The Paducah Sun from Paducah, Kentucky • 13

SATURDAY No charges Mike Tyson still faces a civil suit, but Chicago police will not charge him. PAGE 3 SECTION APRIL 27,199 THE PADUCAH SUN 1 I -La Joey Fosko SUN SPORTS WRITER MelMeat Regional pitchers apply Reidland's Wren casts big shadow, but region is full of talented pitchers who could decide area's champion il BT KIVIN STEWART SUN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Jennifer Wren's brilliance on the soft-ball mound overshadows many other good pitchers in the First Region, area coaches say. Many knowledgeable folks claim the Reidland junior could, bethfiNbest fast-pitch pitcher in the state. After' all, shev" won 30 of 32 games last year, walking only 11 in 217 innings, as Reidland went 34-2 and won the state softball title.

Take Wren out of the equation, and the area still ranks highly in talented ers, according to Reidland coach Tony Burkeen. "I'd say the quality of pitching around here is as good as anywhere in the state," Burkeen said. It's no secret that the schools whose players participate in fast-pitch summer leagues are producing the Dest pitchers. Schools in the McCracken County system (Reidland, Lone Oak and Heath) and those in Paducah (Paducah Tilghman and St. Mary), as well as Marshall County and Ballard Memorial, have players weaned on the fast-pitch system.

Lone Oak's Jennifer Lambert might be the fastest pitcher around. "She just throws heat at you, tries to throw it by you. If you can throw the ball AsoclaMdPmM 7 7: AT tM if 7:.. fast and get it over the plate, you're going! to be an effective softball pitcher BuJ keen "The rubber is only 40 feet frorfi; home plate, so batters have only a fraction of a second to pick up the ball and hit it." Wren outdueled Lambert in last year's! regional championship game but just, barely. Reidland won 5-4 in extra innings, but Lambert allowed only six hits and hadj a no-hitter through four innings.

And shp defeated Wren when the teams fnet earlier; mtseaoffii (LambertV doesn't like to lose, she's perfectionist," Lone Oak coach David PopJ said. "She's picked up several different pitches this year to go with her fastball anf)i that has made her better." Lambert is throwing a change-up year, and if she perfects the pitch, she'll be; hard to beat, Burkeen said. "As fast as she throws, if she gets the change-up over, batters will have a tougfy time," he said. "They're used to seeing th fastball, so the moment she releases the ball, their weight is already shifting fof- ward to make contact. If it's a change-up, sometimes they'll swing the bat before the pitch even gets to the plate." Heading into play Friday, Lone Oak was undefeated at 7-0 and Lambert had five of those wins.

Lambert will be tested this weekend when Lone Oak joins Reidland in-one of the state's top tournaments the Christian County Invitational. Lone Oak, Please see PITCH 4B Unstable favorite BY TOM KIYSER THE BALTIMORE SUN The Kentucky Derby favorite is a head case. Unbridled's Song, heavily favored to win the 122nd Derby May 4, is excitable and temperamental. When paraded in- frnnt nf 14(1 nnfl eproaminff fane at Churchill Downs, he just might blow gasket. Yet the formidable gray colt is widely regarded as the most talented thoroughbred of his generation.

His Achilles' heel may be his pre-race problems. "Never before in Derby history has there been more discussion about a horse's, behavior in the paddock and post parade," said Jim Bolus, a Kentucky Derby historian from Louisville. "But if he doesn't come unglued, and he wins the Derby, I think he has an excellent chance to win the Triple Crown." One week from now, all eyes will lock onto rambunctious Unbridled's Song whett he leads as many as 19 other 3-year-old: colts and geldings onto the Churchill' Downs track. Bettors may anoint him an even-money' favorite, but horses such as Skip Away, Diligence, Cavonnier, Alyrob and Louis-Quatorze not to mention the five trained by D. Wayne Lukas seek starring roles' i Please see DERBY 3d Greece to begin an 84-day journey to Atlan-' ta for the Olympic opening ceremonies 3x-ly 19.

