Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 71

i a a Chicago Tribune, Monday, June 6, 1977 Section 6 Behind 'Itchy' pitching Salukis stalking baseball crown i tfvp 1 r- Rick Talley (3kJuJ WHEN YOU COME from the anonymous world of college baseball and perform in a far-away place like Carbondale you can only get there via burro, Amtrak, or pickemup truck, perhaps it's necessary to have a team named Salukis and a coach named Itchy to attract attention. i But it also helps to have pitching and defense, and that's why Southern Illinois University once again bidding for the National Collegiate Athletic Association baseball championship. Coach Richard "Itchy" Jones' Salukis, runners-up (o the University of Southern California in 1971 and third in 1974, return this weekend to the College World Series in Omaha, and they've got a shot. Arizona State, that great baseball factory of the desert, is top-ranked in the field of eight with Big 10 champion Minnesota rated second, just ahead of SIU and South Carolina. Others in the field are Los Angeles State surprise eliminator of USC, 6-5 and 7-6, Temple SIU's opening foe Friday, Baylor, and Clem-con.

THE SALUKIS, 38-10, reached Omaha by winning the lefty, Barrington, is 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA. Jim Kessler, Evansville. 111., is unbeaten in seven decisions. Kevin Waldrop, Herrin, 111., is 8-2 with a 1.86 ERA. Ricky Keaton, Cincinnati, is a sophomore with a 7-1 record who threw a one-hitter at Tulsa during the Valley tournament.

Rob Knezevich, Council Bluffs, has a 4-1 record and a 1.24 ERA, -Robinson, though; has been the saver. He doesn't have overwhelming speed, but uses his slider like Sutter uses his version of the forkball and is a fierce competitor. Dewey's hrnther. Craiff. nlavs first base and hits "I leave that decision up to the boy." Jones, however, believes a lot of high school baseball players make a mistake by signing a pro contract just because they're drafted, without considering college.

"EVEN A COUPLE of years of college baseball can make so much difference," said the 39-year-old Jones, who has been named to coach the United States team in the World Games in November in Nicaragua. "Joe Wallis was a good example," Jones said. "He was drafted out of high school but didn't sign. He came here and sat on the bench his freshman year. He played behind Dwyer.

But he developed and had more to offer when he did sign." What's the status of college baseball? "The caliber of play has improved tremendously during the eight years I've been coach," said Jones, who was born in Herrin and who played baseball and basketball at SIU. "With the reduction of the minor leagues, you find more kids going to college." Will the day ever come when the pros work out a feeder system with college baseball? "It would be difficult," Jones said, "mainly because colleges don't want the pros coming onto campus and running the show." THE SIU coach, though, does think the NCAA could improve the situation by allowing coaches to work parttime during the summer with major-league clubs, either as minor-league instructors, scouts, or coaches. Certainly, it would help any major-league club to be affiliated-with a program like the one Jones has developed. He ranks as one of the top collegiate coaches, and he'll have to be if the Salukis expect to work their way through the rough schedule in Omaha. "If we win our first game against Temple, we'll play Arizona State Sunday," Jones said.

"Then we'll find out a few things pretty quickly. Arizona State lost in the finals last year to Arizona, and they're under a lot of pressure to win it all this year." The week-long, double-elimination series in Omaha concludes June 17. If things go according to Itchy's plan-, Robinson will have at least three or four saves by then. And if he does, the Salukis still will be alive. Valley tournament in lour games and then knocking ill If r.

on lexas asm imj, UKianoma 17-3J, ana Micnigan cleanup six home runs, 46 runs batted In, and 9-0 in the Midwest Regional fab r. second baseman Neil Fiala from St. Louis is on a 9- -II In those seven games, SIU's version of Bruce Sutter picked up five saves. His name is Dewey Robinson. The Chicago senior Sullivan High School has an earned run average of 2.69 the team ERA is an excellent 2.89 and 10 saves.

"Dewey was a starter and doing fine," said Jones, the winningest baseball coach in SIU history with a 304-80 mark .7921 in eight seasons. "But we were losing games In late innings, and I finally went to Dewey at midseason and asked him to switch. What a difference it's The Salukis also have bad an excellent defense .972 to back Robinson and the SIU platoon of starters. Jones has used five starters in the last seven games. "WE'VE TAKEN better hitting teams into Omaha in the past and lost," Jones said.

"But this is the best for-14 hitting streak. The .316 hitter also has stolen 21 bases in 24 attempts. Shortstop Jerry De Simone, sophomore from Arlington Heights, is the defensive star. THE SALUKIS run. They have stolen 86 bases in 108 attempts, but their catcher, Steve Steib, has held opponents to only 22 stolen bases in 48 games.

