Sunday Gazette-Mail from Charleston, West Virginia • Page 41

Reds in Bee-lieve It or Not Contest By Norm Clarke CINCINNATI (AP) It beelonged Ripley's bee-lieve it or not. There was 33-year-old Fred Norman, fighting off divebombing bees, while pitching a four-hit, 11-0 victory against the San Francisco Giants in his first siart of the season. APWIrephoto Two Fans Try to Clear Bees From Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium Walter Howard (Left) and Floyd Hastings Lure Swarm into Box CHARLIES Harlow's Over-the-Shoulder Catch Preserves Wings' Win Sw major lea fur on It seems Norman has this thing about bees--and Riverfront Stadium, where complete games are a "rarity. "The last time I was stung by a bee I threw a one-hitter. But that was 20,000 years ago," said the stubby left-hander, who extended his lifetime record at Riverfront to 25-6.

Norman tamed the Giants after a swarm of honey bees, estimated at terrorized the San Francisco dugout, causing a 35-minute delay of the nationally televised game. Shutout Sups String Norman's shutout snapped a string of 36 consecutive games in which Cincinnati starters had failed to finish. The Reds set a major league, record last year by going 45 games without a pitcher going the distance. "That wasn't really on my mind," said Norman, who admits to a phobia for bee stings. "I was concerned about getting stung because I get bad welts," he said.

"Second base umpire Doug Harvey came up to me and said, 'son--and I'm only 33 years old-don't you worry about those 1 said, 'Oh yah, you tell them Norman said with a laugh. Norman credited his steady pitching to a new delivery and the signal calling of catcher Johnny Bench. "Larry Shepard, our pitching coach, has been on me.for two years to develop it. He wants everything shortened up into a more standup position so I can see hooe plate better," he said. In the end, all Norman had to worry about was his stamina.

"My arm felt weary in the sixth," he admitted. "I had to place my fast ball because I wasn't that quick." Joe Morgan and George Foster supplied the power with three-run homers as the Reds romped to their fifth victory in seven starts. Cincinnati struck with a vengeance after suffering a humiliating 14-7 drubbing from the Giants Friday night, a beating which Giants pitcher Jim Barr said served as a warning to the Reds. Morgan scoffed at Barr's boldness. "They can forget that talk of beating us.

We've got too much artillery and everything else," said the All-Star second baseman. Su Chnrl gima ID -April 18, 1976 By Mjke Whlteford In their two consecutive defeats in the young season, the Charlies, at least, have consistency. In the last half of the ninth with the tying run on first Saturday night at Watt Powell Park, Dave Auguatine stroked a deep drive into, right center, a potential double, that was caught over-the-shoulder by Larry Harlow and the Charlies were beaten, 8-7, by Rochester. It wai reminiscent of Friday night's opener, In which Miguel Dilone'i potential game-winning hit wai caught deep In left center by Harlow. "We almost scored as many runs as they did," said Charlies' manager Tim Murtaugh.

''Augie (Augustine), hit the daylights out of that ball." i The Charlies held a 5-2 lead through five innings but the Red Wings tied it with two in the sixth and one in the seventh. They "then-added three in the eighth and another in the ninth on Mitchell Page's opposite- field home run, the first of the season for the Charlies. ODELL JONES, WHO pitched sparingly in the Pittsburgh Pirate spring camp and only three innings for the Charlies in Flor- started and worked five good innings, but was roughed up in the sixth. Jim Sadowski, who similarly was given little chance to pitch in the spring, re- Jones and allowed three runs, two of them earned, in one-and-two-thirds in- 'nings" and took the defeat. "I probably left Odell In there one more Inning than I should have," Murtaugb noted.

For the'Red Wings, whose first four hits were doubles, designated hitter Taylor Duncan drove in five runs with a double in the first, a double in the sixth, a sacrifice fly in the seventh and a two-run single in the eighth. The Charlies' most productive man was second baseman Mike Edwards, who col- lected three hits and two RBIs and nearly had a third RBI in the eighth inning but his vicious line drive was speared by Wing shortstop Kiko Garcia. CHARLIE CHATTER: The Charlies engage in their first daytime game this aft- ernoon when they meet the Wings at 2 p.m. at Walt Powell Park. It's Easter Seal day with 25 cents from every ticket going to the Easter Seal campaign Drawing the pitching assignment for this occasion will be 64 right-hander Tim Jones, who had a Crystal Water Is Hollywood Victor INGLEWOOD, Calif: (AP) California-bred Crystal Water, with jockey Bill Shoemaker rerording his sixth victory in the event, captured the $240,250 Hollywood Derby Saturday, while the much-publicized An Act and Telly's Pop finished out of the money to the dismay of their backers in the crowd estimated at 45,500.

