The Daily Sentinel from Grand Junction, Colorado • 11

PORTS GRETEL The Daily Sentinel Billy Dreher, who played mixed doubles with his wife at the 2011 Taco Bell Western Slope Open, is new boys basketball coach. Billy Dreher graduated from Fruita Monument High School in 1988, then bagged bits of basketball knowledge from around the world. Now coming home for show and tell. Dreher, the University of career 3-point-shooting record-holder, was hired Thursday as Fruita Monument High boys basketball coach. is the best basketball player to come out of this District 51 Athletic Director Paul Cain said.

man Then voice trailed off, and he began talking about 3-point reign at California. Dreher is 42. But been playing basketball the past few days. Yes, still got it. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard said he can still dunk a basic he said and he can still shoot.

So, it follows he may be able to plant some basketball passion into what will be an inexperienced Wildcats team. Dreher played at Oklahoma State University for one season, then three years at Cal. What followed was a hobnob collection of playing and coaching experiences that took him to places such as Panama and Iceland and Louisiana, where for the past 10 years he was a high school boys basketball coach. kind of always been a dream of mine, in the back of my mind, that if I was ever able, if there a right time, I could bring back some of the knowledge I was fortunate to Dreher said. now settling down, I have my family Dreher returns to Fruita as new boys hoops coach By NICK WALTER Nick.Walter@gjsentinel.com THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tiger Woods chips to the third green Thursday during the first round of the U.S.

Open. Woods shot a 1-under-par 69 and is tied for second. See DREHER page 4B Kris Carlson pitch in a baseball came until his sophomore year of college. Now, the former Colorado Mesa University relief pitcher is getting an opportunity to pitch professionally. The right-hander from Wenatchee, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 35th round and will begin his professional career with the Gulf Coast League team next week.

been in the mini- camp this past week getting acclimated to the Florida heat and his new teammates. think being drafted by an organization like Tampa Bay is Carlson told The Daily Sentinel. are known for taking young arms. For me to mature down here in an organization excited about young talent, excited about that. Tampa is known for developing pitchers and moving them up He played outfield in high school and went to his local community college to play outfield, but his sophomore year, one of the coaches wanted to try him out on the mound.

Carlson pitched 12 innings that year and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals. sign because I needed more he said. remember growing up, people say, got to start I was pretty Carlson went to Abilene Christian University for one Carlson to begin career in Gulf Coast League By ALLEN GEMAEHLICH Allen.Gemaehlich@gjsentinel.com See CARLSON page 4B FIRST ROUND LEADER BOARD M. Thompson Tiger Woods David Toms Nick Watney Justin Rose G. McDowell SAN FRANCISCO The lead at the U.S.

Open belonged to Michael Thompson. The buzz came from Tiger Woods. And the struggles came from the top three players in the world. Even as Thompson strung together four birdies on the back nine at Olympic Club that carried him to a 4-under-par 66, Woods put on a clinic on the other side of the course Thursday morning on how to handle the toughest test in golf. He has never out of position.

None of his tee shots found the deep, nasty rough lining the fairways. There was little stress for such a demanding major. With consecutive birdies late in his round, including a 35- foot putt that banged into the back of the cup on No. 5, Woods opened with a 1-under 69 to raise hopes that he can finally end that four-year drought in the majors. felt like I had control of my game all Woods said.

stuck to my game plan and executed my game He was vague on the details of that plan, though it surely the one followed by the other two guys in his star- powered group. Phil Mickelson hit a wild hook for his opening tee shot that was never found, presumably lost in a cypress tree, and he matched his worst opening round in a U.S. Open at 76. Bubba Watson chopped his way through the rough to a 78, showing that works better at Augusta National than at Olympic Club. They the only ones to suffer.

Only six players managed to break par in the opening round, which would have come as a surprise to none of the players. After opening with a birdie, Joe Ogilvie turned to his caddie and said, more pars and hoisting the He shot 73. Luke Donald, the No. 1 player in the world, is trying to capture his first major. It most likely be this one.

He failed to make a single birdie and shot 79. He played with Rory McIlroy, the defending champion and No. 2 in the world, who shot a 77. Thompson has the lead, Woods the buzz at Open Tiger lurking By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS See TIGER page 4B Julian Yan, top, follows the flight of one of his two home runs Thursday in the Grand Junction 9-8 loss to the Greeley Grays in an exhibition game at Suplizio Field. second home run brought the Rockies to within 9-8 in the final inning, but the Grays got the final out.

Left, the Cesar Galvez forces Tyler Yamamoto out at second and throws on to first to complete a double play. To see a photo gallery from exhibition game, go to GJSentinel.com. Photos by CHRISTOPHER The Daily Sentinel It exactly a dress rehearsal, but the Grand Junction Rockies accomplished what they needed to Thursday play under the lights in front of their home fans against a real opponent. After only three practices at Suplizio Field, the Rookie affiliate of the Colorado Rockies debuted in front of 1,080 fans, losing an exhibition game 9-8 to the Greeley Grays, a Colorado Collegiate Baseball League team. is beneficial.

playing someone with a different uni Grand Junction manager Tony Diaz said. matter who you play, you play against the game of The Rockies, who led from the start, took a 7-5 lead into the ninth but gave up four runs. The first five batters in the inning reached base against Jesse Meaux. you pitch behind in the count, walk batters, then playing with fire, and what Diaz said. glad it happened, so they see it matter who you face, playing against the game of Meaux walked pinch-hitter Fily Perez, then gave up a single just between third and short to Zach Wilson.

The third batter he faced, Tyler Wallace, bunted, and Meaux tried to get the lead runner at third, but his throw was late, loading the bases. Another single in the hole between third and short got two runs home before Bryan Tibbitts laced a double down the right-field line for a 9-7 lead. Meaux retired the next three batters. Jason Stolz, who hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, flied out to left to lead off the ninth, and Jeff Popick grounded out. Julian Yan gave Grand Junction a chance when he drove a ball deep over the right-field wall to cut it to 9-8, but Carl Thomore grounded out.

only was trying to get on base and get the team an opportunity to win this Yan said. only wanted to get a double or a base hit to get on base so my team would win the game. I trying to hit a home Diaz was impressed that Yan hit the ball to the opposite field with two strikes. is a kid with a lot of potential, probably the kid we have at this Diaz said. got a plus arm, tremendous power, you can attest to that.

got to learn to become a hitter first. got to learn to hit .300, and the power will Yan, who hit only three home runs last season in Casper, hit two out of Suplizio, the first a no-doubt shot to left. felt he said, grinning. hit it very Stolz hit his home run high over the left-field wall. GJ Rockies see positives, negatives in 1st game action Getting started By PATTI ARNOLD Patti.Arnold@gjsentinel.com GREELEY GRAYS 9, ROCKIES 8 UP NEXT Grand Junction at Ogden, 7 p.m., Monday See STARTED page 4B How to get there? Log on to GJSentinel.com select the bar that reads Sports and pull down and over to Corner.

Billy Ellison of GolfTEC gives us a tour of the facility including teaching bay, golf simulator and repair center. is your one stop shop for every one of your golfing Billy Ellison GolfTEC This online golfing video: A tour of GolfTEC 625 24 Road; Suite Grand Junction, CO 81505 (970) 208-1030 We provide individual lessons, indoor teaching and practice bays, a golf simulator, club fittings and repair and much more! OPEN Tuesday-Sunday 10-6 See the complete video and more events at Corner at GJSentinel.com From lessons to gear, GolfTEC has you covered! The Daily Sentinel Friday, June 15, 2012 SECTION.