The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 27

FIRST SECOND THE MORNING CALL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1996 C3 POddODdos begem) the Scots KoDeim Eira wittlh) viictoiry The 21-year-old, sweet-swinging third baseman is the future. History may prove Rolen to be the next Roger Freed instead of the next Mike Schmidt. But at long last, the battle has been joined. In baseball's seamless tapestry, it should be duly noted that at the same time Rolen was saying hello to Philadelphia, Hall of Fame-bound Cardinal shortstop Ozzie Smith said goodbye. FINAL SCORE PHILLIES 2-1 CARDINALS 1-7 Scott Rolen and Desi both get their first hits and errors.

-By DON BOSTROM Of The Morning Call PHILADELPHIA The Scott Rolen Era officially began last night for the Phillies. The crown jewel of Philadelphia's minor league system made his major league debut in a 2-1 win over St. Louis in the first game of a doubleheader. Looking for an omen? Rolen, who sports No. 6, collected his first big league hit a ringing double to right at 6:06 p.m.

The dawning of the Desi Relaford Era wasn't quite as auspicious. The prized shortstop acquired from Seattle for Terry Mulholland on Wednesday booted the first ball hit to him in the nightcap. That miscue led to a pair of unearned runs when Brian Jordan cracked a homer (No. 14) off loser Michael Mimbs (1-7) as the Cardinals salvaged a split with a 7-1 triumph. Relaford, a .205 hitter at Taco-ma, flied to deep right before getting his first big league hit, a sharp single to right in the seventh inning.

Rolen is a landmark arrival. He represents something this franchise desperately needs at the moment hope. Todd Zeile moved from the hot corner to first for the first time since Aug. 6, 1995 and Jefferies trotted out to left field for the first time since July 17, 1995 at Colorado. Jefferies quickly broke in his new mitt by shagging five flies.

Rolen had an uneventful outing at third in the opener until the ninth. Then he did something he might never have lived down. Rolen held the ball too long after fielding a routine Mark Sweeney grounder to start the inning. Sweeney was credited with a single. Reliever Ken Ryan took Rolen off the hook by getting three quick outs for his fifth save.

"I think the young third baseman learned a lesson. He'll never do that again," Phillies manager Jim Fregosi promised. Rolen made several sparkling defensive plays in Game Two, including a double play to bail Mimbs out of a bases-loaded mess in the fifth. Fregosi knows he just got a lot smarter with Rolen in his lineup. "It was nice to see him get a base hit before he had a chance in the field.

That's unusual," Fregosi said. Springer found himself back in the rotation thanks to Terry Mulholland's trade to Seattle and Wednesday's rain out. He responded with his longest outing since a career-best eight inning shutout stint for California against Cleveland on July 17, 1993. He received credit for an RBI In the sixth when Relaford fumbled his potential inning-ending DP with men at the corners. Reliever Bronson Heflin became the third player to make his major league debut.

Ron Gant welcomed him to "The Show" with a majestic homer (No. 20) in the ninth. The loss kept the Phillies from challenging the miraculous 13-game winning streak reeled off by a 40-58 club in 1991. That tear began on July 30. This year's July 30 streak was snuffed out after two.

Rolen and Relaford are here, though. And 14 of the next 17 games are at home. Pirates 13, Mats 9 NEW YORK (AP) The New York Mets committed a team record seven errors, leading to four unearned Pittsburgh runs, and the Pirates avoided a sweep of the five-game series with a 13-9 win. Cubs 4, Rockies 1 CHICAGO (AP) Jamie Navarro pitched into the seventh Inning and delivered the go-ahead RBI, and Sammy Sosa hit his N.L.-lead-ing 37th homer as surging Chicago won its fourth straight, 4-1 over Colorado. Braves 3, Padres 2 SAN DIEGO (AP) Javier Lopez homered in the sixth inning to snap a tie and six Atlanta pitchers combined on a six-hitter, giving the Braves a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.

