Star-Gazette from Elmira, New York • 13

Scoreboard 2C Sports Editor Karen Troxel, 607734-5151, Ext. 290 Star-GazetteS July 29, 1990 Swimming across the Empire iriday, Central Region's youthful Elmiran has Olympic goal By JOHN N. MITCHELL Star-Gazette 100-meter breaststroke earlier this year at an Empire State Games qualifying meet held in Syracuse. She won a dogfight for second at that meet her 1:22.99 beating the third-place finisher by a mere .24 seconds. It also took eight seconds off of her previous best of 1:30.58, which she swam last year.

"It was so close that you couldn't tell who won even after they touched the end of the pool," says Kim's mother, Linda. "But when they gave the signal that she had finished second, I started to cry." Being so young does have its advantages. For starters, it gives Theetge, who will swim on the varsity next year for Elmira Free Academy, a big jump See SWIMMING2C School in the fall, is the youngest member of the Central Region team heading for the Empire State Games in August. Theetge admits to being "a little nervous, but not too much." Last year, as a 10-year-old, she swam one of the 10 fastest 50-meter breaststrokes in the country. "It won't be a new experience for me.

In practice I usually swim against people older than me. But then again, that's practice. This is a little bit different," she says. The Empire State Games are basically the New York State Olympics. It is not often that an 11 -year-old gets a chance to make a dent here.

Theetge qualified for the scholastic KAREH TROXEL Pioneers' answer lies in Boston Unlike most women, Kimberly Theetge welcomes the aging process. She believes that time is on her side. "I'll only get better with age," she says. She is probably right. At the tender age of 11, Theetge, who will be a seventh grader at Ernie Davis Junior High SIMON WHEELER Star-Goitt TAKING A BREAK: Kim Theetge sits next to the pool in her back yard in Elmira.

Hanging on in traffic (TV. fc(Un) fi First-punch goodwill games knockdown a-: I was talking to a scout from the New York Yankees' organization the other day. You know, just shooting the breeze during the Oneonta Yankees-Elmira Pioneers' baseball game, and we got to talking about prospects and what not. Marti Wolever, who is the Yankees' scout for Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Wyoming, was watching Oneonta second baseman Kevin Jordan with some interest. Jordan had been signed by Wolever and the scout was finding the infielder, who is hitting .364 with eight doubles, a homer and triple and 22 RBI, a pleasant surprise especially at the plate.

Wolever was curious as to why only Pioneer Manager Mike Verdi and pitching coach Garry Roggenberg provide the instruction for the Pioneers. Since he's used to the Yankees, who offer a lot of instruction at eery level, Wolever couldn't understand how a parent club can make an investment in the future and then just so blatantly let them struggle. That's a very good question. Too bad the answer rests in Boston and not in Elmira. 'i v.

i After Friday night's game, Jim Dennison probably felt a little shell-shocked. He pitched a complete game, struck out eight, only walked three while allowing three runs two earned and still lost. His numbers for the whole season are equally frustrating. He's started eight times, pitched two complete games, worked 54 Vj innings, given up 39 hits, 13 earned runs, walked 27 and struck out 50 for a 2.16 earned run average. His record, though, is only 4-3.

I Dennison might be better off petitioning for a divorce from the Pioneers for lack of support. Is it any surprise to anyone that the Oneonta Yankees are New York-Penn League leaders in team batting with a .262 average, and team pitching with an earned run average of 2.06? I certainly hope the rumors of the Yankees offer of $2.5 million yearly to keep Deion Sanders in baseball are greatly exaggerated. Sanders isn't worth one-fourth that much in either sport. I feel his greater worth is in football, but that price for his talents on the gridiron is too much. If I were the owners in both sports, I'd tell this youngster to try and sell his skills in Europe or Japan.

