Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 56

if I I) A A I' i I. I I () IS I' 0 I II V. I' BUS 51) i 5 Expect fewer homers, and more Jims i -i vs. New park will offer excitement all its own has struck out '10 in 11 innings covering two starts. Anderson.

20, who reportedly has sprouted to ti- i.i I screen, there will be the three run rally featuring a couple of line drives. They might fall in front of an outfielder playing deeper than normal to guard all the exits, with an up-the gap double or triple mixed in. It also will help offensive production when the infield grass is shortened by about Vit inches in the next few weeks. "This ballpark is going to end up playing very fair," general manager Randy Smith said. "I think what we will see here is pure baseball where everything matters hitting the cutoff man, sacrifice bunts, defense.

It will be baseball the wav it was meant to be played." I'm amused by those who predict that fans will be turned off by Comerica's deep dimensions because they come to see home runs. Excuse me, but the Tigers out-homered everyone else in the 19'JOs, and I don't remember crowds breaking down the gates to get into Tiger Stadium. There will be more triples at Comerica; I happen to think that's the most exciting play in baseball, and if fewer home runs is the trade-off, I'll take it. "My opinion is that a home run should be something special," Smith said. "Home run hitters like Juan Gonzalez, Tony Clark and Dean Palmer will still hit them here, but the little guy who isn't supposed to hit homers won't get MM INK lushes to judgment with nioro speed my colleiues in the media.

So it was no surprise that so many have heen quick to predict that Comei ica Park with its distant fences and hifih infield grass will produce a lot of dull, low-scoring games. Tigers assistant general manager Steve Lubratich begs to differ. "I think there will be more runs scored at Comerica Park this season than there were at Tiger Stadium last season," he said. He might be right. Whereas Tiger Stadium was a haven for home run hitters, it didn't flatter batting averages.

No stadium gave up the long ball like Tiger Stadium, but in the past 'three seasons, the batting average 'at the stadium was the lowest in the American League by more than 10 points. As a result, Tiger Stadium was right in the middle of the pack in on-site runs scored. The runs will come at Comerica, Lubratich said, but in a different manner. Instead of a three-run pop-fly homer that might have caught the Tiger Stadium overhang in rightfield or maybe just -dropped over the lower-deck fcet-llVi, could be in the major leagues by mid-season. Kxpos outfielder Vladimir Guerrero might be baseball's best-player-in-waiting, but who would know? The Kxpos have no TV contract, and their only radio broadcasts are in French.

If not for "SportsCenter" highlights, Guerrero anil the Expos would be little more than a rumor. It's a nice touch on the part of the Dodgers to start Orel Her-shiser in tonight's first game at refurbished Dodger Stadium. Hershiser, 41, helped pitch the Dodgers to a World Series championship in in his first stint with the team. just asking: Do you think John Rocker will be able to get in a little sight-seeing when the Braves visit New York? After that record 57-homer Friday last week, don't you suspect baseballs might have a heartbeat? When you hear that Felix Rodriguez has a $100,000 MVP Award clause in his contract, isn't your first question: Who is Felix Rodriguez? (He's a reliever for the Giants.) Who would be your choice for that mystery statue at Comerica? Any arguments if it turned out to be Willie Horton? Crmfncf GENE GUIDI at 313-222-2378. Try Lctsst Tickets ss low as --4 4 fc4 III! Call 313 WJH A'vtj, Crviunr-t Sj, hi Fox epulis; S-jtufi! iy J.LvV AM 10'), Sunil.iy ta.

iipor; VVJil Pitching: TiM.iy I HC J. tkow ikiiO 7 71 LHAjvS. RH pY.inRnrO iy Rri Kret start) vs. undPciiitxl; Sunday RH Brian Mo.h'fii (1-1. 3 00) vs.

the diciipit's lu might haw at Tiger Stadium. "1 think as it warms up, you're going to set1 more offense, just like you did at Tiger Stadium after April. Let's wait until May and at, least, before making any judgments on how this park is going to play." Give Comerica Park a chance to develop its personality. You might find you like it. here AND THERE: Remember Ryan Anderson, the Dearborn Divine Child star left-hander the Tigers and 17 other teams passed on in the draft? Anderson, pitching for the Mariners' Triple-A farm team in Tacoma, has allowed onlv three hits and O'b GOLF Q3) Hit! PPICEPT.

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Some i i restrictions apply, bee store tor details. Taylor SteelHead K. SuperSfeel Plus Woods Woods (. X-14 xs Irons SuperSreel Irons'" Cleveland' A ADAMS. Irons Scott Koerber had a three-run homer and six RBIs and winning pitcher Mike Kasiborski hit a solo shot tor North (5-0).

Gui Bryant hit a two-run homer tor DePorres (1 -3). Grosse Pointe South 15, St. Clair Shores South Lake 5: Adam Novak hit a grand slam and totaled five RBIs; Al Guastella also homered for South. Howell 2, Novl 1: Jason Jacobs pitched a four-hitter for Howell. Livonia Stevenson 3, Livonia Churchill 2: Dan Wilson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Tim Lawson went 2-for-3 for Stevenson (3-0).

