El Paso Times from El Paso, Texas • 27

Section Scoreboard 2C Baseball 4C NBA NHL 6C r0Hms A KrrrTQ College football 3 fighting for starting QB job at NMSU" 5C College track UTEP to focus on men's relay at Texas meet 5C FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2000 SPORTS EDITOR MARK JAWORSKI, 546-6170 Diablo gets his baseball life back By Andrew Seligman El Paso Times He had gone nearly eight years without picking up a baseball, so who would've known that a simple question and response would lead to this? "Wanna play ball?" Geraldo Guzman's roommate asked. "Yes," he answered. One word. One life-changing experience. That's how this story began.

One day he was a former Expos farmhand building banisters for a living in his native Dominican Republic. The next, he was starting down a path that has him pitching for the Diablos and a top prospect for Arizona. Then, his roommate posed that question. Last season, Guzman, 27, latched on with a team in Taiwan, and posted a 2.48 earned-run average in nine appearances (13 innings). During the winter, while pitching in the Dominican League, Arizona scout Junior Noboa discovered him.

"Our pitching's going to be pretty strong," catcher Mike Rose said. "We've got some guys who have experience." But Guzman's story is rather unique. He's older, maybe wiser, but doesn't have much experience. He doesn't have a long line of seasons behind him, so the organization Please see Diablo 4C Diablos win 6-1 3C Baseball brings families, fun back to Cohen 3C He pitched an inning in last night's season-opening 6-1 win over the Round Rock Express. "(I) was out of baseball, and one day (I) picked up the ball and it felt good," Guzman said through interpreter and teammate Alex Cintron.

"(I) said, 'Oh my God, my arm is back In 1991, he injured his right elbow and the Expos cut him. He waited for a second chance. And waited. Finally, he gave up. The story and dream seemed over.

Who: Diablos vs. Round Rock Express. When: 6:30 p.m. today. Where: Cohen Stadium.

Admission: $6 box seats, $5 reserved, $4 general admission. Promotion: First 3,000 children receive Bammers. Homestand: Today through April 11 vs. Round Rock; April 12-15 vs. San Antonio.

Information: 755-2000, www.diablos.com Linda Stelter El Paso Times Diablos second baseman Walt White tagged out Express baserunner Morgan Ensberg during Thursday night's game at Cohen Stadium. El Paso scored four runs in the sixth inning to win their season opener 6-1. Joe Muench Manager daring, unafraid New manager Bobby Dickerson predicted he'd have Diablos fans discussing, most likely cussing, some of his strategical wisdom this baseball season. Like, "He called for a WHAT with THAT score and in THAT inning?" Dickerson was talking about absorbing boos from the hometowners, but, by golly, his style is to run when he chooses, take chances and generally wheedle his way to wins in the Texas League. The right moves He was at it by the fifth inning of a 1-1 game in Thursday's season opener against the Round Rock Express.

Diablo starting pitcher Brian Scott was looking strong, but had just thrown a wild pitch and the Express had runners on first and third. Out of the dugout came Dickerson, not running. Not even walking fast. He was at it, strategy. And his Augusta is untamed master UTEP player indicted By Darren Hunt El Paso Times Only 9 players break par in unpredictable 1st round By Brad Townsend Dallas Morning News AUGUSTA, Ga.

Few, if rM OZfCD any, players cared to utter AJlt9 I CJ UW A 2 If Miiir- a MASTERS 1ST ROUND Dennis Paulson 33-3568 Tom Lehman 32-3769 Sergio Garcia 36-3470 Rocco Mediate 34-3771 Phil Mickelson 36-3571 Steve Jones 32-3971 Thomas Bjom 37-3471 Bemhard Langer 37-3471 OTHER NOTABLES David Duval 37-3673 Notah Begay 38-3674 Jack Nicklaus 36-3874 Tiger Woods 36-3975 Greg Norman 37-4380 Inside Utke column: 3 legends show grace, fire 5C Woods takes lst-round 75 in stride 5C Amen Comer: A look at the three toughest holes at Augusta National 5C Scores, tee times 5C Suspended UTEP sophomore running back Jauron Reid was indicted by a grand jury Friday on a felony charge of unlawful restraint of a minor. "It will now be assigned to a district court for prosecution," District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Rene Railey said. "If found guilty he faces 180 days to two years in a state jail facility." The charge stems from a March 1 incident in which Reid, 22, allegedly grabbed a 14-year-old girl in Central El Paso and forced her into his white 1990 Chevy police re ports, the girl escaped and called police. Reid also was charged with indecent exposure for the March 1 incident. Upon further investigation, he also was charged with two additional counts of indecent exposure when he matched the description for similar incidents in December and February, police said.