Or maybe as a boxing promotor. Unfortunately, the rumor is probably true and Sanders will likely get even more out of the Yankees before it's over. But this was not another night like that. Zmeskal fell off the uneven parallel bars, the same faux pas that befell world champion Svetlana Boginskaya the day before and almost cost the Soviets the team medal. Zmeskal was 14th halfway through the all-around.

Bradley's fight was barely five seconds old when Gonzales de- Eosited him on his rear with a one-rattling right hand. Bradley took a standing 8-count 40 seconds later, held on for the rest of the round, then came back with two strong rounds to win the 1 12-pound divison fight. Bradley, an Army communications specialist, faces Dzhambu-lat Mutayev of the Soviet Union in a semifinal bout. "The Soviets don't hit as hard as the Cubans," Bradley said. "I look at this as my hardest fight.

We always figure the Cubans are a little better than everyone else." The United States won four of six fights Saturday. Michael Demoss outpointed Zoltan Fuzesy of Hungary 5-0 In the 160-pound division; Shane Mosley stopped Anibal Acevedo of Puerto Rico at 2:10 of the first round at 132 pounds; and Tim Austin stopped Krlzysztof Roblewskl of Poland at 2:52 of the first round in the 112-pound division. One of the U.S. losses came against a Cuban. Kevin Childrey lost a 5-0 decision to Julio Gonzalez, the 132-pound world champion.

See U.S.2C '-V didn't take Bradley out The Associated Press SEATTLE The Goodwill Games welcomed Rudolph Bradley on the seat of his boxing trunks Saturday. He picked himself up and gave America an unlikely victory, exactly what Kim Zmeskal couldn't do for the U.S. women's gymnasts. Bradley recovered from a first-punch knockdown and beat Raul Gonzales of the powerful Cuban boxing team by a 4-1 decision. "I'm glad I'm at home because anywhere else they might have stopped it," Bradley said.

Then, it was up to the tiny tots of American gymnastics, led by the 14-year-old Zmeskal. On the international money market, 72 pounds sterling would be worth about $132. Team USA was hoping Zmeskal's 72 pounds would be worth her weight in gold in the individual all-around. The Americans finished a close second to the favored Soviets in the team competition Friday night as Zmeskal amassed the most individual points. Another night like that, and the Goodwill championship could belong to her instead of a Soviet.

"We are now right on their heels," U.S. gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi said. I Iff I fjtw TERESA HURTStor-Gozett. Big Flats second baseman Deb Nunis, front, hangs onto a pop fly despite a collision with shortstop Cay Richmond in the bottom of the third inning of a Cinderella Softball game Saturday against Corning in Corning. Big Flats won 1 1 -5.

Results of the tournament are on 2C. Pitcher Tolar helps Blue Sox shut down Elmira, 5-1 By KAREN TROXEL Star-Gazette made the difference. The first time Williams played spoiler was in the third inning when he made a nifty throw to third baseman Strange, who relayed it to second baseman Dan Monzon to nail Wardwell at second. Wardwell was trying to stretch a single into a double and that was the first out of the inning. He did it again in the Elmira fourth.

The Pioneers end the three-game homestand tonight at 7. defensive plays from leftfielder Barry Williams to keep Elmira frustrated, added an unearned run in the seventh and two more earned runs off reliever Cedric Santiago in the ninth for their final tally. What was even more frustrating for the Pioneers was their inability to push runs across the plate. Elmira got five hits Saturday and stranded seven runners six in scoring position. Two of those times, plays by Williams appearance at Dunn Field.

The Blue Sox started the scoring with a one-out rally in the first inning. Kevin Coughlin singled, followed by a walk to Kevin Strange. Jeff Ingram had a bases-clearing double to deep center, giving Utica its 2-0 lead. Elmira got one run back in the fifth inning with a two-out rally started by Shea Wardwell, who walked and then scored on Tim Davis' triple. But Utica, which got sterling Things continued to slide for the Elmira Pioneers Saturday night.

