The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 57

6-MarionAlachua THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Monday, July 13, 1992 Love for the game runs rampant in Shireman 1992 Howe Sportsdata International Through Wednesday Down On The Farm COLLEGE PLAYER P08 TEAM CL ORO AVO 0 AB 2B 38 HR RBI SB Florida Brewer, Rod OF Louisville AAA Cardinals 82 286 39 90 14 2 13 65 0 Central Florida Castaldo, Gregg SS Kane County A OricHea .172 12 29 1 5 0 0 0 3 2 Central Florida Collins, Mike 2B Billings Reds .063 8 160 1 0 0 0 1 0 Florida Crabbe, Bruce 2B Syracuse AAA Blue Jays .246 47 128 12 31 3 1 4 13 2 Florida Fernandez, Jose Arkansas AA Cardinals .164 27 61 4 10 3 0 1 8 0 Central Florida Flgga, Mike Ft.Laudrdle A Yankees .180 44 133 5 24 7 0 0 8 0 Florida Linares, Mario Asheville A Astros .287 40 129 16 37 12 0 0 25 0 Central Florida Lynch, Jim 2B Utlca A White Sox .297 11 37 7 11 1 0 0 3 1 Florida Martinez, Eric 1B Burlington A Astros .240 7 25 1 6 1 0 0 1 0 Central Florida Noland.J.D. OF Wichita AA Padres 78 313 48 90 15 6 5 42 30 Florida Perry. Herbert DH Kinston A Indians .253 73 269 41 68 10 0 10 42 8 Florida Polcovich, Kevin SS Augusta A Pirates .182 3 11 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 Florida Rich, Theodore j1B Utica A White Sox .298 18 57 6 17 3 1 1 9 1 COLLEGE PITCHER TEAM CL ORG W-L Era GS SV IP BB SO Florida Burke. John Bend A Rockies 0-0 4.50 1 1 0 2.0 3 0 1 Florida McAndrew, Jamie San Antonio AA Dodgers 0-0 1 8.00 1 0 0 1.0 4 0 1 Florida Prlcher.John Boise A Angels 0-0 2.19 9 0 7 12.1 15 1 20 HOMETOWN PLAYER POS TEAM CL ORG AVG AB 2B 3B HR RBI SB Gainesville Shireman, Jeff 2B Louisville AAA Cardinals .199 66 186 24 37 6 0 0 11 0 Reddick Thomas, Rod OF Princeton Reds .250 15 52 12 13 5 0 2 12 3 HOMETOWN PITCHER TEAM CL ORG W-L Era GS SV IP BB SO Gainesville Janzen, Marty Yankees Yankees 1-1 4.85 3 3 0 13.0 10 4 13 4 4 1 just love to get out there on the The ex-Buchholz player has a desire to remain in baseball, even if he never makes it to the majors. By GREGG DOYEL Tribune Staff Writer GAINESVILLE The brown smear on Jeff Shireman's chest? Dirt, most likely, from a belly-flop into first base.

The red on his knees? Blood, most likely, from the spikes of a sliding runner into second, where Shireman stuck around to turn the double play. The white on his face? Teeth, most definitely, from the smile that sticks to Shireman as he talks about the game he fell in love with at Buchholz High. "I just love to get out there on the field," said Shireman, 26, a second baseman with the Triple-A Louisville Redbirds, the top farm club of the St. Louis Cardinals. "I'll do anything I can out there, come in to pinch hit, play defense as part of a double switch late in the game, anything.

When I'm on the field, I'm happy." "Scrappy," as his teammates call Shireman, wrenches every drop of effort out of his 5-foot-8, 165-pound body. He's not happy unless his uniform is filthy. No grounder looks out of reach, and no double play looks too dangerous to turn. "Jeff does a lot of the little things so well, but they don't show field. I'll do anything I can out there, up in a box score," said John Vuch, St.