Those charges arc still under review by the District Attorney's Office, Railey said. Reid, who has been suspended from the UTEP football team by Athletic Director Bob Stull until the matter is resolved, posted a $14,000 bond. He has continued to attend classes, UTEP head coach Gary Nord said. "His lawyer has advised him not to discuss the issue with anybody, though," Nord said. "So I haven't spoken with him." Reid's attorney, Luis Aguilar, said earlier this week he is conducting his own investigation.

"We hope to have a public statement to release in the near future," Aguilar said. The 5-foot-ll, 210-pound Reid was the top candidate to replace graduated UTEP rusher Paul Smith. Reid, who won three consecutive 4A state championships at La Marque (Texas) High, redshirted in 1998. He carried five times for 12 yards last season. an Amen, a Hallelujah or any other expression of thanks as they left Augusta National's 13th green Thursday.

Few, if any, made it through hole Nos. 11, 12 and 13, the famed "Amen Corner," unscathed. Even first-round leader Dennis Paulson made a double-bogey on No. 11. So went the opening day of the 64th Masters.

Everybody bled, and a 37-year-old Masters first-timer named Paulson led, Call it the effect of swirling wind, hard greens and Augusta National's 2-year-old rough. Only nine players broke par. Unpredictability reigned. Tiger Woods, the world's No. 1-ranked player and this event's overwhelming favorite, shot a 3-over 75 and didn't appear the least perturbed.

Jack Nicklaus, 60, beat Woods by a shot. Tommy Aaron, 63, beat Woods by three, but Tiger wasn't embarrassed or daunted. "I think it's fine," Woods said of his tied-for-39th status. "It's not easy out there. Look at the scores.

Look how many guys aren't under par." Since the greens are expected to become even more rock-hard over the next three days, who knows what it will take to don the green jacket come Sunday? And does anyone really think Paulson, a journeyman pro in his second PGA Tour season, is a rabbit everyone will have to chase the rest of the week? No first-timer has won the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller (1979). Paulson would not have been the leader had Tom Lehman not pushed his tee shot on No. 18 into the woods and taken double-bogey to fall to 3-under. "It's something I'll always be able to say," Paulson said of being the first-day leader. "But unless I play well the next three days, who's going to care? Three of the top four players on Thursday's leaderboard suffered at move may well have been the difference in the game.

The slow walk gave reliever Jeff Andrews more time to warm up in the bullpen. Now that's old-hat strategy. Every manager does that. But Dickerson decided to pull the of double switch, too. He brought in AndtewSr-and placed him in the seventh spot in the batting order.

Then brought in catcher John Pachot and put in the ninth slot. Y'see, that stalls for even more time. Andrews threw only one pitch, a double-play ball, and was out of the inning almost faster than Dicker-son was back into the dugout. After that, everything went the Diablos' way in an eventual 6-1 win. It was a game that had just about everything, except an error.

For instance, the team's three top major league prospects performed feats. Shortstop Alex Cintron, ranked No. 6 in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization, drove in the go-ahead (2-D run with a double in the fifth. Then came the slugger story. Left-fielder Jack Cust, rated the No.

2 prospect, had struck out his first two at-bats. Mighty Casey? Nope. He lined a home run over the left field fence in what would be a four-run sixth. Time for the top of the ninth. Dickerson brought in the No.

10 prospect, who hasn't pitched on U.S. soil since he was a member of the Montreal Expos' farm system in 1991. But Geraldo Guzman was able to hold the Express, while displaying a good curyebal). He also snowed he could pitch out of trouble. Men were on first and third when he struck out the last batter.

