The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 86

6-Heartland THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Saturday, June 22, 1991 MOTORSPORTS H.A. Branham The Game Planner V- A quick look at the week ahead in area sports, compiled by the Tribune staff. Today OOLF Polk County Amateur Championship: Tee timet it 7:30 am. at Winter Havan a Baytree Ooll Club. POLK COUNTY SPORTS FESTIVAL Keith, Ken keep Nosbisch name atop standings TAMPA Keith Nosbisch, who for awhile had become the "other Nosbisch," has reclaimed the family's Late Model leadership.

Older brother Ken says the situation Is temporary. Since the mid-1980s, the Nosbischs have dominated the Late Model division at East Bay Race way. Keith won the point championship in 1985 and '86. Ken won in 1987-88 and last year. This year, with Ken's appearances at the third-mile clay track limited since he quit driving for former car owner Steve Crump, Keith has become the Nosbisch to watch.

He leads Late Model drivers with seven feature wins. Due to East Bay's NAS-CAR-style point system that rewards consistency, he trails Terry DeCaire and Bobby Alexander in the standings. That will change if the wins continue. "I've got to get out there and give Keith some competition," Ken Nosbisch said. "I've got my own car now, and have been trying to do some traveling, run at out-of-town shows.

My only win came a couple of weeks ago when I borrowed my dad's Jack car." Ken Nosbisch is planning on racing at East Bay more often, if for no other reason to re-establish family bragging rights. Flag Football: at HuntFountain Sports Complex, Lakeland, 8 a.m. SkeetTrap ahootlng: at Polk County Skeet 4 Trap Club. Winter Haven. 9:30 a.m.

FSL Osceola at Lakeland (DH), Vero Beach at Winter Haven, Baseball City at Charlotte. Sunday OOLF --I- Polk County Amateur Championship: Shotgun start at 8 a m. at Winter Haven Baytree Goll Club. POLK COUNTY SPORTS FESTIVAL Flag Football: at HuntFountain Sports Complex, Lakeland. 8 a m.

FSL Lakeland at Osceola. Vero Beach at Winter Haven, Baseball City at Charlotte. Tribune photograph by STEVE PEREZ Hard work has made Leotis McNeil's confidence soar for today's competition. Monday McNeil pumped up for trials POLK COUNTY SPORTS FESTIVAL Table tennis: et Haines City Community Center, i 30 p.m. FSL Osceola at Baseball City.

Winter Haven at Lakeland. Tuesday POLK COUNTY SPORTS FESTIVAL Table tennis: at Haines City Community Center, 6 30 p.m. Pit stops: Brandon's Donnie Tanner is having his best season since 1981, when he won East Bay's Late Model title, having won three Late Model features, second-best to Keith Nosbisch. The week of July 4 is traditionally a big one for auto racing in Florida, with the keynote event the Pepsi 400 formerly the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway, the midpoint of the Winston Cup stock car season. This year's 400 is on July 6, with an 11 a.m.

start, an hour later than past years. Short tracks in the state like to get involved, too. The newest facility in Florida, Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda, has a Wednesday night show scheduled on July 3, with a Sprint Car race called the Firecracker 50 headlining. Winner's purse is $2,000, and drivers get $200 for making the main event, which should ensure a good field. East Bay and the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association Mid-Summer Non-Winged Sprint Car Classic on June 29 and July 6 will be a good test of the division's appeal.

It will also be a throwback to the old days, before aerodynamic wings made sprint racing "more car and less driver." Daytona RaceFest is part of the celebration of July 4 and the Pepsi 400. It will held on July 3 at Riverfront Park in Daytona Beach, with at least 16 Winston Cup drivers signing FSL McNeil Sr. said. "You are only as good as your last performance." Over the past few weeks, McNeil has enlisted the support and advice of Sebring track coach Steve VanDam. The two have spent hours going over every aspect of each practice jump, working on sprints and form, and learning how to keep the mental edge.