Louis' assistant director for player development. "He's not hitting as well as he'd like, or as well as he can, but the organization is really happy with him." Shireman, drafted out of Georgia Southern in 1988 as a short-stop4s developing the reputation of being able to play at second, short or third to compensate for a career battingaverage near .250. He has been a utHjty player since 1990, when he played for St. Petersburg of the Class-A Florida State League. He has pitched, too.

"I didn't do too bad, either," Shireman said. "Only gave up one hit and no runs in one inning. Even got a double play. I mean, the only reason it happened is because we were down something like 11-3 and we had three double-headers coming up. Still, I had fun." As a senior at Buchholz in 1984, Shireman was named to The Florida Times-Union's Southeast Super 9, composed of players from four states.

He earned a scholarship to Georgia Southern in 1985, where he started for four years and was named the Trans America Conference's Player of the Year after hitting .388 with eight home runs as a senior. The Cardinals drafted him in the 23rd round in 1988 and sent him to their rookie-league club in Johnson City where he hit .340. He hasn't approached that come in to pinch hit, play defense as part of a double switch late in the game, anything. When I'm on the field, I'm happy, Jeff Shireman, Louisville Redbirds y- ii "It was the director for player development, telling me to get myself to Louisville in a hurry," Shireman said. "They didn't have to tell me twice." A notoriously fast starter but slow finisher his average hovered near the .290 mark at the '90 and '91 all-star breaks Shireman instead is struggling this season, hitting .204.

Should his average again tail off, his playing career might be nearing its end. "I can see myself in baseball for the next 35 years," Shireman said. "The Cardinals are talking about maybe using me as a player-coach next year. I'd love that. There's so much more to the game than just playing.

I'm not going to stop until I have to, but when that day comes, I'll have to be around baseball. "I couldn't see myself hanging up my cleats. Even if I did, I'd probably go to a Boys Club and volunteer as a coach." average since, but that hasn't stopped St. Louis from promoting Shireman every season. A .250 average at Class-A Springfield (Iowa) in 1989 led to a .255 season at St.

Petersburg in 1990. Last season, he hit .245 for Double-A Little Rock In 1990 and 1991, Shireman began the season as a utility player to make room for the bonus babies. Eventually the bonus babies would struggle, and Shireman Would take over at second or shortstop. This season, a spring training injury to Jose Oquendo on the major-league level led to the promotion of Triple-A second baseman Luis Alicea. That created a space at Louisville for Shireman, who traveled to Little Rock for opening day only to get a phone call 15 minutes after arriving.

Buchholz quarterback to transfer By GREGG DOYEL Tribune Staff Writer GAINESVILLE Buchholz's football team kept its coach but lost its quarterback last week. George Dean is staying. Travis McGriff is leaving. Dean had been one PREP of four finalists for the FOOTBALL Panama City Bay Coun- mmmmhm ty coaching job, which former Arcadia DeSoto coach Jim Scrog-gins took. McGriff, who as a sophomore started every game in Class 5A Buchholz's state semifinalist 1991 season, is transferring to 2A P.K.

Yonge for his final two seasons. He will not have to sit out a year because P.K. Yonge is a University of Florida laboratory school, not considered a public school. McGriff, 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, said P.K. Yonge, coached by former Gator John Clif-.

ford, has a more balanced attack than Buchholz, where he completed 26 of 43-passes for 444 yards and six touchdowns. Buchholz returns all-state tailback Tyrone Baker, who as a junior ran for 2,138 yards. I "With Baker back there, it doesn't make, sense to pass much," McGriff said. "P.K. Yonge will throw the ball more, and that's what I need to prepare for college." McGriff said he contacted Clifford months ago and was not approached by P.K.

Yonge officials, which would have been a violation of the Florida High School Activities Association policy on recruiting. Buchholz Athletic Director Eddie Feely said he won't investigate McGrifrs transfer. "We believe if someone wants to leave, let them leave," Feely said. Two area linemen have signed scholarships with small Southern schools. Buchholz's Stacy Dennis, will play for Division II Wingate (S.C.) College, and East-; side's Farnell Walker, a football and track standout, will attend Clinch Valley (Va.) College, an NAIA school.

