Star-Gazette from Elmira, New York • 8

The winner's eirele Headline ahead Sp(Dnts Freshman Julie Elias of Elmira was a member of the Springfield College field hockey team that made a 10-day trip to Europe recently. The Division I Maroons played three games against club teams in Holland, Germany and Belgium. It was Springfield's third trip overseas in seven years. The National Football League Players Association is expected to announce today that the players have voted to authorize a strike this coming season. Each team voted separately, but the results have not yet been made known.

Star-Gazette Friday, June 12, 1987 i' I Page 5B SportsHne Celtics send series back to L.A?. From Gannett, wire and staff reports But Boston answered every challenge as Ainge bit four 3-pointers in five attempts in the quarter. The Celtics scored 12 of the last 14 points of the period for a 96-77 bulge. Los Angeles fought back again as reserve center-forward Thompson scored nine points in the first 4:43 of the fourth quarter, leading a 16-6 spurt that made it 101-93 with 6:57 left. But the Celtics, who blew a 15-ppint lead in Game 4, pulled away from there as Dennis Johnson scored nine BOSTON (AP) Danny Ainge made five 3-point shots, one at the halftime buzzer and four more in the third period, as the Boston Celtics stayed alive in the NBA championship series with a 123-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night.

Ainge finished with 21 points as all five Boston starters scored at least that many points. Dennis Johnson led the way with 25 points as the Celtics won for the second time in five games. Despite the loss, the Lakers now have two chances at home in the Fo rum in Inglewood, to win their fourth NBA title since 1980. Game 6 will be Sunday and a seventh game would be played Tuesday night. The Celtics, who also have three titles in this decade, are trying to become the first team to repeat as champions since they did it in 1969.

The Celtics also are the 19th team to trail 3-1 in the NBA finals, and none of the previous 18 has overcome that deficit. To do it this season, Boston would have to reverse its recent fortunes in road games. The Celtics have lost six consecutive games away from Boston Garden, with all but one of those losses by more than 10 points. Larry Bird had 23 points, Kevin Mc-Hale 22 and Robert Parish 21 for the Celtics. Magic Johnson led Los Angeles with 29 points, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mychal Thompson had 18 apiece.

James Worthy, after a l-for-9 first half performance from the field, made his first five shots in the third period, helping Los Angeles get within eight points on three occasions after trailing by 15 at halftime. points. Limoncelli ready for second season Pioneers' manager more relaxed in '87 -5 i fj Staff photo by Georgeitian out at the field from the dugout MANAGER BILL LIMONCELLI looks Thursday with returning players Brian Warfel, left, and Ken Bourne. By MARY JO MONNIN Staff Sports Writer Pioneers manager Bill Limoncelli opens 1987 with something he didn't have a year ago one season's experience. Limoncelli officially began his second year as manager, and his 15th in the Red Sox organization, on Thursday as the Pioneers camp entered its second day.

Limoncelli, the Dean of Students at Southside High School, appeared briefly at the workout at Dunn Field to meet his team and talk with instructors. Limoncelli managed the '86 Pioneers to a 39-36 record, the team's first winning season since 1983. The Pioneers finished the New York-Penh League season with a seven-game winning streak. Limoncelli said his approach to this season differs somewhat from a year ago. "I feel more relaxed than I did last year.

I'm not as scared going into it," he said. "Let's face it, last year at the beginning I was on pins and needles hoping that I did this right and I did that right. This year I pretty well have my routine down." Frank Malzone, who played for the Boston Red Sox from 1955-65, joined fellow instructors Eddie Popowski, Felix Maldonado, Al Bum-bry and Charlie Wagner at Thursday's workout. The team continued its drills, running, hitting and fielding. "In practice, all we're trying to do is get them mechanically right," said Wagner.

"We don't look for much. We know the boys have the talent." Wagner said the instructors are careful not to over-instruct but rather to "just let their abilities take care of themselves." Outfielder Bob Zupcic from Oral Roberts University has been signed and is expected to report to Elmira this weekend. Zupcic just completed playing in the Western Regional por-tion of the NCAA baseball tournament. Oral Roberts lost to eventual NCAA champion Stanford. Other players who will join the Pioneers soon: third baseman Phil Plan-tier, third baseman Sam Melton and right-handed pitcher Greg Bob Naprava returns as the public address announcer, and Mike Callahan will again be the official scorer.

Japanese player ties Gehrig record HIROSHIMA, Japan Sachio Kinugasa, Japan's "Iron Man," tied a record set by Lou Gehrig of New York Yankees nearly 50 years ago by playing in his consecutive professional baseball game Thursday night. In the fifth inning, when became certain the game would be an official one, time was called and Kinugasa received bouquets from the current and former managers of his Hiroshima Toyo Carp. The 15,000 spectators in the Hiroshima Stadium gave him an ovation. The 40-year-old third baseman would become the most durable player in baseball history by playing Saturday. Ceremonies are planned, including fireworks and a taped message from Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.

