The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 370

BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE OCTOBER 1, 1989 West 23 SPORTS SPORTSCalendar Pitcher struggles back to the majors antum Road. Call 868-4903. Also, Rowing Instruction Monday evenings at 6 at Charles River Canoe and Kayak, 2401 Commonwealth Basic rowing skills taught in recreational single shells. Call 965-5110. SQUASH Wellesley: Maugus Club, Abbott Road.

Contact Dick Davis (235-5973). SWIMMING me on some special exercises, and then Mike Marshall the former major league pitcher who coached at St. Leo suggested I use the shot-put. I was working at my uncle's fitness club in Waltham, for my dad for awhile, and at a bank during that off-year. I started throwing a tennis ball off a wall, then a baseball.

"I thought I was said Corsi, the oldest of five children. "It used to hurt me just to pick up a box. But the hard work paid off. I knew if I got healthy again I could throw hard enough to make it back." "I still have trouble believing it's The following SportsCalendar activities are taking place in the West Weekly area this week. Future events are Included as space allows.

BICYCLING Bolton: Easy Rider Tours Oct. 14, Harvard Apple Festival Ride In Bolton; advanced reservations required. Contact Jim Goldberg or Nancy Roeder (643-8332). Lincoln: Guide Service Mountain biking Mondays (5 miles) and Thursdays (10 miles), 5 p.m.; Road biking Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. (15-20 miles).

Contact Meg Nuck-ols (259-9204). DIVING Sudbury: Boston Area Diving Offering springboard lessons and competitive team for ages 7-and-over in Boston and Sudbury. High school divers welcome. Call 566-7813. FISHING i i Globe photoDave Tennenbaum Oakland pitcher Jim Corsi with shotput he uses to strengthen his arm.

but it would come in handy because I'm building a new home for my wife and myself after the season's over in Medway," he said. "What's important is that, ever since I was a Little Leaguer in Newton, I dreamed of playing in the majors. I've been pitching since I was 8 years old." But there was nothing in his stats in his first two pro seasons in the Yankee chain to suggest he would ever fulfill the dream. His earned run average soared to double figures in 1982 in On-eonta, N.Y., and it was still over 4.00 the next year when his arm finally blew out. Help from the Red Sox doctor "I went to see the Red Sox physician Dr.

Arthur Pappas) who put CORSI Continued from Page WEST 1 here didn't make me nervous but just shagging flies in the outfield gave me goose bumps because I had time to think about where I was." In two innings of work, Corsi allowed one hit and no runs. In 5 innings of relief (with six strikeouts) this year against Boston, who released Corsi after the 1986 season, the A's reliever shut out the Red Sox. "The Red Sox told me I could pitch in Double-A but they weren't sure I could do it at a higher level. I had a pretty good year in New Britain (a 2-3 record and 2.23 earned run average and 38 strikeouts in 5 1 innings. I told 11 le Sox they'd be sorry.

I was kind of upset because I was a hometown boy and I wanted to play for the Red Sox. "They said they wanted to go with younger guys," said Corsi, "but things worked out for the best, It was a blessing in disguise." Corsi, in fact has recorded some of the best statistics of his entire professional career at the major league level this season. In 20 games and through 35 Vb innngs, he had given up just 26 hits, held opponents to a .208 batting average to go along with a career best 2.04 earned runned average. In 11 games with Oakland last year, Cor-si's ERA was 3.80. His baseball career, which was in danger of coming to an end, was saved, once again, by a former college teammate, A's northeast scout J.

P. Ricciardi, who signed Corsi to a minor league contract shortly after his release. Corsi began the 1987 season in the low minors in Modesto, struck out 45 batters in just 30 innings, and moved up the ladder to Huntsville later in the year, where he compiled an 8-1 record with 4 saves and a 2.81 ERA. "There were no promises," said Corsi. "All I wanted was a chance to show what I could do.

