The Gazette from Cedar Rapids, Iowa • 36

The Cedar Rapids Gazette: May 11, 1986 GazeHes Golden Glovers fim 4c1 Rapids called to praise the conduct of the National Golden Gloves boxers in Cedar Rapids this last week. "They are to be commended for their neatness, their politeness and the way they got along with each other and everyone else, Judy said. "We had quite a few of them staying here, and they didnt keep anyone awake all week. 0 0 0, Slipping some punches at the Golden Gloves: The Hawaiian team wins the prize for most colorful. Its boxers wore typical Hawaii trunks, white ones emblazoned with beautiful, big blue streaks.

Reminds me of the Olympic opening every four years when the athletes parade into the area behind their national flags. Those from Bermuda always wear what else? Bermuda shorts The Golden Glovers are so polite they come close to overdoing it. All of them rush over to exchange hugs with their opponents seconds while awaiting the verdict announcement. After it Is given, some bow low apparently to the judges on each of the rings four sides. Then some losers even try to pick up their conquerors.

Watch those hernias! Bob Gillam, retired Cedar Rapids real estate man, is one of two boxers who decisioned my brother Delos in the 1937 Cedar Rapids Gloves. Gillam won their semifinal bout, but Delos was reinstated after it was discovered Gillam had broken his ankle. Earl Carr, then a McKinley High student, beat Delos in the final Maury Hachey, former Cedar Rapids fighter trainer, on wbmen judges: "We have found most women are more objective than men in scoring bouts. Really. There are exceptions, of course.

I remember one year we had a woman judge who stood up and cheered while she was scoring a fight. Golden Gloves people tell us Wayne Nelson and John McMurray Of Cedar Rapids and John Connors of Des Moines deserve praise for bringing the national tourney to Cedar Rapids. RED PEPPERS Dick Stark, Dwayne Ampey, Jerry Flanagan, Bob Gillam, DeLane Shaheen, Denny Burrier, Bill Jakubpws-ky, Harold Hawkins, Bill Quinby and Dan Arenas. Others: Jim Ampey in St. Paul, Tommy Gavin and Mark "Rockin Red Burds in Dubuque, Keith Carder in Clinton, Bob DeSotel in Central City, Dave Linder and Thomas Thompson in Des Moines, Don Glasgow In Keokuk, Bruce Alger in Lisbon, Lyle Seydel in Iowa City, Roy Vaughn in Burlington.

The former boxers seemed genuinely delighted to see each other again. Many hadnt met since fighting each other about 25 years ago, What! Tame morels? For many years I have heard mushroom hunters bemoan the fact the delicious morel cannot be grown domestically. This Is the "sponge mushroom so widely sought in the spring. Well, now there is an organization called Agri-Cultures at Brookings, S.D., that offers morel spawn for sale. The firm is selling it for $10 a pound, plus $3 per pound for postage and handling.

"The inoculation of morel spawn onto soil is to be viewed as an experimental procedure, the advertisement says. "The development of the morel mushroom depends upon soil and climate conditions as well as a little luck, It "would be best to experiment by inoculating in varying locations. We would like to hear about your success in growing the morel mushroom. It says Agri-Cultures Inc, "was founded in 1985 by two professional microbiologists to provide microbial cultures to the agricultural industry. Together they represent over 25 years of experience in microbial production, mainly mushroom research and The names of the two microbiologists were not listed.

Please note the word "experimental. Presumably that is to protect them in case a customer doesnt succeed in growing morels and wants'his money back. There certainly Is no guarantee. In fact, there is a further disclaimer in this sentence: "It is advisable to mark the area seeded, as morels may not appear until the next spring's session. If you decide to risk $13 for a pound of morel spawn, fet me know if it succeeds so I can grow, my own the following year.

Pass the hash Apparently the National Golden Gloves Tournament doesnt keep records that go back when the tourney Was held in Chicago Stadium every year, I wanted fo check to see if Bob Rossle, Cedar Rapids champion in 1945, '46 and 48, still holds the Golden Gloves record for fastest knockout. Rossie kayoed a foe in 19 seconds. Thats something when you consider 10 seconds were required to count out the victim. And Ralph Thorton, our middleweight champ in 1948 and 49, won the Tony Zale Trophy as the class of the Chicago Golden Gloves 160-pound glass when he went to the Semifinals in '49. 1 0 0 0 The big, unidentified moving object you may have seen on the streets of Cedar Rapids since the Midwest League baseball season opened may have been Manager Gene Dusan of the Reds.