It's path will cross Cape on May 27th, with WPSD-6 Sports Director Dave Winder carrying the flame a kilometer on the path to Jackson, Mo. Then it passes through Louisville, on June 5 with Paducahans Jason Ander-: son, Brian Griesbach, Dr. Stephen Luigs and Sally Reynerson Michelson each with a leg in the relay through Kentucky. They are part of 16,000 people who will carry individual torches through 42 states and the District of Columbia. Winder earned his spot on the torch Please see TORCH 4B SpwtsjmrnosM -rrrIiHsTtie Bald Eagle.

jS mo-18) and sentor ndej, from first-timers registration information call 442-0si oay rloofBAlf-AroastforformerHeath ha. in Derby 'Insider' news updates Racers' fans he idea was born of a combination of frustration and ambition. "Every time we have a (basketball) coaching search," Murray businessman Lindy Suiter said, "one of the questions we ask every candidate is, 'What can you do to take Murray State to the next Well, I think the coaches have done just about all they can. "As fans and supporters of Murray State and its athletic program, there are some things we have to do, too." Suiter and fellow Racer booster Don Simpkins have committed their money, time and effort into doing something about it. They have created the "Racer Insider," a publication dedicated solely to coverage of Murray State athletics and the Ohio Valley Conference.

The second issue was released this week. The Racer Insider is the most ambitious plank of their plan for making the school more visible on the regional and statewide levels. Suiter, incoming president of the Racer Athletic Association, has long sought to increase attendance at athletic functions by expanding the fan base beyond the immediate vicinity of Murray, particularly into previously untappd areas of western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee. In Simpkins, a Mayfield businessman who serves on the RAA's board of directors, he found a willing accomplice. They formed Racer Insider Publications, which has established a business office in Murray.

How can Murray State build a higher profile? Largely by exploiting some new streams of media. WQTV, the low-power television station in Murray that began operations last fall, holds broadcast rights for all MSU's sports programs and faithfully televises (usually tape-delayed) every home football and basketball game, as well as the weekly shows featuring basketball coach Mark Gottfried and football coach Houston Nutt. If and when WQTV expands its viewer-ship, via a power increase and a larger presence on area cable systems, the complete MSU sports package will ha ve exposure in most or all of far western Kentucky. Of course, two area daily newspapers regularly cover MSU, but fans and alumni outside far-western Kentucky still have little or no access to the latest goings-on concerning the Racers. In that vein, the "Insider' hopes to do what "The Cats' Pause" does for Kentucky fans provide a constant source of information about Murray State sports.

"I used to get calls all the time from friends in Nashville and Memphis, mostly people that went to school here, asking them to fax them newspaper stories about Murray State games," Suiter said. "That got me thinking we could do something like this. I've always had a dream of publishing something that could promote Murray State." Enter the "Insider" edited by Suiter and Murray Ledger and Times sports editor Steve Parker. The publication is something rather unusual for a school of Murray's stature, a mid-maior basketball power with a Division I-AA football team that doesn't play in a big-name conference. "Kentucky's kind of started the trend, and now a lot of the major colleges have them," Suiter said.

"The difference in ours and most of the others is that it's not our tulltime job. We're doing this on the side because we believe it will be a benefit to Murray State." Each issue, published in tabloid format, includes a cover story, features, columns and photographs and an interview of someone involved in Racer athletics. The first contained a Q-and-A with former MSU football coach Mike Gottfried, now an ESPN football commentator and Mark Gottfried's uncle. The second issue, released Thursday, Please see RACER 4B Qgtebook- SI 1 TODAY COLLEGE BASEBAU Pj KuKSw Stat. (DHtlP SfsEBAli- StMry at Lfvingston 3 glomAOCartSi Co ndCa- JSJri fSrah Fwdland.

CaloWl Co. Massac Tnamenl WesWm Kentucky Contaf; (iknal(Metropotts). cL Horra coupe lourrwy KEVINQ STEWART, STEVE MILLIZERThe Sun Heating Up Marshall County's Michelle Hunter (left) and Lone Oak's Jennifer Lambert are leaders in a pack in close pursuit of Reidland's Jennifer Wren. Indians begin final mission BY JOEY FOSKO THE PADUCAH SUN Someone had to remind Rick Tippin this could be the final weekend of his coaching career. "I hadn't even thought about that," said Tippin, whose Paducah Community College baseball team begins postseason play with today's state junior college tournament.

"I don't want to think about it." The Indians (8-18) have won seven straight state titles, and can go out on top in this, their final season. PCC's first contest is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Central Hardin High School against the loser of the previous game between Lees and St. Catharine. If PCC wins, the championship game will be played at 7 p.m.

