Rocky Mount Telegram from Rocky Mount, North Carolina • 9

Sports Friday April 1996 Rocky Mount Telegram Page Brakes dlOWE III II II II II II Mil II UM fbl II rYr IwPyf mild and we don't expect him to miss a start" Fred McGriff, who drove in eight runs in Atlanta's first two games, was bitless in three at-bats against Watson and struck out twice. McGriff was 0-for-4 overall and fanned three times. "Allen's as tough on Fred as anybody in the league Baker said. "He's handled left-handed hitters pretty well and Atlanta has several McGriff, David Justice and Ryan Klesko. Allen had good control and got the key outs," Watson struck out mice and walked one.

He helped the Giants stop a nine-game losing streak in Atlanta that stretched back to April 1994. San Francisco has lost 14 of its last 16 to the Braves overall. Chris Hook, Mark Dewey and Doug Creek combined for three innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. J.R. Phillips hit a three-run homer during a four-run first inning that sent the Giants over John Smoltz (0-1).

Matt Williams had two hits, scored two runs and drove in one for the Giants. Smoltz allowed seven runs on seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. "I preach to the guys how important it is to win on getaway day," Baker said "You feel much better traveling down to Florida. It was also nice to catch the ball for a change. We gave Atlanta six extra outs in the first two games.

You absolutely can't do that" Stan Javier singled to start the game, Barry Bonds drew a one-out walk and Williams singled for his first RBI of the season. Phillips followed with his home run to right-center. "It was a pretty fat pitch," Phillips said. "Smoltz settled down after that and looked like the same old tough guy. I'm glad we jumped him early." San Francisco made it 5-0 in the sixth when Williams doubled and Shawon Dunston hit a two-out single.

Bonds and Robby Thompson added RBI singles in the seventh. The Braves scored in the sixth on singles by Jeff Blauser, David Justice and JavyLopezr Giant J.R. Phillips is caught in a rundown by Atlanta's Mark Lemka Ml to Port- City in season opener "ATLANTA (AP Allen Watson's performance against Atlanta Braves would have sccnicu ukc a surprise except lor hoc thing the World Series fc tampions had seen it before. watson won his debut for San Francisco, imnrrwino tn S-ft life. ime against Atlanta with a 7-1 victory Thursday night that gave lie Giants their first win of the season.

1 Watson, acquired in the trade hat sent Royce Clayton to St jouis, is 15-21 against the rest If 'He's always pitched good igainst us," Atlanta's Ryan Kle-ko said. "He was moving the all in and out I was going up here blind." The Braves had 25 runs and 25 lies in beating the Giants in the irst two games of the year. But Watson limited the World Series to one run on five hits in six innings before leaving with a slightly strained left lamstrins. Watson could have gone mother inning or two. but whv lake Giants manager Dusty Baker said.

"It's pretty Sy Mark Aumann "Sports editor ZEBULON Carolina Mud- cats manager Marc Hill knew looming out of spring training Ithat his offense would run. What he didn't expect was that mis pitchers were going to walk. Five Mudcats miners issued 11 walks, leading to. two four run innings as Carolina lost its season opener, 12-4 to Port City in front of 5,937 at Five Bulls CHICAGO (AP) Michael Jordan scored 40 points and Toni Kukoc had a career-high 34 lursday night as the Chicago ulls clinched the best record in Eastern Conference with a 100-92 victory over the Miami teat Dennis Rodman pulled down 12 rebounds in his first home ame after serving a six-game ion for head-butting refe- Ted Bernhardt one of the officials in Thursday's game. Rodman, who returned for Tuesday's win at Miami, (played without incident The Bulls (64-8) need to win six of their final 10 games to peach an NBA-record 70 victories.

They are 37-0 at home, with 44 consecutive regular-season home wins dating back to last year. Medcats Jordan lead and Bryan Farson for four more in the seventh on back-to-back triples by Barger and Mike Hickey, followed by a double to left by Jason Varitek. By that point, only the hardiest Mudcat fans were left in the "We took advantage and swung at good pitches," Port City manager Orlando Gomez said "I'm very impressed with the way we went from first to County Stadium Thursday night Carolina's only real highlight was an inside-the-park home run by Matt Conger, only the second time it's been done at Five County. Trailing 4-2 in the fifth, Conger ripped one to the deepest part of center field He was already at second base when the ball caromed halfway off the fence, and Hill never hestitated in sending him home as Conger slid safely under the relay. I Sampson to stay a SooneiC Kukoc loaded jam in the second.

But suddenly the plate disappeared on him in the fourth. "Wilkins got into a little bit of a lull there for about 11-12 pitches and the walks kissed him real good," Hill said. Two run singles by Charles Gipson and Mike Barger made it 4-0, finishing Wilkins' night The Roosters added three more runs in the sixth off Brett Backlund and then hammered AP photo the ball under the goal 'T 1 aX photo' third (on base hits). ''v Hill's biggest worry came, true. Because of miserable, weather in Florida, pitchers hadn't gotten enough-, work in spring training to look, sharp.

"What scares me is how these guys are going to handle it when' they get to the fourth and fifth innings," Hill said. "It's tough' coming through the order, the second time." paper. "That signal is positive for OU, for our team and the individuals on that team." Duncan, who has been in con stant contact with Sampson regarding die Wolfpack job, told the World that as far as he-knew, no formal offer had been made, but "based on what Kelvin was saying and what he. knew about the job, he was a very serious candidate." i i i i i. 'i Although Sampson did not ac- tively seek the N.C.