The generous-sized Dusarj had to have transportation when he arrived here. He couldnt locate an auto, so he purchased a used 10-speed bike, He merrily peddles himself around town. You dont find many guys as willing tojaugh at themselves as Dusafl does. 0 0 0 Judy Shankland of the Village Inn Motel in Cedar Old fighters meet There were 28 boxers from The Gazettes Golden Gloves years (1936-j2) who attended a makeshift reunion at Friday nights National Golden Gloves Tournament at Five Seasons, Maybe the biggest surprise was seeing how many of them could still hit the scales close to their former weights. A few would need a little time to make weight for instance, Darrell Lindleyof Oxford (formerly Central City) and A1 Meier, the state commissioner of labor in Des Moines.

Another surprise came when Burrell Smith of Oskaloosa informed me he didnt win the Chicago Golden Gloves in 1947. That was just before I came to Cedar Rapids, and I had always thought he was our Only home-state winner fighting out of Cedar Rapids. He said he lost in the championship bout. Smith has had serious health problems. He had a stroke in 1979 and a heart attack in 1980.

After another heart attack in 1984 he had four-way bypass surgery and is feeling much better. Several former boxers are involved in school or YMCA work: Ralph Robovsky in Maquoketa, Roger Welty in Camanche, Bob Rossle In Council Bluffs, Ralph Thornton as director of the Charles City YMCA. Bruce Alger, former Cedar Rapids champ, operates an ice cream store on Ellis Boulevard NW. Bruce is the uncle of Royce Alger, member of Iowa's NCAA championship wrestling bam. The majority of the ex-Glovers live in Cedar Rapids: SOFTBALL Marty Brown steals show for C.R.

Reds 1 2-inch game has no rival in C.R. Kirkwood has two 12-inch leagues, an 11 -team alignment on Mondays and a 30-team division on Wednesdays. The Marion YMCA has a 10-team co-ed league on Sundays. i SUCCESS While the 12-lnch game boasts the biggest numbers in town, it isnt the areas most successful game. Local teams have dominated state and regional meets in mens and womens fast-pitch find 16-inch and 14-inch slow-pitch, but 12-inch teams have struggled at the state level.

"That talent is here, but its scattered among a half-dozen teams, Sampson explained. "Weve seen some changes of sponsorships and, each year that happens, we seem to have more good players on- the same teams. NEW KIDS The new kid on the blocji is the womens 11-inch slow-pitch game. There are 41 teams in four leagues sponsored by the CRRC and all play on Monday nigbt9 at Tait The A division has eight teams, the has 18, and the and nine each. Bill Plummer III, communications director for the ASA, said the switch was made after several surveys indicated women like the size of the ball better.

"Eleven-inch ball played with 65 feet bases is an exciting game, Plummer said from his office in Oklahoma City, Okla. "It will give more offense to the womens game. All people whove played softhall like gettjng another hit or two. Cerka Costume, last years district champ, Sports Arena and Home Port dominated the Womens 12-inch scene last year and are expected to do the same in 11-inch this summer. THE BEST The best 12-inch in town can be seen every Wednesday night at Tait Cummins in the CRASA Inc.s Open Division.

According to Sampson, the top clubs in the 10-team league are -CRANDIC Railroad, Fuessleys and Hupp Electric Motors. CRANDIC is comprised of former Happy Joe's and Baumhoefners Nursery players. Happy Joes, Baumhoefners and Fuessleys were the top three teams in the district tournament last summer. "If there is a home rUn team in town, they (CRANDIC) are probably it, Sampson noted. Fuessleys is from Paris, Iowa, and "the core of that team has been together for a long time.

They are a fantastic base-hitting team, Sampson said. Hupp Electrics biggest success last season wasnt in 12-inch. After deciding to go the 14-inch route in addition to 12-inch, Hupp won the 14-inch A state title by outscoring its five foes, 46-5. THE REST The CRASA Inc. sponsors six other leagues at Tait Cummins jn addition to its Wednesday night Open Division.

There also is an eight-team AA Tuesday, a 16-team A on Thursday, a 20-team on Wednesday, a 13-team on Sunday, and Tuesday Thursday morning leagues consisting of 15 ams. The league will split into two divisions and B) after six weeks of play, with the top 10 going to B. The C.R. Recreation Commission hosts two coed leagues, a 12-team Wednesday division at Noelridge and a 30-team Friday division at Tait Cummins. Collins sponsors five eight-team leagues with the Classic, and all playing on Mondays and Thursdays at Noelridge and Cleveland.