Ripken paces AL voting NEW YORK Baltimore's Cal Ripken seeking his fourth straight All-Star start at shortstop, leads all American League players in the fan balloting for the July 14 All-Star Game at Oakland, the Baseball Commissioner's Office announced Thursday. Ripken, who ranks among the league leaders in home runs, RBI and funs scored, received 501,040 votes. He led the AL in voting last year with 1,486,806 votes. Lyle leads Westchester HARRISON Sandy Lyle of Scotland reeled off five consecutive birdies and shot a 6-under-par 65 that gave him a one-shot lead Thursday in the first round of the $600,000 Westchester Classic. Elmira Notre Dame graduate Mike Hulbert shot 75 and was 10 back.

Richard tops Mayflower field INDIANAPOLIS Deb Richard shot a 6-under-par 66 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after one round of the $350,000 LPGA Mayflower Classic. Rodriguez leads seniors PONTE VEDRA, Fla. Chi Chi Rodriguez shot a record 7-under-par 65 Thursday to lead the $400,000 Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship by one stroke over Billy Maxwell after the first round. Edberg, Becker advance LONDON Sweden's Stefan Edberg survived two rain interruptions and the formidable challenge of Wally Masur to join two-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker in the quarterfinals of the $300,000 Stella Artois grass court tennis championships at Queens Club Thursday. Edberg, bothered by a slippery court, lost the first set and was a break down in the second but rallied to beat Masur 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-1), 6-4.

Becker, the 19-year-old West German surprised himself with the quality of his play and continued his preparation for Wimbledon by whipping John Sadri 6-4, 6-4. Demons Begone favored NORTH RANDALL, Ohio Demons Begone, the Kentucky Derby favorite who failed to finish the race because he began bleeding through the nostrils, was installed Thursday as the 8-5 early choice for Saturday's $250,000 Ohio Derby for 3-year-olds. U.S. women bowlers win gold HELSINKI, Finland The United States women's team rolled a record final game of 063 Thursday and won its third straight gold medal in the World Bowling Championships. The American women finished with a record two-day, six-game total of 6,011.

Ashford upset in dash VERONA, Italy Canada's Angela Issajenko Taylor upset world record-holder Evelyn Ashford of the United States in the women's 100-meter dash during a track and field meet Thursday night. The Jamaican-born sprinter was timed in 11:19 seconds while Ashford, who holds the world mark of 10.76 seconds, finished second in II. 28. Grimsley wins Smith award LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Will Grimsley, who covered 35 World Series and 25 Kentucky Derbies for the Associated Press, on Thursday became the first wire service writer to receive the Red Smith Award for sports writing.

character and baseball image, into' it rather than just some non-descript character," said Pioneers President and General Manager Clyde Smoll. "We are trying to make something a little more friendly to the kids." The piles of red brick on the warning track will be spread out todayttThe flower gardens and new awnings will be put up near the ticket windowvthis weekend. LjV Smoll signed a deal replace all the screening in frontof the box seats. He said the old screen posed a danger to spectators. The players weren't the only ones getting ready.

Dunn Field workers were busy getting the park in shape for the season opener on June 17. All the box seats and some general admission seats were painted, as were the dugouts, clubhouses and concession stands. The Pioneers' mascot will have a new look. Mark Swanson, former WEHH employee, will be the mascot this year. Swanson will wear a baseball cap instead of last year's headgear with the long raccoon-tail (which got yanked more often than Pioneer pitchers).

"We just put some more fun and Tidewater shells Seaver in exhibition NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Tom Seaver, pitching for the first time since rejoining New York, was hit hard Thursday night during an exhibi tion game against the Mets' Class AAA Tidewater team, setting back his scheduled return to the major leagues. Seaver was shelled for seven runs, six of them earned, on nine hits in 2 innings. After the game, Seaver and Mets Manager Davey Johnson agreed the three-time Cy Young winner's planned start against Philadelphia on June 20 would be pushed back about a week. New York and played the entire seven-inning game.

Strawberry, who had threatened to boycott the game, went 0-for-3. Seaver, 42, took the loss in the 7-1 defeat. "The outcome wasn't very desirable, but I wasn't looking at that. I was looking at how he threw the ball," Johnson said. "His arm strength and his control is better at this point than I thought it would be," he said.

Seaver threw 58 pitches, 37 of them strikes. He struck out two and walked one. "Am I happy? Certainly not. But am I totally disappointed? No," Seaver said. "I threw some good pitches and some bad," Seaver said.