American League Tigers 13, Angels 5 DETROIT (AP) Rookie Tony Clark hit his first career grand -slam and Detroit homered four times in its first game since trading Cecil Fielder 13-5 victory over California, the Tigers' season-'. high fourth straight win. Orioles 4, Twins 2 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Brady Anderson's two-run single capped a three-run fifth inning that lifted David Wells and the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-2 victory and a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins. Mariners 9, Brewers 2 MILWAUKEE (AP) Jamie Moyer, making his debut with Se- attle following a trade from Boston, pitched seven strong innings and Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs to lead the Mariners over the Milwaukee Brewers 9-2. White Sox 8, Athletics 3 OAKLAND, Calif.

(AP) Frank Thomas, playing in only his second game since the All-Star break, hit his first homer in a month to lead the Chicago White Sox to an 8-3 win over the Oakland Athletics. Blue Jays 5, Indians 3 CLEVELAND (AP) John Ole-rud's 16th home run broke a tie in the seventh inning as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Cleveland Indians 5-3. Royals 9, Red Sox 4 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Mike Macfarlane had three hits and drove in three runs as Kansas City beat Roger Clemens at home for the first time in nearly five years, 9-4. in a situation like that, but it was a very nice gesture and touched me," Smith said.

"It showed that the people appreciated what I have done all these years, even though I was in a rival uniform. It's a moment I'll treasure for forever." Cardinal fans have long considered Smith a national treasure, ranking him behind only Stan "The Man" Musial" as the most popular player ever in the tradi- tion-rich baseball town. A certain first-ballot Hall of Fame selection in the year 2002, Smith is in 19th season of playing shortstop with the grace, style and artistry that has earned him 13 Gold Glove awards. After spending his first four seasons in San Diego, Whitey Herzog brought him to St. Louis in a trade for the temperamental Garry "If I ain't startin', I ain't departin' 1 Templeton in 1982.

Smith became as much a fixture in St. Louis as the Gateway Arch, the Mississippi River and the Anheuser-Busch brewery. He was the smooth operator in the middle of three Cardinal Na- Ozzie Smith: There's only ever been one Northampton reaches final; The Birches oust N. Parkland "I knew the bullpen was pretty beat up and needed some time off," Springer said. "It might have been unrealistic, but I wanted to go eight." He did that by simply letting the Cardinals hit the ball.

"Normally I try to strike people out (68 in 62 innings coming in)," Springer said. "Tonight, I wanted quick outs. I tried to make them mis-hit it. My ball sails. As long as I kept them in the yard, I was going to be fine." Springer preserved the lead in the seventh when he struck out pinch hitter Ron Gant with two men aboard.

"That was an adrenaline rush," Springer said. "I wanted to put a little extra on that one. It jumped right out of my hand. Sometimes those don't always go where you want them. But that was right there." PhMe killer Andy Benes (10-8) dominated the nightcap with a complete game four-hit gem that featured seven strikeouts, including two of Rolen, who finished the twin bill l-for-7.

Benes, whose last start in a twi-nighter here was the infamous July 3, 1993 game that didn't end until 4:40 a.m., upped his lifetime mark against Philadelphia to 12-4. Philadelphia scored in the first when Mickey Morandini singled, stole second (No. 21) and scored on a Jefferies single. Benes also helped himself at the plate. He doubled and scored on a Gant single in the third.

League win last evening at Be-thleon. Geiger hit a three-run seventh inning homer and another RBI hit, Jeremy Bartha was 3-for-4 with two singles, a triple and two RBIs and Jason Laub had two hits for the winners. Limeport 6, Banko's 4 John Cole had just one hit but drove in three runs as Lamport nipped host Banko's in Blue Mountain League baseball last night. Josh Williams, Caleb Moyer and Chris Saylor had two hits apiece for the winners. Martins Creek 11, Saylorsburg 0 Martins Creek (21-13) notched its 701st franchise victory last night by blanking visiting Saylorsburg in Blue Mountain League play.

Whining pitcher Chris Schell-hammer allowed three hits while fanning five and walking three. Bob Siemon had two hits, including a homer. Ross Griffith had two hits and Dan Roth had a two-run homer in the fourth inning Hellertown 2, Catasauqua 0 Jon Yard fired a two-hitter and Joe Zaia cracked a solo home run in the fifth inning as Hellertown (21-13) nipped Catasauqua in Blue Mountain League baseball last night. Four Hellertown (21-13) pitchers combined to four-hit Catasauqua (25-9), but Nate Stannard took the loss after giving up both runs. Northampton 5, Andretti 2 Mike Wandler went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in the seventh inning last evening to help Northampton beat Andretti in Blue Mountain League action.