A Tuesday night co-ed league will be played at Noelridge and Van Vechten. hats the most popular form of softball in the Cedar Rapids area? If you go strictly by numbers, then the 12-inch slow-pitch game has no rival. There are 215 teams playing in 17 different leagues or divisions in and around Cedar Rapids this summer. Last year, there were 207 teams playing in 18 leagues, and two seasons ago there were just 170 teams in 14 leagues. "Its shown amazing growth," said Rick Sampson, president of the Cedar Rapids Amateur Softball Association Inc.

"Weve expanded about as far as we can expand until we have more facilities. The best 12-inch facility in town is the Tait Cummins Complex, formerly the Street Complex. Fences constructed prior to the start of the 1985 season are 305 feet to center and 300 feet down the foul lines, "Its a hitters game, notes Sampson, "the ball is coming in there at a speed and angle tha makes it perfect to hit. "But (calling it a home run game) is somewhat undeserved. When the game is played with a restricted flight ball and on proper facilities, no its not a home run game anymore.

"The main difference (with other forms of softball) is the fact ft requires a bigger field. The ball is going to travel farther. "Even with four outfielders, there is a lot of action in the field a lot more running. (B' (B By Mike Hlas Gazette sportswriter 11 of a sudden, someone told Cedar Rapids Reds third base-t man Marty Brown he could steal bases. So he has.

And he likes it. So does that 'someone, Reds Manager Gene Dusan. 1 For a couple nights at Beloit, last week, Brown did more running than the average wristwatch. He swiped seven bases in two games, and has 16 steals this season. Cedar Rapids has 58 stolen bases in its 27 games.

Thats a lot of thievery. "This is the first time in a long time that Ive been given the opportunity to run, said Brown. "Were more aggressive than any team Ive played on. Id rather play that way. Brown, 23, is from Rolla, Mo.

He played at the University of Georgia his junior and senior collegiate seasons, then was the Cincinnati Reds 12th-round choice in last Junes amateur baseball draft. He went to Cincinnatis rookie league team in Billings, Mont. There he collected 21 doubles, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .339 batting average in 68 games. He stole 11 bases. "I know Marty has some of the abilities and skills to be a very good baserunner, Dusan said.

HE GOT off to a fairly slow start with the stick in Cedar Rapids, but Brown is on a 14-for-26 binge that raised his average from .230 to .310 in six days. "I dont even know what Im hitting, Brown said. That probably makes him unusual in pro baseball. "I never pay attention to that. I just like to go out and play.

"The steals are something that is kind of an extra for me, he said. "I didnt anticipate to be able to have this many right now. Its kind of icing on the cake." The Reds lead the Midwest League in stolen bases. Only Madison comes close. Five Reds have six steals or more.

"I feel like Ive got some individuals who are capable of stealing bases, Dusan said. "I think our thinking in the organization is that were going to be aggressive. STILL, NO other Cincinnati farm club can compare to Cedar Rapids in swiping bases. Class AAA Denver had just nine steals in its first 19 games. Class AA Vermont had 13 steals in its first 16 outings.

A school of thought headed by baseballs statistician of statisticians, Bill James, maintains that the stolen base is an overrated offensive tool. James and others feel it doesnt provide as many runs as people think, and that runners caught stealing substantially hurt a team. Dusan disagrees. "I think you reap dividends from stealing far beyond the statistics, Dusan said. "I think the times you run puts pressure on the defensive club to execute.

"I think there are lots of benefits. Obviously, the higher percentage of Success you have, the better it is, but that isnt my No. 1 concern. My No. 1 concern is to develop these players to play with confidence within themselves.

NEWS NOTES area sports $3. Call (319) 647-2145 for more information. Washington boosters The Cedar Rapids Washington Athletic Club will elect officers and a board of directors at its annual meeting Monday at 7 p.m. in Room 118 at the school. The club will hold its annual picnic Roast) at 6 p.m.

May 21 at ZCBJ Park. Club members, parents and fans are urged to attend to show support for the coaches. Reservations should be made by Wednesday. For information call the Washington activities office, 398-2226. Bob Lefebure, secretary.

