The Spokesman-Review from Spokane, Washington • 43

'i w' i w-t r'w' v1 tw m-nr Spokane, June 17, 1990 The Spokesman-Review Spokane Chronicle C7 CONTINUED: FROM Cl LETTERS SPOKANE INDIANS ROSTER Following is the Indians' roster, with positions, ages, hometowns and 1990 spring teams and statistics listed for all players: Dave Adams, 3B-1B-OF: 20, Altadena, Calif. (Cal State-Los Angeles, NCAA Division II .342, 0 HR, 1 error, played LF). Bruce Bensching, 22, Clarkston, (Lewis-Clark State, NAIA 3-1, 4.71). Brent Bish, 2B-SS: 21 Los Angeles (Cal State-Los Angeles, NCAA Division II .253, 30 stolen bases). Mike Bradley, 23, Round Rock, Texas (Texas, NCAA Division I 7-2, 2.87).

Julio Bruno, 3B: 17, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (extended spring training no statistics available). Jim Elliott, 20, Glen Ellyn, III. (Denver, NAIA .308, 17 HR, 48 RBI in 46 games). Scott Fredrickson, 22, San Antonio, Texas (Texas, NCAA Division I 3-1, 1 .41 2 saves, 18 games, all in relief). Jay Gainer, IB: 22, Panama City, Fla.

(South Alabama, NCAA Division I .270, 6 HR, 37 RBI). Russ Garside, 20, Gardnerville, Nev. (Charleston, S.C., South Atlantic League 0-2, 1 1 .25, 2 games, sore shoulder). Darius Gash, OF: 23, Cleveland (Middle Tennessee State, NCAA Division I .227, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 15 stolen bases, 1 error). Paul Gonzalez, 3B: 21, Fort Worth, Texas (Texas Christian, NCAA Division I .333, 16 HR, 59 RBI, .647 slugging percentage).

Larry Hawks, C-1B-3B: 21, Hamilton, Mo. (Central Missouri State, NCAA Division II .337, 12 HR, 58 RBI). Rob Hays, 21, Bozeman, Mont, (Cal State-Chico, NCAA Division II 3-3, 5.25). Keith McCoy, OF: 19, Clarkston, N.C. (Southeastern, N.C., Community College .367, 34 stolen bases).

Bill Meury, SS: 22, Amityville, N.Y. (Maryland, NCAA Division I .281, 7 stolen bases). Matt Mieske, OF: 22, Auburn, Mich. (Western Michigan, NCAA Division I .325, 14 stolen bases). Tony Mortensen, 23, Rexburg, Idaho (Cal State-Stanislaus, NCAA Division II 7-6, 2.89).

Bill Ostermeyer, OF: 23, Santa Clara, Calif. (Centenary, NCAA Division I .401, 11 HR, 19 2B, 51 41 RBI, 131 TB, .701 slugging percentage). Lance Painter, 22, Milwaukee (Wisconsin, NCAA Division I 4-7, 4.89). Jeft Pearce, OF: 20, Sebastopol, Calif. (Pepperdine, NCAA Division I .250, 1 HR in 31 games, limited due to sprained ankle).

Scott Sanders, 21, Thibodaux, La. (Nicholls State, NCAA Division 1 11-6, 2 37, 133 strikeouts in 121 Vi innings). Steve Siebert, 2B: 21, St. Louis (Georgia Southern, NCAA Division I .259, 6 HR). Rusty Silcox, 21, Winnie, Texas (Arizona State, NCAA Division I 2-2, 4.53, 6 saves).

Ryan Thibault, 21, Fountain Valley, Calif. (Pepperdine, NCAA Division I Joe Waldron, 20, McAlester, Okla. (Southwestern Louisiana, NCAA Division I 8-4, 3.08). Jim West, 22, San Francisco (San Francisco, NCAA Division I .295, 5 HR, 16 RBI, threw out more than 50 percent of runners attempting to steal). Indians Louisiana.

Bensching, a Clarkston native, had injury problems after a fine junior season and was 3-1 with a 4.71 ERA and two saves for NAIA power Lewis-Clark State. Some of the more impressive players during the Padres week-long minicamp at Indians Stadium have been third baseman Paul Gonzalez from Cal State-Los Angeles, right fielder-center fielder Matt Mieske from Western Michigan, left fielder Jeff- Pearce from Pepperdine and shortstop Bill Meury from Maryland. This spring, Gonzales hit .333 with 16 homers, Pearce hit .250 while nursing a sprained ankle that still bothers him and Meury hit a career-high .281. Mieske hit .325 with 17 doubles and 14 stolen bases and set Western Michigan career records with a .347 average, 25 home runs, 52 doubles, 73 steals, 174 RBI, 224 hits and 168 runs. In previous years, he made two All-America third teams and one Academic All-America first team.

