The Spokesman-Review from Spokane, Washington • 27

'Y O' Rookie Stewart Cink vans his first PGA Tour evcntC3 SECTION Messier gone Mark Messier reportedly to leave Rangers for Canucks.C3 Monday, July 28, 1997 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash Coeur d'Alene, Idaho ClassifiedsC6 assero wins; Ms sweep i Lefty ends skid with i relief help from Wells as Seattle runs its winning I streak to five straight games nobody out. Jeff Fassero has nine wins and ought to have 15, said shortstop and birthday boy Alex Rodriguez, who turned 22 Sunday. Weve seen him lose games by blowing leads for him, he hasnt always gotten run support, but Ill tell you this nobody is any better than Jeff. Hes something. Fassero was matched against Andy Pettitte, and early on, Piniella got the feeling it was going to be a tight game.

So he did something some fans think no one does in the A.L., any more. He managed. When Jose Cruz Jr. and Rich Amaral singled to open the third inning, Piniella had leadotf hitter Joey Cora drop a sacrifice bunt to put Continued. MarinersC6 sealed a 3-2 victory that gave the Mariners their first series sweep in New York.

Ever? asked Ken Griffey Jr. Oh, my. Oh, my indeed the Mariners officially are hot once again, stretching their winning streak to five games and pulling ahead in the American League West by games. There was a lot of intensity in this series and in this game, Seattle manager Lou Piniella said. Our bullpen has settled down the last couple of weeks and given us some big outs.

Want the definition of a big out? Try the two Wells got in the ninth inning after New York put a speedy runner on third base with one out or the three Fassero got in the seventh inning after the Yankees put a man on third base with By Larry LaRue Tacoma News Tribune NEW YORK It had been Vtfc month exactly since he had won a gamea sketch that seemed even longer to Jeff Fasser.o brcause of the All-Star break and the faer hRbullpcn had blown two victories for him since Yjne 27. So, sitting in the trainers room, icing' fiis left arm and watching that same bullpen try to get the final six outs with a one-run lead? Ive been more relaxed, Fassero admitted, then caught himself. I was completely confident we were going to get it done. The Seattle Mariners got it done Sunday, when Bob Wells closed out a brilliant start by Fassero with two shutout innings'of relief It Coach craves draftees Slow progress in negotiations leaves Erickson feeling edgy By Jim Meehan Staff writer Seattle lost an NFL preseason game on Saturday. Coach Dennis Erickson can deal with that, review Videotape, make corrections, etc.

1 Away from the field, the Seahawks made no inroads toward signing first-round draft picks Shawn Springs and Walter Jones. I I 1 Ericksons patience appears to be wearing thin. A few days ago, he held out hope that the duo would be in training camp by today. He had hoped the Training CaniB, jsj Seahawks and Springs camp would have face-to-face meetings in Canton, Ohio, site of the Seahawks 28-26 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. Neither occurred.

Slatting Over in Cheney Torsten KellsltandThe Spokesman Review The Shadow's Dave Berto, right, and Yakimas Jeft Perry jostle for the ball. I thought we were a lot closer than we are, he said Sunday in Cheney. Erickson was under the impression that one of Springs agents, David Ware, skipped a meeting in Canton with Seahawks vice president Randy Mueller. Erickson wanted to be included in those discussions. Spokane survives shootout, gets shutout 'However, Mueller clarified later Sunday that no meeting was scheduled.

In fact, there was no weekend dialogue between the two sides. Executive vice president Mickey Loomis reported no movement in talks with Jones. Said Erickson: I dont know what to say, other than what Ive said before. They need to get in here. Its amazing about agents sometimes.

They hurt the player, the player doesnt show up and it ends up hurting the team. I dont quite understand that. Ajili Ilodari, another Springs step up and show what I can do. After an uneventful first half, Waibel started a counterattack early in the second by feeding Ascolese down the left side. Waibel continued his run down the middle and took the return pass about 12 yards out for an easy score.

That goal seemed to break them, Waibep said. They seemed to hang their heads. In the 77th minute, Dave Berto sent a head pass to Ascolese, who made a move past a defender and was breaking in on goal when he was tackled, giving Spokane a penalty kick. Berto took the 12-yard kick, easily beating Continued ShadowC6 goal on a cross from Ascolese in the 49th minute. How many came out today for a seven-minute shootout (455)? That what carried me tonight.

