The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 17

The Sallna Journal Wednesday, Octobers, 1993 17 West edges out Central in 1-70 tennis tourney Mustangs'2-year reign ends with runner-up finish By The Journal Staff TOPEKA For Salina Central, talk of a possible three-peat at the 1-70 League tennis championships ended Monday as the Mustangs finished two points behind champion Topeka West, which ended their two-year hold on the title. Capturing the No. 1 and 2 doubles, and placing third in each of the singles competition was almost enough to secure the crown for coach Jim Lovullo's Mustangs. But with West capturing the title in No. 1 and No.

2 singles, and finishing second and third in doubles, the Chargers were able to upend Central, 46-44. "Our girls played great, and though West won league, I feel like our girls played like league champions," said Luvollo after each of his players earned league medals. For Chris Sexton and Laura Williamson, their 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win against Manhattan's No. 1 doubles team of Limbocker and Avery was their second 1-70 title. Sexton teamed with Polly Nelson to win last season, while Williamson brought home the gold in No.

2 doubles her sophomore year (1991). Alii Warrington and Katy Guest made it a clean sweep for South, with a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 doubles victory over Farris andSchickofWest. In singles, Chris Schulte of South was denied the No. 1 title, as she fell in straight sets to Meg Griffin of West, 6-2, 6-1. Griffin is projected to be in the chase for the Class 6A state title, while Schulte is a favorite at the 5A level.

A surprise in No. 1 singles saw Central's Samantha Roberts upset Angie Unruh in her opening match, 9-4. She lost to Griffin in the semis before claiming third place with a 9-7 triumph against Adlee Essmiller of Manhattan. In No. 2 singles, Jill Schepmann of South fell short in the championship contest, losing to Daniel Carter of West, 6-3, 6-2.

Jennifer Poole placed third for Central, knocking off Jen Hower, Manhattan, 9-6. Manhattan finished behind Central with 38 points, and South finished fourth in the six-team field with 28. Topeka High (22), and Junction City (18) rounded out the standings. Central and South continue postseason play next week when they travel to Liberal for regional play on Monday. BASEBALL TCI, ESPN2 sign pact By The Associated Press NEW YORK Tele- Communications Inc.

has signed an agreement to carry ESPN2, making the new all-sports network available on virtually every major cable network in the country. ESPN2 opened to an estimated 10 million homes last Friday night. ESPN, co-owned by ABC-Capital Cities and the Hearst expects ESPN2 to be seen in 15 million homes by the end of the year, 20 million after two years and 30 million after three. ESPN, now 14 years old, is seen in about 61.9 million homes, or just about all the cable homes in America. TCI, the nation's largest cable operator, was the last of the 20 major so-called MSO's to sign up.

The deal gives TCI the right to carry ABC's signal free of charge in return, in part, for clearing channel space for ESPN2. Based in Denver, TCI has 10.4 million subscribers in 49 states. ABC-Cap Cities and Hearst now have signed more than 130 ESPN2 agreements involving retransmission consent. Most of the agreements, including that with TCI, are on a rollout basis, meaning ESPN2 will be phased in among the cable operator's customers. ABC-Cap Cities and Hearst also are partners in Lifetime Television and the Arts Sciences Entertainment Network.

BRIEFLY South golfers take fourth in tourney COUNCIL GROVE-Kelly ston fired a nine-hole score of 39 to lead Washburn Rural to the team title at the Council Grove Invitational golf tournament on Tuesday. Rural scored 185, followed by Newton (202), Manhattan lina South (216), Clay Center (223) and Council Grove (244). Connie Craig led South with a 52. The rest of the Cougars shot this way: Cori Tingen54, AprilMcKemy 54, Paula Commerford 56 and Kelly Treffer57. The meet was a makeup of a rainout from earlier in the season.

South and Central will compete in a regional meet at Topeka Shawnee Country Club on Tt esday. SHHSspikerswin two CVL matches HERINGTON Behind the play of all-county performer Kristin Simoneau, the Sacred Heart Knights swept a pair of volleyball matches Tuesday in Cottonwood Valley League play. The Knights beat Herington 15-10, 15-1, with Simoneau providing seven Jennifer Downing had eight kills, and Melissa Weiser finished with 10 service points. In their second match, the Knights 'lost the first game 16-14, but responded to win the match Joanna Shively dominated frontline play with 12 kills. had 15 assists, and 10 service With the two victories, the Knights stand at 11-7 overall and 6-2 in league play.

