News-Journal from Mansfield, Ohio • 19

Wednesday, March 23. 1994" SPORTS 3C NEWS JOURNAL Indians ballpark may foe earned today Gateway negotiating with Cleveland owner Indians' Jerry DiPoto idled by cancer surgery CWe have an offer on the table, and we'll stand by it." Richard Jacobs evidence to take it out" During the operation, Dr. Jack Thigpen found cancer in a lymph node and in the thyroid. "They're going to give me an iodine pill to burn out the rest of the cancer," DiPoto said. "In a couple weeks, they'll go back in to see if the cancer has spread anywhere." DiPoto said he was on pins and needles for weeks while waiting to find out what he had.

"It's been driving me nuts," he said. "That's why they stopped me from throwing in spring training." He will be in the hospital for the rest of this week, and he'll be allowed to start stretching and running next week. He'll be able to toss a baseball softly soon after that The Indians said DiPoto was expected to recover fully and be sidelined two to four weeks. DiPoto appeared in three spring games, most recently on March 12. Last year, the righthander was 44 with a 2.40 ERA and 11 saves for the Indians.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. CAP) Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Jerry DiPoto had his cancerous thyroid gland removed Tuesday. "They think they got it in time to minimize the chance that it could have spread," DiPoto said from his bed at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center. "They said cancer of the thyroid is the slowest-spreading cancer." The thyroid, located near the front of the neck below the larynx, secretes iodine-containing hormones which help control the body's metabolism. When the gland is removed, treatment with hormone supplements usually continues for life.

The problem was detected during DiPoto's routine physical examination at the beginning of spring training. A biopsy on March 1 revealed the possibility that the thyroid was cancerous. "The team doctor (Dr. William Wilder) found a lump he called it a nodule," DiPoto said. "He sent me to an endocrinologist in Lakeland.

After they took a biopsy, they felt there was sufficient i- i CLEVELAND (AIO Just about everything is in place at the new Cleveland Indians ballpark, and the $10 million naming right may be nailed down today. Tom Chema, executive director of the Gateway Economic Development the nonprofit organization building the $362 million outdoor ballpark and indoor arena in downtown Cleveland, said Tuesday he expects the matter of the ballpark's name may be concluded at today's Gateway board meeting. Part of the project's financing package had been the projected $10 million sale for the right to name the ballpark and another $10 million to name the arena. Gateway has been in negotiations with Richard Jacobs, owner of the Indians, for the ballpark right The team's literature has been referring to the ballpark as Indians Park. "I think we'll probably wrap that up," Chema said.

"I think that will be the biggest issue we'll deal with tomorrow (Wednesday), the naming right, and I feel pretty confident right now we will be able to conclude that piece of business." Jacobs on Tuesday was in Florida, where the team is involved in spring training. He would not discuss specifics about the stadium naming. "We have an offer on the table, and we'll stand by it," Jacobs said. Asked what the stadium's name might be, he said that had not been decided. Chema said he is satisfied the ballpark will be ready for its opening, an April 2 exhibition Out at second game with the Indians playing the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"I think the biggest thing we'd like to get done, and this is totally dependent on the weather, is some of the painting. Up in the upper concourse you may see some areas where we'd like to get another coat of paint on. "Otherwise, the ballpark's in real good shape," he said. "We have a lot of cleaning to do. We have to get construction debris out of here.

We feel real good about it We feel ready to go." Chema said Gateway will go a few million dollars over the projected ballpark cost of $161 million. "Right now the ballpark looks like it will be somewhere around $166 to $167 million," he said. That would leave the project financially "in relatively good shape," he said. Dennis Lehman, Indians executive vice president for business, said Tuesday advance ticket sales have reached nearly 1.9 million. Season ticket sales have reached 17,000 in the ballpark.

The ballpark has 119 private loges, of which 118 have been sold. Chema said he was confident the remaining loge would be sold by opening day, Monday, April 4, against the Seattle Florida's Kurt Abbott is forced out at second base as Montreal's Wil Cordero starts the relay throw to first during the third inning of their spring training game at Viera, on Tuesday. (AP Photo) Tribe's right field candidates help batter Rangers, 15-7 and Omar Ramirez, are battling for playing time in right field. James Hurst (0-1) made his first spring start for Texas and allowed nine runs and 12 hits in three innings. He came into the game with a 0.96 ERA in four relief appearances.

