Santa Maria Times from Santa Maria, California • 10

10-Frlday, May 9, Santa Maria, Time Giants lose to Padres, fall out of first: P-13 Annual SLO Critcrium rolls in June P-1 I CD jCDIFS SODCl" 1 L2. 1 Lakers Coach Pat Riley said. "That's one of the strengths of this team." Riley said, "We were geared up and ready to play. We had been through some adverse situations." Dallas Coach Dick Motta had bragged the Mavs should have led 3-1 in the series. "Dick did what he had to do to tighten the screws and there's no ill feeling," Riley said.

"I just didn't want to get caught up in a war of words. We're the winners." Abdul-Jabbar was hit with a cup of ice while he was leaving the floor. An irate Abdul-Jabbar jabbed the quiet Dallas fans in the fourth period saying: "I was wondering where they were. They didn't have much to say then, did they?" form. The Lakers, defending NBA champions, had won the Pacific Division in a breeze and the Rockets had won the Midwest with the second-best record in the Western Conference.

Tonight, Milwaukee will host Philadelphia in their Eastern Conference semifinal with the Bucks leading the 76ers 3-2. The winner will advance to the Eastern Confer- NBA Playoffs ence final against the Boston Celtics, who won their second-round series against Atlanta. The Lakers, aroused by pre-game comment from Dallas management they considered derogatory, charged into the conference finals behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 27 points and Earvin Johnson's clutch fourth-quarter play. The Lakers built a 73-53 lead over the fiesty and talkative Mavs early in the third period, then had to beat back a Dallas rally that narrowed the defict to 91-89 early in the fourth period. Mark Aguirre, who injured an ankle and missed most of the fourth period, had 14 of his 28 points in the third period.

Dallas' Rolando Blackman scored 12 straight points at the start of the fourth period but James Worthy and Johnson got the Laker offense into gear. Blackman finished with 23. Worthy had 21 points and Johnson added 23, including 13 in the fourth period. Johnson made nine free throws in the quarter. The Lakers were called "clowns" by Dallas General Manager Norm Sonju before the game, but the intense defending champions took control from the start.

"Dallas is history now and we didn't have to boast to do it," Rockets 126, Nuggets 122 Lewis Lloyd and Rodney McCray hit key jumpers in the final 1:45 of Angels can't slam the door on Jays DALLAS (UPI) Having disposed of their respective second-round opponents, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are heading for a summit meeting in the NBA's Western Conference playoffs. "I think Houston has a great chance of beating Los Angeles if they don't tighten up during the close games," Denver Coach Doug Moe said after his team was knocked out of the NBA playoffs by a 126-122 double-overtime loss to the Rockets Thursday night. "I really think they'll win. They don't have the experience L.A. has, but if they can relax and stay calm, they've got a chance." The Rockets earned a berth in the Western final against the Lakers, who also wrapped up their second-round series in six games with a 120-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks Thursday night.

The results were according to Eagles soar at finals By Steve Horn Times Sports Writer The Righetti Warrior track team will send seven individuals along with a boys' relay team to CIF while the Santa Maria Saints have qualified three individuals plus a girls' relay team following Thursday afternoon's Northern League track finals held at Dave Boyd Field. Hans Kardel, Bill Lutjens and Tony Rosas lead the Righetti boys into CIF action along with the relay team of Kardel, Rosas, Mark Lafaille and Curt Johnson. Lady Warriors qualifying for CIF include Heidi Hanson, Shannon Hoogenbosch, Gina Rubal-caba and Jody Lockhart. "Everyone that is going to CIF from our squad has a good shot at making the finals," predicted Warrior coach Kevin Mc-Namara. "Especially Kardel and Lutjens." Santa Maria's CIF qualifiers include the 4x100 girls' relay team as well as individually fr- Mhfh i If s- ANAHEIM (UPI) Buck Martinez found a rare opportunity at the plate to his liking.

"It's always good to contribute," Martinez said after he singled home two runs in the seventh inning Thursday night to give the Toronto Blue Jays a 7-6 victory over the California Angels. It was the first game-winning hit for the seldom-used Martinez, batting .107 entering the game. Mark Eichhorn, 4-2, was the winner. Terry Forster, 3-1, took the loss. Tom Henke notched his fourth save.

The Angels led 5-4 entering the seventh but Forster hit Lloyd Mose-by with a pitch. Garth Iorg bounced a single to right. Willie Upshaw hit a slow roller to first baseman Willie Joyner, who tried unsuccessfully to get Moseby at the plate. George Bell tapped back to Forster, advancing the runners. One out later, Martinez ripped Forster's first pitch to him into left for the game-winner.

The Blue Jays opened the scoring with two runs in the sec6nd. Bell doubled with one out, Barfield walked, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Ernie Whitt hit a sacrifice fly and Rick Leach doubled home Barfield. The Angels came back with five runs ir. the third on Joyner's grand slam and a run-scoring double by George Hendrick.

