The Billings Gazette from Billings, Montana • 15

The Billings Gazette Saturday. July 13. 1985 ystaoos takefh il whcalf they givefh i 3k By DAVE TRIMMER Of Tbe Gazette Staff What the Mustangs giveth, the Mustangs taketh away. Billings, which gave up seven unearned runs to fall behind Butte B-2, rallied to defeat the Copper Kings 9-8 Friday night at Cobb Field on Don Wakamatsu's no-out bases-loaded single in the 11th inning. Rick Campbell started the winning rally by ripping a 1-0 pitch from Bubba Brevell into the left-centerfield gap for a leadoff double.

Steve Davis was then intentionally walked and when Jackson Smith followed with a bunt, Brevell slipped after he fielded the ball to load the bases. Wakamatsu then drilled a 1-0 pitch into right to cap a wild game. The victory, before 5,147 fans at Cobb Field, gave the Mustangs a final 5-2 season record against Butte. Great Falls visits Billings for a three-game series beginning Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Four Butte pitchers walked 11 Mustangs, had four balks, hit two batters and threw two wild pitches.

Of the eight Copper King runs, six of the players who scored reached base by walks and the other two by errors. The Mustangs' ninth was even more wild than the 11th. C.J. Jones led off by blasting a double off the left- field wall, which brought on Brevell to replace Jim Goldman. After Campbell grounded out, Davis struck out but the third pitch he swung at was in the dirt and he reached first on the wild pitch while Jones went to third.

Then, with a 2-0 count on pinch hitter Mike Ramsey, Brevell balked, scoring Jones. Butte manager Hal Dyer was ejected for his arguement of the call Davis went to second on the balk and third on Ramsey's fly out before Wakamatsu was intentionally walked. However, Steve Kennelley grounded out to the pitcher. Jones and Campbell opened the eighth with walks off John Weatherly and moved up a base on Gary Curtis' ground out after Davis had popped out Rich Sapienza then delievered a two-run single to right Kennelley doubled and Chuck Donahue hit an opposite-field double to left-center for two more runs. Goldman replaced Weatherly and Marty Brown singled in Donahue for the fifth run of the inning to make it 8-7.

All of that wasted a good performance by Butte starter Steve Gossett, who went seven innings, allowing just three hits. Mustang starter Mike Smith went five innings, giving up one run and five hits, but he walked two batters to start the sixth and was replaced by Tim Watkins. Watkins walked two Copper Kings to open the seventh when Tom Summers entered the game. 'V 4 1 Gazette photo by Bob Zellar A Billings Mustang base runner gets caught off first base during Friday's game. At 74, Ecker just keeps plugging clay targets Sports Reporter I Patricia jn "yi Greenleaf Great Falls Tribune.

Ecker carefully pointed out that he wasnt the oldest participant in the state tournament. That honor belongs to Claire Boyer of Casper, Wyoming. The youngest shooter is Nick Clawson of Missoula who began shooting trap competitively four years ago at the age of eight Ecker explained that the targets come in a variety of colors. The orange ones used at the state meet contrasted well with the green and brown hillside. The worst background Ecker has shot against was Hayden Lake, Idaho, where black targets were lost in the black of the water.

The sport hasn't changed much in the past 40 years, except the cpst, according to Ecker. "It's practically the same. But most of the people I started shooting with are dead." Ecker purchased a life membership in the ATA for $25 several years ago. The cost now has inflated to $150. a certain number of traps to be allotted registered targets by the Montana Trapshooting Association.

After having some trouble with his hip and back, Ecker began shooting from a chair two months ago in Reno. "I wore out. I'm getting old," he admitted. The lower position has changed his perspective of the targets somewhat But he can rest more easily while waiting for his 100 targets in each of the day's three events. He uses an Auto 5 Browning shotgun and loads his own shells to save money.

