Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 15

State Fair racing 2C II The Baseball 3C Electrics struggled all year 4C Sportscope; NFL roundup SC Great FaRs Tribune Saturday, August 3, 1991 Cuba welcomes athletes Site of the Pan Am games ner are me venues wnere more than 6,000 athletes 1 will compete Aug. 2-18. i1 a A ys Opening I Closing I i Athlete ill "I Ho'a'dauartorsA E5L Itewmoniespe-villag Hotel VkJISI aMEl7 0 Castillo del VZlUZ mmr7Ttm I I Marina ffjl fTllf8- Hemingway I fJj JJ tjlU Plaza de la' Ygff LUliS lRevoucon I ''RCI Autopisia Autoplila (( J-f Naclonal fete Qwie iLss II II if tX Calzadade lLiSl JI EU Guinea If IV Atlantic "clus1 I Ocean Mexico Calzadade ffFi ftf I v. I. ij Jf Bejucal if 1 111 1 i Havana p-M'a (( ToAeropuerto Sanliago venues: wetahtliftlng; gymnastics, rhylhmio gymnastics, judo, softball, archery, field hockey.

Harold Jegels Jr.USA TODAY I Caribbeani-l 1 Sea Source: USOC tJ? "AsSagoi. miles mmmm" After numerous controversies, 1 1th Pan Am Games open with Olympic-like pageantry in Castro's Havana I 1 1 1 i 2 ti' Tribunt Photo by Brlon W. Kratztr WINS THE LONG ONE: British Liz, with Kym Powell in the irons, cruises by the grandstand the first time around during the second race of Friday's eight-race card at State Fair. British Liz and Powell won the 1-mile, 70-yard race. Please see page 2C for meet details.

"I officially declare the 11th Pan American Games open." Cuban dlcator Fidel Castro Rockin' Robin Chicago's Ventura turns into hitting machine By PAUL OBERJUERGE San Bernardino Sun HAVANA, Cuba The 1 1th Pan American Games opened Friday afternoon with predictable pomp and salsa-spiced pageantry and probably the shortest speech of Fidel Castro's life. The Cuban president, renowned for filibuster-length exhortations at the Plaza de la Revolucion, stuck to the traditional one-sentence formula at the Opening Ceremonies. "I officially declare the 1 1th Pan American Games open," were Castro's only words during the three-hour event that began in bright sun and concluded under leaky thunder clouds split by oca-sional bolts of lightning. The overwhelmingly Cuban crowd of nearly 35,000 at hurriedly finished Olympic Stadium cheered their home athletes enthusiastically. Mexico and Puerto Rico also got warm welcomes.

They chanted "FEE-DEL, FEE-DEL" when Mario Vasquez Rana, president of the Pan American Sports Organization, lauded Castro for overseeing the construction of numerous sports facilities. Cuba apparently is ready to host the Games despite economic hardships. "Today is a great day for those who believed, and those who didn't," said Vasquez, a Mexican. The U.S. team kept a low profile.

There was little or no audible reaction from the crowd when flag-bearer Jim Schreiner, a kayaker from Day, N.Y., led in the 200-plus-person American marchers. Unlike at recent international competitions, the Americans did not carry small U.S. flags. Some waved their arms and mugged for cameras, but most walked quietly around the track, i claim the gold. The U.S.

has lost in Pan Am basketball only three times in 68 games; one of the defeats was to Cuba in 1971. Brent Musburger, host for ABC's coverage of the Games, predicts the Americans will find an uncomfortable environment at the Sports City Coliseum. "I would expect the Cubans will be pulling for any country that plays the U.S. in any sport," he said Friday. "When Cuba plays the U.S.

in basketball, I expect an enormous outpouring on the part of the Cubans." The U.S. men's team is led by Purdue coach Jim Keady. Key players include Christian Laettner and Grant Hill from NCAA champion Duke University. The U.S. women, heavily favored to win the gold medal, also play Saturday, against Canada.

The first U.S. medal likely will be won by Mike Herbert of Rogers, who competes in the 500-meter kayak race at 9 a.m. Track and field, diving, gymnastics, softball and field hockey also begin Saturday, the latter three sports at Santiago, Cuba's second city located some 500 miles from Havana. The only track finals on the first day of competition are in the men's and women's marathons, difficult events in Havana's oppressive heat and humidity, and the steeplechase. Competition runs for 16 days, through Aug.