Guzman hurt his shoulder, was released by Montreal and didn't play professionally again until a stint in Taiwan last season. His 96 mph fastball convinced Arizona scouts to sign him. Fast pace The game had most of the situations of baseball: There were three double plays. There was also the obligatory high pop in the infield, converged upon by the Express infielders, and let bounce off the mound for a base hit. It was a quick game, 2 1 t'asl ofU' JlJ double-bo- Paulson P.ey- a Va five of the top nine.

That suggests the leaderboard the next three days will be more volatile than the stock market. "I wasn't thinking about a train wreck or anything like that," Lehman said. "But I did notice the back nine costing some shots. And if players were muttering anything under their breath, it was probably an epithet. Dave Martin Associated Press Tom Lehman checked his lie in the woods on the 18th hole Thursday during the first round of the Masters at the Au gusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.

Lehman double bogeyed the hole and ended the day with a three-under-par 69. Scores In your face ESI BASKETBALL NBA Miami 76, Charlotte 70 New York 101, Washington 92 Chicago 90, Milwaukee 88 Utah 105, Pnoenix 86 Dallas 116, Denver 115 (OD Vancouver 89, Portland 87 Minnesota 112, LA Clippers 90 HOCKEY NHL NY Islanders 2, Ottawa 1 Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 1 Buffalo 5, New Jersey 0 Montreal 5, Tampa Bay 1 BASEBALL Texas League El Paso 6, Round Rock 1 American League Kansas City 9, Toronto 3 Tampa Bay 7, Minnesota 6 Baltimore 6, Cleveland 2 Chicago White Sox 6, Texas 2 Boston at Seattle, late National League Florida 5, San Francisco 4 St. Louis 13, Chicago Cubs 3 Pittsburgh 10, Houston 1 Montreal 11, Los Angeles 3 Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 1 San Diego 8, NY Mets 5 Arizona 3, Philadelphia 2, 11 Miner golfer wins honored by WAC UTEP senior Kristen MacLaren has been named the Western Athletic Conference women's golfer of the week. MacLaren tied for third place at Brigham Young University's Dixie Classic April 3-4. The native of Belleville, Ontario, Canada, had a season-best 69 in the first round and followed that with rounds of 73-76 for a total of 218.

MacLaren has been the Miners' top finisher in seven of eight tournaments this year, with one win and three top three finishes. EPCC softball team signs 4: El Paso Community College signed four of the top area softball recruits for next season. Andress star makes college choice: Andress star guard Xavier Milligan is expected to sign a national letter of intent Wednesday to play basketball for Howard Junior College in Big Spring. Lake to be stocked: Rainbow Lake will be stocked with 1,500 pounds of catfish today. The lake, located behind the Old El Paso cannery near Anthony, Texas, is open from 7 a.m.

to 9 p.m. every day. There is a $5 entrance fee and $5 pole fee. Information: 886-4444 or 886-5148. Georgia twins win Sullivan Award: Georgia guards and twin sisters, Kelly and Coco Miller, won the 1999 Sullivan Award as the top amateur athletes Times staff, wire reports Amy E.

Conn Associated Press hours and 22 minutes. Too fast for even more Dickerson moves. The four are: Melissa Cox, an infielder from Socorro High; Aurora Carba-jal, a utility player from Ysleta High; Sarah Sandoval, an outfielder from Hanks hfigh; and Veronica Abalos, an outfielder from Las Cruccs High. Senior Games track set for Saturday. The Columbia Healthcare Senior Games track competition will be Saturday at UTEP's Kidd Field.

The field evefcts will be from a.m. and the track events from noon-2 p.m. Charlotte's Derrick Coleman, left, passed the ball Thursday past Miami's Alonzo Mourning during their game at American Airlines Arena in Miami. Mourning had 26 points as the Heat won 76-70. NBA, 6C Joe Muench is the sports coi Jfnnist for the El Paso Timtfi.

Call him with comments or suggestions at 546-6381.