Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 11

Sports Sports briefs 2B Sportscope. 3B Daly re-signs with Pistons 3B fl The Baseball Page 4B Great Falls Tribune Wednesday, July 11, 1990 Walden t' I I Io) Wrigley enjoys summer Dv AP Photo isn't good place for everybody From The Associated Press and Tribune staff CHICAGO Most baseball players love Wrigley Field even on days when there's good reason to hate the place. The site of the 61st All-Star game is loved for its tradition and atmosphere: the ivy-covered wall, the hand-operated scoreboard, the natural grass. But if and when the wind is blowing out, look out. A pitcher's earned run average is left to twist slowly in the wind.

"This obviously is not a good place to pitch," said Oakland's Dennis Eckersley, who pitched for the Cubs from 1984-86. "But if you pick the right day, it's not bad you can get lucky here. "This is a great ballpark. It's just not a great place to make a career." Not for him, anyway. Eckersley was a worn-out starter when the Cubs acquired him in 1984 from the Boston Red Sox, where he had compiled a 124-102 record in 10 seasons.

But he had slipped considerably from his peak years of 1978-79, when he won 37 and lost 18. With the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Eckersley didn't exactly prosper, nor did he embarrass himself. He went 10-8 in '84 when the Cubs won the NL East, then 11-7 the following season. But he slumped to 6-1 1 in 1986 with a 4.57 ERA, and the Cubs were only too happy to deal his big contract to Oakland in April of 1987 for three minor leaguers. The rest, as they say, is history.

Oakland manager Tony La-Russa turned Eckersley into a reliever and may have turned him into a Hall of Famer. Eckersley recorded 16 saves in 1987 when he also started several games then added 45 saves in '88 and 33 in just over half a season in '89. He walked just 1 1 batters in 72 2-3 innings in 1988, and yielded just three free passes last season in 57 2-3 innings. So far in 1990, Eckersley has walked just two batters (one intentionally) while recording 25 saves. Of course, a change of scenery wasn't the only thing that turned Eckersley's career around.

A notorious carouser early in his career, the 35-year-old right-hander quit drinking in 1987 and is in the best shape of his life. Steve Sax of the New York Yankees slides in safely with a stolen base in the third inning of the All-Star Game Tuesday in Chicago. Cubs' second baseman Ryne Sandberg tries to knock down the throw of catcher Mike Sciosia on the play. The American League won the game 2-0 after a lengthy rain delay at Wrigley Field. NIL can't make dent in AL Pitchers, Franco, rain play part in AL victory By MIKE TOWNE Tribune Sports Writer June was a thrilling month for Ron Walden, and nothing has happened in July to make the lanky Oklahoman stop smiling.

First, on June 4, Walden was the ninth player chosen in the first round of baseball's amateur draft. Better yet, in his eyes, he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After signing a contract and making a hefty deposit at his local bank, Walden joined the Great Falls Dodgers at Los Angeles' training facility in Vero Beach, Fla. About two weeks later, on July 23 in Helena, the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder recorded a victory in his first professional start. Walden allowed just two hits and struck out five batters in six innings as Great Falls defeated the Helena Brewers 1-0.

He was plagued by bad nerves in his first appearance at home, on June 28, but did not figure in the decision. July has seen the 17-year-old lefthander post victories in both of his starts, against Salt Lake on Independence Day and against Butte this past Monday night. Entering his next scheduled start, Sunday afternoon against Salt Lake, Walden is 3-0 with an earned run average of 0.42, similiar to the mark he posted in going 12-0 and leading Blanchard (Okla.) High to a third consecutive runner-up finish in the state tournament. He has given up four runs one earned and struck out 20 batters in 2123 innings as a pro. "I went in the top 10, which is great.

The Dodgers picked me, and they're the best organization in baseball. I couldn't have asked for more," said Walden at a team picnic Tuesday, a welcome day off for the Dodgers. "You can't beat this. The treatment is great. The Dodgers treat you like a person, not a player.

"I was pulling for them (to pick me). I'm glad they did." The Dodgers are glad Walden chose professional baseball over Oklahoma University, where he would have gone had he not been selected in the first round of the draft. But the Los Angeles organization isn't expecting too much too soon from its $215,000 bonus baby (that figure was reported in the July 25-Aug. 9 edition of Baseball America). "He has a tremendous way to go before he enjoys success in professional baseball," Great Falls pitching coach Guy Conti said.

"But the type of kid he is, someone who is willing to listen and adjust, I think he has a good chance. His biggest plus so far has far has been his ability to listen and make the adjustments we've asked." Added Great Falls manager Joe Vavra: "He's very coachable, and he has very good poise. He's not arrogant or cocky. Success won't phase him." Walden has all the tools to be a big league pitcher, Conti said, and it could just be a matter of two or three years or however long it takes for Walden to receive proper instruction in the minor leagues before he gets the call. "He just needs to learn how to pitch," Conti said.

"He's only 17 years old." Walden could have been assigned See WALDEN, 2B it TC lVw fl Vi, tm HJOlLCtCIUBMHUUj So what happened? Between the natural advantage pitchers have over hitters when they first meet, the wind blowing in and the rain softening the infield, the hitters never had a chance. At least the National League hitters didn't. "Not only are you facing a guy you've never seen before," Kevin Mitchell said, "but he knows he's only going to have to be out there for an inning or two." "Someone will have to hit the ball 800 feet tonight to hit it out of here," the A.L's Wade Boggs said when he came out of the game. "I think it'll take a squeeze play to get a run It did not turn out quite that way. Franco, the first man up after the rain delay, promptly slashed an 0-2 fastball from fireballer Rob Dibble into right center.

