I didn't know where I would end up. Through hard work and a few breaks, I was recruited again while The Golden Hurricanes shot a 309 Saturday for a 619 team total. Florida is second after firing a 313 Saturday for a team total of 623. Georgia is third at 624, while Miami and South Florida round out the top five at 629 and 632.

Men's tennis GAINESVILLE Florida's men's tennis team won its second match in as many days Saturday with a 7-2 win over South Alabama at the Varsity Courts. The Gators (4-0) won four singles matches and swept doubles play for the third time in four matches. For Wurhl Tr.iwllcrs 7 BasjHSBCBScaia Staff photoJOE RAEDLE As a leadoff hitter, F.P. Santangelo fits right into the Hurricane running game: The shortstop has four stolen bases in five tries. FAMOUS 721 P15580R13 Jha-r I aW I Wnltowall $(o)(o)9S 'f P15580R13 Mi.

u. fctT 'V Firestone brand jf trial's Isl In JF Fa-eitone mart jf popular lift jf Whitewall WAS NOW P15580R13 $32.95 $29.95 P16580R13 41.95 36.95 P17580R13 43.95 38.95 P18580R13 44.95 39.95 P18575R14 48.95 43.95 P19575R14 50.95 44.95 P20575R14 54.95 46.95 P20575R15 56.95 50.95 P21575R15 58 95 51.95 P22575R15 60.95 54.95 P23575R15 65.95 56.95 WhitewaH WAS NOW P15580R13 $47.95 $33.95 P16580R13 52.95 45.95 P17580R13 57.95 47.95 P18580R13 62.95 48.95 P17575R14 63 95 52.95 P18575R14 67.95 55.95 P19575R14 69.95 56.95 P20575R14 72.95 58.95 P22575R14 80.95 65.95 P20575R15 78.95 62.95 P21575R15 81.95 63.95 P22575R15 83.95 66.95 P23575R15 85 95 68.95 Division I. Santangelo was a highly recruited high school shortstop who chose California-Berkeley. As a freshman he struggled, and his arm began to ache. The dreaded rotator-cuff injury was suspected.

In December of his sophomore year, it worsened. He gave up his scholarship, enrolled at Sacramento City and sought the help of a physical therapist. The doctor had good news and bad news. The good: There was no tear in the rotator cuff. The bad: There was a calcium deposit.

The doctor told Santangelo not to throw a baseball for six months. He didn't play his first year at Sacramento City and underwent intense and painful therapy to break down the calcium deposit. "The California experience was an emotional time for all of us," Nina Santangelo said. "F.P. had an arm problem, and it became time to take the bull by the horns and do something about it.

It took a lot of der 66, tying the tournament record set last year by Arizona's Larry Silviera. Barlow is tied with six others at even-par 144. Teammate Pat Bates took the individual lead by shooting a 68 for a total of 139. He is one stroke ahead of Clemson's Chris Patton, three ahead of Clemson's Kevin Johnson and four ahead of four others at 143 who include FSU's John Tighe. Women's golf GAINESVILLE Top-ranked and defending NCAA Champion Tulsa leads by four strokes after the second round of the Lady Gator Invitational.

Giators, Seminoles tie for first in Taylor Made SS RADIAL While Lellers P19570R13 P20570R14 P21570R14 P22570R14 P23570R14 P22570R15 P23570RI5 P25570R15 P21560R13 P235'60R14 P24V60R14 P23560R15 P24560R15 P25560R15 P27560R15 WAS $49 95 59 95 63 95 66 95 68 95 69 95 74 95 79 95 59 95 69 95 72 95 74 95 76 95 81 95 85 95 NOW $4495 5395 5695 59.95 61 95 6295 6595 7295 53 95 62 95 6495 6695 6995 7295 7595 PI9570R13 I Br jJ Wh.te TIRE ROTATION AND BRAKE CHECK I OFFER EXPIRES 22688 Lube, Oil Chassis lubrication I I Drain old oil Add up 4f ma to 5 qts. new oil New I 88 I I Firestone oil (liter I OFFER EXPIRES 2888 Engine Tune-up New resistor plugs Idle adjustment Timing set Battery A charging system tests Key engine systems parts Inspection $OQ88 4 cyl. electronic Sm ignitions 6 cyl. 6 cyl. slightly higher' Transverse V-6 engine air conditioning Interference extra.

OFFER EXPIRES 22688 I Special to tha 8un-8ntlnal MIAMI The University of Florida men's golf team set a tournament record by shooting an 11-under-par 277 Saturday, moving from sixth place into a first-place tie with Florida State after two rounds of the Taylor MadeDoral Park National Collegiate Invitational golf tournament at the Doral Country Club. Florida and FSU, the opening-round leader, have totals of 577, one over par. Top-ranked Clemson is three shots behind and Wake Forest five in the 18-team tournament. UF's Jeff Barlow shot a six-un- it if Front-End Alignment All adjustable angles set to mfr. original specifications No extra charge for cars with factory air or torsion bars I i i needed.

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