The Morning Press from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 13

The MURFREESBORO PRESS, Thurtdoy, March 19, 1981 IB Schmittou sees good Sounds' season CJ that the Yankees have the best minor league program pansion .398 while league in team at N.C.. and hit leading the home runs, doubles and stolen bases. Schmittou expects Mattingly to supply the Sounds with the power and speed that they lacked last season. Schmittou, fielding questions from Optimist Club members, also took a look into the next several years as far as baseball and Nashville are concerned, and made some promising observations. "Within the next seven years Nashville stands a good chance of becoming the home of a major league team," said Schmitou.

"I expect the major leagues to expand in about three years and then to expand again around 1989.. will be a prime target for a major league franchise, along with Tampa. have to beat enlarged "Last year people had to stand in line to get into a line," Schmittou said "We hope that our enlarged facilities will take care of that problem this year." Schmittou said he also is proud of the Sounds' new VIP booth, that can be reserved for clubs and organizations. The booth which Schmittou calls "a little ritzy" will seat 34 people and the cost of a seat is $9. Greer Stadium's overall seating capacity has also been increased, and Schmittou said thkt the Sounds are moving on a program that will see them eventually seat more than 44,000.

The Sounds will play 144 games this season and 72 of them will be at home, with the first homestand against the Brimingham Bears April 9. On April 16 the Sounds will play an exhibi- booth has been considerably. Baseball executive Larry Schmittou is optimistic about the 1981 season for the Nashville Sounds. Schmittou said the team should have its best team ever, thanks to the support of the New York Yankees' organization. SPORTS out Tampa if we are going to Nasnviiie tuture pro-to get in." sperity.

Earle to take reigns as athletic director 1 By Zach James Press Sportswriter The Nashville Sounds may be in for their season yet, baseball executive Larry Schmittou told the Murfreesboro Optimist Club this week. The Sounds open up their season April 9, and Schmittou jsaid "Yankee ingenuity" may make the 1981 season the Sounds' best. "We're looking to have a winning ballclub this year solely because of New York Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner," Schmittou said. "Last year George wondered why the Sounds didn't do better. year we will be the toughest team around." Schmittou said the fact adding that, "It'll be very hard following someone like Coach Murphy.

No one could ever fill his shoes. There's no doubt it will be the biggest challenge of my life, but I will put as much enthusiasm into this job as 1 did into my Coach Murphy was also pleased that Earle got the directorship. "I think that and we take pride in announcing our winners. In the grade school division grades 3, 4 and 5 the younstcr who won first place was Darrell Hughes. He really deserves this honor because this "little man" worked hard and showed a great deal of "hustle." Darrell was followed by Fredrica Margin, another member of the "dueling trio." I was uphill for Fredrica when he met Darrell in the final game.

To close out the honors for grades 3, 4 and 5, Joe Clark stepped in and won third place behind Fredrica's second place win. This is Joe's first time to be a winner in this tournament. We are delighted to tion game against Yankees. Mignngnting tms year's season will be four appearances by the famed San Diego Chicken. The Chicken, known to baseball fans everywhere, is baseball's biggest clown.

Again this year at the helm of the team will be manager Stump Merrill. Eddie Napolean will be the hitting instructor and Pat Dobson, an ex-major leaguer, will be the pitching coach. Schmittou said he is pleased with the Sounds' coaching staff and he says that they are definitely winners, and can make the Sounds winners if given a little material to work with. Looking to the immediate season Schmittou sees some of that needed material coming from the East, in the form of a hard-slugging outfielder named Don Mattingly. Mattingly, last year, played on the Yankee ex wins sporting several former Blue Raiders, and Nashville United share first place with the Raiders, as all three have 2-0-2 records.

For those who have not seen the Blue Raider Kickers in action on the Raider Field, the season is fast moving away. The final home game for the Raiders this year will be against Vanderbilt April 5. to open Those girls who will not turn 16 before July 31, 1981 are eligible to participate. All girls who wish to try out should bring their birth certificate and their glove on Saturday. awaits only the technicality of being aproved by the Tennessee Board of Regents, which will thereby make his position final and will pave the way for him to take over the reigns effective July 1 "I'm very, very pleased committee, Coach Murphy and Dr.