Dennis, 5-11 and 280 pounds, was an all-district pick at offensive guard but will play nose guard for Wingate, Dean said. Dennis didn't play defense at Buchholz because of shoulder problems that required surgery after his junior season. The joint is fine now, Dean said. "Stacy has unbelievable quickness for a guy his size," Dean said. "We've timed him at 4.6 seconds for 40 yards, and that's" amazing for a 280-pound lineman.

He has a 31-inch vertical leap, which shows what type of athlete he is. That's good for anyone, not to mention a guy weighing 280. "The coaches at Wingate were telling him he could start right away." Walker, 6-4 and 200 pounds, was a Tarn- pa Tribune All-Area defensive end in football and triple jumper and hurdler in track. Clinch Valley's coaches want him to gain weight, but that could hinder Walker in track, where he wants to be a decathlete. "Farnell's a good athlete, and they can find a place for him anywhere, whatever he weighs," Eastside coach Aaron Carter said.

"He's stronger and quicker than most people realize." Breeders' Cup Day jeopardized with ongoing legislative battle Horse Racing Mike Henry Although the Legislature- deserves blame for the mess, insiders say the track permit holders and greyhound industry lobbyists can't be judged faultless during the prolonged wrangling. Everyone has a hand out for their share of the pie, and the public, it seems, keeps getting the crumbs. Boomie's Girl bred by Walter Burke and owned by Valley View Farm, Turnback The Alarm defeated Easy Now by a length and a quarter. Chris Antley rode the winner and William "Red" Terrill is the trainer. Calder has scheduled a "Pre-Breeders' Cup Day" of sorts with a program worth $1,025,000 in purse money to be run Oct.

17. The card will feature the $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies; the $400,000 In Reality for juvenile boys; the $150,000 Miami Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap for 3-year-olds and up on the grass, and the $75,000 Miami Beach Handicap for 3-year-olds and up. The track is negotiating for national television coverage. Magal, the 5-year-old mare who claims Tampa Bay Downs as her home base, rallied strongly through the stretch Saturday to win the $50,000 Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder by three lengths over Fortune Forty Four. Ruben Hernandei rode the winner, owned by Dolores Tamargo and trained by son Ray Tamargo.

Magal has won 11 of 21 starts and finished out of the money twice. Her time of 1:23 35 was three-fifths of a second off the track record for seven furlongs Jockey Garrett Gomel rode five winners on the card at Arlington (111.) International Saturday, including World Class Splash, winner of the Round Table Maybe it is time for the Legislature, or at least those lawmakers not interested in returning to Tallahassee to bring an end to the pari-mutuel chaos, to take a refresher course on the benefits of horse racing to the economy of Florida. Here goes, with statistics provided by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association: Florida is home to more than 117,000 horse owners, who own in excess of 300,000 horses valued at nearly $600 million. The Florida horse industry creates more than 68,000 jobs and generates a direct and indirect payroll in excess of $1 billion. The industry pays more than $65 million annually in taxes.

The Ocala Marion County area is one of four major thoroughbred centers in the world, along with Lexington, Newmarket in England; and Chantilly in France. Last week, officials of Breeders' Cup Ltd. met with Bill Tabor, the director of pari-mutuel wagering in Florida, and members of Gov. Lawton Chiles' staff to determine if they should continue with plans to hold the ninth Breeders' Cup Day at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 31.

The state's horse and greyhound tracks and jai-alai frontons currently are operating under a court order after pari-mutuel laws expired last month. The order runs out July 31. In a speech in Miami on Wednesday, Chiles said if necessary, he will call a special session of the Legislature to convene as early as July 20. Some lawmakers are aghast, and privately worry about summer vacation plans. The worst-case scenario would have the tracks shut down at the end of July and no legislative accord reached.

The courts could then conceivably rule that racing would continue, unregulated. But under such circumstances, it is doubtful Breeders' Cup officials would just cross their fingers and hope the status quo stays unchanged by Halloween. "We would be negligent if we didn't have a set of contingency plans available," said D.G. Van Clief the executive director of the Breeders' Cup. "But hopefully we won't have to enact them.