"When I came back out, I tried to do my business," Franco said. "He pibble) throws hard and has a lot of body motion but he threw the ball straight." Said Craig: "I was telling (N.L. coach) Don Zimmer that the one problem with a power pitcher is that a lot of times when they go 0-2 they throw it over the plate. I no more got it out of my mouth and he got it out over the plate." Franco's hit was it for the offense. The A.L.

did not exactly knock down the walls with seven hits. But the score could have been bigger, the A.L. leaving 10 runners. The dreary affair did not end until nearly 1 a.m. in the East, thanks to the rain.

The start of the game was at first and third with nobody out against Jeff Brantley. Franco was next, but the umpires, who had tried to weather the storm, finally halted the game before someone was washed away in a mudslide. Franco had to wait an hour to be hero. The first six innings looked like a World Cup soccer game. The National League had its one hit.

The American had three. Two of them infield. Yaaaawn. The defense helped, too, whenever anyone actually hit the ball very See ALL-STAR, 2B By MIKE LOPRESTI Gannett News Service CHICAGO On a rainy Tuesday night, the American League pitchers looked like All-Stars. Or maybe Hall of Famers.

The National League batters, meanwhile, hit as if there were still no lights at Wrigley Field. In the most inoffensive display in All-Star history, the National League was mowed down on two hits Tuesday night, the American League winning 2-0 on MVP Julio Franco's two-run double in the seventh It was the third straight American League victory its longest winning streak in 41 years and fourth in five years. They don't make National League teams the way they used to. Will Clark's soft single in the first and Lenny Dykstra's leadoff single in the ninth was the only offense. The rest of the night was left for groundouts, pop-ups, and a 68-minute rain delay in the seventh inning.

"You ain't going to beat too many people with two hits," National League manager Roger Craig said. Six American league pitchers had a hand or an arm in the strangulation, beginning with starter Bob Welch and going through Dave Stieb, Bret Saber-hagen, Bobby Thigpen, Chuck Fin-ley, and finally Dennis Eckersley in the ninth. The middle four combined to retire 15 straight National League hitters until Barry Bonds walked in the eighth. Robinson, a 41-year-old from Tahoka, Texas, is one of only three shooters ever to break 100 straight targets from 27 yards (the maximum yardage) at the Grand American Handicap. Christensen said Robinson has been an All-American since the age of 12.

The vast majority of the estimated 300 shooters who will compete this week are weekend shotgunners who' gear their summer competition around the state meet. More than half will be from Montana, although most Western states will be represented, and many Canadian shooters also will compete. Perhaps the finest state shooter is Terry Barkell of Butte. Barkell has been the Montana doubles champion the past four years, has won the state all-around the last two years, and won the state handicap title in 1986. Gene Clawson of Missoula owns several state titles, and Joe Petroni of Butte and young Nick Clawson of Missoula also figure to be strong contenders.

Bill Beyl of Bozeman also is rated among the best shots in Montana, as is Scott Levengood of Kalispell. tiMMwriti Trap shoo tin' Texan Robinson favored in Montana state tourney delayed 17 minutes rain. It as only the fourth time the Ail-Star Game has been affected by rain, and the first since a one-day postponement in Washington 21 years ago. But this place may have been cursed when the lights went up. The first Wrigley night game in 1988 was rained out.

The second shower returned to halt play in the seventh inning, just when things, at last, were getting interesting. Sandy Alomar Jr. 's second infield hit of the night and Lance Parrish's single on a perfect hit-and-run one of the few offensive things to go right for either team put runners Trap shooters Gus Peacock some practice Tuesday. The Local shooters who could do well include Christensen, who recently broke 200 straight to win a singles tournament; Gene Stevenson, Jim Richman, Dennis Castle and Gene Harper. GFTC member Brian Lentz won the state handicap title last summer in Billings.

Wednesday's program begins at 10 a.m. with 200 registered 16-yard targets for Class AA, and D. Another event, 100 handicap targets, starts at about 1 p.m. There are three more events Thursday before the most prestigious events begin on Friday. The first state championship will be determined Friday afternoon when the state doubles (100 targets) is contested.

The state singles will be shot in two shifts, Saturday morning and Sunday morning. The state handicap title will be decided Sunday afternoon. Roger Smith, president of the local club, is directing the event with the help of club members. Gene Clawson of Missoula is the American Trapshooting Association delegate. The club is located on the Ulm frontage road south of Great Falls.

By GEORGE GEISE Tribune Sports Editor When the 96th annual Montana State Trap Shooting Tournament opens Wednesday at the Great Falls Trap Club, a tough and talented Texan will be aiming at the lion's share of $9,000 in prize money. And when Britt Robinson aims, he rarely misses. "He is to trap shooting what Michael Jordan is to pro basketball," said one of Robinson's many admirers, veteran trap shooter Leroy Christensen of Great Falls. "On any given day, he's the best in the world. He can be beat, but it doesn't happen very often," Christensen said.

Robinson is one of a few dozen men who travel the country as professional trap shooters. And in trap shooting, the pros and amateurs go head-to-head, unlike most sports. "It's the only sport I know of where the amateurs shoot straight up against the pros. The pros are all manufacturers' reps, so they have certain advantages we don't," said Christensen, who said Robinson is a good friend who recently gave a clinic in Montana. 'l.

Tribune Photo by Wayne Arnst (front), Gene Stevenson, Jim Richmond and Brian Lents work in Montana State Tournament begins Wednesday. L0-.