Ingram have shown their confidence in me," said Earle, By Zack James Press Sportswriter After several months of speculation, former MTSU head basketball coach Jimmy Earle has received the nod from MTSU President Sam Ingram as MTSU's new athletic director, replacing Charles "Bubber" Murphy. Long considered an obvious choice by many, Earle Center sh ws activity Youngers vie in gym Members of the Eagleville High School girls basketball team and coaching staff pose with their ruiner-up trophy after losing to Polk County in the Single A Championship Saturday night. TSSAA action continues this week with the boys championship competition that began Wednesday and will end Saturday night. Schmittou said the' Sounds could also take another route. of jumping right to the majors from our double A status, within about three years we could possibly go triple But Schmittou was quick to point out that he had rather play southern league baseball and be within a "class" organization than to move up into triple A in a poorly managed and stagnant franchise.

"I certainly would rather be right where we are, playing double A within the Yankees' organization, than to be elevated to a higher and more competitive level within an organization like the Oakland A's." And so it looks like the Sounds will, according to Schmittou, have no place but "up" to go as far as the future goes, and it's only a matter of what path to take Club sets try outs ing league of four teams for youth ages 9 and 10. Everyone trying out aged 9 and 10 will be assigned to a team and will be guaranteed participation in all games of the season. This new feature has been designed to give younger players valuable playing experience, and to increase their confidence on the diamond within their own age group. The 9 and 10 year-old minor league will operate on a full schedule and will exist right along side the regular Optimist League of eight major league teams. Any questions about the Optimist League can be directed to league commissioner, James Braeg at 893-1957.

aid arts A $2 participation and admission fee will be charged for adults, and children will be admitted for SI. All proceeds go to Mur-freesboro's C.A.R.T. Program. Further information may be obained by contacting Glenda Turner at 896-4040. of any major league with seven minor league franchises and three rookie team clubs.

By the fact that they are within a class operation like the Yankees', Schmittou said he can't help but be optimistic about the future. Not only are the Yankees going to pump in more quality talent to the Sounds' roster, but Steinbrenner has already poured more than $1 million into making Greer Stadium into a major league ballpark. For the comfort of the fans, three new concession stands have been installed, the restroom capacity has been tripled, and the ticket Jimmy is the one for the job and I'm glad he got it. I'm sure that Jimmy will do a good job." If Earle's coaching record at MTSU can be cited, then indeed Earle could be a worthy successor to Murphy. Earle compiled a 164-103 won loss record, which made him the winningest basketball coach in MTSU history.

welcome him to the winners' circle. We hope these victories will serve as strong forces of encouragement in the lives of Joe. Fredrica and Darrell. Much value can be found in the competitive spirit of basketball and transferred to everyday life. This is what.

we hope will occur on the part of our winners in this year's tournament. GRAMS 7, and 8 Grades 6, 7, and 8 this year contained well balanced competitors in the finals. From the beginning it was assumed that Kenneth Lillard (a eager player) or Willie Verge would be the first place winner. This is just the way it ended, but not before others had a chance at a trophy. We want to take tare that we do not omit any players as well as the fad that they were winners.

When we stop to think about it, that's what the name of the game is informing you of our tournament and its results. No one knows how the matching of players will turn out until the names are drawn and placed on the brackets, but still this annual event is looked to by the Murfreesboro Recreation Department and Holloway Gym with eagerness becau it is a means of helping to foster and keep alive the interest in recreation at Holloway Gym. Babe Ruth seeks aid The Murfreesboro Babe Ruth League is seeking managers for its 1981 season. Positions are open in both the 13 year old division and in the 14 to 15 year old group. Anyone interested in becoming a manager in the Babe Ruth League for this year should contact league commissioner Pat McHale at 893-3323 or 890-0784.