"We have emphasized our desire to hold the Breeders' Cup at Gulfstream and also our need to have certain assurances. While they couldn't give us a commitment, they all said they would work toward an equitable end." Breeders' Cup officials want to know what's happening by the end of this month. A shutdown of the tracks also could cause the relocation of the Breeders' Crown harness championship, scheduled Oct. 24 at Pompano Harness Track. Back to the action: Classic Seven continues to confound handicappers.

In April, the 4-year-old gelded Florida-bred son of Classic Trial-Out Classed won the Tropical Park Handicap at odds of 44-1. Saturday, three weeks after a respectable third-place finish in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, Classic Seven defeated Sunny Prince by three-quarters of a length at odds of 38-1 in the 44th Michigan Mile, a $250,000, Grade II event at Detroit. Bred by Mr. and Mrs. J.O.

Berry and owned by Berry and T.M. Cairns, Classic Seven was ridden by Fabio Arguello who started his career at Tampa Bay Downs. Niall O'Callaghan is the trainer. The trifecta, completed by third-place finisher Irish Swap, paid $31,526.80 at the Florida simulcasts. Another Florida-bred, Turnback The Alarm, served notice she is currently the best 3-year-old filly in training by winning the $250,000, Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont (N.Y.) Park Saturday.

A gray daughter of Darn That Alarm- mm Cancer Society golf benefit Friday Follow-Through for Better Golf! 1A In The Area ABOUT The 12 Month PROGRAM 7 i MEMBERSHIP 5-1 HOUR LESSONS S15000 Includes Video Analysis and on couwe Instruction Wlln jonn HUNTINGTON GOLF CLUB 347-1271 MARION OAKS COUNTRY CLUB 347-1271- QUALITY ABOVE ALL! To contribute information tor this report, call Tribune running miter Bill Ward at (813) 823-7732. All area codes 813 unless noted. Wednesday, 7 p.m. Summer Sunset Series No. 3 5k and 3-mile relay at Carillon Complex, Clearwater.

Call 536-8585. Friday, 7 p.m. Sand Key 5k Run at the Sand Key Radisson. Call 879-0317. July 25, 7:45 a.m.

Fairgrounds Fast Track 5k at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa. Call 974-2125. July 26, 7:30 a.m. Bayshore Runners Summer Series 5k and 1-mile runs at Horizon Park, Tampa. Call Millard Shumate, 831-9381.

July 29, 7 p.m. Summer Sunset Series No. 4 5k and 3-mile relay at Carillon Complex, Clearwater. Call 536-8585. July 31, 7 p.m.

Sunset Beach Series No. 4 7-mile and 3-mile runs at Pass-A-Grilie Beach. Call Gary Mac-Math, 867-5117. Aug. 8, 7:15 p.m.

Heat of the Night 5k and 1-mlle runs at the South-gate Theatre, New Port Richey. Call Dean Lofton, 845-5327 (Pasco) or 977-1381 (Hillsborough). Aug. 29, a.m. Hospice of Citrus County second annual Kings Bay Run 5k and 1-mile runs at Kings Bay, Crystal River.

Call Kim Landel, (904) 527-2020 or (904) 344-9653. Sept. 12, 8 a.m. All-Comers Track and Field Meet at Pepln-Rood Stadium, Tampa. Call 238-6451.

Sept. 12, 8 a.m. Warhoop Sprint Cross Country 5k and 1-mlle runs at Lake Seminole Park. Tampa. 535-7634.

Sept. 13, 7:30 a.m. MacDill Fall Classic 5-mlle and 1-mile runs at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa. Call Millard Shumate, 831-9381. Sept 19, 1 a.m.

Suncoast Cross Country Series No. 1 at Taylor Park, Largo. Call Justine Neri, 321-9221, Sept. 19, 8 a.m. Klmberly Run America 8k and 3k runs at the Van Wezel parking lot, Sarasota.