State job, he said he wasn't surprised when he was contacted by Wolfpack ath- letic director Todd Turner in the days following Les Robinson's resignation on March 22. "As soon as I saw that Les had resigned, I had a feeling I mighty be hearing from Sampson said told the Fayette- ville Observer-Times. "I was born at night, but I wasn't born yesterday." "We were able to get hits one behind the other when we had guys on base," Jamesville coach Jerry Ange said. "Other than that we didn't kill the ball a lot but we hit when we had other guys on base." The four run third inning was sparked with five hits from Bui- let bats. While the four-run sixth, had more to do with Waf1 rior struggles.

The big hit in the third came' from Joe Ruffin who singled to right driving in two runs. Jamesville pitcher Phil Ange held North Edgecombe in check most of the game not allowing the Warriors many scoring opportunities. "Phil is a senior and has been doing an outstanding job for us for three years," Ange said Phile Ange has all the respect of Warrior coach Raymond Cobb. "Their pitcher, Phil Ange, is probably the best in the crarO frencc," Cobb said AP "I spent all night swinging for the fences," Conger admitted. "I guess that's one way to do it" 'When he was coming around second, he looked like he was running out of gas a little bit and slipped," the manager said.

"I felt he had it In a close game, I might have thrown up the stop sign." Mudcat starter Marc Wilkins looked fine for the first three innings, working out of a bases- Michael Jordan looks for Marcus Camby Wooden award winner The two chatted before the presentation because Camby was seated next to Wooden. Camby said the Wooden Award, now in its 20th year, was special to him not only because it is named after "a legend but because it focuses not only on athletics but also focuses on scholastics." 1 ill Rocky Mount rolls over Beddingfield Camby wins Wooden Award TULSA, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma basketball coach Kelvin Sampson will stay with the Sooners and give up the possibility of returning to his home state to coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference, according to a published report Sampson told a small gathering at his home Thursday night in Norman that "of course I'm staying" rather than leaving to become coach at North Carolina State, the Tulsa World reported today. The small rally at Sampson's house was originally intended to show support and hopefully influence him to stay, but it turned into a celebration, newspaper said Sampson scheduled a news conference today at Oklahoma. "By virtue of the fact that Kelvin scheduled a press conference in Norman, it sends a signal," OU athletic director Donnie Duncan told the news Prep roundup Mount up 10-0 after four.

At the same time, Jeremiah Parvin was cruising through the Beddingfield lineup. He scattered three hits and fanned three in four innings of work. Kenny Wilson pitched a scoreless fifth inning to close out the Bruins. Jamesville 8, North Edgecombe 2 LEGGETT It was a great day for baseball Thursday for a change. It was the first time that Jamesville had been on the field in two weeks but it didn't have any effect The Bullets used two, four-run innings, to take an 8-2 win from North Edgecombe (2-5, 2-4 Tobbaco Belt).

Jamesville (3-0, 3-0) was able to put together its rallies with good offense. to win Tim Hardaway and Walt Williams 'scored 20 points apiece for Miami, which fell into a tie with Charlotte for the conference's final playoff spot The Bulls can help the Heat by winning Friday in Charlotte. Both the Heat and Hornets have nine games remaining. Kukoc scored 18 points in the third quarter, when Chicago out-scored the Heat 34-25 to go ahead 79-73. A reserve averaging 11.6 points in his first 60 games, he's scoring 19.1 per game as a starter the last 11 games.

While the third quarter belonged to Kukoc, Jordan dominated the fourth, scoring the Bulls' first 10 points and finishing with 14 in the period Jordan, who scored at least 40 points for die eighth time The Associated Press and Nais-mith player of the year awards. Asked how many college player of the year awards he has won this year, Camby thought for a moment, smiled and said, "All that I'm aware of. I think I'm on my awards tour now." Out of 26,125 points cast for 17 players in the balloting by sportscasters and sports writers nationwide, Camby received 4,271 points, followed by Connecticut's Ray Allen with 3,617. Rounding out the top five were Tun Duncan of Wake Forest 3328; Allen Iverson of Georgetown, and Kerry Kittles of Villanoya, 2,011. Wooden, who coached UCLA to 10 NCAA titles in a 12-year span, presented the award to Camby.

The 85-year-old retired coach said "And the winner is and paused and puckishly looked up and down each side of the dais at the four finalists, then finally said, "Marcus Camby." LOS ANGELES AP) Edu- ation major Marcus Camay sn't sure whether'he will return br his senior year at Massa chusetts or go into the NBA What he is certain about is that le wants to complete his degree ind, eventually, be a high school jrincipaL "I like working with kids, helping kids and teaching hem, Camby saia inursaay ifter receiving the John R. Wooden Award as the9 college player of the year. "I worked feith kids at a middle scnooi, ana kow at a high school "But they all want to tauc kbout basketball" Their student instructor, a krw-l 1 iiminr center at Massa- Ichusetts, can speak with some authority, since he has monopolized the 1996 college player of the year awards. Camby added tne woooen iAward to his list that already includes, among many others, From staff reports Perhaps Beddingfield should have paid more attention to the warning signs. The Bruins were hammered 10-0 in five innings by Rocky Mount Thursday in a game postponed by rain earlier in the week and then delayed 45 minutes because the Beddingfield bus broke down.

It wouldn't get any better for the Bruins, as the Gryphons jumped all over starter Bradley Neal for two runs in the first on consecutive fielder's choices fol-. lowing a Doug Roberson double. Rocky Mount made it 3-0 when Corey Jenkins walked with the bases loaded And the Gryphons put the game away in the third scoring four runs, the key blow a two-run single to left by David Ange. A Ben Barkley sacrifice fly and Eric Johnson's two run triple to left-center put Rocky.