Winning pitcher Chris Bensing also went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. State Jr. Legion North Central Bethlehem 4, Narchester 3 North Central Bethlehem knocked off the defending champions Narchester in yesterday's State Junior Legion quarterfinal game in Homer City. North Central's next winner's bracket opponent is Roxboro at 5:05 p.m. today.

It owns a spot in the championship game at 1 p.m. tomorrow. North Central, the only undefeated team in the tourney, held Narchester to three runs on six hits. Winning hurlers Matt Erney and Ryan Boyle combined for six strikeouts. Homering for the winners was Nick D'Angelo.

Joe Bubba had an RBI single and Jarrett Teague's off-the-top-of-the-fence hit drove in a run. and gold medal-winner Jens Fiedler of Germany for tonight's program, but Fiedler wanted too much money and Nothstein decided to enjoy the Olympics after being secluded on Stone Mountain with the U.S. Cycling Team, which didn't get to march in the Opening Ceremonies. "EDS is very supportive of bicycling," McDonough said. "Even though Marty is not here, this is an exciting program and it's kicking off what will be an exciting month.

This event will be a lot of fun for people to watch because it's a team concept thing." Tonight is also very special because the Air Products Develop "The Wizard" was a factor in his swan song. He singled and scored on a head first slide after a Ray Lankford double in the third inning. That was the only crack in a nearly flawless effort by Phillies starter Russ Springer (3-9), who walked none in a season-high seven inning stint. Ozzie, who could turn a double play if paired with Harriet, flashed his famous leather casket to help loser Donovan Osborne (9-7) out of several jams. Osborne faltered in the fifth.

He walked Kevin Stocker, yielded a single to red-hot Ricky Otero and an RBI double to David Doster. Otero scored the winning run on a Luis Alicea error off a Gregg Jef-feries grounder. Rolen's arrival created a domino effect in the Phillies lineup. and both moved up on a sacrifice. Hard-luck losing pitcher Andy Hawkins (7 innings in powerful relief of brother Tom) dodged one bullet by fielding Jason Finkel's chopper in front of the plate and nipping Batz at the plate.

After Finkel stole second, Hawkins induced Perella to pop one into short center. Unfortunately for the Indians, short center turned out to be No Man's Land. Second baseman Rush and shortstop Adam Boyer converged on the ball, but had a moment of indecision. The ball glanced off Rush's glove and, as it fell tothe turf, Maglowski and Finkel both raced home the latter with the game-winner. "You see the ball go up in the air," Quatrani said, "and you're in ecstasy.

Then you see it drop, and you're in the depths of despair." No coach wants to make a habit of having to come from behind, and Shilhngton's Bob Houck is no exception. But the Sox have been coming from behind to win frequently in recent weeks, including in their 11-7 first-round win over Emmaus Tuesday. explains why Houck jokingly commented, "We want to be sure to be down by at least two going into the ninth inning." Turning serious, Houck said, "That's Perkiomen a good ballclub. I think we're two of the better teams in this tournament. You've got to beat them, because they're not going to do things to beat themselves.

"We've seemed flat the whole tournament, but maybe what these kids need to get inflated is to get behind. But I'll say this: the kids come up with a way to do it when they have to." The Indians jumped ahead early 5-1, getting two in the first on catcher Tim Raines' two-run single, another in the third on Raines sacrifice fly and two in the sixth on Andy Hawkins' RBI-single and a (first-and-third) steal of home by Boyer, while the Sox could counter only with a single first-inning run on catcher Brian Bishop's (3-for-5, three RBIs) single. But Shillington crept to within 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Batz and Maglows-ki's sac fly. The Sox then tied it in the seventh on Bishop's two-run double. Lefthander Scott Saul relieved Maglowski when he walked the back hot and heavy tonight in Trexlertown.

Lucy Tyler-Sharman, who won a bronze medal in the women's points race last Sunday, may be in action tonight as a U.S. team takes on a team of international riders. "Right now, it looks like it's going to be a U.S. team of a lot of the guys from the national team like Marcello Arrue, Shawn Washburn, Jason Beauregard, and Jeff Solt just got back into town," explained Pat McDonough, the velodrome's director. The World Team looks equally intimidating with former world sprint champion Stephen Pate, Australian Olympic alternate An uuiioi League LreuiimiL willllcis -U-t i the 1980's, while establishing him-: leadoff batter in the ninth and the rest of the game evolved into a duel between he and Andy Hawkins.