Gonzales and Meury look like an airtight combo on the left side of the infield, and theres little reason to question Pearces bat he hit nearly .500 in both his seasons at Marin CC in California. Bish, who hit just .253 at Cal State-LA. this year, will battle Steve Siebert (the son of ex-major league pitcher Sonny Siebert) at second base. Siebert hit .259 with six homers for Georgia Southern. Several Indians can play first, including Jay Gainer, a slick fielder, who hit .270 with six homers for South Alabama.

The speedy McKoy hit .367 as a JC freshman this year. Bill Oster-meyer, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound slugger from Centenary College (.401, 11 HR), figures to play right field when hes not serving as the designated hitter. The catchers are Jim Elliott, a 1989 NAIA first-team All-American, who holds Denvers career home run LANDERS ON TIMBER Rally was for timber industry (Outdoors Editor) Rich Landers article, Gorton rallies lead to unrest, not solutions on June 5, was a wonderful example of his narrow-mindedness and uncompromising attitude. Yes, Rich, the Colville rally was organized by community leaders from the timber industry, but then it was a timber rally, so that only makes sense. This rally was not only meant to be a means to communicate with Sen.

Slade Gorton, but also was a community celebration emphasizing that we in the timber industry are proud of what we do. I am proud of the people who joined together at the rally and showed that Northeast Washington needs timber jobs. We cant replace timber jobs with tourism jobs and we are ready to stand united and be heard. It must be easy for Mr. Landers to write articles because he constantly preaches the same story logging roads are built at the taxpayers expense, for one thing.

Which in the first place isnt true, and secondly, it is the taxpayer that pays for his hiking trails and wilderness. Come on, Rich, try to dig up a few facts. And as far as you denouncing environmental terrorists, talk is cheap. How about volunteering to check logs for spikes or helping to catch the radicals in the act. If it was your life at stake, I bet youd be asking for action.

Finally, Rich, if you were upset that you werent asked to speak, plan your own rally and dont forget that your job is dependent on timber harvest. CANDACE PARR Colville Landers provides comic relief Rich Landers article (June 5) on the Colville Timber Rally raised a few hackles up here. Give us a break! For the ten-thousandth time, we are not simple-minded folks, who will be led around by the nose just because a politician comes to town. We live closer to the environment than anybody and, instead of respecting our thoughts on the subject, we get insulted. The forest is our home, just as it is home to spotted owls and other creatures, and we care about what condition its in.

We are also wise enough to know we cannot sit idly by and allow enivronmentalists to make all the decisions about timber supply bases and our future. They have had the floor for a while, and now that the loggers, ranchers, farmers and mill-workers are beginning to grumble, we are accused of being greedy, ignorant and over-emotional. What we really are is a community of straight-forward, hard-working people who have a lot of common sense about life in general. Spotted owls included. We, who keep available food, housing, paper, packaging and thousands of other products to the general public, earn our living by the sweat of our brow so that others dont have to.

(Maybe, Rich, if you had to cut the tree and turn it into paper, youd appreciate us better.) The way I see it, both sides of this issue need to be heard, and not just for our sakes, but yours, too. Because if we arent careful, the owl might survive, but the next grumble you hear might be your stomach. KATHY A. RATHBUN i Addy, Wash. Column is an editorial I feel that Rich Landers article of June 5 should have been on the editorial page.

Everyone in the Northwest knows that Landers is a staunch environmentalist and should not be allowed to use an Outdoor Edition title to lambast the timber industry and the Slate Gorton forums. Landers accuses Gorton of orchestrating media events to forest management principles that Landers does not favor. Landers uses the entire column to restate his environmentalist views on his concept of logging. I am not connected at all with the timber industry and I decry large clearance logging practices, but I do not like Landers cheap shot of criticizing Gortons attempt to save the independent logger. I further doubt, as Landers charged, that the rallies were arranged with community leaders, involved in the timber industry, who denied local environmentalists, their say.

Landers infers that the people in timber-based communities are being duped by these job-savings rallies. I believe it is Landers, instead, who is attempting to dupe the public. If he wants to editorialize, put his viewpoints on the editorial page, where they would more rightfully belong. KENNETH LOCKETT Spokane record with 57; Jim West, who hit .295 for San Francisco and threw out more than 50 percent of the men who tried to steal on him, and Larry Hawks, a 1989 third-team NCAA Division II All-American for Central Missouri State. Hawks, who can also play first and third, hit .337 with 12 home runs and 58 RBI this season after hitting .432 with six homers and 61 RBI the year before.

