The Berkshire Eagle from Pittsfield, Massachusetts • 28

D6 The Berkshire Eagle, Wednesday, July 4, 1990 Sports Berkshire Sports Calendar TODAY PRO BASEBALL: Elmira Pioneers at Pittsfield Mets, 7 p.m. RUNNING RACE: Independence Run. Wahconah Park. 9:30 a.m. Area Sports I Km mk Craig Walker Berkshire Eagle Staff afternoon.

Walker combined with Mike Sciortino and Tom Wilson on the shutout of the Pioneers. Pittsfield Mets right-hander Peter Walker prepares to fire plateward during the Mets' 3-0 win over Elmira yesterday Three Pittsfield Mets combine for shutout Randy Nermann." Sciortino is hitless in two plate appearances this spring. Inserted at first base with the score tied 2-2 after Nicky Davis left for a pinch runner Monday night, he made a tough scoop of a low throw to end the eighth inning with two runners on. Sciortino has had two shaky mound outings in his four appearances, but he had more control in his other two appearances and proved difficult to hit. "It's an adjustment, but I'm starting to like pitching more and more after working with Randy," summed up Sciortino.

"But I still like to hit and play a little first base." METS, from Dl Travis Kinyoun, making his Pittsfield debut, easily gunning down attempted base thieves at second. "He's a nice little catcher with good tools," assessed Walker. "I worked well with him today." The Pioneers had runners on first and third with one out in the fourth when Dave Alvarez grounded into a double play begun by shortstop Phil Scott. Davis made the big stretch at first to nip Alvarez and prevent the tying run from scoring. Come back here Elmira got two singles in the fifth but Jose Lora, who thought he struck out on a 2-2 pitch and ran to first when the ball eluded Kinyoun, was waved back to the plate by umpire John Storie, who called the pitch a ball.

Lora struck out on the next pitch. Jeff Limoncelli led off the sixth with a single, and an out later, the left-handed Sciortino relieved Walker to face the left-handed-hitting Jason Friedman. Friedman singled, but Sciortino got the next two batters. Wilson went the final three innings for his first save, getting a nice play from third baseman Arredondo, who age was the third highest in the country in Division 1 and he was named a Sporting News first team All-America as a first baseman. In his spare time, he threw about 45 innings as a pitcher.

Imagine his surprise when the New York Mets called him on draft day and told him their plans for him. "I was shocked," said Sciortino. "When the Mets called, I said, 'All right, I'll be playing first base in the Then they told me they wanted me as a pitcher." Sciortino said he was scouted by 15 teams and he estimated 12 were interested in him as a first baseman. The California Angels and Toronto Blue Jays, who had the greatest interest in him, were intrigued by his bat. "I had a tryout with the Mets at Shea Stadium and I must have shown something as a pitcher," said Sciortino, who was picked on the 23rd round.

"Left-handers are scarce, and that may be why they wanted me to try pitching." "We think he has a chance to be a better pitcher than he was in college," said New York Mets' Northeast regional scout Paul Baretta, who is based in Connecticut. "He'll be concentrating on it and he'll get good instruction from Pittsfield pitching coach came in on Mora's bunt to gun him down at first to end the seventh, and inducing double-play grounders to extricate himself from mild trouble in the eighth and ninth. METS NOTES: Oklahoma State's Burnitz wasn't the only Met to get a look at College World Series champion Georgia this spring. Walker started against the Bulldogs for UConn in the Northeast Regional in Waterbury, Conn. "It was a tough loss," said Walker of the 5-2 defeat.

"It was 2-2 until the seventh." Walker, a seventh-round pick this spring, was 4-7 for the Huskies but sported an ERA just over 2.00. "We had a good team but I lost a few shutouts," said Walker. A day after he was batting and playing first base in the late innings of a tie game, Mike Sciortino, perhaps the most versatile Met, was pitching in relief in yesterday's 3-0 victory. Sciortino batted .462 with six homers and 45 runs-batted-in in 138 at-bats as a first baseman with Central Connecticut University this spring. His batting aver Northern Berkshire Biathlon set The 15th annual Northern Berkshire Biathlon will be Saturday at Windsor Lake in North Adams.