Biggest gun in the Saluki lineup is George Vukovich of Arlington Heights. The junior center fielder is hitting .377, has stolen 30 bases, and has six homers. "He'll be drafted high," Jones said about the 6-foot, 195-pound, left-handed hitter. "He plays like Joe W.al-lis." Wallis played under Jones at SIU. So did Jim Dwyer, Duane Kuiper, and others.

There were seven SIU products In the major leagues last season. "I don't try to stop them from signing," Jones said. 1 Mm idirwogi pitching and defense we've ever had." A brief look at those pitchers. Rob Simond, the only Gamble's homers worth watching Continued from page one Montgomery, where his only experience was In the sandlots. "Our high school didn't have a team," he remembers.

"But I always loved baseball, ever since I was 5 years old and heard the Yankees-Dodgers World Series on the radio. "When I was 11 or 12 I started playing second base on my older brother's team. We played in what they called the Sunday Sandlot League." ALABAMA IS a fertile field for black major leaguers. It is the home of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Billy Williams, and Lee and Carlos May to name a few. So there were always plenty of scouts around.

One of them was the Cubs, Buck O'Neil, who signed Oscar right off the sandlot at the age of 18. Within a year, he was in the majors. But he was not the player O'Neil had signed. "I had 3.5 or 3.6 speed getting to first base," Gamble says, "so they had me going to the opposite field to use my speed. Buck O'Neil used to call me, and he asked me once why I wasn't hitting with power.

I told him, and he said he could see their point." So could Oscar to a point. But, after three years of playing part-time for the Phillies, he was traded to Cleveland and "in winter ball I decided to go back to swinging hard. I changed my stance and moved closer to the plate." Now he hovers over home like a vulture lurking over a piece of meat. And in his first four years in the American League he averaged 18 homers, although seldom playing against left handers. AP Wirepnoloi Blazermania 1 The Pacific Northwest won its first major professional sports title ever Sunday, but Portland Trail Blazer fans looked like veterans when it came to such techniques as cutting down the nets (top).

The main reason for the championship is Trail Blazer center Bill Walton, who, least once, blocked Philadelphia's incomparable Julius Erving in Dr. J's element mid-air. Walton lifts Blazers to top M0NROE7 HEAVY DUTY NATIONWIOK I.IMITKD WARRANTY Munrn-Maticswill lust in normal uv as long as yuu own cap, or Firestone will yplace ihrm on proof o( pure ha st" from Kiri'sionr churning ontv for installation Lp wlffl I I available 4-PLY POLYESTER CORD1 fense on his back during the six-game final series, took the defeat gracefully. "The lesson to be learned from all this is to stick together when things are tough," Dr. observed.

"Some people wanted us to fall on our faces because we have some big salaries notably his $3-million contract and expressed our own personalities. "They have the last laugh now, because we lost. But we didn't fall apart and we'll be back." LUCAS LEAPED to McGinnis' defense after playing tough defense on him throughout the series. "Understand this, George is a great player," said the Trail Blazers' power forward, reclining on a rubbing table with the arm of Portland's Mayor Neil Goldschmidt draped around his neck. "Doc has been getting the ball this series and they weren't looking for George, so his confidence was down.

I expect him to be back next year roaring." Center Caldwell Jones of the 76ers made his own attempt Sunday to ease Walton's sloughing pressure on Erving and McGinnis. He stayed out at the top of the key to thwart what Philadelphia regarded as an illegal zone defense by the Trail Blazers. "In the previous games, I've been running up under the basket, so Walton dropped back in a semi-zone," Jones said. "We didn't practice it. I just figured we had nothing to lose and it worked until I got in foul trouble.

"What zone?" Walton-responded. "They could always pass to the man I was guarding if I left him alone. You don't always have to guard your own man." Continued from page one dice. "I'm an optimist, so I wanted a three-point play to win, with Doc lErv-ing i or McGinnis taking a shot from inside." Instead, McGinnis was jilted by Lady Luck once again when his 15-footer failed to get over the rim. Walton speared the rebound, tipping out to Davis at midcourt while bedlam accompanied the final buzzer.

Davis didn't break stride, dashing to the home dressing room with the ball, a football player friend blocking for him. The 76ers disappeared behind a locked elubhouse door, where Erving and McGinnis made emotional speeches before the press was admitted. McGinnis apologized for not producing in the playoffs, while Dr. told the Sixers there was too much potential on the team to let dis-'sension tear it apart. Cameras recorded the picture of mass jubilation in Portland's dressing room, but nothing could convey the thin line between winning and losing better the scene in the 76ers bathhouse.

McGinnis spoke softly about the personnel victory of finding his scoring touch in Uie mid3t of defeat. "I DON'T think people realized how much I hurt inside," the 6-8 forward responded when asked why his anger didn't show. "I was emotional, but I only showed it to the referees. "It's ironic, but when I was playing bad, our guards were playing good. I wish they could have more involved in the offense today." Erving, who tallied 182 points in a valiant effort to carry Philadelphia's of- DELUXE CHAMPION GAMBLE MAY be the best defensive outfielder the Sox have, but his is used almost exclusively as a designated hitter.