1981 TSSAA Girls Basketball All Tournament Team Class A Camille Beadle Richland Jcnnifer White Polk County I ora Maholmcs Dcnmaik West Peggy Bramlett Richland Norma Walls Laglcvillc Angel Gibson Seymour Sharon Bradcn Richland Leslie Newman Polk County Peggy Allen I aglcvillc Dawn Miles (MV P) polk Count By Charles Ferguson Gym Director For approximately two weeks the Seventh Annual One-On-One Basketball Tournament has been in progress at Holloway Gym. The players and spectators are really whooping it up as the competition rolls along. This activity sponsored by the Murfreesboro Department and Holloway Gym has survived six years and now we are currently in our seventh year of competition. Admittedly, the interest in this tournament is still at a high level. Excitement abounds this year as the younger contestants display their abilities to shoot, dribble and rebound as they strug gle to stay in the competition to become winners at some point in this tournament.

In response to the two divisions of competition we mention that the grade school division composed of grades 3, 4 and 5 was completed as of the writing of this article. The players (winners and losers) may not be happy that their contests for this year have end-ed. This may be due to the fact that the losers may want another chance to try and become winners, whereas the winners may want to quit while they are ahead. However the cut may come or go, the games are oyer for these groups Soccer team Jan Sobstad scored a hat-trick and the MTSU Blue Raider Soccer Team went on to blank the Nashville Blues 5-0 in soccer action Sunday at MTSU. The win marks the 20th consecutive home victory for the Raiders, and has pushed them into a three-way tic for first place in the Dixie Amateur Soccer League.

Nashville 1980, Softball try-outs The Kiwanis Club Girls' Softball League, forages 13 through 15, will conduct try-outs this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Caldwell Field in front of the Murfreesboro Airport. Sports f.t Calender Optimist baseball The Murfreesboro Optimist Club will be conduc ting another try-outsign-up for it's 1981 Little League Season, this Saturday at 9 a.m. at Ray Duffy Field in Old Fort Park. The Optimist Little League is the only Little League program in the Murfreesboro area, and any youngster between the ages of 9 and 12, who will not be 13 before July 31, 1981, and who wants to participate in Little League baseball this season is urged to come out this Saturday.

This will be the last signup opportunity, barring inclement weather. This year the Optimist League has expanded it's program to include a train Volleyball to The Second Annual Women's Council of Realtors Volley ball Tournament will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Cox Memorial Gym on Maple St. This tournament is open to all realtors, bankers and Baseball Tonight MJSU travels to Belmont. Friday, March 20 MTSU hosts Wisconsin-Whitewater.

I irst game I p.m. (doubleheader) Saturday. March 21 MTSU hosts Bradley. First game I p.m. (doubleheader) March 23, 24.

25 MTSU travels to Sanford, F1. for Spring Baseball College Tournament Tennis Mens riday. March 20 MTSU hosts Morehead State at 12 p.m. MTSU hosts Wisconsin Whitewater at 3 p.m. Sunday.

March 22 MTSU travels to Jackson-sille. I I. to take on Jacksonville at 2 p.m. Monday, March 23 MTSU takes on Kalamazoo College in Gainesville, F1. at 9:30 a.m.

Women Sunday. March 22 MTSU Vs. Rollins College in Winter Park, 11. 10 a.m. Soccer Today Riverdale travels to Hendersonville.

Kkkoff 7 p.m. (under lights). Oakland hosts Dupont at the Oakland High School Field. Kick-off 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 24 Oakland travels to Gallatin.

Kick-off 4 p.m. Riverdale hosts St. Andrews at the VA Held. Kick-off 4 p.m. Track Saturday, March 21 MTSU kicks off it mens I9SI outdoor track season, traveling to Athens.

Ga. to compete in the Georgia relays, 10 a.m. Two ovid young Blue Raxfer othletics ferns, April ond Gory Dovis III. represent their fother ord A. ond G.

Distributing Co. inmoking 110,000 contribution to the MTSU Foundation in support of the university' athletic program. Miss Dovis mokes the check presentation to William Greene, vice president for business ond finance, while J.O. Gst, foundation treasurer, and Boyd Evans, director of development, look on. Jock Ross Pboo persons in related fields and will accomodate both men rvt.