Ecker enjoys trapshooting because he gets to meet people from all over the world. He said it's the people he has meet and the fun he has had that have kept him active in the sport Each event he competes in allows him to shoot with with different people. He participates in a "postal shoot" in the spring where scores are sent in from around the state to the Arnold Ecker will turn 74 years old in August and he doesn't let age get in the way of his trapshooting. The retired farmer from Coffee Creek, Montana, has been travelling to trapshoots since the end of World War II. He's taken aim at more than 114,550 registered targets in the past 40 years.

Ecker carefully lists the scores for all of the meets he enters on a card from the Amateur Trap-shooting Association. "I have competed in every state shoot since I started shooting," he said. "I've been to the Grand (Grand American in Vandalia, Ohio) eight times." In 1966, he captured the North American Class clay targets championship. The chart on which he registers scores reminded him of several milestones. "I shot my first 100 (consecutive targets) in Billings." He also recorded his 75,000 and 100,000 in the Magic City.

His trapshooting travels have taken him to nearly every trap club in Montana. "I havent shot at Hardin yet 1 They just started." In addition he has competed in major cities such as Las Vegas, Reno, Seattle and Spokane. Ecker started shooting trap with a few friends in the 1940's. "I always shot a shotgun," he said. Coffee Creek doesnt have a real trap club because a group has to have Lopez likes her chances after 2nd round of 70 Just another trophy s.

It SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (AP) Nancy Lopez, who has never won a U.S. Women's Open, likes her chances this time around. Lopez had problems with her driver Friday, but consistent putting allowed her to grab a one-stroke lead after two rounds in the Open at the Baltusrol Golf Club. Lopez shot her second straight 2-under-par 70 for a 140 total for a one-stroke lead over Vicki Alvarez and Janet Coles, who both shot 3-under-par 69s and are tied for second at 141 on the par-72, course.

"My driver was still giving me trouble," said Lopez, "but my putter has been faithful to me and that's what's kept me in there This is the best chance I've ever had at winning the Open." Lopez used her putter to register birdies on the first, fourth, 12th and 16th holes. But her most spectacular shot of the day come on the par-3, seventh, when she blasted a seven iron out of the trap on the right of the green and into the cup. "I just blasted the ball," said came right down on the pin and went straight into the hole. Two shots behind the leader was Kathy Baker, who shared the first-round lead with Lopez and 1982 Open winner Janet Anderson. Baker had a second-round 72 that included three birdies and three bogeys.

Anderson, who has not won since her Open victory, had a 73 and was tied with Sally Little at 1-under-par 143. Besty King, Sherri Turner and 1980 Open winner Amy Alcott were at even par 144. King had a 73, while Al-cott and Turner had 72s. Both Coles and Alvarez made their charges on the back nine, both scoring three birdies. Coles, who has won twice on the LPGA, the last time in 1983, birdied Nos.

12, 13, 15. She did not have a bogey during the round. Alvarez, seeking her first tournament victory, birdied Nos. 14, 16, 18. She had four birdies and one bogey.

Jan Stephenson, the 1983 Open champion who had an opening day 71, had second-round 74 and was tied at 145 along with NCAA champion Danielle Ammaccapane and Cathy Marino. Patty Sheehan, fourth on the LPGA money list this year, was at 146. Also two-time Open winner Donna Cap-onl was at 148; Pat Bradley and Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth were at 149 and Alice Miller, who has set an 6V I By KURT IVERSON Dallas Times Herald HOUSTON -Nolan Ryan hardly needs another ball for his mantelpiece. With five no-hitters and strikeout milestones that could fill a shopping cart, the 38-year-old all-time strikeout leader is placing more importance on victories than on how far he raises his career strikeout record. Thursday night at the Astrodome, Ryan became the first pitcher in history to record 4,000 career strikeouts.

He stowed the ball, which had sent the Mets' Danny Heep down swinging, and tipped his hat to a five-minute standing ovation. But, as he was quick to point out, he was the first to throw 3,999, 3,998 and the first to throw 3,509 strikeouts to beat Walter Johnson's 55-year-old record in 1983. "Four thousand is an accomplishment, but it's just another plateau I've reached," Ryan said. "They're still not as valuable as the victories. It's just a number, the same as getting the record of 383 strikeouts in a season (with the California Angels in 1973).