"They already had their outfield set when I came here," he shrugs. "I may lose a few leg hits being a designated hitter because your legs don't get loose when you sit on the bench all the time. On the other hand, you stay stronger through the season." That's probably why Ralph Garr, who gets a lot of leg hits, is being played regularly in left field. Gamble's just glad to be playing at all, and the Sox ought io be glad, too. Oscar's still only 27 and maybe one year soon he'll even get a chance to play every day all day.

Cubs late show flop Continued from page one "I don't know that you can pinpoint a reason why that happens. It's not nessarily a lack of concentration. Sometimes you have to give the batter crdit." THE CUBS, to their credit, did not let their 5 o'clock shadows blunt their visions of a comeback. In the eighth, they opened a two-run rally with a single off Kent Tekulve by Biittner. Bobby Murcer walked and Morales singled to make it 5-3.

Gossage, whose serves are difficult enough to discern even when there is no fog, appeared here to surrender a run-scoring fly by Manny Trillo. But that was all for the Cubs this day, a day which Biittner will remember. In the first inning, he was the third batter. With a 1-2 count, the second rain delay was called. Time of day: 2:15 p.

Three Rivers standard time. When he next strode plateward on the damp center-field carpet, it was 4:51 p.m., and the count was still 1-2. He swung and missed at Jones' next pitch, ending one of the longest at-bats in history. as low as A78-13 Blackwall Plus $1.72 F.E.T. and old tire: 'A" ize 5-rili dritign.

81m Blukwill WhiUw.ll P.E.T. A78-13 Tl9.00 820.00 $1.72 B78-13 21.00 23.00 1.82 C78-14 22.00 24.00 2.01 D78-14 23.00 25.00 2.09 E78-14 26.00 2.23 F78-14 26.00 29.00 2.37 G78-14 27.00 30.00 2.53 H78-14 30.00 32.00 2.73 G78-15 29.00 31.00 2.59 H78-15 31.00 33.00 2.79 L78-15 I 33.00 35.00 3.09 All prices plus tax and old tire. IP Secure Reggie slugs Sox Storm gains split CHICAGO-NORTH Mil Balinont 6000 N. Clwk St. 1(10 IMng Pk (OSS Nofltiwml Hoy.

3301 N. HaiMm tttl Lincoln Avt. 89-436 46S-28O0 4724S00 774-7333 73S-6333 53S-O7O0 S4S0 Wan FuKMon ELMWOOD PARK 7329 W. Grand 456 5502 9 HILLSIDE 520 N. Mannhatm 544-4950 9 LA ORANGE 5600 S.

LaOranga 352-7505 LOMBARD 222 E. Rooatvalt 629-2600 9 V0RKT0WN PLAZA Of loon SKop. Ctr. 4954460 9 LYONS 3900 HaMam 442-6100 NAPERV1LLE 1117 E. Ogoan 357-1010 OAK PARK 226 laka 366-6241 ST.

CHARLES 1645 E. Mam SI. 584-3050 SOUTHERN SUBURBS B-SJO0 6461 N. Lincoln 267.1131 675-1700 CHICAGO-WEST 4400 W. Mackton 626-1616 CHICAGO-SOUTH MIDLOTHIAN 14740 C'aolotd 369-1600 OAK FOREST 5434 W.

150m St 667-5300 9 OAK LAWN 95th A Canlral 422-1370 10327 8 Ocato 425-2997 PALO HILlt 11111 Soutrw.aH Hoy. 974-3050 EOLITH HOLLAND 16201 SUM 331-7440 SUMMIT 6200 Atctw 456-1355 ROCKFORD AREA Court JaKaiaon 966-0761 9 1616 S. Akona 396-6220 BELVIDERE 520 Logan 547-5436 FREEPORT 601 8 Galana St. 232-4191 INDIANA AREA GARY 6223 Matran Rd. Rt.

936-1566 421 VV Slh Ava. 665-6493 3350 Grant St 667-9522 HIGHLANO, IND. 6341 Indianapoki Blvd 636-7630 HAMMOND 469 Fayattt 219-933-0171 MUNSTER 720 Fian lm Pkwv, 972-90OS WISCONSIN AREA KENOSHA 101150th SI 654-2166 RACINE 1122 Mam 637-9501' I ELGIN 3M OundM Ax. 742-1 170 EVANSTOM 936 ChKtgo Avo 475-S400 HIGHLAND PARK 20S0'FlrM St 433-3130 HOFFMAN ESTATES 1050 N. Route Rd 662-0020 UBERTYVILLE 902 S.