Saul got the better of it in the fateful 13th. "Timmy Maglowski and Scotty Saul both did yeoman jobs," Houck summarized. Raines (2-for-3, three RBIs) opined that the Indians would have less trouble bouncing back in the losers' bracket than one might think "It's a tough way to lose," Raines admitted. "But I think it's better than a blowout." Quatrani wasn't sure about that, but did suggest, "It was a great game if you were a spectator. This is what regional baseball should be, not those 13-2 blowouts.

"In the end, I think our biggest problem was we didn't show Shillington enough tough at bats. Of our 39 outs, I'd say 30 of them were soft. Too many popups and strikeouts." Once the competition reaches the regional level or higher, experience many times becomes the decisive factor. No team in the tournament has more big-game experience than Northampton, the defending Region 2 king and state runner-up. More to the point, no pitcher has more than Eberts, no player-more than the enormously-talented Spadt.

And, while everyone in the Orange Crush lineup contributed to the victory over North Parkland, Eberts and Spadt simply grabbed the Buffaloes by the horns and wouldn't let go. In ousting North Parkland (27-13) and completing its (and NorCo's) sweep of LVL clubs, The Birches (24-8) got a complete game five-hitter (and nine strikeouts) from Ross Borger. The Saylorsburg gang also got two hits and an RBI each from T.J. Murphy, Brad Konawalik and Ben BechteL One of Bechtel's hits was a triple, the other a double. Blue Mountain Lehigh Township 14, Be-thleon 4 Dylan Dando pitched and Craig Geiger homered in Lehigh Township's Blue Mountain By TED MEIXELL Of The Morning Call LAURELDALE Northampton's three-year reign as Northampton County League champion came to an end last week, victims of a two-game sweep by The Birches.

Shillington broke its own streak of three consecutive runner-up finishes in the Berks County League, storming through the losers' bracket to capture the BCL crown. The Orange Crush and the Red Sox are both in familiar territory today, however: in Laureldale, fix-in' to play each other (at 1 p.m.) in the Region 2 winners' bracket final. Northampton (26-8) earned its berth with a 7-1 victory over Le- high Valley League regular season titlist North Parkland yesterday Ibehind the pitching of Joel Eberts and the hitting of Eric Spadt (2- for-4, four RBIs). Shillington (36-8) opened "yesterday's action with a dramatic, come-from-behind-twice 7-6 victory over Bux-Mont League champion Perkiomen (31-6). The tyhig and -winning runs both crossed home plate when Jeremy Perella's to short center with two out in the bottom of the 13th inning glanced off the glove of In- dians' second sacker Matt Rush and fell to the turf.

In the first of two losers' brack- et games, The Birches eliminated North Parkland 8-3 and secured a spot in today's semifinals Perkiomen and Muhlenberg met later in another loser's bracket contest to determine the fourth semifinalist. "If you wanted to pick the way to lose, this was as-tough as it gets," Perkiomen skipper Ernie Quatrani said. "It's like losing a football game on a Hail -Mary or a basketball game on a yhot from three-quarters court at "the buzzer." The 13th inning began on a high note for the Indians (31-6), but, by the time it ended, the Red Sox (36-8) were flying on a cloud. Jeff Moyer started Upper Perk's half of the inning with a leadoff single and was sacrificed to second. Moments, and one out, later, he scored on No.

9 hitter Matt Rush's single to short right-center. Shillington fought right back, though. Tom Batz singled to left, Tim Maglowski drew a walk By KEITH GROLLER Of The Morning Call PHILADELPHIA Over the history of baseball, nearly 150 guys named Smith have played the game. They have had first names of Heinie, Phenomenal, Happy, Germany, Klondike, Skyrocket, Wib, Pop-Boy, Bryn and Zane, not to mention Reggie, Lee and Lonnie. But there's only ever been one Ozzie Smith and he will go down as one of the best shortstops ever to play the game.