It shows you still have your good stuff and that you have the durability to pitch a lot of innings." Ryan ended the game with 11 strikeouts for a total of 4,004, and he extended his career record of 10-strikeout games to 158. He yielded to reliever Jeff Calhoun in the eighth inning with the score 3-3, so he didn't get the decision. The Astros' Bill Doran singled home Dickie Thon in the bottom of the 12th to give the Astros a 43 victory that ended a three-hour, 44-minute marathon and snapped a nine-game Met winning streak. "I was disappointed after my last outing, and I really wanted to do it at home said Rvan. a TT.j Auocloted Press Nancy Lopez held a one-shot advantage.

LPGA record this year for earnings, was at 150 along with two-time champion JoAnne Carner. Auocloted Press Nolan Ryan said he wanted the win, not the record. Mota looking for combination lifetime resident of Alvln, south of Jj Houston. "This was my last start New York, he looked more like the wild-armed rookie who broke into the major leagues with the Mets in 1968. He walked the bases full in the third inning and he threw two wild pitches in the first two innings.

One hit plate umpire Dave Pallone in the groin and caused a 15-minute game delay, and another put Mets at second and third with no outs in the second inning. Ryan, though, regained his composure and took control when he had to. As soon as his wild pitch put runners In scoring position in the second inning, Ryan fanned Rafael Santana and Sid Fernandez to set up a groundout by Len Dykstra that ended the Inning. After he recorded strikeout No. 4,000 against Heep for the first out in the sixth inning, Ryan finished New York off with consecutive strikeouts of Santana and Fernandez again.

The 4,000 strikeout mark is within reasonable reach of one active pitcher. Steve Carlton, who leap-frogged with Ryan last year for the all-time strikeout lead, is 92 away. But the 40-year-old Phillies lefthander has been on the disabled list with a shoulder injury and may be fading in the race to end up on the top of the list Kraft Deiore tne AU-star wean ana aner that we're on the road, so this was it if I was going to make it at Mi my suspension and it seems to work on a dry track and not so well on a wet track." Belaro was on the dry side last week and Mota explained that it created a follow-the-leader situation and he was in front. "The horsepower cars were having some problems, everyone had problems. I was shutting down in the comers and blasting down the straightaway.

I was playing with the throttle. If you have to much horsepower, you spin out "It's been so long, I almost forgot how to grab the flag." The success Jumped Mota into fourth in the late model standings with 210. Eddie Bargar continues to lead with 601 points. Defending champion Buzz Johnson trimmed some off Bar-gar's lead with wins in his heat race and the trophy dash. Johnson is 48 points back with 553.

Kelly Hample has earned 730 points in the limited stock class. Pat Miner is second with 598. Racing Saturday at Belaro begins at 8 p.m. The current point standings: UftftaU I) topi Ml km Una SS. lacai Wuf I4.

km DMllO.hidLinkidi.MWH. IB tak IJO. ttnkoH. 0 bni. 111.

Owk ttorMi II. tack (Mgpk. Onem. SI; MM Iran, dim. II loby lne, ln My Ihnvh fcn IM.

tint, kVGml 1M. Dm Ink II) VMl (torn I Com Hmh II. tm tank, fenanfe In kkki Hkw IV hm hfff IMP Uarnka, ii, Imty Oiwmlki Mt trail l)k Hmb Uny In I. Jesse Mota has had some unexpected work this week to get ready for the late model stock races at Be-laro Speedway Saturday. The former point champ won the main last week, his first such victory In a couple seasons, but finished the race with a broken push rod.

"I just got the parts flown in today (Friday) and took this afternoon off from woric. It's just one of those things that happen. I should be ready for Saturday," Mota said. Mota won the point championship at Belaro in 1981 and has not been able to find the right combination consistantly. "I have been changing nhome.

What made it even better was that we could go on and win Tefsr4lt" OMpia wm Even with 11 strikeouts, Ryan display the control that made his 100 mDh ball famous. At times against.