Sacred Heart was also victorious in junior varsity and freshman action. The Knights won the JV match, 15-8, 16-14, and the freshman contest, and 15-9. Central spikers come up short twice HAYS The Salina Central volleyball team saw its record fall to 913 after losing twice Tuesday night. Central lost to Dodge City, and Hays, Central's Vanessa Lopez enjoyed a good night, with eight assists against Dodge City, and 11 in the Hays match. She also served for eight points against Hays.

Kenyetta Fears had 23 kills on the night. Though disappointed with the final result, Central coach Maxine Hays felt her team played well. "We did not play poorly, we were just not able to end up with a win," said Hays of her Mustangs. Central, South, and Sacred Heart will compete in the city triangular next Monday. El Mirage won't deal with Royals EL MIRAGE, Ariz.

This Phoenix suburb will not enter into a spring-training agreement with the Kansas City Royals unless a county agency commits to help build a proposed $15 million stadium for them. "The city of El Mirage is not going to make any financial commitments without the assistance of Maricopa County," City Manager Jose Solarez said. "You're dealing with the poorest government in Maricopa County." Charlie Dorego, a member of Sun Cities Stadium Associates, met Tuesday with Royals representatives in Kansas City, Mo. Royals general manager Herk Robinson's secretary said afterward that Robinson had left without comment. The Royals have trained at the $50 million Boardwalk and Baseball amusement complex in Haines City, since 1988, but Arizona Baseball Commission chairman Joe Garagiola said Anheuser-Busch might not choose to renew the arrangement when the lease expires in 2002.

Solarez said El Mirage was interested in becoming a spring-training site but had learned to be wary "because of our past history with other developers." Sun Cities Stadium Associates owns 22-year-old Sun Cities Stadium, which has been without a Cactus League tenant since 1985. The owners pursued Colorado, San Diego and Seattle without success primarily because the teams considered the facilities inadequate. From Staff and Wire Reports Royals lacked offense in 1993 Kansas City averaged only 4.2 runs per game By CRAIG HORST The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, many teams scored runs at record numbers this season, the Kansas City Royals crossed home plate like turtles who seemed to prefer warming themselves in the summer sun on the basepaths. Analysts looking to disprove that bit of baseball lore that decrees good defense and good pitching wins pennants need only to look at the 1993 Royals. The Royals, who finished third with a 84-78 record, proved you have to score, too.

Their 675 runs averaged out to 4.2 per game. "If the guys can only score some was manager Hal McRae's lament throughout the season. The variation being, "If we can get some offense, we'll be all right." Kansas City's top run producer was George Brett with 75 and he retired to join the front office. H.McRae That was the biggest of what likely will be many changes that general manager Herk Robinson and McRae face this winter. If there ever was a franchise in transition, this is it.

Owner Ewing Kauffman died Aug. 1 and along with the loss of one of the most decent men this world will ever Royals' organization lost his blank check. In its 25th anniversary season, one of the most successful expansion franchises ever lost both its owner and its defining player. More changes are likely as Robinson and the new five-man board of directors running the team as part of Kauffman's succession plan try to deal with a $40 million payroll. Deal with it by cutting it.

The Royals failed to draw 2 million fans for the second successive season. Their hit from lost television revenue will be harder to take then many as they struggle to operate in one of the smallest markets in the majors. The Big Need: a Big RBI Man. The Big Problem: They can't afford one. Kansas City didn't want to make the necessary offer to keep Danny Tartabull in 1991.

Sure, Tartabull is a liability in the outfield, but he always has produced runs. The Associated Press Toronto second baseman Roberto Alomar throws to first as Chicago's Dan Pasqua slides underneath. FROM PAGE 15 NL series starts tonight in Philly bopper trio. Fred McGriff (.291, 37 homers, 101 RBI) and Ron Gant (.274, 36 homers, 117 RBI) also had huge seasons. The Phillies? They're just the third major league team to go from last place to first in one season; the '91 Braves and '91 Twins also did it.