MlloauhM 367-6710 9 MORTON QROVC 440 Wluk)n Rd 9M-6181 6 MT. RR01PECT 20 N. ElmhurM Rd 2S3-M80 NORRI0GE 4sl Hatlom 457-1650 6 PALATINE 1600 Rand Hoad 358 3447 9 6K0KIE 6601 Sok Blvd. 677-9550 6 WAUKEOAN 1901 Waahmglon 336-0693 WILMETTE 331 IMdan Avt. 251-1234 WESTERN SUBURBS ADOWON LakaSI IRIa 53 49S-1767 ELLWOOO 447 N.

Mannhtlm Rd 544-5330 AURORA 126 8. Broadoay 197-4217 BERWYN 6425 W. Carmak Rd 464.5330 BLOOMINQOALE 153 W. Laka SI. 529-6111 9 OOWNERI OROVE MSW Oqrttn 652 tnO CINCINNATI Benny Holt and Buddy Hcines hit home runs to power the Chicago Storm past the Cincinnati Suds 11-10 in the second game of a double-header in American Professional Slo-Pitch Softball League play.

The Suds won the first game 8-2. In the second game, Haines, the Storm's second baseman, also contributed five runs batted in while pitcher Ron Fundenburg picked up the victory. Former Cub Gene Hiser, who apparently has discovered his softball hitting was 4-for-5 on the afternoon. The Storm is 3-4. i Duane Bobick's brother killed in auto accident BOWLUS, Minn.

API Professional boxer Rodney Boblck was killed Sunday evening in a one-car smash-up near his hometown of Bowlus, in northern Minnesota. The State Patrol said Boblck, 25, was alone in his car when it left Minnesota 238, hit a power pole and rolled. Bobick'died about 30 minutes after the accident, a patrol spokesman said. Rodney Bobick's brother, Duane, is a highly-rated heavyweight who won the bronze medal in the 1972 Olympics. Duane Boblck recently was knocked out by contender Ken Norton.

the first time. They will look at ex-Cub Geoff Zahn, another left-handed pitcher, in the opener, and what Manager Bob Lemon needs most is to shake Jorge Orta out of his slump. ORTA IS hitting only .200 against southpaws, and by getting only one sin-pie in the Yankee series, he helped turn Richie Zisk into a reluctant leadoff hitter. Zisk, continuing to hit hard and often, led off nine times in the three-game scries, and Lemon said he was contemplating moving his home run king up a notch into the number three spot at Minnesota. "It might give him a couple of extra times up," he said.

Orta customarily has batted ahead of Richie but may be moved down in the order to get him back in one of the hot streaks that have marked his career. Dave Hamilton performed a genuine service for the Sox bullpen. He pitched his longest stint of the season, although he did give up two of the Yankees' homers, including the one that sent Dent's diehard fan club Into ecstacy. He yielded only four hits during his 6 1-3 innings. Continued from page one iitcs earlier in another dressing room.

"It's juiced up," declared the Yankee manager, who was worried about his next series in Texas. "I'M DEFINITELY strapped for pitching," he said, explaining that Gil Patterson, who was knocked out in the second inning while the Sox were scor- 1 ing their first two runs, has a pulled muscle. Reliever Dick Tidrow pitched in his third game in a row and, according to Martin, "ran out of gas." The victory went to Tidrow for four and one-third I innings of toil, and Lylo, also overworked five of six games! got a break from shaky Sox base running to bag his I Uth save. "I've got to get nine Innings out of JCatfish Hunter tomorrow night in Tex-' as," Martin went on. "And maybe we'll have to bring up Ken Clay from Syra- cuse." So much for Martin's troubles.

The Six face Minnesota Monday night for S61-62S2 427-1747 243-0296 225-6223 266-1227 647-3100 Ml -2900 369-6700 476-7777 734-7222 621-1050 6 5555 S. Ckwo 1550 S. Wtfxin 1301 S. wtum 4so e. asm st.

H1I E. 71 St. 4400 S. WMiom 761S S. Cmro 1549 W.

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106th SI. BRIOOEVIEW 6000 63id St. 594-6692 CHICAGO HEIGHT! 1414 Haklad SI. 756-6300 9 Wtllam Ava. Rt 30 461-4070 9 EVERGREEN PARK 9624 Wailam 425-3390 779-6962 101 Kadlia 425-0991 nARVEV 235 VY.

154lh SI. 339-4655 9 JOLIET 301 N. Chicago 727-4655 KANKAKEE 392 E. Maicham 939 3525 LA (ALLS 1t Gooding 223-3660 LOCK PORT 711 8 Slala SI. 6.16-5(17 NORTHERN SUBURBS ARLINGTON HEIGHTS N.W.

Hoy. Euclid 259-2244 CRYSTAL LAKE 137 N. MM 456-4341 0EERFIELO 120 N. Wtukrgan Rd. 945 9550 9 DEI PIAINE6 600 W.

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