The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 15

D3 THE WINDSOR STAR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1989 Smith optimistic as opener nears Life not easy in pro baseball By Dave Hall Star Sports Reporter It is not in Brad Smiths nature to think any way but positive It is in this frame of mind that the rookie head coach is preparing for Windsor Spitfires opening trip of the regular season The Spitfires begin their 15th season in North Bay on Thursday before moving on to Sudbury Friday and then SaultSte Marie on Sunday "We have to go north thinking we II win all three," said Smith after practice Monday 'Why start out thinking you II only win one9 You re beaten before you even go if you think that way And to that end, the Spitfires will work on special teams for I he next two practices before they head north Wednesday "Today, we worked on some flow drills along with some passing and shooting, Smith said The next two will be spent on penalty killing and powerplay By that point, I hope we re ready Netminders: For the time being, sophomores Sean OHagan SPITFIRE NOTEBOOK and Kevin McDougall will continue to share the goaltending Both proved last year lha, they are capable of playing in the OHL but have struggled through training camp In their defence, it must be said that the Spitfires didnt use their strongest lineup in any of the seven exhibition games. Additionally, its taking time for eight rookies to become familiar with Smith defensive systems Still, O'Hagan and McDougall have been the focus of attention because they are the last line of defence Tve said it before and I'll say it again, I still have confidence in both of them, Smith said Now that the games start getting serious, I think they will as well McDougall stepped to the forefront in the final weeks of last season, whilp 0 Hagan had a strong start to training camp and Smith hopes both will return to form this week Star library photo JOE SIDDALL in action this past spring at Expos training camp By Bob Duff Star Sports Reporter There was advancement, excitement, disappointment, despair, surprise and a general garnering of Knowledge as Windsor's contingent involved with professional baseball doubled in size this season. First-year pitchers Jason Bryans and Stewart Hillman joined pitcher Mark Wooden, a four-year veteran, and second-year catcher Joe Siddall south of the border Siddall, 21, who toiled for the Rockford (111 Expos of the Class A Midwest League, a Montreal farm club, found his second year of pro ball was still a learning experience. I was fairly happy with the way things went, Siddall said. I worked a lot on my defence and it improved a lot.

But theres always room for improvement as a catcher. At the plate, Siddall hit .236 and finished fourth on the club in home runs with four and fifth with 38 RBls The batting average was a marked improvement over the .213 the Assumption graduate hit as a rookie last year with Jamestown, of the New York-Penn (A) League. I was hitting around for quite awhile, Siddall said. I had a rough August, though." Siddall's season started earlier than the other Windsor products, as he attended the Expos' main camp in West Palm Beach, Fla in February. IF ANYTHING, it helped me in the sense that it gave me three extra weeks of preparation for the season," Siddall said Coming from a cold northern climate, there isn't a lot of places to play ball at that time of year.

Siddall will be heading to instructional league at the end of the month, but before that he had something somewhat more important to do Siddall weJ Tamara Wawaruk, whom he has dated since high-school, last week. The two will move to Toronto, where Wawaruk is a medical student at the University of Toronto. Wooden, who plays at the highest level of the foursome, hurling for the Williamsport (Pa Bills, the Eastern League AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, was disappointed with his season. Its one season I want to forget," said Wooden, 25, who was 1-7 with five saves and a 4 14 earned-run average, a letdown after posting an 8-5 record with 21 saves for Vermont, the Mariners AA club in 1988. The year started with a double setback for the 6-foot-l, 215-pound righthander.

First, he learned he would not be attending the Mariners' main training camp. Then, after figuring he would be pitching with Seattle's AAA club in Calgary, Wooden was sent back for a second season of AA IM TRYING to get out of Seattles organization, Wooden said Theres a backlog of guys in relief and just too many numbers If worse comes to worse, I'll ask for my release, but that's the last step. For Hillman and Bryans, pro ball was a new, enlightening experience, as they both began their careers at the rookie league ranks. I was really surprised, said Hillman, 22, who hurled for the Pocatello (Idaho) Giants, a San Francisco farm club in the Pioneer League It really wasn't that big of a jump There were a few hitters on each team, but it was basically the same as college baseball. Its a bigger adjustment for the hitters, because of the wooden bats, said Bryans, who was 1-2 with a 2 08 ERA pitching for the Baseball City Lancer wins tourney (Fla Royals in the Gulf Coast (Rookie) League "In the early years of pro baseball, the pitchers definitely have the advantage Hillman, a right-hander who is already in Phoenix, Ariz.

taking part in the Giants instructional league, lost his last four starts to finish 4-8 with a 4 77 ERA. As a team, we struggled. I lost one game 2-0 and lost three times when I gave up only two earned runs," said Hillman, an Assumption product who attended the University of Detroit and played for Canadas Olympic team in 1988 The Giants selected him in the amateur draft last June They told me dont worry about wins and All theyre concerned with is my velocity and strikeouts to walks ratio, added Hillman, who has been clocked at 89 h. and struck out 70 while walking only 13 this season The main thing is you have to throw inside, says Bryans, who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 42nd round in 1988 THATS THE NAME of the game for pitchers. He walked just 11 34 innings while striking out 30.

