The South Bend Tribune from South Bend, Indiana • 39

SCOREBOARD C4 SPORTS SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1988 Two balls needed to tell this tale BILL MOOR MOOR OR LESS After throwing a no-hitter, a pitcher is expected to pocket the ball. After his no-hit gem on Monday night, South Bend White Sox hurler Mike Girouard kept two. One got him the last out; the other one the last laugh. He will write the particulars of his historic night on the first ball. The other one already is "autographed" in a strange way.

Before Girouard took the mound for Monday night's ninth inning, the batboy serving the Appleton Foxes brought over a ball with a message op it. It read, "No hitter, huh?" Huh? Was that to tell him that the writing also was on the wall, as well as the ball? If their little joke was supposed to unnerve Girouard, it didn't work. His return message was with a smile on his face and a slider that dipped like a frown. "I thought it was funny," said Girouard of the ball. "If anything, it kept me loose and took the pressure off a little." After all, nobody in his own dugout was going to talk to him about the no-hitter.

No way. That's a baseball no-no. When a no-hitter is on the line, the laughter stops. The looks are only straight ahead. A pitcher might as well have the plague.

In the last few innings, the dugout can turn into a dungeon with the pitcher's reprieve only coming when he walks out to the mound. "I'm not very Superstitious, but that's one thing you know not to said Girouard. "You don't talk to a pitcher about a noGIROUARD hitter." That was the very reason the Foxes of Appleton tried their little cowhide caper. But instead of breaking Girouard's spell, they apparently only broke the tension. Their message between the stitches just about put the South Bend hurler in stitches.

"I went out to the mound feeling pretty good," he said. After hitting leadoff batter Linton Dyer with a pitch (no, not with the ball the Foxes had sent over), he got the next three Foxes in order. Then there was no order. His teammates swarmed him on the mound and then carried him off. "You have to look at something like this as a team effort," Girouard said.

"There were a lot of good plays behind me. "And some luck too. I got a few of my sliders up and they were hit hard but fortunately, right at somebody." He called his dad back in Boston, enjoyed the rest of the evening and then was back to work as usual the following day. He went through a hard workout before Tuesday night's game and then kept one of the pitching charts during it. All was back to normal, although Girouard did admit that one of his Sox teammates sent a ball over to the Appleton dugout before last night's game.

It also wore a message. "How many hits tonight?" it read. The Foxes got eight more hits on Tuesday night than they did off Girouard, but the Sox still won the game in 12 innings, 6-5. Girouard himself was a hit around the ballpark as he signed several autographs and relived the game for the media. He won't let it go to his head, though.

"I've been pretty inconsistent with my pitching lately, so I'm not sure why it all came together on the one night like that," Girouard said. "It can help your confidence but you've got to remember that it's just one game. Things can turn around pretty quickly on you. I should know. "I've got one more start this season," he continued, "and I would like to make it a good one, too." Then he'll return to his hometown of Boston with the two baseballs in his suitcase.

"Maybe I'll put both balls in a case together," said Girouard with a smile. One of the baseballs will remind him of his Aug. 21 feat; the other of the fun that went along with it. Johnson hasn't gotten carried away by success By BILL BILINSKI Assistant Sports Editor It's going to take a lot of variety for Notre Dame's offense to replace Tim Brown. As he has the last two seasons, Anthony Johnson will hold up his end rather quietly, as is his style, but incredibly efficiently.

Send him off and running inside the 10, then chalk up six. Johnson doesn't smell the goal line, he communicates with it. "There's nothing magical about it," remarked Johnson of his stunning success inside the 10-yard line. "I guess it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time." Humility holds Johnson back more than any tackler has. A year ago, the first at fullback for the quiet South Bend Adams product, he carried the ball 78 times and never lost a yard.

Not one. He finished with 366 yards, third best on the club, a 4.7 per carry average and also caught four passes for a stunning 110 yards. Quick-footed and strong with obviously exceptional balance, Johnson is particularly outstanding near the goal line, where he pounded it in 11 times or once every seven carries last season. In his first two years in an Irish uniform, he has rushed for 16 TDs, averaging one every 10 times he carries the ball. "I'm not running differently there than any other place on the field," remarked Johnson who began his career as a tailback.