Ricky Strain went 3-tor-5 for Churchill (1-2). Madison Heights Lamphere 12, Hazel Park 1: Lenny Constance struck out 12 and gave up three hits for Lamphere (4-2). Madison Heights Madison 7, Southfield-Lath-rup 5: Kellen Fry had two hits and two RBIs for Madison (4-1). John Griggs had two hits and two RBIs for Lathrup (3-2). Melvindale 4, Dearborn Heights Annapolis 3: Anthony Zoarski pitched six scoreless innings, and Paul Doutsas doubled in Chad Wiesman with the winning run in the seventh for Melvindale (4-1).

Northvitle 7, Walled Lake Central 5: Tim Edick had four RBIs, and Northvitle won it with four in the seventh. Qrtonville Brandon 10, Ferndale 0: Morgan Sheppard went 2-for-3 with a homer and five RBIs, and Bryan Wyzgoski allowed three hits with five strikeouts for Brandon (5-0). Port Huron 1, Warren Cousino 0 (eight innings): Jeremy Taylor smacked a pinch-hit homer. Riverview Richard 1-9, Madison Heights Bishop Foley 0-4: Jon Ochmanek pitched a one-hitter and struck out nine, and todd Kalmbalk scored the only run in Game 1. Kalmbalk had two RBIs and two runs in the second game.

Royal Oak Dondero 7, Watertord Kettering 6: Erie Seidl had two hits and pitched two innings of relief for the victory for Dondero (1 -4). Josh Pennartz homered tor Kettering (0-5). Royal Oak Kimball 12, Birmingham Groves 0: Ryan Drews pitched a one-hitter for Kimball. Southgate Anderson 9, Taylor Truman 1: Bobby Garza pitched a four-hitter and Tommy Garza and Tim Tokarz had two hits apiece for Anderson (2-0), St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 12, Mt.

Clemens 3: Frank Valenti scattered four hits, struck out 11 and went 2-for-3 for Lake Shore (2-1). Ben Gravlin went 2-for-3 for Mt. Clemens (1 -4). Sterling Heights Stevenson 5, Romeo 0: Barry Meek pitched a four-hitter and Anthony Lalama went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI for Stevenson (3-1). Trenton 1 1 Allen Park 6: Chuck Yacuone hit a three-run homer and scored three runs for Trenton.

Troy 4, Rochester Adams 1: Matt Lawson pitched a three-hitter, striking out eight for Troy (3-0), Adams is 4-1. Troy Athens 8, Watertord Mott 2: Mark Abro had a homer, double and single, and Rob Ferns allowed three hits and fanned six for Athens (4-1). Wayne Memorial 11, Redford Union 10: Matt Mackiewicz was the winning pitcher in relief and got the winning RBI for Wayne (1-3). Ryan Gassord went 3-for-3 for Union (2-1). Reprinted from Thursday's late Course Air Max Air Tour Classic Shoes See store for other NEW Nike shoes starting atl79.95 Nike cart bags offer the latest and features for the ultimate performance on the course.

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Thomas Villanova exhibited a flair for the dramatic Wednesday in sweeping a doubleheader from Orchard Lake St. Mary's. The Ontario school won the second game, 7-6, with three runs in the bottom of the fifth and three in the sixth, erasing a 6-1 deficit. Villanova won the opener, 3-2, as Dan Marshall singled in the tying run in the sixth and then scored the winner on an error. John Picco pitched a one-hitter a double in the first inning More baseball Auburn Hills Avondale 10, Bloomfield Hills Lahser 0: Matt Batkowiak went 3-tor-4 and Jason Purkey fanned seven in the shutout for Avondale (3-2).

Birmingham Seaholm 14, Clawson 4: Mike Billingsley hit a single, double, and two-run homer, and Matt Sterling had four RBIs for Seaholm (3-3). Brian Trail hit a two-run homer Clawson (2-2). Dearborn 8, Woodhaven 6: Robb Mitter had three hits and four RBIs tor Dearborn. Dearborn Fordson 15, River Rouge 3: Tony Parris went 2-for-4 and fanned 11 tor Fordson Dearborn St. Alphonsus 10-13, Hamtramck St.

Florian 0-1: Benet Driesen pitched a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts in Game 1 and Steve Slayton struck out nine and hit a three-run homer in the second game for St. Alphonsus. Dearborn Heights Crestwood 17, Highland Park 0: Gary Van Allen allowed one hit and fanned nine for Crestwood. Detroit Southwestern 4, Detroit Mumford 3: Jason Ross hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, scoring Walleed Samad (2-for-4, two stolen bases) with the winning run as Southwestern defeated the defending PSt champion, Detroit Western 6, Detroit Renaissance 5: Alfonso Martinez drove In two runs with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the seventh for Western, Jeff UFavors struck out nine for Renaissance, Easlpotnte East Detroit 5, Port Huron Northern 2: Keith Astrauckas pitched a one-hitter, striking out eight for East Detroit (3-3). Northern is 1-1.

Farmington Hills Harrison 9, Westtand Glenn 3: Lou Hadley had three hits and three stolen bases for Harrison (2-0). Glenn is 0-2. Farmington Hills Mercy 5-1, Clarkston 0-8: Erin Howard recorded the shutout, and Erin Carson and Alex Dudo had three hits each in Game 1. Fraser 8, Roseville 7: Joe Kotowski went 2-for-2 with one RBI, and Eric Diener went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Fraser (2-1). Grosse Pointe North 13, Detroit DePorres 3: 1 1 299 Apr.

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