Church league Teams are needed in the Marion Church fast-pitch softball league, which has games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Contact Dave Kalkwarf (377-8420). Junior track A Junior Olympic track meet for kids 14-and-under will be held Saturday at Victor, Iowa, under the auspices of The Athletic Congress. Registration begins at noon, with the meet at 1 p.m. The entry fee is Football camps The 12th annual Eastern Iowa Football Camp will be held at Coe College Aug.

8-11. The camp covers all positions and is open to boys 13-18 years of age. The camp features 18 hours of onfield instruction afid six hours of off-field instruction. Applicants can choose from three plans: resident, commuter or workouts only AppL cations should be made by Aug. 1.

For more information, call; Wally Sheets, camp director (319) 366-4700 or 398-2161, or write: Wally Sheets, 137B 29th St. Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403. The Marion area summer football camp will be held Aug. 4-8 at the Marion High School practice field.

The morning session will be for boys who will be in grades 5 through the afternoon session for those who will enter grades 9 through 12. Cost is $12 for the morning session, $15 for the afternoon. Among the coaches involved in the camp are Jim Bellamy of Mount Vernon, Chuck Clark of Marion, Gary Fickel of Mid-Prairie, Paul James of Cedar Rapids Washington and Reese Morgan of Benton Community. For more information, call Dave Messerli at (319) 377-3970 Youth football Registration for kids interested in playing in the Metro Youth Football League will be Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Coe College gym.

For more information, call Jerry Tann (364-0509) or Dick Pohorsky (396-6116). Tennis- tourneys The Memorial Day tennis tournament will bd played May 24 and 26 at various courts in the Cedar Rapids area. Competition for men and women includes open, intermediate, 35-over, 45-over and mixed doubles. Entry fee is $5 per event. Entries should be submitted by May 22 to Doug Wenzel, 215 20tji Street NW, Cedar Rapids, 52405.

Entries are being accepted for the 1986 Michelob Light-Prince Only Tennis Tournament, to be held next Saturday and Sunday at Westfield Tennis Club. Entry fees are $12 for singles, $8 for doubles, and includes new balls and a T-shirt. All entries must be received by 10 a.m. Friday. The tournament is sponsored by Dale Lee Distributing and Prince Manufacturing, Inc.

Players may register by calling Westfield Tennis Club, (319) 396-7060. All participants must use a Prince racquet. Racquets will be provided if players are unable to bring one. LaSalle officers Bob Pickering has been elected president of the LaSalle High School Booster Club. Other new officers include Kevin Malloy, vice president; Gary.

Strauss, treasurer, and ODE WEEK 0017! (7 WORKING DAYS) DYE YOUR VINYL TOP YOU CAN NOW RENEW OR CHANGE THE COLOR OF YOUR VINYL TOR YOU 00 NOT HAVE TO ONE DAY SERVICE FAINT YOURCAR TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER MATCH THE COLOR OF YOUR TOF TO YOUR INFERIOR EARL SCHEIB CALL FOR PROFESSIONAL SPRAY PROCESS qiAKES IT LOOK NEW AGAIN APPOINTMENT SPORTS OPEN FORUM later when he was in high school. Almost all of my six sons worked for Alex at The Gazette and as (concession) hustlers at the local games and in Iowa City. Some little boy might recognize his picture. He is so cute that my son Jerry said I could tell people it was he. Thank you.

MRS. DOLORES FATKA 1551 Sixth Ave. SE Comment: This has the making of a mystery, Dolores. The Gazette photographer who took the picture clearly wrote "Dickie Fatka on the back of it. Obviously it wasnt one of your sons or you would have recognized it.

Any readers know who the cute nipper is? Gus, Letters to The Gazette sports department will be considered for publication provided they are brief (450 words maximum), in good taste, of general interest and include the senders name and address so they can be verified. Who was he? Dear Mr. Schrader: My phone has been ringing off the hook since the boxing picture of Alex Fidler with two little boys was in the Sunday (May 4) Gazette. People wanted to know who "Dickie Fatka is. Since we are the only Fatkas around, obviously he had the wrong name.

We did have boxers: Duane, who did go to Chicago in 1959 when he was 18 and married, and also David There is no finer paint made WE USE DuPONT PIGMENTS GE SILICONES 1(1! imirt DAVE SCHULTE Offlca 363-3432 'Home 362-4983 GIBSON MIDLAND FINANCIAL MRTNERS IB. Follow the news of your county Daily in The Cedar Rapids Gazette 2938 1ST AVENUE NE 363-7576.