"I'm just trying to get as many yards as I can." Now a junior, the 6-foot, 223-pound Johnson reported for camp in superb condition and is ready to run some more but not necessarily more often. He knows, understands and accepts a similar role. Between Johnson and fellow junior Braxston Banks, the Irish fullbacks averaged about 11 carries a game last year, and the number doesn't figure to increase significantly. Tribune JOE RAYMOND Anthony Johnson usually can smell the goal line. Tribune RON RYBACK Appleton's Jorge Pedre slides safely into home plate as South Bend catcher Kurt Brown gives chase.

Bears are knee-deep in problems Associated Press The Chicago Bears' problems at linebacker keep mounting, now with news that Otis Wilson could be lost to the team for up to seven weeks because of a knee injury. Wilson injured his left knee in Monday night's 17-9 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was to have a scan taken to determine if surgery is needed. "It could be ligaments, it could be the cruciate or it could be cartilage," Coach Mike Ditka said Tuesday. "If there's a tear, he will need surgery.

I don't know. He got hit from the side and the front at the same time." If the problem is ligaments, Wilson could be lost for up to seven weeks. If it is cartilage, he could be out for four weeks. Ditka said results of the scan will be available today. Jim Morrissey will replace Wilson at right outside linebacker in Friday night's final exhibition game against the Los Angeles Raiders in Soldier Field.

The Bears' problems at linebacker began during the offseason when Wilber Marshall left the team as a free agent to sign a fiveyear contract with the Washington Redskins for $6 million. That forced the Bears to put No. 1 reserve linebacker Ron Rivera at outside left linebacker and switched Wilson to outside right linebacker in place of Marshall. Compounding matters was a lesser knee injury suffered by middle linebacker Mike -Singletary against the Cowboys. Ditka said all Singletary needed was some rest and if he was not completely ready by Friday, he would be kept out of the game against the Raiders in order to have him ready for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins Sept.

4. "Everybody likes to carry the ball a lot and I'm no different," Johnson acknowledged. "But I'm not keyed up in carrying more than last year. I don't think my role has changed in terms of individual production. A leadership role perhaps is more a part of my responsibilities.

It's changed in that respect." The question marks most others have about the Notre Dame offense, especially the youth and inexperience, haven't entered Johnson's mind. Enthusiasm is high and talent is apparent. "And everyone desires to do their job," he said. "It feels good because I think everyone is ready to make sacrifices. I think we can be just as effective (offensively) as any other year." 000 GAME TIMES: Starting times for '88 Notre Dame games are as varied as ever.

The list is subject to possible changes by television, but the current tentative times should hold up. Michigan, 8 p.m.; at Michigan State, 11 a.m.; Purdue 12:20, Stanford at Pittsburgh 6: Miami Air Force at Navy 11:10 a.m.; Rice Penn State noon; at USC 2:30. 000 DEFENSIVE LOOK: With the defensive end corps ailing a bit, more youth was in place during Tuesday's practice. Working at the No. 1 outside slots in place of Frank Stams and Darrell Gordon were sophomores Andre Jones and Scott Kowalkowski.

Stams and Gordon were dressed in full gear but not at full strength. Freshman Arnold Ale, a California product, appears to be the top candidate for the fifth defensive end spot. Bryan Flannery, who has been sharing nose tackle responsibilities with Chris Zorich, was stationed at tackle Tuesday. On the right side was Jeff Alm, who sat out Monday's practice. S.B.

Sox foxtrot by Appleton By CURT RALLO Tribune Sports Writer Appleton's Foxes can be ecstatic about one thing during their disastrous road trip to Coveleski Stadium the Foxes won't be back this season. South Bend's White Sox concluded a stunning showing against the Foxes with a 6-5 triumph in 12 innings Tuesday night in Midwest League -league baseball action to end the season series be- TONIGHT'S GAME WHO: South Bend White Sox (29- 35) vs. Kenosha Twins (38-26) WHERE: Simmons Field, Kenosha WHEN: 7 p.m. EST PROBABLE SOX STARTER: Mark Tortorice (3-12) GAME NOTES: Kenosha captured the Northern Division title the first half of the The Twins are in second place in the second half and the Sox are in fourth place, tied with Madison. Kenosha leads the season series, 8-4.

tween the two teams. A crowd of NFL ROUNDUP 000 THE TURK GAVE the boot to some veteran NFL kickers. As teams cut down to the required 60 players Tuesday, New England waived Tony Franklin, Super Bowl champion Washington released Ali Haji-Sheikh and Minnesota got rid of punter Greg Coleman. Kansas City cut Lewis Colbert, the Chiefs' regular punter at the start of last season, and Dallas let go of Eric Schubert, who has kicked for several NFL teams. Franklin, the NFL's leading scorer in 1986, lost his job to fourth-round draftee Teddy Garcia.