"I was also happy that I was able to throw strikes." Seaver returned last week to the Mets for the third time. He agreed to terms on a free-agent contract that will pay him about $600,000 the remainder of this season. Seaver had not pitched since last August, when a knee injury finished his year with the Boston ted Sox. "Physically, everything felt fine," Seaver; said. "That's another positive sign." Mets General Manager Frank Cashen called after injuries decimated the pitching staff.

Seaver allowed two doubles and three runs in the first inning. He walked the first batter he faced, Terry Blocker, then gave up a double to Kevin Elster. Andre David then hit a two-run double and Mark Carreon had a sacrifice fly. r- In the second, Seaver struck out two batters.but allowed a fourth run on three singles. tlf Carreon and Clint Hurdle singled in the third and Steve Springer hit an RBI double off the wall.

Seaver left the game with one out, and, bpth runners eventually scored. 3- Seaver Mets right fielder Darryl Strawberry, who was benched for the past two games and fined $250 by Johnson for showing up late Tuesday, started for EC close to naming hockey coach Sindelar, at 64, back in the swing at French Open Staff and wire renorts ST. CLOUD, France Howard Clarkli Britain fired a 4-under-par 68 Thursday and tained the lead at the halfway point of thi Television Highlights $410,000 French Open golf tournament. Joey Sindelar of Horseheads shot a move into contention and a tie for third plac at 134, two strokes back. He was joined by By ED WEAVER Senior Sports Writer The Elmira College hockey team still does not have a coach.

But the school is "very close" to naming one, according to Athletic Director Pat Thompson. "It could be the next day or two, maybe even tomorrow (today)," Thompson told The Star-Gazette on Thursday. "We've had 24 applicants," Thompson said, "some very qualified people." She said several finalists are still in the running for the job. Brian McCutcheon, who guided EC to a six-year record of 101-61-1, resigned in April to become head coach at Cornell University, his Alma Mater. Elmira College had hoped to fill the hockey vacancy several weeks ago, but Thompson said the finalists were "so evenly qualified" that the timetable had to be Complete program lilting on Pag 11A TODAY'S SPORTS 8:30 a.m.

ISPN SportsCenter 4:00 p.m. KPN Senior PGA Golf Tour-namenf I i Championship, first round 7:00 ISPN SportsCenter tough Babson, and will host Guelph U. of Canada. The Eagles host St. Bonaventure twice in the Bonnies' first full-fledged season of Division II hockey.

As for basketball, more than 80 applicants are seeking the head EC job left vacant when veteran coach Paul Manikowski resigned in March. "We had our first (selection) meeting (last) Friday," Thompson Said. "We've had 82 applications some really good people." Thompson said "the majority" of the hopefuls are college coaches but that 4 or5 local candidates are among the applicants. The position will be filled by the end of this month, she said. The EC cagers will open the season at SUNY Potsdam, playing in the four-time national champions' invitational tournament.

They'll also play Utica College, which recently downgraded its basketnall program from Division I to Division III. 7:30 WPIX Baseball Milwaukee Brewers at New York Yankees WTBS BasebalhAtlonto Braves at Cincinnati Reds WGN Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals 11:30 ESPN SportsCenter CNN Sports Tonight "Each one brings something new to the program," she said. "It's been a very difficult decision. We had to look quite closely." Thompson has also been busy with scheduling.

The Soaring Eagles played only 23 regular-season games last year, but Thompson has the 1987-88 schedule up to 26 games. A few more maybe added. The Eagles will play at the Rensselaer Poly. Institute on Saturday, Dec. 12.

And they'll host host U.S. International earlier in December. As of now, those are the only Division I teams EC will face. The EC-Stroh's Beer Invitational Tournament will take place in November, with SUNY Potsdam, North Adams State and American International College providing the opposition. The Eagles will also play in the UMass-Boston Tournament, along with Holy Cross and Salem State.

Elmira will travel to always- South African Hugh Baiocchi, who carded aT56j Sindelar is using a swing he used at Ohio State nearly 10 years ago. "This is only my third event using the did swing," Sindelar said. "I'm beginning to. feel the benefits. I played a solid round today, and missed none of the vital short putts that score." Sindelar had two eagles and five birdies a his 64.

His only lapse came at the first hola, where he needed three putts. Clark completed two trips over the par-72 St. Cloud course with a 36-hole score of 12-under 132 for a one-shot advantage. He had five birdies and one bogey in his second round. Our phone numbers The Sports Department's telephone numbers for calls from outside our local dialing area are: IN NEW YORK STATE 1-800-962-7827 and IN PENNSYLVANIA 1-800-245-1414..