Bob Boone singled with one out and starter Jim Acker walked Rup-pert Jones ind Rob Wilfong to load the bases. Joyner then drove the ball 400 feet to right center for his ninth homer of the year and first major-league grand slam. "That's what my job is to score HEAVE of 52-1 wins the shot put for Righetti's Bill Lutjens at league finals Thursday. TimesHubble Smith a second overtime period as Hous-. ton, despite losing three starters to fouls, outlasted Denver.

Lloyd's 18-footer, just beating the 24-second shot clock with 1:45 left, gave Houston a 124-121 lead. McCray sank a 17-footer along the baseline with 55 seconds and Denver couldn't counter. The Rockets were without Akeem Olajuwon (two technicals), Ralph Sampson and point guard Robert Reid (fouled out) at the end. i Houston, trailing by as many as; 12 points, sent the game into over-' time on the play of Olajuwon and Jim Petersen. The game was tied' at 108 at the end of regulation time and 114 at the end of the first overtime.

't Olajuwon finished with 28 points to pace Houston. Lloyd had 25 and McCray 20. Alex English had 42 points for Denver, followed by Natt's 23. runs," Joyner said. "I'm not trying to hit home runs." Reggie Jackson followed with a single, Brian Downing walked and, Hendrick doubled to left, scoring Jackson.

Toronto made it 5-4 in the top of the fifth. Tony Fernandez led off with a single and, with one out, Moseby singled Fernandez to third and went to second on the throw. Ranee Mulliniks hit a sacrifice fly; and Willie Upshaw singled home. Moseby. The Angels made it 7-6 in tha eighth.

Boone walked with two out, and went to second on Henke's wild pitch. Jones singled home Boone. Red Sox 4, Mariners 2 At Seattle, interim skipper Marty Martinez watched the MarinersJ I AL Roundup lose to Boston 4-2 in their first1 game since the firing of Chuck Cottier. Marty Barrett capped a four-run seventh inning with a two-run triple, and Mike Brown struck out ai career-high eight. Boston has won five of its past six and nine of 11, while the Mari- ners have dropped 11 of 13 and 17 of 21.

A's 2, Brewers 1 At Oakland, Chris Codiroli scattered eight hits over eight innings, and Tony Phillips and Dave King-5 man hit RBI singles in the eighth to? give the A's the victory. Codiroli, 3-3, yielded to Steve Ontiveros, who earned his second save in two games. Loser Ted Higuera, 4-2, went the distance. shortstop Craig Buda. I Hubble Smith Robin Ventura is stampeding through the Big 8 IT'S NICE TO have all the tools to play the great game of baseball to be able to hit, run and throw.

Even one tool would be nice. Robin Ventura can certainly hit. As a freshman at Oklahoma State University out of Righetti High, Ventura leads the team with a .441 batting average, 10th best in the nation in NCAA Division I. Who said there's a big difference between hitting .400 in high school and hitting .400 in college? Well there is. That's what's different about Ventura.

He possesses that sweet, natural swing of the bat, blessed upon so few. Along with his hefty average, the 1985 Northern League most valuable player has hit safely in 22 straight games. He kept it going against Kansas with three home runs in a doubleheader, including a grand slam. Pete Incaviglia didn't start out this hot at OSU. The slam came in the eighth to rescue the Cowboys, 10-8.

His second-inning homer in the second game gave the Cowboys the lead and his third homer of the day was his 18th of the season, second on the team to Jimmy Barragan's 19 and fourth in the Other Ventura stats: 79 hits in 179 at-bats, including 18 doubles (Barragan has 10); no triples, six stolen bases; .901 slugging percentage, second to an OSU player of 13 games (Ventura has played in all 48); team-leading 80 RBIs, third in the nation; team-leading 76 runs scored; 17 strikouts vs. 46 walks, helping to account for a .579 on-base percentage; .891 fielding percentage with 15 errors Second on team) but up there with 42 put-outs and 80 OKLAHOMA STATE is 13 3 in the Big 8, half a game back of rival Oklahoma, and 40-10 on the Scoop Nunes would sure welcome Ventura back for the summer with a homecoming party to play for the Santa Maria Indians, as he did last year, the only summer high school graduate on the Nunes would also welcome back Scott Cirney and Vince Texeira from the UCSB Gauchos. Texeira is sure to be drafted as a senior who carries a .407 batting average for the season and .397 in the PCAA. The AU-American candidate set a season home run record at Santa Barbara with his 13th against Loyola-Marymount. He broke the mark of Dave Stewart, who is now playing in the California League.