"A lot of Leotis' success is from within himself," VanDam said. "He pushes from within himself, and he's really come a long way." McNeil's progress goes even beyond athletics. After receiving a full football scholarship to Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, McNeil had to sit out his freshman year as a Proposition 48 casualty. But after one year of college, he has a 3.3 grade-point average. Bethune-Cookman football coach Larry Little said he expects McNeil to challenge for a starting position in the defensive backfield.

By HOLLY CAIN Tribune Staff Writer SEBRING Leotis McNeil's father said today's AAU Junior Olympic pre-trials is a personal mission for his son, not just another track meet. "I think he has some unfinished business with his past," Leotis McNeil Sr. said. "I'm pleased and surprised with him competing in this. I have convinced myself he is a late bloomer, and mentally he is showing me something." McNeil, a 1990 Sebring graduate, will compete in the 100-meter dash, triple jump and long jump in Sarasota.

McNeil finished third in the triple jump at the Golden South track meet last spring with a personal best 48 feet, l34 inches. During his senior year at Sebring, McNeil set five Heartland area and regional records in the long and triple jumps. He was third at the state meet in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump. 44 1 think he has some unfinished business with his past. Leotis McNeil Sr.

father of Leotis McNeil "iiiiMMMBieMBBejjjji "Golden South was where I gained my confidence," McNeil said. And today's meet is all about confidence for McNeil, who overcame insecurities about his abilities. He ran track for Sebring as a freshman but was discouraged and sat out his sophomore year. McNeil said his attitude has changed for the better since his return to track and field three years ago. He has dedicated himself to being in the best shape he can, reading technique manuals and most recently practicing until the sun goes down.

"I am his toughest critic, and I've taught him to never be satisfied," Leotis Osceola at Baseball City. Winter Haven at Lakeland. Wednesday POLK COUNTY SPORTS FESTIVAL Table tennla: at Haines City Community Center, 6 30 p.m. FSL Osceola et Baseball City. Lakeland at Winter Haven.

Thursday Running Bill Ward POLK COUNTY SPORTS FESTIVAL Table tennis: at Haines City Community Center, 6 30 pm. 1991 Howe SportsData THROUGH WEDNESDAY'S GAMES FSL Baseball City at Osceola. Lakeland at Winter Haven. Friday POLK COUNTY SPORTS FESTIVAL Men basketball: at Simpson Park Community Center in Lakeland COLLEGE PLAYER POS TEAM CL ORG AVG 0 AB 2B 3B HR RBI SB PolkCC ADare. Bill 18 Dunedm A Blue Jays .130 53 161 12 21 9 1 1 10 0 Florida Southern Argueliss.

Fernand Jacksnville AA Mariners .190 24 63 6 12 1 0 0 5 1 Florida Southern Chasey. Mark 1B Birmingham AA White Sox 256 53 168 25 43 9 3 4 24 1 Florida Southern Ebel. Dino 2B San Antonio AA Dodgers .278 10 18 3 5 2 0 0 1 0 Florida Southern Frick. Tod Sou Oregon A Athletics 1 000 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 Florida Southern Leach. Chris OF Lynchourg A Red Sox 214 46 126 20 27 5 0 3 18 6 COLLEGE PITCHER TEAM CL ORG W-L Era GS SV IP BB SO Florida Southern Drell.

Tom Lakeland A Tigers 2-4 3 25 16 9 0 61.0 58 19 28 Florida Southern Gilmore. Terry Las Vegas AAA Padres 1-7 7 24 20 10 0 64 2 117 15 45 PolkCC Gordon, Tony Baseball Cy A Royals 0-0 00 10 0 0 92 4 12 12 Florida Southern Hudek, John Birmingham AA White Sox 1-3 2 51 26 0 7 32.1 29 15 23 Florida Southern Logan, Joe Wsl Pirn Bert A Expos 4-6 1 51 12 12 0 83,1 54 28 54 Florida Southern Mcgalfigan, Andy Omaha AAA Royals 0-2 4 37 22 4 5 47.1 56 20 28 PolkCC Mills. Alan Columbus AAA Yankees 1-5 3 92 24 2 8 39.0 34 24 27 Florida Southern Mitchelson. Mark Winter Havn A Red Sox 4-7 4 21 14 13 0 62.0 70 26 48 HOMETOWN PLAYER POS TEAM CL ORG AVG AB 2B 3B HR RBI SB Lakeland, Fl Clark, Phil OF Toledo AAA Tigers 247 53 186 25 46 8 3 3 27 5 Avon Park. Fl Pough.