At least defensively, he leaves baseball ranked like the digit on his uniform No. 1. Smith made his final appearance at Veterans Stadium last night when the Phillies hosted Smith's Cardinals in a twi-night doubleheader. Between games, he was honored in a special ceremony by the Phillies' organization. It was just another stop on the "We're off to see the Wizard one last time" tour.

"I consider myself very fortunate to be in a position to enjoy a farewell tour, or whatever you want to call it," Smith said before the games. "It doesn't happen to very many players, so I'm enjoying the opportunity. The fans have been great in saying 'thanks' for what I've done over the years and it gives me a chance to say 'thanks' right back." During the ceremony, Smith received a special Philadelphia Bowl presented by another shortstop, Phillies' coach Larry Bowa. As ''Thanks for the memories Ozzie!" flashed on the big screen atop the center-field bleachers and a small, but appreciative crowd gave him a rousing ovation, Smith said, "Thank you for all the generosity, admiration and hospitality you've shown me over the years in all my trips to Philadelphia. It's very tough right now to fully express all that I'm feeling.

Thanks for sharing my dreams with me." If Philly didn't have a special place in Smith's heart a month ago, it does now. A surprising, emotional, standing ovation greeted Smith in his only time up at-bat in the July 9 All-Star Game at the Vet. Smith became misty-eyed and nearly couldn't complete the at-bat. It was one of the few memorable moments generated in the National League rout. "You don't know what to expect mental riders will get to strut their stuff in front of the regular Friday night crowd.

The Air Products Program gave Nothstein his start, and on the heels of its first Olympic medal-winner, the program is hoping to turn into a proving ground for other U.S. cyclists. In the last few years, the LW has hosted several of the Olympic medal winners, including France's Marion Clignet and Felicia Bellan-ger, Australia's Michelle Ferris and Tyler-Sharman and Erin Hartwell oftheU.S. And while those are just several of the Olympians who competed in T-town over the last several years. sen as a positive roie-moaei in a sport in desperate need of any posi- tive images it can find.

He is the all-time leader in as-sists for a shortstop with 8,313 and has been involved in the most double plays including two in Game 1 last night. In 1980 while still a Padre, he set the major league mark for assists in a season with 621 the record that still makes him the most proud. "That's special because it was a record that stood for a long time and it was a mark that is most defining of what a shortstop is all about and that's to make the throw and get the out," Smith said. Offensively, he was never the kind of guy you'd delay a visit to the beer stand or bathroom to watch bat. But he has collected 2,435 career hits, many of them in clutch situations.

After singling and scoring the Cards' lone run in, a 2-1 loss in last night's opener, Smith is still hitting .285. "I don't know whether I was the best to play shortstop, people will always argue one way or the oth- er," he said. "All I know is that I was the best Ozzie Smith I could be. I had good hands, good hand- eye coordination and just worked hard to improve. I tried to do the little things to help the ballclub win Peden and Pate are getting ready for the world championships in Manchester, England at the end of the month.

This is the first year since 1968 that the events contested in the Olympics will also be held at the world championships, otherwise LW fans would be expecting a bumper crop of Olympic medalists tonight. No definite time or date has been announced for Nothstein's return, but preliminary word is he could be back by Sunday on a flight to Lehigh Valley International Airport. The velodrome staff is planning a hero's welcome for the silver medal winner. Th U.S. vs.

Tlhse World tpmighlt at the velodrome thony Feden, David Dew, New Zealand's Graeme Miller and England's Simon Cope. The special team competition will feature an Italian pursuit, a points race, a miss-and-out and a special challenge at the track's one-mile record, which is held by England's Shaun Wallace, himself an Olympian in the kilometer last week. Each member of the team will participate in the Italian pursuit, an event where the lead rider peals off after each lap down to the final sprint, the same idea behind the three-man Olympic sprint It's no secret that EDS would have loved to rematch Nothstein Olympic bronze medalist Lucy Tyler-Sharman could be in action. By GARY R. BLOCKUS Of The Morning Call Okay, so there's no Marty Nothstein, but there's still a silver lining in tonight's EDS Presents the U.S.

vs. The World at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome, even without its homegrown silver medal-winner. Nothstein Is in Atlanta, taking hi the final days of the Centennial Olympiad, but bicycle racing is.