Crystal Water, the second choice in the betting, got under the wire two le Ins in front of Life's Hope, with Double Discount another two lengths back, with a longshot, McKenzie Bridge fourth. Wohlhuter Sets Record Rgchttler Horlow, cf Dauer, 2b Kelly. Ib Duncan, dh Matchick, 3b Hutto, Tevlin, rl Garcia, ss McGrew, It Totals ab 4 3 5 5 4 3 4 2 34 1 1 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 8 It 0 1 3 3 1 0 1 2 0 11 91 0 1 0 5 1 0 0 Chirle! Dilone, It Reynolds, 5s Edwards, 2b Macha, 3b Page, Ib Armas, dh Thomas, rt Nicosia, Moreno, pr Augustine, Totals them some tricks LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Rick Wohlhuter, the running insurance man from Chicago, left Mike Boit a the rest of his competition behind in the final 70 yards to win the Glenn Cunningham run in record time Saturday at the Kansas Relays. The 27-year-old Wohlhuter, running third most of the race, burst past Jeff Myers of Iowa State and Boit of Eastern New Mexico on the final turn and was only mildly challenged by fellow Chicagoan Mike Slack before breaking the tape in 3 minutes, 38.6 seconds.

The effort snapped the previous meet record of 3:42.8, set in 1968 by former Kansas great Jim Ryun. Wohlhuter, who owns world records of 1:44.1 in the half mile and 2:13.9 in the has a personal best in the 1,500 of 3:36.4. 16-6 record at Shreveport last year. He will be opposed by Randy Stein, also a righthander, who was 8-2 last year at Rochester Eric Scott, who plays the part of Ben Walton in the TV show, "The Walton FAmily" was on hand Saturday night, showing his flock of red hair and shaking hands with everybody. He'll sign autographs before the game today as his part of the Easter Seal event.

Eric is from Los Angeles and had fun chatting with Charlies who make their home in L.A.-- Mike Edwards, Mitchell Page and Odell Tom Hilgendorf, the new Charlie relief pitcher, recalled that he played ball at Watt Powell Park back in 1961, when the St. Louis Cardinals optioned him here for "a short time." He's 34 now and asked the Philadelphia Phillies for his release rather that be farmed out to Oklahoma City. "I had an option left, and was lucky that way," he said. That's how he landed with the Pittsburgh Byard, in his first few days as assistant to g.m. Carl Steinfeldt, has done a bang-up job.

It's all new to the personable radio man but he's catching on quickly Omar Moreno, with a sprained right wrist, was out of the lineup but Tony Armas, still bothered with a sore elbow, worked as a designated hitter for the Mike Fibre, vet Red Wing first sacker, has been battling the flu bug, but sticking in there. Good man to have on the team is Mike Bob Feller's clinic for the Little Leaguers was a tremendous success. Old Bob has a way with the kids and he taught ib It bl 2 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 3 0 5 1 4 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 7 12 7 -APWirepholo Rachislir 100 012 130-4 Charleston 200 030 011-7 E-Harlow, Malchick, Macha, Babcock, DP-Rochester 2. LOB-Rochester 8, Charleston 11. 2 BH-Duncan 2, Kelly 2, Malchick, Garcia, Thomas.

HR-Psge. 5B- Dilone, Reynolds, Dauer, Page. SF--McGrew, Hullo, Duncan. Freeman Babcock (W 1-0) Jones Sadowski Mlnshall Pitching Summary 2 bb 2 5 2 1 HBP-Reynolds by Freeman. U--Lanny Harris and Steve Fields.

BASEBALL standings Giants Manager Bill Rigney Looks At Swarm of Bees Bees Invade Dugout Before Game At Cincinnati Honey Bees Force 35-Minute Delay NATIONAL LEAGUE Saturday's Gamts New York 17, Pittsburgh 1 -Cincinnati 11. San Francisco 0 Philadelphia 18, Chicago 16, 10 innings St. Louis 'Montreal 3, 10 innings Houston 5, San Diego 4 Lei Angeles 5, Atlanta 1 Friday's Games Atlanta 3. LOS Angeles 1 Pittsburgh 3, New York 1 San Francisco 14, Cincinnati 7 Houston 4. San Diego 1 Only games scheduled East AMERICAN LEAGUE Saturday's Games New Yo'k 10.