Clyde OF Columbus A Indians 326 46 175 36 57 21 0 5 27 6 Avon Park. Fl Smith. Tom OF Appleton A Royals .280 50 164 16 46 5 0 1 23 3 HOMETOWN PITCHER TEAM CL ORG W-L Era GS SV IP BB SO Plant City Carter. Larry El Paso AA Brewers 0-0 9 00 1 1 0 3 0 5 1 1 Auburndale Davis. Freddie New Britain AA Red Sox 0-2 7 08 20 0 1 34.1 49 15 19 Lakeland Dolson.

Andrew Medicne Hat Blue Jays 0-0 1 80 1 0 0 5 0 2 2 2 Fort Meade Mosley. Tony Lynchburg A Red Sox 2-4 4 43 17 6 0 44 2 47 18 38 Sebring White. Gabe Sumter A Expos 3-4 3 36 13 13 0 80.1 77 25 72 Saturday, June 29 POLK COUNTY SPORTS FESTIVAL Men basketball: at Simpson Park Community Center in Lakeland FSL FSL Alt-Star game at Vero Beach Former Olympic star to lead 480-mile event into Bay area July 12 ST. PETERSBURG Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter, credited with starting the United States running boom of the 1970s, is headed to Tampa Bay as part of the third annual Alamo Torch Run. Starting at the Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami on July 5 and finishing at Manatee High School in Bradenton on July 12, the run will cover 480 miles in 14 Florida counties and act as the kickoff event for this year's Sunshine State Games being held in Manatee County.

Shorter and a group of distance runners alternately will lead the run, and Shorter will also conduct public running clinics along the route. Shorter made his impact on running in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, when he upset a talented field to win the gold medal in the marathon. Since then, he is the only American man to have won a gold medal in the marathon. Shorter's stunning performance in 1972 inspired thousands of people in the United States, and thanks to that Initial push, the sport continues to grow today. Shorter is 43, still running competitively on the Masters (over 40) level and actively Involved in promoting the sport through personal appearances and clinics.

Shorter's tentative schedule for the Torch Run: July 5 Miami to Lake Worth via U.S. July 6 Lake Worth to Fort Pierce via U.S. July 8 Melbourne to Mims via U.S. July 9 Mims to Daytona Beach via U.S. 1, then to DeLand via U.S.

92; July 10 DeLand to Orlando via U.S. 92, then to Kissimmee via U.S. 17 and 92; July 11 Kissimmee to Tampa via U.S. 92; July 12 Tampa (throughout the city) to Bradenton via U.S. 41; July 12 to Manatee High School for Sunshine State Games Torch Lighting ceremonies, 7:30 p.m.

Details of Shorter's planned clinics and stops in the Tampa Bay area will be published when made available. Ex-Mocs ready for major step Party time: The Orlando Magic opens up the Orlando Arena for its annual NBA Draft Party, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and Nabisco is sponsoring a number of Oreo cookie contests while fans await the selection. By JOEY KNIGHT Tribune Staff Writer LAKELAND After 3'2 years in the farm system, former Florida Southern pitcher John Hudek said he thinks his skills are now ripe for big-league harvest. Hudek, a 1984 graduate of Plant High, is in his second full season with Double-A Birmingham of the Southern League.

He said he thinks he's capable of going from his current team to the Chicago White Sox. His minor-league career "has gone a little slower than what I thought," Hudek said. Hudek is one of two former Moccasins playing for Birmingham. The other, Mark Chasey, is in his first full season with the club. Both were members of the Mocs' 1988 NCAA Division II national championship team.