Mark Clark (1-0) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings for Cleveland. Maldonado's homer highlighted Cleveland's four-run first, Omar Vizquel hit a two-run home run in the second and Sandy Alomar tripled home two runs and scored on Kenny Lofton's third hit of the game in the third. Manny Ramirez homered in the sixth and doubled home a run in the seventh. Kirby hit two-run doubles in the seventh and eighth. Bill Ripken drove in two runs for Texas, one with a double in the second and another with a single as the Rangers scored four runs off Jason Grimsley in the eighth.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) Three of the candidates for Cleveland's right field job combined to drive in nine runs Tuesday as the Indians collected 21 hits and beat a Texas Rangers split-squad team 15-7. Wayne Kirby knocked in four runs with two doubles, Candy Maldonado had three hits including a three-run homer, and Manny Ramirez homered and doubled, driving in two runs. Those three, along with Ruben Amaro Reds' Fernandez finally gets into camp ORDER YOUR TICKETS NOW! for the News Journal 16th Annual North-South Basketball Classic "We're right back to square one, right back to where we were a year ago," Pagnozzi said. "It's very frustrating because of all the work I did.

I rebuilt the knee, hit the weights, did everything I needed to do. Now, we start over." The injury elevates Erik Pappas to the starting job just as it did last May. Pirates Pirates pitchers Zane Smith and Randy Tomlin, both injured for long stretches last year, are in good health. And that could cure some of the Pirates' starting pitching problems. "I'm happy with the progress of both," pitching coach Ray Miller said.

Smith's work has been limited the past two years because of shoulder problems. Tomlin developed an elbow spur and needed arthroscopic surgery last August "Each time out it feels better," Smith said. "From last year until now, it's night and day. My range of motion is freer and smoother." Tomlin is still trying to regain his speed. "I've had no problems," he said.

PLANT CITY, Fla. (AP) Tony Fernandez rejoined the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, leaving just a dozen days to find out how well he can play third base. Fernandez returned to the Dominican last week to get his work visa. The Reds expected him back over the weekend, but Fernandez said the papers weren't ready. Now, the Reds' biggest experiment of spring training can begin: turning a career shortstop into a starting third baseman.

Fernandez doesnt have much time. It's been 10 years since Fernandez, 31, has played third base. His total major-league experience at third 10 games in 1984. After Toronto let him go and no one was willing to give him. a big contract, Fernandez wound up settling for a new position and $500,000 base salary with Cincinnati.

The Reds needed someone to replace Chris Sabo; Fernandez needed some place to play. The Reds want to find out which Fernandez they're getting: The one who hit .225 in 48 games for the New York Mets at the start of last season, or the one who batted .306 and helped Toronto win the World Series after his trade June 11. First things first Can he turn into a decent third baseman in a dozen days? "Yeah. I hope so," manager Davey Johnsbn said. "He can play it, He can be better than average without ever having played there.

But to be a great third baseman, he needs some time. "I think he'll be more than adequate without even having seen him." Fernandez isnt quite so optimistic about the experiment "They're two different positions," he said. "That's clear. They're not the same. The ball gets to third base much faster." Cardinals St.

Louis catcher Tom Pagnozzi will undergo arthroscopic surgery Thursday to remove torn cartilage from his left knee. He will be out four to six weeks. He was injured Monday when he caught a spike blocking a ball in the dirt The knee also required arthscopic surgery last May, causing Pagnozzi to miss more than a month. See 24 of the top high school seniors, liors, ntral Ohio, selected rrom oi. scnoois in una venucu show their basketball skills, Thursday, April 7, 1994 Lexington High School Gymnasium pm NORTH Mark Rinehart, Ontario Dave Sheldon, Wynfoid Josh Alexande; Wyniord John Robinson, Willard Ef fie James, Mansfield Senior Net! Lucius, Buckeye Central Brett Kaple, BuAeye Central Dustin Hamilton, Shelby RyanNoland, Shelby Allen Hoder, Gesture Jon Stanek, Crestline Indians privately commemorate deaths of Olin, Crews SOUTH Chad French, South Central Johntory Reese, St ftterj Ben Cook, Clear Fork Matt Stonei Temple Christian Scott 6nLoo, Mansfield Christian Josh Peoples, Highland Chris Iceman, Lucas Ebben Sample, MtGlead Andy Kanzig, Loudonville John Weir, Colonel Crawfcrf able to laugh about them and being able to enjoy the good memories," Hargrove said.