Elmira dropped its seventh straight with a 5-1 loss to the Uti-ca Blue Sox in New York-Penn League action at Dunn Field. Utica's Kevin Tolar, 2-3, pitched 72a solid if uninspired innings, allowing five hits, one run and walking four to take the win for the Blue Sox. Utica, 17-22 on the year, spread out the damage against the Pioneers and losing pitcher Mark Michelson, making his first Karen Troxel is the sports editor of the Star-Gazette. ON TELEVISION Elmira snorts hall ready to induct 24 ELMIRA Twenty-four athletes from all walks of life will be inducted into the Elmira Sports Hall of Fame in ceremonies Aug. 16.

The athletes participated in football, baseball, softball, basketball and soccer. They will be among nearly 800 athletes who have been honored since the Hall was established more than 20 years ago. The induction will take place at the weekly Elmira Kiwanis Club luncheon. Jack Flynn, president of the Hall, will introduce the inductees. Al Mallette, retired Star-Gazette sports editor, will be the master of ceremonies.

Profiles of all 24 inductees appear on Page 6C of today's Star-Gazette. LeMond sidelined by saddle sores BRIGHTON, England Tour de France champion Greg LeMond has pulled out of today's Wincanton Classic because of saddle sores, the manager of his cycling team said Saturday. Roger Legeay, manager of the French team for which LeMond rides, said the American cyclist will take about a week off from racing to allow the sores to heal. Legeay said LeMond, who was with his family at their home in Belgium, developed the sores late in the Tour de France that ended July 22. "It was a big problem during the Tour and he is not better for the last week," Legeay said.

LeMond also pulled out of the Win-canton race at the last minute after winning last year's Tour de France. Local softball team shining in tourney PHILADELPHIA The OTB Mustangs, a Horseheads based team of high school and college softball stars, won three straight games Saturday at a 24-team invitational tournament. The team, which is headed to the American Softball Association national tournament in Lodi, Calif. Aug. 8, beat the Erin Mills Elites, a Canadian team, 10-1; topped the Clarksburg Flames 7-2; and finished the day with a 4-2 win over Pegasus, a Philadelphia team.

Jennifer Cranston hit two home runs during the day, including the game-winning homer in the Pegasus game. Bobbie Jo McMail was the winning pitcher in two games, giving up only three runs. Wendy Stevens won the third game. The tournament concludes today. I 3 SCORES American League Detroit 1 7 Boston 9 Kansas City 10 Baltimore 9 (1st game) Baltimore 3 Kansas City 1 (2nd game) Texas 3 Toronto 2 (13) Chicago 5..

Milwaukee 4 Oakland 4 Minnesota 1 (1st game) Cleveland 2 New York 1 National League St. Louis 1 New York 0 San Francisco 3 Cincinnati 2(11) Philadelphia 4 Pittsburgh 3 Chicago 10 Montreal 7 New York-Penn Utica 5 Elmira 1 Batavia 4 Pittsfield 2 Niagara Falls 1 5 Hamilton 4 Jamestown 4 St. Catharines 2 TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS 12:30 p.m. Pioneers Baseball Weekly WETM 1 p.m. Auto Racing: NASCAR Diehard 500 CBS; Baseball: Yankees at Indians WPIX, WICZ 1:30 p.m.

Baseball: Cubs at Expos WGN, Phillies at Pirates WBRE 2 p.m. Golf: LPGA Championship NBC 2:30 p.m. Golf: British Senior Open ABC 3:05 p.m. Goodwill Games WTBS 4 p.m. Baseball: Yankees at Indians WPIX 4:30 p.m.

Golf: PGA Buick Open CBS; Boxing: Kittikasem vs. Carbajal ABC 8 p.m. Baseball: Cardinals at Mets ESPN 8:05 p.m. Goodwill Games: U.S. vs.

Yugoslavia for men's basketball title WTBS Complete listings In today's TVWeefr Compiled from staff and wire reports..