Hudek, a 6-foot-l, 200-pound June 19: Two days after the Boston Celtics made him the second overall pick of the NBA draft, Maryland basketball star Len Bias died of what was first believed to be a heart attack. It was later learned Bias died of cocaine asphyxiation. June 22: Bo Jackson spurned the Bucs and signed with the Kansas City Royals. Jackson said his decision had more to do with choosing baseball and one of his favorite teams than putting down football and the Bucs. the sacrifices (long bus rides and small salaries) Involved with playing minor-league ball when they signed.

Although adapting well to life on the farm, they've still have to deal with frustration. "Probably the most frustrating thing for me is seeing people who get drafted after you pass you by and move on up," Hudek said. "In your eyes, they don't look that Impressive because you work hard at a certain level to Improve yourself, and then they pass you by." Chasey said minor-league life was worse than he expected at first because he was forced to deal with different personalities in the system. "You always hear about the bus rides and the money, but I didn't have a problem with that at all," he said. "It was the nature of the people I was around.

There was no one person or situation in particular; it was Just a combination of things. But I'm much happier now." Neither player has set a timetable for making the major leagues. "I don't remember setting a specific day back when I first started," Chasey said. "Back then, to me, it seemed so far away. But now I think I can see the end of the Down On The Farm agent draft.

"I started the season pretty slow, but I'm feeling pretty strong right now. "I feel like I'm getting more consistent every day. I'm not so much concerned about my statistics as I am about my performance day in and day out." Chasey, a 6-5, 200-pound first baseman, is batting .261 with four home runs and 24 RBI. He said his average has fluctuated recently because he's been moved around in the field (first base, outfield and designated hitter) and in the batting order (from fourth to sixth). "I started out well, but lately it's been hot and cold the last couple of weeks," he said.

"It's been hard to remain consistent over the last three or four weeks because my role keeps changing." A career .254 hitter in the Sox's system, Chasey also said he thinks it's possible he could go from Birmingham to Chicago. "How probable that Is, I don't know," said Chasey, a sixth-round selection in 1988. "But they have taken a lot of people off this team over the last few years and taken them to the big leagues." Both said they were aware of 7 Hitting the road: Several local runners will be leaving the state this weekend to compete In some of the nation's biggest road races. Saturday in Duluth, 34-year-old Mary Matthews of Clearwater will run her second marathon In the Grandma's Marathon. Matthews' first was a 3-hour, 31-mlnute effort at this year's Blue Angels Marathon in Pensacola, which qualified her for next year's Boston Marathon.

On Sunday, 31-year-old Scott Dietsch of Clearwater will race In the San Francisco Marathon. Dietsch's personal best at that distance is 3:14, run at the Jacksonville Marathon. His first 26-miler was at last year's New York City Marathon, where he finished 3:37. Also on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Cup winner at this year's Gaspa-rllla Distance Classic 15k, Chrla Bloor of Seminole, will run in the Cascade Run Off 15k in Portland, Ore. The race Is considered one of the toughest in the country because of its steep rise In elevation during the first 4.5 miles and the dramatic drop In elevation during the second half of the race.

Bloor's most recent success was a third-place finish at the Ottawa Marathon, where he went 2:25 under warm conditions. right-hander, is 1-3 with five saves and a 2.83 ERA for the Barons, who, through Wednesday, were 38-22 and led the Western Division by six Meet the new boss: Replacing Fred Rozelle as commissioner of the Florida High School Activities Association is a tall order, but Ronald Davis has had a cram course the past year learning from Rozelle. Coming Sunday, the Tribune talks with Davis about his new position and what plans he has in store. games with 10 left in the season's first half. Hudek's overall minor-league record Is 16-15 with a 3.06 ERA.

"I'm doing pretty good," said Hudek, who was selected by the Sox in the 10th round of the 1988 free-.