"When I say we've moved on, that's what I mean. "That doesn't mean we have forgotten Tim and Steve. That doesnt mean we have forgotten Laurie (Crews) and Patti (Olin) and their children. The grief is still there. The sorrow is still there.

I don't think it will ever leave. The old saying, 'Time heals all is not correct But you learn to deal with it and to go on. We will never forget But you get to a point that enough is enough, and we need to get on with our business." "The mood of the players is as upbeat as it can be," Hargrove said. "We all are aware of this being the anniversary of the accident We do have a lot of new faces here who were not here last year." Olin and Crews sustained fatal head injuries as the boat crashed under a dock that now sits on dry land, because the lake has shrunk during the past year. But Hargrove said his conversations with players who were close to the victims have not dwelled on "what ifs." "They are conversations of 'remember and being "There's no escaping what this franchise, what these families, what our young players experienced over the last year.

Personally, a year ago today I was sitting in this same spot with a terrible, terrible feeling." Hargrove said there has been surprisingly little talk about the tragedy among Indians players this spring. Some of those affected most deeply in particular, Ojeda and Kevin Wickander, who was best man at Olin's wedding are no longer with the team. Ojeda signed with the New York Yankees during the offseason, and Wickander was traded to Cincinnati last year. (From Page l-C) cident, but he returned to pitch later in the season. The Indians commemorated the anniversary privately, closing their clubhouse to reporters all day and holding no memorial service.

Flags at Chain O' Lakes Park were at half-staff. Hargrove and general manager John Hart met with reporters for about 15 minutes. "Our decision was to keep the ceremonies to a minimum in an effort to allow our players to have their own thoughts and focus on what we have to do," Hart said Casey McMidueL Colonel Crawford J.T Hunt, Lexington TICKETS ON SALE AT: Rehabilitation Service of North Central Ohio 270 Sterkle Blvd. (off Lexington Ave.) Mansfield News Journal 70 W. 4th St.

Mansfield Agler Davidson Richland Mall "Mail this coupon, or stop in the office of I REHABIUTATION SERVICE OF NORTH CENTRAL, OHIO I 270 Sterkel Blvd. I Mansfield, Ohio 44907 2 radio stations outbid others for rights to carry Browns Enclosed is (check payable to Rehab Center, cash or money order and self-addressed stamped envelope for tickets at $5.00 each). Name I City The Cleveland Browns will announce today that their games will now be carried by WKNR-AM 1220 and WDOK-FM 102.1. The move is a significant one for WKNR, Cleveland's 4-year-old all-sports station. It has broadcast the Indians the last two seasons and has been waiting for the chance to pounce on the Browns.

That opportunity came after last season when the Browns became the first NFL team to bring its radio rights in-house. WKNR and WDOK outbid at least three other stations with privilege fees that one source said were six fig-jures apiece. Two of the stations which lost out were WMMS-FM 100.7 and WHK-AM 1420. They were the Browns' flagship stations the last three seasons. The Browns also will announce today that no changes are expected in the game broadcasters.

Play-by-play man Nev Chandler and color analyst Doug Dieken have handled the Browns' games the last nine seasons. On another front it turns out unrestricted free agent tight end Walter Reeves has not signed his contract with the Browns. And he probably wont do so until early next week. It's not that Reeves or the Browns have had second thoughts. It's a matter of the Browns trying to maneuver under the $33.8 million salary cap.

The Browns probably will have to cut a player when Reeves signs his contract I Zip JjTione. Get your car ready for i warmer weather. The 'n V.vS News Journal's Spring Car Care section will contain helpful hints to keep your car in tip-top shape all summer long. Look for it on Saturday, March, 26. L..