18. The U.S. contingent at the Opening Ceremonies was a fraction of the American delegation of athletes and officials. Evie Dennis, U.S. chief of mission, said many Americans arrived in Havana only Friday and that others chose not to participate because of upcoming competition.

However, most of the other 38 Western Hemisphere nations represented here seemed to have a full complement of athletes at the event. Lack of formal ties between the U.S. and Cuba, bitter enemies for three decades, have cast political shadows over these Games. Executives for ABC Sports, which will televise 20-and-a-half hours of the Games beginning at 1 p.m. (EDT) Saturday, have complained about a lack of cooperation from the U.S.

government. Dennis Swanson, president of ABC Sports, said, "I don't think there is any doubt (the U.S. government) prefer we not cover the event." On the other hand, some observers expect mild protests from anti-Castro Cubans, who have seen their socialist economy nearly collapse over the past year. Competition begins Saturday in seven sports. By far the most interesting event will be the U.S.-Cuba men's basketball game at 1 p.m..

The Americans were upset by Brazil in the gold-medal game at the 1987 Pan Am Games in Indianapolis and are eager to re Ventura's resemblance to Ryne Sandberg of the crosstown Cubs is eerie. Both wear uniform No. 23 and field smoothly. They also are soft-spoken and about the same physical size. Sandberg broke in the majors as a third baseman and a 1-for-32 hitter.

"I think that's a nice compliment. I'm not going to try to do the things he did. He's a great player," Ventura said of the Cubs' All-Star second baseman. "I just try to do my own thing and just worry about what I do." Somewhat shy, Ventura is handling news media attention pretty well. "If you do good, it seems to happen and it happens to anyone.

It's just something that's part of the game," said the 6-foot-l, 192-pound from Santa Maria, Calif. Ventura was picked in the first round of the June 1988 free-agent draft, the 10th player taken, out of Oklahoma State. He batted .409 in helping the 1988 U.S. Olympic team win the gold medal at Seoul. Picked as College Player of the Decade by Baseball America, Ventura hit .391 with 26 homers and 96 RBIs in three years at Oklahoma State.

35,000 stood and cheered, and big Frank Thomas grabbed Ventura and put him on his shoulders as if he were a baby. "Frank tried to pick me up and buip me, I guess," Ventura said. The most homers for any month by a White Sox player was the 13 hit by Dick Allen in July 1972. Ventura's July heroics pumped up his stats to .299 batting average, 16 homers and 61 RBIs. He has helped Chicago climb from the cellar of the American League West to second place, on the necks of the Minnesota Twins.

Last year as a rookie, Ventura went through an 0-41 slump and finished with a .249 average, only five homers and 55 RBIs. "I don't have any explanation," Ventura said. Manager Jeff Torborg can't explain Ventura's improvement either. "I don't want to explain it. I just want to enjoy it," Torborg said.

Hitting coach Walt Hriniak said he saw the power-hitting potential in Ventura last year and counseled him simply to keep doing what he was doing. "If pitchers make enough mistakes, people capable of home runs are going to hit them," he said. By MARIO FOX Associated Press Writer CHICAGO Robin Ventura turned July into a month-long fireworks display. The Chicago White Sox third baseman lit up Comiskey Park's scoreboard 10 times in home games during the month, and hit two home runs on the road. The 12 homers were one shy of the club record and three more than Ventura hit since turning pro in June 1989.

Ventura also batted .356 with 33 RBIs during the 3 1-day period, and on Friday was named the American League's Player of the Month. "You really don't think you're going to have a month like this, but it's nice to have one," said Ventura, whose new-found power at the plate has helped revive White Sox title chances in the American League West. Ventura, who turned 23 during the month, ended July with a grand slam off Texas reliever Goose Gossage in the bottom of the ninth to give the White Sox a 10-8 victory. It was like a pennant clincher at Comiskey Park, where the scoreboard exploded, the crowd of Maverick could be key word in Class AA Legion tourney I Card extend Biics' losing woes I llMBAIi Gannett News Service S. gjt ST.

LOUIS The Pittsburgh Pirates losing streak (plCffiftl goes on, in ever increasing number and variety jf jy JpJnL, and frustration. Stfi iLfll Friday was No. 7 in a row, and it probably won't get much more wrenching than this, the Pirates losing a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning, and falling to Tire. St. Louis 4-3 when Stan Belinda walked Bernard Sweet LOU powers Tigers SSirifSugh for the Reds put end to Giants' streak pX WzilA'SS SAffiK Is Valle the majors' worst? six innings.