He leads the Gauchos with 59 RBIs (seven short of the school record) and is three hits shy of Cirney with 70. Second baseman Cirney is another Gaucho who has produced Ail-American numbers in his senior year. Along with hits, he leads the team in hitting runs (52) and triples (6). Currently on a 14-game hitting streak, longest of any Gaucho this year, Cirney carries a .418 conference average with 18 extra-base hits. EVEN IF SCOOP could just have these guys between the time they graduate and the June draft, as he had Ozzie Smith from Cal Poly and In 1947, before the reign of Nunes as general manager, the Indians fielded nothing but local boys.

Player-manager Butch Simas batted .312 in limited appearances for the 1947 Indians who posted a 24-4 record. Left fielder Hank Bonetti cleaned the bases, which were usually filled with guys like Marshal Brumana Este Signorelli Carl Barbetini, retired major-leaguer Les Webber and newcomers Ray Aguirre and Harold Martin. Harry "the Rabbit" Goodchild came back from surgery that year to serve a reserve utility infielder role. Paul Lang and Mutt Anderson roamed the outfield for the Indians four decades Also: the 1948 Oilers nine listed Hal Rabourn at short, Smokey Silva on the mound, (F)Red Lynn in left and Art and Al James E. Tilley, 62, of Santa Maria, carded his first hole-in-one 'recently on the 146-yard, par-3 'eighth hole at Black Lake Golf Course.

He used a 6-iron. The shot 'was witnessed by his sons, Ron and Rhys, and Ken Lessard. It was the first time he had played with his sons. ill Kennata Gatewood, Veronica Lobo and Milo Baze. In the team competition Thursday, the Arroyo Grande Eagles came in first out of the five competing boy's squads with lG5l3 points.

Lompoc finished second with 933 and Righetti picked up third place with a 28 'j showing. San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria rounded out the team scoring with 19 and 6 points, respectively. The Eagles also captured the girl's team title with 84 points. Lompoc was second with 71 and Righetti third with 27. San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria again finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with 27 and 5 points.

Perhaps the most exciting race of the day was the varsity boy's 300-meter intermediate hurdles where Kardel edged Lompoc's Meeley by one-tenth of a second. "That was one of the exciting ones," said 1 McNamara. "They dueled it to the end. Meeley came on like gangbusters." In froshsoph team competition, Santa Maria took first place in the boys' events with 63 points while San Luis Obispo won the girls' competition with 66 points. For complete results see Scorecard on Page 12.

Eight is great, win WSC title ten will it By Hubble Smith Times Sports Writer Same situation, different location. Last year, the Hancock College Bulldogs traveled to Oxnard needing a doubleheader sweep to win the Western State Conference playoff championship. They failed in the second game. Saturday, the Bulldogs will make the trip to Taft to scrap with the Cougars for the rights to advance to the state junior college baseball playoffs. Hancock eliminated Ventura, 7-3, Thursday in the second round to make it to the championship.

Bulldogs' assistant coach Ken Slagle thinks the team's chances at Taft are better than last year. "We went to Oxnard with very little pitching and still almost pulled it off," he said. "Scott Neill started both games." Neill hurled the victory against Ventura Thursday, hanging tough for nine innings. He ran into some trouble in the middle innings, surrendering two runs in the fifth and one in the eighth. "For a while there, I wasn't throwing hard," said Neill, who is headed for Loyola-Marymount.

"I let too many guys get on base. Then I kicked myself and picked it up." He recorded five strikeouts and issued four walks. "The wind was helping my fastball tail off," added the sophomore. "I was mostly going with by fastball and throwing the change-up and slider to keep them off stride." Neill was staked to 4-0 lead after two innings. In the first, Curtis Allmon and Brandon Mitchell walked and Tim Gandy hit an infield single to load the bases.

Grant Valenzona then produced two RBIs on a check-swing single to right field. Dan Bowdish walked to get things going in the second inning. Craig Buda hit to shortstop on a hit-and-run play, with Bowdish safe at second on the fielder's choice. The runners were sacrificed to second and third, setting up Mitchell's RBI single to left field. Gandy followed with another RBI single.

Buda walked in the sixth, went to second on a fielder's choice and score on Mitchell's soft liner to left. Hancock added two more runs in the seventh. Wes Warrecker singled and was sacrificed to second. Bowdish beat out an infield single and Buda drove home Warrecker with a single. Bowdish scored on a wild pitch.

The Bulldogs have won eight straight now to raise their season record to 22-13. Pirates' starter John Grove took the loss as Ventura finished 19-13. Taft boasts a 23-12 record. Jim Twitchell is slated to start for Hancock in Saturday's first game at Taft. If the Bulldogs win, Benny Gonzales will get the nod in the second game.

During the regular season, Hancock lost to Taft 4-3 there and split with the Cougars at home. "We've played low-scoring games with them throughout the year," Slagle noted. "Saturday should be no exception." REACHING to his limit but coming up short is AHC TimesHubble Smith.