The Phillies weren't expected to be here, and they're not expected to win now that they are. 'We've got a bunch of guys nobody wanted," reliever Mitch Williams said. "It was either come here or go play in prison. We were expected to finish somewhere below the Marlins." For all of the Braves' talent and big salaries general manager John Schuerholz spent $77.4 million on long-term deals only last February they almost didn't win the West. They rallied from 10 games out at midsummer to overtake the Giants, the first team to win 103 games but not win a division.

The Braves' season turned after they dealt three prospects to San Diego for McGriff on July 20. Somehow, it doesn't seem a coincidence the stadium caught fire his first night in an Atlanta uniform after all, he Braves did, too. "They expected me to come in and hit some home runs and get 'em going," and that's what happened," McGriff said. And more. The Braves averaged 3.98 runs a game before The Trade and 5.76 per game after as McGriff's 19 homers helped them to a 54-19 second half the third-best in history behind the '54 Indians (55-16) and'42 Cardinals (63-19).

"Everybody was saying the Braves won the championship when they beat out the Giants," the Phillies' Wes Chamberlain said. "We're underdogs, and that's good." The Phillies, obviously not intimidated by the Braves, have had eight days to rest since clinching the NL East. So have their pennant- hungry fans, who have waited since a 1983 World Series loss to Baltimore to cheer in the postseason. "We are extremely confident," Darren Daulton said. "We've got them here for the first two games and our fans will be breathing right down their throats." The Phillies hope to negate the Braves' pitching and power with persistence.

Leadoff hitter Len Dykstra (.305,19 homers, 66 RBI) is a proven playoff commodity he has a .328 postseason average who sets up bombers Daulton John Kruk (.316, 14, 85), Dave Hollins (.273, 18, 93) and Pete Incaviglia Kruk, bothered lately by a sore back, worked out Tuesday and is expected to play. And, for all of the Braves' power, the Phillies have it, too, with 15(i homers the Braves hit 169 and a club-record eight grand slams. "We don't feel overmatched," Hollins said. "I feel like we can beat these guys any time we go out there." The Braves outscored Philadelphia during the season split 65-64, not exactly in-your-face numbers. The Royals have courted Joe Carter for two successive seasons but could not make him an offer that he couldn't refuse.

And so Robinson, who is completing his third year in his current position, and McRae, finishing his second full year, will try to find a new direction after the big Bret Saberhagen trade that by all measures must be judged a failure. Robinson traded a two-time Cy Young Award winner to the Mets for Kevin McReynolds, Keith Miller and Gregg Jefferies. The trade didn't work out well for either team. McReynolds was supposed to be the RBI-man of the bunch, but had just 42 this season. Miller has been hurt two years.

Jefferies was sent to St. Louis this year for Felix Jose. Jefferies ended up hitting .342 with 16 homers and 83 RBI while Jose, a switch-hitter whose power is from the right side, has suffered from some mysterious shoulder injury that prevents him from hitting right-handed. McRae was put in the position of pinch hitting for his cleanup hitter when the other team brought in a left-hander to face Jose. McRae eventually began moving Jose up in the order and, although strong defensively in right, Jose committed base-running gaffes that seemed to have McRae running out of patience as the season woiind down.

FROM PAGE 15 Toronto takes first game of AL series the victory and a 4-0 lifetime record in the playoffs. Meanwhile, McDowell, who tied for the major league lead with 22 wins, was tagged for an AL playoff- record 13 hits in innings. He is 0-3 against Toronto this year, and is 3-7 with a 5.60 ERA lifetime against the Blue Jays. "Jack usually gives up a few hits and is OK," White Sox manager Gene Lamont said. "The one that really killed us the most was the one Olerud got that put them ahead." There was so much hitting that the game did not end until 10:52 p.m.

CDT. Baseball moved up its starting time by a half-hour this year, partly to accomodate CBS-TV's desire not to delay David Letterman's show, but the Blue Jays still made it a late night. Game 2 will be this afternoon and Dave Stewart (12-8), with a 6-0 career playoff mark, will face Chicago's Alex Fernandez (18-9). Olerud, whose error at first base helped the White Sox take a 3-2 lead in the fourth, put Toronto ahead with a two-out, two-run double in the fifth. Molitor followed with an RBI single for a 5-3 lead.