I Please see page 3C Ll I II iMMBMMMMMWMlfll I 9:05 a.m. Billings Royals vs. Glacier 12:35 p.m. Helena vs. Lethbridge 4:05 p.m.

Billings Scarlets vs. Missoula 7:35 p.m. Miles City vs. Kalispell Dodgers let loose against Mustangs Ti GREAT FALLS (11) BILLINOSO) nnwrr sources: lltO Lanarum BILLINGS The Great Falls ob li bl Burrls rf 5 3 3 0 KALISPELL Two teams of Mavericks, Miles City and Missoula, are the odds-on favorites entering the five-day American Legion Class AA baseball tournament at Griffin Field. The Miles City Mavericks captured the Eastern Division title with a 16-4 record, while the Missoula Mavericks earned the Western Division crown with an 18-2 mark.

The tournament begins Saturday with four first-round 'games. The Billings Royals (37-18) meet Glacier (18-20) at 9:05 a.m., followed by Helena (21-23) vs. Lethbridge (21-16) at 12:35 p.m., the Billings Scarlets vs. Missoula (37-1 1) at 4:05, and Miles City (38-13) vs. KalispeU (16-20) at 7:35.

The Billings teams have dominated Eastern Division play for more than a decade, winning the last three state championships. Either the Scarlets or the Royals have played in the title game in 1 1 of the last 12 years. But Miles City was the dominant team this summer, winning seven of eight games against the Royals and Scarlets en route to their first divi- regular-season ending 10-8 victory over the Scarlets last Monday. Missoula, another veteran team, will be shooting for its first state crown since 1984. The Mavericks, ironically, won the title that year in Miles City.

Top players for Missoula include Rich Kleciuier and Jason Shanahan, Who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the June amateur draft. The team features a deep and talented pitching staff led by Brent DeGarmo, who is 10-0. Two other pitchers in the tournament were also drafted. Dan Rude of the Billings Royals was selected by St.

Louis, while Mike Caldwell of Glacier was tabbed by the Yankees. Helena could be considered a darkhorse, as the Senators finished Eastern Division play with a pair of one-run wins over the Billings Royals. They were 10-10 in league play. Lethbridge finished second in Western Division play, four games behind Missoula. Glacier and Kali-spell both finished at 9-1 1.

The state champion will qualify for the Pacific Northwest Regional at Sheridan, Aug. 14-18. obrhbl 3 0 0 0 4 111 3 0 0 0 4 0 10 3 0 10 1000 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4000 1000 till Jones 2D Berry lb Harrison Taylor II Montemrv Jesoenoncf Graham dh Ford 3b Sneodss Martinis Totals mi Pucholetdh J.CotF02b Smith rf Klrtcptrcklb Huckoby Browne Olanezss Blanco 3b Boyzuick 3b Andrew! II Land rum cf Totals Ortat Falls Bllllnn 3 111 11 11 33140 003-11 tit 1 blasted his third homer of the season in the sixth, a solo shot, and Mike Boyzuick pounded a two-run homer in the ninth. It was the first HR of the season for Boyzuick, who had just 56 at-bats entering the contest. Right-hander Nelson Castro cruised to his fifth victory against two losses, pitching seven strong innings.

He gave up three hits, just one walk and struck out six while not allowing a run to Billings. Todd Williams and Larry Jacinto completed the triumph for Great Falls. Otanel. E-Ford, Fora, Dodgers broke out of a three-game hitting slump with a vengeance Friday night, slamming two home runs and 11 other hits in an 11-2 romp over the Billings Mustangs. The Dodgers had gone 23 innings without scoring a run before erupting for two runs in each of the first two innings.

They built their lead to 8-0 before the Mustangs finally got on the scoreboard in the eighth inning. Frank Smith went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and three runs scored to spark the 13-hit attack. He got help from two unlikely layior, ouTtuit. LOB-Great Falls 4. Bllllnos i.

IB-PuchaltS. sion title. The Royals finished at 14-6 in league play, four of their losses coming to Miles City, and the Scarlets at 9-11. Miles City, which fell 6-4 to the Scarlets in last year's championship game, will be bidding for its first state Legion title since 1947. Among Miles City's standouts are Ryan Venable, Scott Bischke and Josh Rohloff, who combined for nine of the team's 13 hits in a MK (trait Fallt N.CastroWl Williams Jacinto Bllllnn Reeves L.2-4 Tobin Vivas 31-1 311 1 3 3.