The ironic thing was that Ricciardi was Involved in a perfect game for me with two outs in the ninth when I was a freshman at St. Leo. He was playing second and just missed getting to a little chopper over the mound that went for an infield hit. He remembered me and signed me as a free agent two years ago." Father is proud but amazed Ben Corsi, who used to take his three sons, Jim, John and Mike, to play baseball at Albemarle Field after supper on spring and summer evenings, is proud but amazed about Jim's comeback. "To be honest, I tried to talk him out of playing after the Red Sox released him," said Ben Corsi, who with his wife.

Dotty, treated a dozen of his son's teammates to an Italian-style dinner at their home in New-tonvllle the last weekend Oakland was in town. It also turned into a surprise 28th birthday party for Corsi. "He had his college degree and I thought he might as well get on with a new career, a new life. But when he had his teammates over the other night, it made me think of how happy I am that he didn't take my advice. Who knows where he'll get from here but he can always say he made It to the majors." Jim Corsi's victory over great odds did not surprise his former high school coach.

Norm Walker. "Jim was a big, strong, rugged kid with a good fastball." Walker said. "He Just Improved every year at North. "I'm happy to see he's made the pros because of the kind of kid he gra.idu SWEATSHIRTS, PANTS, SHORTS, T-SHIRTS, TANK TOPS, SOCKS, FOOTWEAR, WARM-UP SUITS, ALL COLORS, ALL SIZES. Framingham: Shawmut Aquatic Club Practices weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings at the Farley Middle School.

Call 562-7541 or 881-5956. Wayiand: Advanced lifesaving courses Mondays and Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. at the Wayiand Town House Pool, 258 Old Connecticut Path (Route 126). Minimum age: 15. Call 358-4200.

TABLE TENNIS Wattham: Table Tennis Club Meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. at 657 Main St. (third floor). Call 893-7063 (evenings).

TENNIS WaKham: Round-robin events Fridays for advanced players from 7-10 p.m. and Sundays from p.m. for intermediate players at the Waltham Racquet Fitness Club, 249 Lexington St. Call 899-5000. Weston: Mixed doubles events Saturdays at 8 p.m.

at The Weston Racquet Club. 132 West St. Call 890-0383. TRACK Newton: BAA weekly workouts Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 p.m. at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill.

Contact Fred Treseler (965-0508). VOLLEYBALL Framingham: Sundays (instruction) at Farley Middle School, Flagg Drive, Framingham. Contact Bill Birkholz (524-1552). Natick: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-10 p.m. at the Natick Sports Club (Contact Karen or Mike at 237-2301).

Newton: Wednesdays from 7-10 p.m. at the West Newton Armory, 1 137 Washington St. Call 789-4070. Wattham: Coed group Instruction and league play. Contact Bob Bou-dreau (891-1692, evenings).

OTHER THINGS Maynard: Skeet and trap ranges Saturdays from noon-4 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. at the Maynard Rod and Gun Club. Call 897-9873. Natick: Volleyball, walleyball, at Natick Sports Club, Tech Circle.

Call 237-2301. Newton: Academy of Physical and Social Development Noncompetitive gym program designed for boys and girls to help develop self-confidence, improve social skills and increase physical abilities. Parent-child activity groups should contact the academy at 425 Wa-tertown St. (969-2200). FROM.

is and the kind of family he comes from. His brother, Johnny (who also played baseball at St. Leo, was a tremendous linebacker for me and Mike was a tackle. "They were all good, hard-working kids. I felt Jim had a future in baseball but what's even nicer is how hard he worked to get there.

I'm not surprised he stayed with it. He loved baseball." The first time Colarusso saw Corsi was in a preseason exhibition game in Tacoma in 1987 when Corsi, whose best pitch is a sinking fastball, pitched for Oakland. Has spunk to go with talent "We had a hunch he'd wind up here because of that appearance," Colarusso said. "We felt they were high on him. And he's got some spunk, some swagger to go with his talent.