Olerud batted .433 in spring training and led the AL with a .363 mark this season. He sandwiched two singles around his double and also walked before finally striking out against Scott Radinsky in the eighth. The Blue Jays led the AL in hitting this year and the White Sox had the best pitching. But if good pitching is supposed to shut down good hitting, it didn't show. Chicago had its share of offense, too, although most of it was created by Guzman's wildness.

He set an AL record this season with 26 wild pitches, and he walked Frank Thomas three times. Blue Jays 7, White Sox 3 TORONTO CHICAGO RHdsnll Whilocl RAImr2b Carter rf Olerud Ib Molilor Sprgue 3b Br Jers Tollli Toronto Chicago Olerud (1) ob bl 6000 5020 4100 5120 4332 5243 5 0 1 5 5 44 7 17 7 0 042 0 I 0 Coin Rainos II Cora2b Thmas dh Vnlura3b Burks rl Paiqua1b LJhnsn cl Krkvce Guillun si Totuli 000 000 (I) DP ob bl 5021 3000 1010 3000 5 LOB Toronto 12, Chirugo 13 2B Burki (1). 3B SB Raines (1), Knrkovice. Toronto Guiman W.l-0 Cox DWurd Chicago McDowell 1,01 De-Icon Radin-jky McGlikill Spruguo (I). Guillen (I).

0 1 0 3100 4100 3000 i 4122 31 3 6 3 230 300 Toronto 1. Olorud (I), Molilor (I), Raines (1). ER BB SO I 5 1 0 13 2 0 2 HBP by (Pusquci) WP Guzman 3 Umpiius Homu, tvunv First, Kosc, Second, Shulock Kurd. Hundiy, lull, Isclnda Right Kernel I 3 38 A 46.246 Astros fire manager Howe, hire Watson as GM By The Associated Press HOUSTON Art Howe, his introspective approach unsuited for a new owner, was fired Tuesday as manager of the Houston Astros. In the biggest front-office shakeup in the Astros' 32 years, team owner Drayton McLane Howe also dismissed general manager Bill Wood arid replaced him with Bob Watson, who became the second black general manager in baseball.

"In my years as a business executive, I've always focused on the leadership," McLane said. "And 1 think that's what Bob brings to the organization. "He's highly qualified. He has two World Series rings that I see every time that I see him. That represents success and that's what we're looking for." Wood and Howe were the overseers of former owner John McMullen's austerity move that lowered the payroll and traded high-salaried players.

McLane purchased the club from John McMullen last November. "He said he had to make a change and bring in some new people, that he felt it was best for the organization," Howe said. "I can understand that. You buy a club and you want to bring in your own people. "He was fair.

Yesterday, we had a long meeting and he called me in today and said he wanted to go another way." Said Wood: "I think I just wasn't the right guy from a personality and style standpoint. My background and the way I approach things were not what he was looking for. "He's a real go-getter, a dynamic person. I'm more measured in the way I do things. Maybe I go a little slower." Wood, however, said that style was developed because of hasty decisions that turned out wrong under previous administrations.

He characterized Tuesday's dismissals as maybe "more style than substance." McLane, fulfilling his promise for full evaluations after the season, met with Wood and Howe on Monday. McLane called Howe a fine man and capable baseball person, but said the club needed "more imagination and more aggressiveness." "We want to be unconventional in our approach," McLane said. "I judged this season not by wins and losses, but by the mood of how 1 felt. We would win three or four and then we would lose three or four. Some- limes we lost to the wrong guys.

We'd let leads slip away. That's what we've got to overcome." The Astros were 85-77 this season, third in the NL West, after signing free-agent pitchers Doug Drabek and Greg Swindell to four-year contracts totalling $36.5 million. Both pitchers, however, had losing years. The Astros spent another $32.3 million on the club's nucleus of second baseman Craig Biggio, third baseman Ken C'aminiti and outfielder Steve Finley. Watson is a former player and coach who lias been in Houston's front office since 1988..