Gash hit just .227 for Division I Middle Tennessee State, but clubbed nine homers. Dave Adams, who can play third, first or the outfield, hit .342 for Division II Cal The youngest Indian, 17-year-old third baseman Julio Bruno from the Dominican Republic, is nursing a minor shoulder injury. LOCAL BRIEFSfrom STAFF REPORTS eliminate a sport should be based on which program loses-the most money. It looks like any budget-saving involved in cutting the wrestling program will be even more miniscule. I taught at Eastern for more than 30 years, but I will no longer consider giving any support in time or money to the school.

Despite what some may think, this is not just because of my personal interest in baseball, or regard for the memory of Ed Chissus. It is because I am appalled i that the leaders of any institution could treat an able faculty member and a group of students the way Eastern has treated Wasem and members of the baseball team, expect that many alumni particularly the generations of ex-ballplayers who competed for Chissus or Wasem will feel the same way. I believe that, before long, those responsible will learn i the truth in the adage about penny wise and pound foolish. RAYMOND L.SCHULTS: Lewistoi) Voting snubs top players I cant understand the mentality of the average major league baseball fan. I understand that fans deserve to see i the players they want in the All-Star Game, but there has; to be a limit.

I Many players who deserve to be in the game have been L. snubbed by the fans. For example, Lenny Dykstra of the Philadelphia Phillies has put up All-Star numbers so far 1 this season. Yet, according to the fans, he is the 1 1th best outfielder in the National League. All Dykstra has done is! -lead the league in hits, runs and batting average, have the longest hitting streak (23 games), have 20-plus RBI from the leadoff spot and rank second in doubles while leading the Phillies, predicted for last place, out of the cellar and into contention in the NL East.

Sure, the fans want to see the ball hit out of the ball park. But there have been many players who have hit 15- plus HR at this point in the season. However, it has been over seven years since anyone has hit over .400 going into June (Rod Carew). So lets please give Dykstra and many other players who deserve to be in the All-Star Game (Tim Wallach, Barrjr Larkin, Cecil Fielder, Kelly Gruber and Ozzie Guillen) -f the votes rather than the big name players who are having mediocre seasons (like Ozzie Smith, Darryl Bo Jackson and Wade Boggs). r-.

JAY MINNERLY Spokane Quit bashing the Bam Having been a resident of Spokane during the 50s and' 60s and having lived in the Los Angeles area the last 25 years, it is with great amusement that I read the bash the) Boone Street Barn comments. I have a vivid recollection of how wonderful it was when i hockey games moved to the Spokane Coliseum from the old Elm Street Arena. I have also viewed hockey in the Los Angeles Forum, Los Angeles Sports Arena, Seattle Center and the Salt Palace (Salt Lake City). In my opinion, the Coliseum is the best place to watch a game and it is much better than the L.A. Forum.

The old WIHL continues to be the best (hockey) I have watched, with an action level far surpassing the NHL. Spokane seems to have inflated expectations about attendance levels. Until Wayne Gretzky arrived in L.A., i the Kings could only muster 10,000 fans per game out of a metro area population of eight million. Spokane does well i to draw 5,000. Spokane should learn a lesson from the Oakland Raiders disappointing move to L.A., i.e., a bigger stadium means nothing if it isnt filled with fans.

I suggest that the first objective for the Chiefs is to pack the Coliseum on a consistent basis. WILLIAM A. MADDIGAN Newhall, Calif. 1 Budgets dont keep up Being actively involved in a program to have Long Lake (Lake Spokane) stocked with trout and smallmouth bass, so that this beautiful 26-mile lake can become a 1 recreational mecca for thousands of area fishermen, it becoming more evident that something is extremely wrong in the budgeting process. Rich Landers article Sprague Lake targeted for cutback in trout plants (June 10) points out dramatically the problems faced by a group of dedicated, trained professionals in our regions wildlife department.

From personal experience, I can tell you that these people do all they can to provide the fish for lakes and 1 streams in the region, but are they thwarted in the efforts by unrealistic budgetary constraints? Every state department must work within its allocated' budgets, but are the funds sufficient to maintain the programs in a climate of escalating costs? Are these inflationary factors taken into consideration? 1 With the state showing millions in surplus dollars, it seems ridiculous to allow a $12,000 shortfall to derail fish -stocking programs in this region. This is a serious situation! It may be the crack in the, dike that is the harbinger of many more drastic measures that will be adopted in the future unless we get Call or write your state, county and city representatives to find out whats happening to these programs. Our quality of life is tied economically, esthetically and socially to our lakes and streams. Do not let them go way of the buffalo! Get involved, ask questions, write letters, find out what you can do to mark this regions wildlife programs secure for us and for future generations. QUENTIN M.