Minnesota 0 Boston 7, Chicago 1 Detroit 2, California. 0 Baltimore 6, Oakland 1 Milwaukee at Texas, rain. Cleveland at Kansas City. In). Friday's Gamis Kansas City 5.

Cleveland 3 Milwaukee 3, California 6, Detroit 5, 11 Innings Only games scheduled Chicago New York Philadelphia St. Lcuts Cincinnati Houston San Diego San Francisco LGJ Angeles Pel GB .833 571 1'A 500 .400 .333 .333 2 2V; 3 3 Weil no! incnidM 714 .625 .500 .429 .167 I'ft 2 2 New York Milwaukee Baltimore Detroit Boston Cleveland Texas Cnicao: Oakland Kanus Ciry California Minnesota Eat) Wis! 5 3 3 2 3 1 5 3 3 2 3 1 1 3 2 4 3 2 2 i 3 5 5 PCI. M3 .750 .500 429 .250 .714 .600 .429 .400 .375 GB 1 2 2 2V: 3 I 2 2 2" 3 NrsM gjmt not Included I New York (Swan 0-01 PillsBurjh 1-0). 1:35 o.m. Lo- Ar-oeles (Woclon 01) at Atlanta (MsrlC- 0-1).

MS TM. San Frar.ciico tMenlcfaJCa l-i) Cir- (Guiitfi 2:15 o.m. PhilaWrMa 0-1) Cfvcago (Za-o (M). MS o.m. (Wjfiwn M) Louis M).

2:15 p.m. San Ditoo (SWra 1-0 and Jorji Ml I. HOVJIOR (CoijrovylM Andujjr 2. a.nv Sunday 1 Gimei (Wood 1-1) Boston ILee Ml. 0-1) at New York Kansas City Mi.

2 o.m. M). 2 o.n Cl'vela-d tDoiji-i s-il 'Leo--5r! W). 2:33 s.r'.. Milwj'jke? iSiatc-n 2-01 0-5! at (Has- 0-1).

I BlJ'-rrcre I- 1 4 3 3 at at Tern iSri'es Oakland Saturday's Games Rochester 8, CHARLESTONS Rhode Island 8, Tidewater 6 Toledo Memphis 1 Syracuse 7, Richmond 2 Friday's Games Rochester 5, CHARLESTON 4. Rhode Island 2, Tidewater 0. Toledo 11, Memphis 1. Richmond 17, Syracuse 1. The Standings Team Pet.

GB Rochester 2 0 1.000 Rhode Island 2 0 1.000 Toledo 2 0 1,000 Syracuse 1 1 -500 1 Richmond 1 1 -500 1 CHARLESTON 0. 2 .000 2 Tidewater 0 2 .000 2 Memphis 0 2 .000 2 Sunday's Games Rochester at CHARLESTON (2 p.m.) Rbode Island it Tidewater (2) Syracuse at Rkbmoad (2) ffledo at Memphla. By Norm Clarke CINCINNATI (AP) Baseball was upstaged by honey bees Saturday at Riverfront Stadium when a swarm of about 10,000 of them took up residence in the San Francisco Giants' dugout before the game, forcing a 35-minute delay. Several San Francisco players were among more than a dozen persons stung by the bees, who first hovered over the Giants' on-deck circle, then moved to the end of the dugout along the third base line. The situation toos a turn for the worse when Reds' officials sprayed the bees in an attempt rout them.

Two fans quelied the furor by removing the queen bee by hand from the swarm which covered the microphone above the dugout. Once located and placed into a makeshift cardboard beehive, the queen bee was quickly joined in captivity by her swarming workers. Walter Howard. 26. the owner of a Cincinnati extermination firm, and Floyd Hastings, a bank auditor from Fort Wright.

with a bee-keeping background, saved the day. Thei: efforts produced a standing ovation from the crowd. Hhtings was stung about 10 limes as he scooped bees into the hive with his bare hands. "But they stung me because I was pinching them, not because they were bothering me," he said. "Bees are like any other animal.