My legs are dead. Not so with Ascolese, a former Gonzaga Prep star who has seen limited action this year and was raring for action. He got his chance because Zane Higgins broke his left leg with three minutes to play in regulation of Saturdays game with Bellingham. (Higgins had surgery Sunday morning). I just had to keep working my way into the team, said Ascolese, who will be a sophomore at national power Santa Clara.

Zane is our best attacker and he got hurt. I got a chance to next Saturday at 7 p.m. against the San Gabriel Valley Highlanders, with the winner advancing to the US1SL Premier League national championship tournament. The Northwest Division tournament championship game drew a crowd of 1,258, which was good considering no one knew the Shadow would be playing until they survived the Shootout at High Noon. I cant say enough about the fans, said midfielder Craig Waibel, who scored the first By Dave Trimmer Staff writer Joe Ascolcse and Pete van de Ven were given a chance and they made the most of it.

Sort of like the Spokane Shadow. After starring in an unconventional shootout earlier in the day, Ascolese set up both goals and van de Ven earned the shutout as the Shadow blanked the Yakima Reds 2-0 Sunday night at Albi Stadium. The Shadow earned one final home game, Continued. SeahawksC3 Scoreboard PICO captures Columbia Cup American League Boston 6, Anaheim 5 Kansas City 3, Toronto 2 Milwaukee 11, Detroit 7 Cleveland 4, Oakland 2 Seattle 3, New York 2 Baltimore 9, Minnesota 0 Texas 5, Chicago 4 National League Atlanta 3, Cincinnati 2 St. Louis 6, Florida 4 Houston 7, Montreal 2 Colorado 4, Chicago 0 Los Angeles 7, Philadelphia 1 San Diego 5, New York 3 San Francisco 6, Pittsburgh 5 (13) 1st Pittsburgh 10, San Francisco 7, 2nd from the race course on the Columbia River and the winner-take-all championship heat resumed, Evans passed Mark Tate in Close Call and finished with an average speed of 146.489.

Close Call finished second, followed by Mark Weber in Team Stihl, Mike Hanson in DeWalt Tools, Jerry Hale in Red Robin-Miss Exide and Mitch Evans in Appian Jeronimo, which faded in the last lap because of engine trouble. Mark Evans was driving a hastily patched boat. A propeller blade broke on the PICO during qualifying runs Saturday morning, and the crew had to scramble to replace a strut, repair the hull and install a new propeller. PlCOs victory ended a record 19 straight heat victories for Miss Budweiser, which had won all four previous regattas this year, Miss Budweiser flips in finale, injuring driver Dave Villwock Associated Press KENNEWICK Mark Evans drove the PICO American Dream to victory in the Budweiser Columbia Cup Sunday after Miss Budweiser, the top boat on the unlimited hydroplane circuit, flipped in the final heat. Budweiser driver Dave Villwock was treated at Kennewick General Hospital for a broken right arm, a possible concussion, a bad cut across the top of his right wrist and other injuries.

The 42-year-old driver was then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Villwock might be sidelined for the rest of the season, said Michael Kenyon, a spokesman for the Unlimited 1 lydroplane Racing Association. There was no immediate word on a replacement driver. Well know more as soon as the doctors at I larborview get his hand put back together, Kenyon said. It was a close call.

The Buds engine was crushed and the cockpit ruined, but owner Bernie Little said another hull, used in three of the four previous races, will be ready in time for the regatta next weekend at Kelowna, British Columbia. Off to a strong start in clear, calm weather, the Bud shot into the air after the right sponson lifted high while crossing the wake of another boat in the first turn. It fell backwards and onto its top. The impact knocked the helmet and oxygen mask off Villwock, who was found unconscious in the water. He revived quickly, his pulse appeared to be normal and he told his wife Pam he was OK before being put into an ambulance.

After the wreckage was cleared Baseball report C1.C5 NFL preseason Pittsburgh 30, Chicago 17 NFL report C3 Associated Press For todays TV listings, see Today's Menu on page C2. Riders race down the Champs Elysees In Paris at the end ot the Tour de France.C6.