BRANDLI Nine Mile Fqlls 4 The Spokesman-Review and Spokane Chronicle welcome readers comments. Letters should be no longer than 300 words but all are subject to condensation. Writers should include their signature, street address and telephone number where they can be reached during normal business Lours Golf A lot of Inland Empire youngsters will get their first opportunity and for many their last to play golf at the gorgeous Spokane Country Club Monday in the annual The Spokesman-Review Pro-Junior event. Three juniors will be paired with each professional for a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The juniors will be competing in individual and team events, while the professionals will receive their regular cup points and money for their finish.

Chris Mitchell of Coeur dAlene is more than 30 points ahead of his nearest pursuer, Downrivers Mark Gardner, in the cup points race, having won his last three starts. Baseball Randell Byers, a former Spokane Indian and San Diego Padre, has been signed as a free agent by the California Angels and is awaiting assignment. Byers was released by St. Louis in training camp. Ex-Indian Brian Brooks has been released by the Baltimore Orioles.

Brooks was tried as a pitcher and outfielder by San Diego and Baltimore. Another former Indian pitcher, Joe Murdock, was released by San Diego. Still another ex-Spokane pitcher, Bob Brucato, signed with Kansas City after being released in spring training by San Diego. Brucato has spent most of the season on the disabled list with tendinitis in his throwing arm. Track and field Moscows Bret Hyde won the steeplechase at the U.S.

Armed Forces Track and Field Championships in Berkeley, Calif. Hyde has won the event eight times. The Wallace High School graduate is an ROTC instructor at Washington State and Idaho. X) bl m- K) 0 nt 20 in 30 II so sb in X) in I'l 0 if. 0 I 0 I I i 1 1 i CONTINUED: FROM Cl OTHERTOPICS Baseball is scapegoat That Eastern Washington Universitys athletic department should make baseball pay the price for the ineptitude, deception and egotistical status-seeking of the schools administration and Board of Trustees should come as no surprise.

As far back as the Ed Chissus era years ago, baseball has been the poor relation of Easterns athletic program. When Jim Wasem became coach after Chissus retired, promises to support the baseball program were made, but never kept. The under-funding continued. Now baseball will be victimized for the pie-in-the-sky budgeting that has accompanied EWUs quest for Big Sky membership. The case often made by those who wish to eliminate baseball is that it is not a revenue-producing sport.

The implication is that the sports to be retained are revenue-producing (i.e. Perhaps the decision to Drafting in Coeur dAlene, was involved in the plot that snagged Audrain onto the Sandpoint team. Grachal, Altman and Audrain were in a Montana race last year in which Altman had pre-designed a plan that would allow Grachal to pull away in the final stages. For 50 miles we rode together, Altman recalled. Before the race I told Janet to take off with 300 meters to go.

We didnt even have to look at each other. Janet just took off And ended up beating Tami, but Tami fought her. She doesnt like to lose, but shes one of those that will hug you after the race, win or lose. Audrain, 28, is the only team member with children. She has to pick her training time carefully and admits having a nanny is almost required to maintain a full cycling schedule.

I have trouble getting two or three hours where I can train, Audrain said. Audrain designs and sells athletic wear in Missoula. She's been racing about four years and admits that this may be her last season for awhile. She wants to spend time with son Luke, 3, and daughter, Ivyann, 2. Im feeling the family tug, Audrain said.

Shes the Montana state champion, but another who wasnt into athletics in her younger years. I threw the javelin in high school, but I never did any running," she said. I was a cheerleader. When I started cycling, I fell in love with it. Team members say its going to take a lot of mutual support to finish near their goals.

Everyone has been so helpful and theyre so knowledgeable of the sport, Sippl said. Tve never been on a ride with them that I havent learned something. Altman, a racer for more than 20 years, is still learning the sport of cycling. But hes also learned something from his team. It takes more than being talented to be a top rider, he said.

You cant win if you dont think in this sport. Thats why cycling has caught on with all of us. These ladies are completely serious about it. And once you get the bug, youre in it for life. Or, beginning Friday, the next 17 days nd 663 miles.

Altman was recruiting racers when he heard of Gingrich through a friend. He decided to give Gingrich a test run. After a race, my friend, Mary and I went out for a ride, Altman said. She ended up dragging our butts all over Cheney. Afterward, I said, My God, would you like to ride with us? She has beautiful power.