If the Indians lose, they will play an elimination game at 7 with the title game set for Sunday at lp.m. "I don't know much about the other two teams," Tippin said. "But I know we play a tough, competitive schedule, and that always gets us ready for the postseason." The first- and second-place teams advance to the Region VII tournament, scheduled to begin next Saturday at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tenn. In the state tournament, PCC could face another program on the verge of elimination. Lees, a private school, was recently Please see INDIANS 3B 1996 Olympic Torch Relay The Olympic flams will travel more than 15,000 miles In 42 states, before It arrives in Atlanta's Olympic Stadium Summer Games opening ceremony.

Sourea: Tn Atlanta CommatM tor the Olympic Gamae FIRST ROUND CRinaV'fi SCORES Late Game Not Included Orlando 1 1 2, Detroit 92, Orlando leads 1 -O San Antonio 120, Phoenix 98. San Antonio leads1-0 Chicago 102, Miami 85, Chicago leads 1-0 Seattle 97, Sacramento 85, Seattle leads 1-0 TODAY'S GAMES New York (1) at Cleveland, Noon (NBC) Houston (1) at LA. Lakers, 2.30 pin. (NBC) Atlanta (1) at Indiana, 7 p.m. 01) Portland at Utah (1), 9.30 p.m.

(TNT) Ik TOtynnpia Portland salem i Eugene i Bolse i A 7. Pocateik) I I sbh Jj--. sCheyenne Sacramento ukeCty TlSanJose Kearney 4 Colorado Topeka Ygf. Vegas Wa7 1 Phoenix 1 ENego Los Angeles I 7 WOrth Houston IrCTFiy Sleight of hand Detroit Pistons forward Grant Hill (left) strips the ball from Orlando Magic Anfernee Hardaway during the second quarter of their Eastern Conference game, see playoff details 2B. Route 84 days, visiting for the 1996 7 Paducahans await torch's approach Nashua Bennington St.

Paul Minneapolis "Vs. -Kyt'" Indian! St Memphis Memphis L.ns.nx, Baton 1 STAFF, AP REPORTS LOS ANGELES Even Southern California, where weirdness is considered a virtue, Sheryl Chariton has gotten some strange looks as she practices for the Olympic torch relay. The Huntington Beach High School senior rehearsed her role as a torchbearer by toting a 3-pound weight through the streets. "The other day I was wearing an Atlanta 1996 Olympic T-shirt, running down the street with my arm up in the air and a lady stopped and said, 'Are you doing that and I said, 'Yes, I am one of the torchbearers," Chariton recalled. Chariton will take her place in history today when the Olympic flame arrives at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from FRIDAY SCORES AMERICAN LEAGUE U5 Detroit 14, Oakland 5 Seattle 6, Milwaukee Kansas City 4, Boston 3 Cleveland 6, Toronto 3 New York 5, Minnesota 4 Texas 5, Baltimore 4 California at Chicago, ppd- rain NATIONAL LEAGUE Pittsburgh 10, New York 6 Philadelphia 2, Cincinnati 0 Atlanta 6, St.

Louis 1 Montreal 6, Colorado 2 Los Angeles 1. Chicago 0 San Diego 3, Houston 2 Florida 3, San Francisco 0 Boston Milwaukee Cedar Detroit Rapids 9, 4. St CitV "yw oVv-L Birmingham lackson Montgomery -j Tallahassee a New Orleans Tampa West Palm Beach Fort Lauderdale Miami NHL PLAYOFFS SPORES l. i vKirninr 1 Pittsburah leads 3-2 NY. Rogers 3, Montreal 2, N.Y.

Rangers Iead3- 2 Winnipeg 3, Detroit 1 Detroit leads3-2 Philadelphia (3) at I ampa Day v-y (EPSN) Toronto (2) at St. Louis (3), 6:30 p.m. Colorado (3) at Vancouver (2), 9:30 p.m. Buflalol New York Citv ArProwdence Ene I. New Haven Cleveland Trenton InrJianapoBs-V -s Jf fcinoinnatl J- Washington, i KnSxville r-z UIUtllUU9.

UWBMBInllM Charlotta Athens yl L. V-3 1 VT-JAvanfwh Ink 1Q kl i I -J I i Gainesville Daytona Beach inanoo 1.