Call 922-7214. A Tribune Staff Report OCALA The second annual Ed KeetonAmerican Cancer Society Charity Golf Classic will be held Friday at the Golden Ocala Golf and County Club. The scramble tournament will begin with registration and lunch at noon. There will be a shot gun start at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $75 a person, which includes green fees, cart rental, lunch and a chance to win a new car.

The first hole in one at the tournament will win a 1992 Honda. The tournament also will have closest to the pin contests on all par 3s. Gift certificates will be awarded to the winning team in each division and the top two teams will receive invitations to the American Cancer Society's State Golf Tournament, held at Sawgrass Aug. 15. For information, call 629-4727.

Boysgirls basketball camp at Forest OCALA A special basketball clinic featuring half-day sessions for boys and girls ages 6-14 will be held at Forest High July 31 and Aug. 1. Sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m.

each day. Cost is $15 each session. The clinic will include personalized instruction on dribbling, shooting, defense, and practice drills. There also will be an evaluation by Forest coach Steve Eberle. Registration for the clinics will be held at Forest on July 25 from 9 a.m.

to noon and on the 26th and 27th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dadskids basketball camp set at UF GAINESVILLE University of Florida basketball coach Lon Kruger and his staff will conduct a basketball weekend camp for fathers and their kids, July 31-Aug. 1. The camp, open to all fathers and children over 6, will involve the teaching of proper techniques and various fatherchild activities. Registration is limited to the first 50 pairs.

Proceeds from the camp will benefit the Gainesville City Youth Basketball Program. For details, ask for extension 4200 by calling 375-4683 or (800) 344-2867. Gator Splash canoe race Saturday HIGH SPRINGS More than $1,000 In prizes will be at stake at the inaugural Gator Splash canoe race on Saturday. The event begins at 10 a.m. at Columbia County Park, at the State Road 27 bridge, about one mile northwest of High Springs.

Racers will splash along the twisting Santa Fe River, through Poe Springs, Blue Springs and Ginny Springs. The race concludes at Gilchrist County Park, at the State Road 47 bridge, south of Fort White. Camping and other accommodations are available. Entry fee is $20 a boat, with proceeds benefiting Gilchrist Jaycees Inc. Youth Benefit Fund.

Registration is between 7:30 and 9 a.m. the day of the race, with participants under 18 required to have a parent present. For details, call 472-3869, 463-1971 or 935-2992, or write Gilchrist Jaycees, P.O. Box 636, Bell, 32619. A.S.A.

tournaments slated in Pasco NEW PORT RICHEY Three Florida A.S.A. slow-pitch softball tournaments are scheduled for Pasco County, open to all A.S.A. sanctioned teams. The men's Class-C Regional Qualifier will be held July 25-26 at John S. Burk Memorial Park, 1760 State Road 52 in Dade City.

The winner will advance to the regional tournament in Jacksonville Aug. 7-9. The men's Class-D State Qualifier will be held July 18-19 at Fivay Recreation Complex, 14333 Hicks Road in Hudson. The winner advances to the state tournament in Fort Myers Aug. 7-9.

The major coed state open tournament will be held July 31-Aug. 2 at the W.H. "Jack" Mitchell Jr. Park (4825 Little Road) In New Port Richey. The winner advances to the national tournament in Dothan, Sept.

18-20. The entry fee for each tournament is $125 a team. For information, call Patrick Horn at (813) 847-8185. Girl Scouts set benefit golf tourney WESLEY CHAPEL The Suncoast Girl Scouts Council's second annual Girl Scouts Benefit Golf Tournament will be held Aug. 14 at Saddlebrook Resort.

Entry fee Is $100. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m. A luncheon and awards presentation will follow. For information or advance registration, call (800) 881-4475. ROOFING, INC.

All Work Warrantood Call Now For A Free Estimate Serving Central Florida Since 1974 P.O. Box 730, Dunnellon, Fl. 32630 Ocala 904-629-3448 Crystal River 904-795-5599 Dunnellon 904-489-4274 Fax 904-489-3466 CCC015610 Licensed, Bonded Insured 1.