Late registration is scheduled from a.m.. with the race beginning at 10. The race is a major fund-raiser for the Northern Berkshire YMCA gymnastics team. For more information, contact Mitch Miszewski at the Northern Berkshire YMCA in North Adams. Gebo receives athletic grant Tamera Gebo of Great Barrington was one of 21 individuals and three teams to receive athletic grants totaling $17,750 from the Women's Sports Foundation Travel and Training Fund.

Gebo will use her $500 grant for travel expenses. Gebo, 26, had competed in triathlons for seven years. In 1989, she entered the professional ranks and finished the year 15th in the Coke Grand Prix standings. Her highest finish in the U.S. Triathlon Series was fifth, in the USTS New England event.

She placed eighth at the Montreal Mondial World Triathlon last August and 18th at the USTS National Championships. In 1988. she won her age group in the USTS New England event and was 10th in her age group at the Ironman World Triathlon Championships. Gebo. who is a former gymnast and synchronized swimmer, works as a physical therapist and coaches a youth cross country ski team.

The Women's Sports Foundation organization provides direct financial aid for aspiring women athletes for travel, coaching and other expenses. Athletes who show dedication required to reach the highest levels within their sport and who have compiled a successful competitive record receive grants. Lee athletes playing summer soccer K.C McManmon and A.J. Skowron of Lee are playing with the U-14 Western Mass. girls' soccer club in Springfield.

The team won the state championship over Acton on June 17 in a match played at the University of Massachusetts. The team will play again at Niagra Falls on July 30-31 in a state regional tournament. Jessie McManmon of Lee is a member of the Women's U-17 state soccer team. The squad will play this summer in tournaments scheduled for New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The team is coached by Mario Mason of Holy Cross College.

Arpante runs in Senior Olympics Richard Arpante of Pittsfield placed second in the 50- and 100-meter sprints at the Senior Olympic Games held June 1-3 at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn. Arpante, who competed in the age 55-60 division, had a 14.3 time in the 100 and 7.6 in the 50. The second-place finishes qualify Arpante for the National Olympic Games that will be held at the University of Syracuse in June of 1991. Irvin to appear at card show Baseball Hall of Famer Monte Irvin will appear at the Albany baseball card show Thursday at the Polish Community Center on Washington Avenue Extension. The show also will feature baseball, football, basketball and hockey cards along with other sports memorabilia.

World's fastest van at Lebanon "High Country Thunder," billed as the "World's Fastest Van," will make its first New York state appearance at Lebanon Valley Speedway on Saturday and Sunday. The jet-powered van is a 1979 Ford van stuffed with a 7,000 horsepower Westinghouse J-34 jet engine. It can reach speeds exceeding 235 mph through a quarter-mile run. Taylor's hit lifts BMC, 7-6 PITTSFIELD Steve Taylor's third hit of the game drove in the winning run last night as Berkshire Medical Center edged Berkshire Custom Coating 7-6 in the Berkshire County Men's Slow Pitch Softball League. Matt Coppola also had three hits for BMC, and John Wrzesinski hit a two-run homer for Custom Coating.

Garrison stuns Seles at Wimbledon Area softbaii Wrzesinski and Pete Holcomb each drove in three runs as Berkshire Custom Coating came back to post an 11-9 win over The Clubhouse, which got two homers and five RBIs from Dan Myrick. John Ferguson hit a grand slam and drove in six runs and Steve Blasioli homered as Quality Printing won 10-4 over Lenox Trucking, which got a two-run homer from Mark Lancia. In other action, Jeff Clemons had three hits as City Savings Bank won 5-1 over Bonanza; George Morrell, Dave Rocca, Dan Norton and Tim Campbell each had three hits and combined for nine RBIs as Gildo's Auto Body defeated O'Laughlin's 20-1; and Tom Joyner had three hits and three RBIs in Country Curtains' 12-10 win over Wayside Furniture, despite two homers and five RBIs from Wayside's Tom Harrington. Area Golf WIMBLEDON, from Dl it," she said. "I just kept saying to myself that I was overdue.

I was just going to keep hanging tough." Garrison took extra pleasure in beating Seles, who angered her last year by presenting her with a bouquet of roses before their meeting at the French Open. Seles won that match in straight sets. "What goes around comes around, that's for sure," Garrison said. It came around with a vengeance at the most unexpected time, with Seles holding a match point on Garrison's service in the 14th game of the final set just before Garrison reeled off 11 of the final 12 points. Seles had taken the first set by pounding two-fisted forehands and backhands deep into the corners and buzzing passing shots by the net-charging Garrison.