"One night In Calgary, our team went out to stretch and the guys kidded him about the 16-pound shotput that he carried around to strengthen his arm. So he threw it through the outfield wall and put a hole it. They stopped razzing him after that." Corsi, who pitched to his father off a mound he built in his backyard, led Pacific Coast League relievers in games finished last season, and now, said Colarusso, "he's got the chance to learn from one of the best up there in Dennis Eckers-ley." Because he was called up Sept. 1, Corsi is ineligible for postseason play but there should be something extra in his paycheck because he spent much of the season as the 1 1th or 12th man on the A's pitching staff and most likely will be voted a cut of potential playoff or World Series money. "The money isn't that important.

nn 53 LEONARD BELMONT CTR. 489-4930 all happened," said his father. "He was a walk-on at St. Leo and had to earn a scholarship. He was released three times, twice by Boston.

He had a sore arm." But, said Corsi: "I told dad that I was going to be working the rest of my life anyway, so why not go to A ball and give it a month or so and, if they don't move me, then I'll hang i( up. I've just seemed to be in the right place at the right time. "After my first season in the Sox organization, I received a letter from them telling me I would be resigned. So I went to Florida a week before spring training and a few days later I called home and dad told me we had gotten another let-' ter from the Red Sox. this time saying I was released.

"I called the Red Sox and told them I was already down, so they let me work out and I made the New Britain team. The crazy part of the story is that we had a new mailman that week and he had left the mail at the wrong door. We didn't get any mail for a week. "I wouldn't be here now if I had gotten that letter." terra I) ll. Ti and arouD instruction available 7 days a week.

Drop In or call for appt. 25 Washington Natick 651-7644 rn Accord 4 Drs. Accord Coupes Civics 5 Lincoln: Trout Unlimited (Greater Boston chapter) Meets fourth Monday of the month at Drumlin Farm, Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. Admission $3. Call 508-653-0404 for more information.

HOCKEY Natick: Fall Conditioning Program Today through Nov. 19 at West Suburban Arena. Program run by varsity coaches. Contact Paul Mac-Donald after 6 p.m. (508-528-9199).

MARTIAL ARTS Framingtiam: Bu-Ke Dojo Instruction in amis, jui-jutsu and karate 5-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, and 8 a.m.-l p.m. Saturdays, at Bu-Ke Dojo. 52 Hollis Framingham. Call 879-2691.

John C. Kim Schools of Chung Moo Quan Instruction in eight martial arts taught as one (70 percent mental, 30 percent physical strength). Introductory lesson free. In the WestWeekly area, schools located in Framingham and Marlborough. Contact Kevin or Mike (329-5366).

Newton YMCA Jujitsu Club of Street Self-Defense Mondays-Wednesdays, p.m., and Saturdays, noon-2 p.m., at the YMCA, 276 Church St. Call 244-6050. Also. Shelley's Dance Studio Fitness and self-defense classes for juniors and adults on Monday and Wednesday evenings at BC, Newton. Call 884-6951.

PHYSICAL FIT-NESS Wellesley: Arthritis Health Resource Center Awareness through movement classes and soft (safe) exercise classes at the center. 486 Washington Wellesley. Call 431-7080. Also, Charles River Sports Therapy West Free athletic injury screenings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m.-noon, at 200 Linden Wellesley. Contact Chris Troyanos (237-5585).

ROWING Newton: Community Rowing for Seniors (50-and-over), Sunday and Monday through Oct. 22; Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. at Proctor Boat-house (MDC Daly ice rink), Non- BATTER'S BOX, INC. INDOOR BATTING CAGES Baseball Camp begins Oct. 8 Call for details -fx Private Open 5jT) STORAGE LOT nnr? OCT.

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Save thousands off '89 prices. Beat the 1990 price increase. When you want to know what's going on arid who's involved in foreign or domestic social issues, turn to The Boston Globe's Focus pages every Sunday, and take a good look at your world. WORCESTER MASS-: PIKE m. Js GROUNDll yy 111 ROUND i area r0ao boston" Lot attendants will open gates during these hours only: Oct.

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Jot down the Stock No. of the vehicle you want and proceed to Ber- nardi Honda to arrange for purchase. Rout 9, Natick, MA 01760 (508) 651-3033 A Jim Carney Company SP-1P87 it..