Outside of Gingrich, the team is long on promise, but short on experience. Sippl, a teacher and coach at Post Falls High School, was a standout runner at Spokane Community College and then Eastern Washington University. After college, she dedicated herself to running. She has won fun runs, marathons and was a high finisher in Bloomsday. She transferred her running skills into triathlons, a combination of running, swimming and cycling.

The last couple of years, I lost my focus in running, Sippl said. I knew I needed a change and Im pretty competitive. Cycling is such a challenge. When I first started, it was frustrating because I had no clue on technique. I dont know why I kept doing it, I just got used to it.

Sippl, 31, said cycling is better fitness-wise than running. And she can eat as much as she wants because her intensive training devours calories from her high-carbohydrate diet. I stay in better shape now than I did when I was in top running condition, Sippl said. Shes already done 12 cycling races this year, including the Idaho state championships last week in Twin Falls. She won the 30-34 age group.

Grachal, 28, is a graduate of Sandpoint High School and North Idaho College whose work ethic impressed Altman. Shes probably the hardest worker of the group," Altman said. Shell do hill sprints until she drops. Grachal was another late-bloomer in athletics. She started out lifting weights before catching the cycling bug.

Shes one of those girls that didnt do anything competitive growing up, Altman said. When she finally started, she had a hard time flipping the switch on to get competitive. Theres two words that symbolize her: Perfect lady. radial, who works at Precision Cycling ride for 17 days? Theres not a whole lot you can do. So are they sandbagging or are they pedalling on pins and needles as the race approaches? Probably a little of both.

Though all are relative newcomers to competitive cycling, dont be fooled, Altman warns. Sandpoint wont win the team title, but these ladies are very serious. Our goal is to have an individual in the top 20 and our team in the top 10. Theyre tough ladies and theyll do everything to get there. Besides, virtually everyone is a newcomer to cycling.

Ten-year-olds are trained to shoot basketballs or spike a volleyball, not pedal faster than their friends. Sandpoint team members are Spokanes Mary Gingrich, Post Falls Sue Sippl, Coeur dAlenes Janet Grachal and Audrain. Cycling resumes aside, the Sandpoint team has focused on having fun and being competitive. Altman, himself a state champion cyclist, believes the team can do both and be successful when the Ore-Ida Challenge convenes Friday with a 2.65-mile time trial in Sandpoint. Some 17 teams are entered in the Ore-Ida.

Gingrich, 26, brings the most successful cycling background to the team. A recreational therapist at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, she started cycling in 1986, but her racing career didnt begin until last year. Shes already won the Washington State Championships and was high in the standings at the prestigious Washington Trust Classic before an untimely crash. Gingrich has put in 4,000 cycling miles this year. She trains nearly exclusively with men and rides about 250-300 miles per week, roughly the distance from Spokane to Seattle.

I train when I get off work. My job is flexible to where if Im done with my work, I can leave, Gingrich said. Gingrich was inactive in sports until she started cycling. I was a sofa surfer, she said. In 1985, 1 hurt my knee and I started riding an exercise bike as a form of rehabilitation.

Thats sort of how I got hooked. Sharing TV wealth idea lambasted Georgetown has reached the Final Four three times, won the national championship in 1984 and has con-, sistently reached the Division 1 basketball tournament since 1981. i To share the wealth without taking into consideration the cost of participation is defeating the very pro-. grams that are producing -the money, Rienzo added. Eventually you end up in a communistic methodology where nobody wants to work, and Im concerned about that happening.

The hearing was one of three held around the country. The purpose was to solicit final thoughts from members regarding the distribution of money the NCAA will receive over a seven year period as a result of a contract with CBS. J. going to keep putting a lot of money into the people who produce it in the basketball tournament or are we going to spread it out more widely, Orleans said. Frank Rienzo, the athletic director at Georgetown, made it clear that he was not in favor of equal distribution.

They tried that in Eastern Europe and it didnt work, Rienzo said. I dont think you should have a socialistic, communistic sharing of the wealth. Rienzo said that he favored a formula that acknowledges and rewards an institutions ability to generate revenue so that those who have more to do with the production of the revenue, and those who have exhibited a greater level of excellence have some method of a return for production. New York Times While most of the discussions on how to distribute $1 billion in new television revenue have centered on student athletes, the central issue is whether colleges that maintain expensive, successful basketball programs should receive a greater proportion of the revenue. The issue was sharply debated last week during a three-hour hearing in Washington sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Jeff Orleans, the commisioner of the Ivy Group, said that distributing the money equally among all NCAA members was the only way to guard against a continued monopoly by powerhouse schools as less affluent programs continue to suffer. The real issue is whether we are.