Both found one marked difference to their college days Right off the bat, there's one thing you learn, Hillman said While its still got to be fun, it's your life now Its a business Its pretty much baseball all day, says Bryans As much as you like it, its almost like work You see your friends being released. And its so competitive. In college, you hope your teammates do well In pro, you look out for No 1 Broadbent who went out in 40 but came back with a one-over 37. I also found a couple of the greens were bumpy and you had to hit your putts really hard to get them to the hole OMarra had few such problems he jusl wanted a couple more to drop and his day would have been perfect The OUAA golf championship semifinals are set for Sept. 28-29 at Lookout Point Fonthill, near St Catharines, with the top five teams qualifying for the OUAA finals at Essex Golf Club, Oct 10-11.

Continued from B1 It's a tough course but I think its very fair and its in excellent shape, said Rick Woodard who fired an 89 for Georgian College I was terrible today but it wasnt the course it was me Woods, irons, putting you name it, they were all hopeless But Im glad I get another crack at it Tuesday Broadbent, meanwhile, found the weekend rains created some difficulties I thought it was playng really long because the fairways were soft and nobody was getting much roll," said Nobodys got bargains on 89s like your Chrysler Dealers of Ontario right now! Hi OPTION PACKAGE DISCOUNTS WORTH OVER $1100! on specially equipped models in dealer inventory. See dealer for details. SEE YOUR DEALER FOR MORE FACTORY YEAR-END DISCOUNTS. Chrysler Dynasty Chrysler New Yorker Chrysler New Yorker Landau UP 10 $1000 7 yoa'llSOf'O lomr'lio I i Phai iram Wi ranty tpplim O' Nt th Ampr i an models See Dedior for details CARS Colt 100 Plymouth Sundance Dodge Shadow Plymouth Horizon Dodge Omni Chrysler Daytona Plymouth Reliant Dodge Aries Chrysler LeBaron Coupe Convertible SPORT UTILITY Ram Light Duty Truck (All Models) Ram Ram Dodge RamPower Ram Dodge Colt Dodge 2000 Chrysler LeBaron GTS Dodge Plymouth Caravelle Dodge 3 yoar60 000 kilometre bumper lo-bumper Warranty applies to import models See Dealer tor details mm gw mm on 'system mme bi AT YOUR PARTICIPATING CHRYSLER DEALERS OF ONTARIO Qualified retail buyers purchasing lor personal use only are eligible for 69 finanrinq rwer a maximum month term For longer term loans the rates no P9' for loans foi terms of I to Jf months and 90 lor Ioann for terms of T7to4H months Transactions am NUbjed to Chrysler rod Canada Ltd approval on purchase and delivery at parfit ip if no Chrysler Canada Ltd Dealers from cmpi 1 Iuho until sut lima as term natod by Chrysler Canada ltd Delivery must be lakon from existing denier inventory Offer excludes final orders and retail lease vehicles example $10000 Imam ed lor months ut APR monthly payment re $44 tor months Co it of borrowing is $n4 4ft Total payable is $10 734 48 Cost of borrowing will depend upon amount Imanred term of loan and financing tale Buyer must pry for transportation licence laxob and other Urns sm as insuiancn and registration See Dealer for deiails This offer cancels and replaces dll other proqrams previously advertised and may not bo combined with any pmvious odors Cash to You is a limited time otter Purchase must be made and delivery lakon from existing dealer inventory from Sept 1 19H9 until such time as lerminaled hy Chrysler Canada lid This offer cancels and replaces all other programs previously advertised and may not be combined with any previous offers or currently availehlo alternatives Retail lease vnhi les am aliqibie Noe Do Her tor details Option package savings based on of optiona purchased separately Air conditioning nr automatic Iransmission are available at no additional cost on vehu les equipped with applicable oauipmonl packages Dolivory must bo taken Irom Dealer inventory Nol all Dealers may have those specially equippod vohiclos in stock faxes not included See Dealer for lull details Dealer muy sell lor less.