They don't fight back unless in danger." After the game got underway, the box of bees was carted to a room beneath the stadium and exterminated by club em- ployes. Howard theorized the bees wintered near the stadium and began stirring in the recent 80- degree temperatures. He said the honey bee has the capacity to travel 10 to 15 miles. Hastings, who once managed 33 hives of bees, said he offered his services after he saw officials spray the bees. "That only aggravated he said.

The uproar didn't faze the Reds. They stung San Francisco pitcher Ed Halicki for four runs in the first inning, three on a homer by Joe Morgan and went on to rout the Giants 114). NBC broadcaster Tony Kubek and Reds President Bob Howsam watched the procedings with more than passing interest. Kubek, a former major league player with the New York Yankees, makes a hobby of bee-keeping. Howsam's father was a low-time bee Mike Schmidt Four Straight Homers Schmidt Hits 4 Homers CHICAGO (AP) Mike Schmidt became the seventh player in National League history to hit four home runs in one game and only the second in 82 years to hit them consecutively as the Philadelphia Phillies outslugged the Chicago Cubs 18-16 Saturday.

"I guess it is just a case of being a little overdue," said Schmidt, who added a single, giving him 5-for-6 for the game with eight runs batted in. His fourth homer, a two-run shot in the 10th inning, was the ga- mewinner. The muscular third baseman had been hitting only .167 before Saturday and had struck out nine times in 18 at-bats. "I talked to Richie Allen before the game, and he just told me to relax and do what I am capable of doing." Schmidt's feat tied the major league re- rord for consecutive homers, first set in 1894 by Robert Lowe of the Boston Braves. The last major leaguer to blast four straight homers in a game was Rocky Cola vito of the Cleveland Indians on June 10, 1959.

Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees, in 1932, was the only other major leaguer to arcomplish the feat. "I've got my mind right a little bit now--I've been striking out too many times," said Schmidt, who had hit only five homers in his career at Wrigley Field before Saturday. LOS ANGELES 5, Atlanta 1-The Dodgers ended a five-game losing streak and scored their first victory of the season. Pitcher Doug Rau drove in two runs with a single and sacrifice fly. Rau (1-0) went six innings and relief ace Mike Marshall handcuffed the Braves the last three innings.

New York Mets 17, Pittsburgh 1-The New York Mets backed the pitching of Jerry Koosman with 21 hits, including a three-run homer by Dave Kingman to rout the Pirates. Koosman, making his first start of the season, allowed nine hits and walked none as he stuck out two in posting his 20th career win against Pittsburgh, which had been the only unbeaten team in the majors, winning its first five games. Bud Harrleson, Felix Millam and Ron Hodges drove in two runs each for the Mets. Five of the New York runs came in the first inning off Bruce Kison, who yielded five hits and a walk before he was chased by Millam's two-run double. Boston 7, Chicago White Sox 1--Veteran Luis Tiant pitched a five-hitter and Jim Rice and Rico Petrocelli homered leading the Red Sox over Chicago.

Boston scored the tie-breaking run on reliever Rich Gossage's bases-loaded wild pitch in the seventh inning before Rice's two-run homer. Petrocelli drilled a three- run shot in the eighth. New York Yankees 10, Minnesota 0- Thurman Munson, Oscar Gamble and Mickey Rivers drilled solo home runs, the last two in a seven-run second inning as the Yanks crushed the Twins to back the six-hit pitching of Ed Figueroa, Houston 5, San Dlego-J. R. Richard and Ken Forsch combined for a five-hitter for the Astros.

Cesar Cedeno drove in three runs with a single and a home run as the Astros won their fifth straight. St. Louis 4, Montreal 3-Ted Simmons lofted a sacrifice fly with bases loaded in the 10th inning, lifting the Cardinals over the Expos. The Cardinals' triumph, snapping a streak of four losses, came on Simmons' third RBI after the Expos jumped in front 3-1. Baltimore 8, Oakland 1-Jim Palmer pitched the llth three-hitter of his major league career by beating the A's in their home opener.

Palmer held the A's hitless until Don Baylor singled with one out in the sixth inning. The Orioles scored four runs in the seventh, including rookie Andres Mor's first major league home run. Mora hit 35 homers last season in the Mexican League Detroit 2, California 0-Dave Roberts, acquired from Housinn in the off-season, fired a two-hit shutout for the Tiger? in his American League debut. Roberts allowed no hits until Bruce Bochte looped a single to shallow left in the seventh inning. The Detroit runs came on solo homers by Bill Free'ftn and Aurelio.