"He was responsible for a lot of our victories over the last four seasons and was one of the best kickers I've ever been associated with," Coach Raymond Berry said. "But it's been pretty clear that his productivity and performance have drastically fallen off, and it was in our best interests to make the move now." In his nine professional seasons, the barefooted kicker scored 854 points for Philadelphia and New England. He scored just one point in three exhibition games and was bothered with a groin injury. "It's a decision they made, but I know I can still play," Franklin said. "I'll know one way or another in the next 24 hours where I'll be, but I know I'll be kicking somewhere." Garcia, of Northeast Louisiana, will be kicking in New England.

"I'm pretty excited." he said. "But I still have to prove myself. I came here to compete against myself, not against Tony Franklin, and if I was to relax now, it would defeat everything I came here for." Haji-Sheikh also was beaten for the job by a rookie, University of Minnesota product Chip Lohmiller, even though he did not miss an extra point or field goal attempt during the preseason. In last January's Super Bowl, the former Giant and Falcon kicked six extra points. He was 13-for-19 on field goals and missed three of 32 conversions in 1987.

"It always hurts more the first time (you are cut), but this is right up there," HajiSheikh said. "I'll probably wait a day or two. If nothing happens, I'll call around. It could be quick or it could be long." Lohmiller has missed two conversions and two field goals in the preseason. Other veterans released included Pittsburgh 1 nose tackle Gary Dunn, one of the Steelers' last links to their Super Bowl years; Patriots center Guy Morriss, who accepted a position as assistant offensive line coach; Cleveland safety Chris Rockins, who left the team's training camp last week after he was held out of an 11-7 loss to the Jets, and Dallas defensive end Don Smerek and quarterback Paul McDonald.

Pittsburgh cut three rookies, including ninth-round draft choice Gordie Lockbaum, who finished third in last year's Heisman Trophy balloting after playing both offense and defense for Holy Cross. "I just wasn't making the plays," Lockbaum said. "I got every opportunity in the world. I just couldn't make the plays when I needed to." The Washington Redskins waived fromer Notre Dame defensive lineman Wally Kleine while Buffalo put former Irish receiver Joe Howard on the injured reserve list. 4,129 packed Coveleski Stadium to see the Sox rally from a 5-run deficit with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Javier Ocasio turned in the heroics for the White Sox in extra innings. The South Bend second baseman smacked a single to right field with one out in the 12th to score pinch runner Rodney McCray. South Bend treated the Coveleski fans to fireworks for a second straight night. Mike Girouard pitched a no-hitter Monday night to give South Bend a 5-1 victory. South Bend whipped the Foxes, 15-0 and 7-3, in a two game series last week.

The White Sox took four games in a row from Appleton to even the season series at 7-7. Catcher Kurt Brown singled to start the 12th and was replaced by speedster McCray. Randy Warren moved McCray to second with a sacrifice. Appleton then intentionally walked Kinnis Pledger, going against the lefty vs. lefty odds, to face Ocasio, a right-handed batter.

Ocasio's single shot down the Appleton strategy and the Foxes. "It was a fastball inside," said Ocasio. "I was looking for a base hit anywhere to get the game over." South Bend used a wild eighth to force extra innings. Appleton pitchers issued six walks and yielded a pair of singles to help the Sox push across five runs and tie the score. Cesar Bernhardt came through with a clutch hit in the inning to drive in two runs.

Larry Allen contributed a sacrifice fly and Randy Warren added an RBI single. Ocasio scored on a wild pitch. Appleton manager Brian Poldberg probably won't be including umpires Marv Wright and Mike Everitt on his Christmas card list this December. Poldberg didn't get to spend much time in the Coveleski Stadium dugout he was ejected for the second time in two nights. See 8.B.

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