"She was hitting the ball unbelievably in the first set," said Garrison, who suffered a break in the second game when Seles was at her most powerful. "At that particular time, I just saw no way that I could get back into the match." But Garrison stuck to her plan, looking for opportunities to charge the net, trying to move the taller, lankier Seles in and out by alternating drop shots with deep groundstrokes and taking pace off the ball to avoid playing to Seles' power. Seles, who gave up only five points in five service games in the first set, finally cracked a little when she served for the second time in the second set. At 15-15, Garrison outdueled her in a long rally of brilliant shots by both players and won on a lunging backhand that flew by Seles. Garrison raised her racket as if to chalk up the point and say, "That one was mine!" Garrison won the next three points for the game as the packed crowd roared its support for her, then held serve the rest of the set.

"She served a lot of strong serves," Seles said. "I was just pretty scared to hit the second serve because a couple of my shots went long." Garrison seemed in control now and Seles appeared to be weakening after an unbroken roll that began in March and carried her to titles in six tournaments through the French Open. "At the beginning of the first set, I think even the second set, I was controlling the baseline play," Seles said. "In the third set, I was just hitting a lot more balls shorter, and she got to attack more with her backhand." Seles managed only two points in losing her first three services of the third set as Garrison took a 4-1 lead with her service coming up. Nightmare revisited Suddenly, Seles found a new source of strength and a bit of luck, and Garrison's nightmare revisited her.

She began to crumble just as she had done so many times before. Seles broke her to 4-2 with the help of one of her few volleys, a backhand shot just inside the baseline. Seles then held and put the set back on serve by breaking Garrison again with four incredible shots: a blazing forehand, a return that dribbled over the net cord, a cross-court forehand that raised chalk on the sideline and a backhand that dusted the baseline. Fights off injury This time, though, Garrison didn't quit even after she was briefly injured. Trailing 6-7 on serve, Garrison slipped on a threadbare spot near the baseline during a rally and strained her upper right thigh as her legs gave out in a split.

The umpire asked her if she wanted an injury timeout, but Garrison, who had lost the point to go to 30-30, ignored her. Rubbing her leg, trying to shake off the pain, Garrison slowly returned to serve, then hit a weak forehand into the net. At match point and hurt, Garrison didn't seem to have a chance. Seles bounced from foot to foot, waiting to pounce on the return and crush one more victim. Garrison glanced to her family and friends on the side of the court, looked down at the ground, and took a deep breath.

Somehow, she found the resolve to fight back. In the next three rallies, in circumstances that once might have overwhelmed her, Garrison blasted three forehands that stunned Seles. The first two raced by Seles completely, the last she could barely tick with her racket. Seles, wounded in spirit, managed only one point on her service, when Garrison slipped again, and fell behind 8-7 with three unforced errors. Garrison went for the kill in a way she rarely has lately, and raced through her service with four straight points.

When Seles' final backhand drifted beyond the baseline, ending the match, Garrison pumped her fist in the air. Finally, she had cast off the burden she had carried so long, the tag of a player who couldn't clinch victory. Reds win 2-0 over Expos MONTREAL (AP) Tom Browning retired the first 16 batters and combined with Randy Myers on a three-hitter last night as the Cincinnati Reds beat Montreal 2-0, the Expos' sixth loss in seven games. Browning (8-5), who pitched a perfect game in 1988 against Los Angeles, did not allow a runner until Spike Owen singled with one out in the sixth inning. Mike Fitzgerald and Junior Noboa singled in the eighth.

Myers relieved with one out in the ninth after Browning issued his first two walks. Myers got his 16th save, retiring Fitzgerald on a hard grounder with the bases loaded to end the game. Wyantenuck member-guest The team of Bob Doyle, Tom Barry, Mike Delgrande and Steve Gorham took first place in a member-guest tournament last Thursday at Wyantenuck Country Club in Great Barrington. Their score of 54.90 in the tournament's scoring formula won the $140 top prize. Second with 55.95 was the team of John Kellogg, Mark Jester and Ron and Glenn Carr.

