The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 19

Hit and Run. 2C Baseball. 3C Disc championships. 5C Sports editor: Adam Mertz 252-6474 Bucks get ordinary Joe for Cassell. Johnson Peeler Johnson, Peeler also switch teams Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS The Milwaukee Bucks made a move Friday that shows they are serious about re-signing Gary Payton.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, meanwhile, took their, first summer step toward finding a better mix of players to surround Kevin Garnett. Minnesota acquired veterans Sam Cassell and Ervin Johnson from Milwaukee in exchange for disappointing forward Joe Smith and guard Anthony Peeler. The trade, in the works for the past month, signified several things: That the Wolves are committed to cre- some of the time, the two-headed point guard model that has worked well recently for Dallas and Sacramento and after acqumng Payton in February Milwaukee. That the Bucks believe Smith, a former No. 1 overall draft choice, can still become a consistently productive player.

Though the Timberwolves lost in the opening round of the playoffs for an NBA-record seventh straight year, Troy Hudson had an impressive series at the point against the Lakers. With Rod Strickland not expected back, the Wolves indicated Cassell would play alongside as well as spell Hudson. Two of the best teams in the Western Conference, the Kmgs (Mike Bibby and Bobby Jackson) and Mavericks (Steve Nash and Nick Van Exel), have been successful with simultaneous use of two point guards. We think Sammy can really bring some punch to our lineup, Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale said. Cassell, who turns 34 on Nov.

18, turned in his two highest-scoring seasons as a pro the last two years averaging 19.7 points a See TRADE, Page 2C ating a supporting cast good enough to finally get them past the first round of the playoffs and convince Garnett to sign a longterm extension before his megadeal expires a year from now. That the Bucks, who took Texas point guard TJ. Ford with the No. 8 pick in Thursdays draft, will do everything they can to keep Payton around when the free-agent market opens July 16. Thats been our intention all along, Bucks GM Ernie Grunfeld said.

That the Wolves plan to mimic, at least ASSOCIATED PRESS The Milwaukee Bucks traded 33-year-old guard Sam Cassell, who averaged 19.7 points per game last season, to the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday. LET THE GAMES BEGIN Ssssisr r- 5 1 Lucky 2.3: irewirs rip Twins The opening ceremonies of the 19th annual Badger State Games Friday night in Verona Included (left) Ore- on native and new University of Wisconsin womens asketball coach Lisa Stone lighting the torch, and (below) Gov. Jim Doyle and Stone leading the traditional arade of athletes. Tne Badger State Games run through unday in Madison and the surrounding area. More on the Badger State Games, 5C.

MICHELLE STOCKEH PHOTOSfTHE CAPITAL TIMES Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS The Minnesota Twins appeared to hit bottom, and their neighbors did nothing to cushion the fall. Matt Kinney allowed eight hits in his first career complete game, and Richie Sexson had three hits and five RBIs to power the Milwaukee Brewers past the defending AL Central champions 13-1 Friday night at the Metrodome. Hopefully tonight was the lowest it can get, said Twins starter Kyle Lohse. Sexson, John Vander Wal, Brooks Kieschnick and Eddie Perez each homered, and Scott Podsednik had a career-high three hits for the second straight game for the Brewers, who own the NLs second-worst record but have beaten Minnesota three out of four times this season. Were not enjoying it enough right now, said manager Ron Gar-denhire, whq kept the clubhouse doors closed longer than usual while imploring his team to come together, stop putting so much pressure on itself and start having some fun.

You know what? Were not going to quit, Gardenhire said. Were going to try to get back to playing the game the right way. Toni Hunter had an RBI double for the Twins, who have lost 10 out of 13 in falling two games behind first-place Kansas City. Kinney (6-6) walked one and struck out four in his 35th major league start, throwing 119 pitches 82 for strikes. They kind of kicked my butt last time, so I think this just evens it all out," Kmney said.

They know how I pitch and Ive seen them hit a lot, so it can work either way just whoever guesses right sometimes. Kinney, who went 2-7 with a 4.64 ERA in 14 games (12 starts) for Minnesota in 2002, was acquired by the Brewers last November after spending four-plus seasons in the Twins organization. Hes done a decent job this year in the No. 2 spot in See BREWERS, Page 5C Schulers team surviving without big budget AUTO RACING The team would not exist without the financial support of Schulers partner, Daryl Spoerl, a Fort Atkinson car dealer who first began sponsoring Schulers short-track endeavors 1996. Last summer, Spoerl thought Schuler should take a shot at competing in the Busch Senes full time and helped fund the team.

Schuler and Spoerl estimate the team has run for part of the season last year and this year on an investment of about $500,000. See SCHULER, Page 6C in my eyes better job amount of budget that Spoerl, crew chief for Jason Schuler a Cambridge driver a hard worker By Tamira Surprenant The Capital Times CAMBRIDGE Jason Schuler operates his NASCAR Busch Senes team on a shoestring budget without a sponsor. Considering the fact the 31 -year-old Cambndge native often faces dnvers who work for bigger teams with multimillion-dollar sponsors, Schuler is still satisfied with what he has accomplished this season. Schuler, who converted a bam at his grandparents old veal farm into a race shop, has two top-20 finishes in 14 starts, which include a career-best 13th-place finish at Nashville Superspeedway on June 7 and a 19th-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 5. While victory lane is his ultimate goal, Schuler, who will attempt to qualify today for Sundays GNC Live Well 250 at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, realizes that top-20 finishes or possible top-10s are more realistic goals considering what little he has to work with.

Schuler has one full-time employee and eight people who assist him at the shop and race weekends on an almost volunteer basis. He leases a truck with a trailer from Nordy Wenham, his fulltime worker and crew chief who travels from Cambridge to each race venue. There Is nobody who could do with the small money and the we Daryl MICHELLE STOCKERTTHE CAPITAL TIMES NASCAR at The Milwaukee Mile preview, 6C. Despite not having a sponsor and operating on a tight budget, Cambridges Jason Schuler has enjoyed some success in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2003. Li i.