Berkshire Hills captain crew The team of Keith Dapper, Tom Valuski, Bill Greenleaf and Lil Quinn shot low net of 65 in a mixed captain crew golf tournament Sunday at Berkshire Hills Country Club. Bill Donahue, Ned Timpane, Dick Stile and Barb Wuinee tied at 66 with Jim Lally, Dan Cleary, Kathy Shiner and Ruth LeBlanc. Three more area golfers get aces Three Berkshire County golfers scored holes-in-one recently. Yesterday, LeRoy Jones of 148 Robbins Pittsfield, sank a wedge shot on the 140-yard fourth hole at Pontoosuc. His first ace in 25 years of golfing was witnessed by Larry Stevens and Jerry Cookman.

Rick Tiven of Housatonic sank a 6-iron shot on the 164-yard third hole at Bucksport (Maine) golf course Sunday. It was his first ace in 26 years of golfing, and it was witnessed by his brother-in-law Scott Jenssen, Sigerd Johnsen and Guy Winig. Bob Semels of 225 Mountain Drive, Pittsfield, used a 5-wood Monday to score a hole-in-one on the 171-yard, 13th hole at Berkshire Hills. It was the first ace in his 15 years of playing golf. Semels was playing with Tony Dastoli, Chet Sumner and Steve Rosoff.

Redfield, Boy Scout tourneys slated Plans have been announced for the Elizabeth Redfield Invitational women's tournament at Wyantenuck and the 10th annual Great Trails Council Boy Scouts of America tournament at Wahconah. Pam Rosenfeld of the Country Club of Pittsfield and Joyce Martin of the Colonie (N.Y.) Country Club will defend their title in the Redfield tournament July 10 and 11. The 64-team field also features 5-handicapper Pam Zannetto of the Torrington (Conn.) Country Club and Sue Duquette of Oak Ridge, the home club team of Dot Conklin and Ingrid Watson, and the Stockbridge team of Linda Palivoda and Chris Congdon. Wahconah will host the Great Trails tournament Aug. 24.

The entry fee for the captain and crew format is $75 per player, and includes a prime rib dinner and prizes. Entries and checks should be sent to Great Trails Council BSA, 88 Old Windsor Road, Dalton 01226. Design, typography and composition services available at Eagle Printing, Binding Mailing, 50 Pearl Downtown Pittsfield. Itam posts five Pittsfield Babe Ruth wins GEAA to a 9-5 win over GE. Besse-Clarke got a 9-3 win over IUE, as T.J.

Hilliard had two hits and two RBI. Cheshire Little League CHESHIRE Winning pitcher Josh Delmolino had three hits and scored three runs as Delmolino ConstructionFillin' Station defeated Country Charm 11-3 in Cheshire Little League play. Mike Kirchner added three hits and two RBI, and scored three runs for the winners. Adam Jajko went 3-for-3 with two RBI as the Fire Department downed Bedard BrothersJ.R.J. Foundations 7-4.

Travis Lanski got the win. for the winners, while winning pitcher Mike McHugh struck out 10 batters. IUE defeated VFW 16-9 as Jamie Evans had three hits and five stolen bases. VFW also dropped a 9-7 decision to GE, as winning pitcher Ryan O'Donnell and Sean Ladley each had two hits. GE downed Besse-Clarke 19-11 as Kevin O'Donnell homered and had two singles, while Ryan O'Donnell had three hits.

George Betti had four hits and two RBI as VFW defeated Oliver Auto Body 11-10. Chris St. John had a triple and a double and Dan Landry pitched PITTSFIELD Shaun Zatorski hit a pair of home runs and had five RBI as Itam rolled to an 18-3 win over IUE, one of five wins Itam registered in Pittsfield 14-15 Babe Ruth baseball action. Itam also downed ComFed 11-3, as Randy Wendling, Tom Righi and Chris Boino each had two hits for the winners. John Vanasse had three hits and two RBI in Itam's 14-8 win over Oliver Auto Body.

Itam also beat GE 19-4, with Chris Mastrodicasa notching four hits and two RBI for the winners, while Boino added three hits and four RBI. Itam also beat ComFed 15-10, with Wendling getting four Youth Baseball hits and three RBI while Zatorski had two singles and a solo home run. In other action, Mike Cincora's grand slam home run helped ComFed edge Besse Clarke 7-6, as John Vincent picked up the win. ComFed also defeated GEAA 11-7 as Bill Murphy had three hits and three RBI. Brad Caprari had a grand slam and Terry Bishop struck out eight batters as GEAA downed IUE 8-2.

GEAA also dropped a 9-6 decision to Oliver Auto Body, as Dave Boyd had two hits and two RBI.