Longview Daily News from Longview, Washington • 22

D2 The Daily News, Longview. Wednesday. August 26. 1987 Husky grid team thinks it has Heisman candidate The Associated Press SEATTLE The University of Washington football team thinks it has a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in senior quarterback Chris Chandler, who says winning big will be the key for him to be taken seriously. "I'm realistic," Chandler told the Pacific-10 Conference Skywriters.

"We re going to have to win in order for me to have any kind of a chance. If we go 7-4, then I'd have no chance. If we go 11-0, then I would have." "Chris would have to put up good numbers and we'd have to stay in the conference race all the way." Washington Coach Don James agreed. wL Daily News photo by Bill Wagner Coach 'Salty' Parker puts the Bellingham Mariners through their paces during a practice session in Bellingham 'Salty' Relic of baseball helps coach baby Mariners James has never before touted one of his players for a Heisman. "We're going to do everything we can to help Chris have a big year," added senior inside linebacker David Rill, the team's leading tackier the past two seasons.

"The defense is going to try to take the ball away as many times as it can so Chris can be on the field as much as he can." James and Rill are hoping Chandler can help the Huskies get back to the Rose BowL Washington has been absent from Pasadena, since New Year's Day 1982 when then-freshman running back Jacques Robinson led the Huskies to a 28-0 victory over Iowa. "I was really looking forward to going to the Rose Bowl last year," said junior tailback Vince Weathersby. "I didn't think anybody would knock us out. But they did. In his 12th season at Washington, James became the school's win-ningest head football coach ever, breaking Jim Owens' school-record 99 wins that he set from 1957-74.

James, 54, arrived in Seattle from Kent State to replace Owens. He heads into his 13th season at Washington with a 101-39-1 record that includes nine bowl appearances. The Huskies have been to eight bowls in a row. James wants to go back to Pasadena for a fourth time. To get there, he knows the Huskies must beat UCLA and Arizona State, something they failed to do last season.

"It's just a highly competitive league," said James. "With the addition of the Arizona schools, it's really made it tough. Anything can happen in this league. I know we're trying to get answers to making a better mousetrap every year." In the AP preseason college football poll, Washington was 13th, UCLA third and Arizona State 14th. As far as James is concerned, UCLA is the Pac-10 favorite and Arizona State is a strong Rose Bowl contender.

In a couple of blowouts, the Sun Devils beat Washington 34-21 last season and 36-7 in 1985, both times in Tempe, Ariz. UCLA and Washington tied 17-17 in Seattle last season. "We have high regard for Arizona State," said James. "They've worn us out the last couple of years." After an 8-3-1 record and a Sun Bowl appearance against Alabama, Washington had nine players selected in the NFL draft in April. That was the second highest number by a college team behind Penn State's 13.

In addition, three other 1986 Huskies signed pro contracts. Defensive lineman Reggie Rogers became the sixth player at Washington under James to be picked in the first round of the NFL draft, going to Detroit with the seventh selection. He was the highest selection ever of a Washington player. James says he doesn't have any defensive linemen of the caliber of Rogers. But his defensive line this season will be headed by 6-foot-4, 302-pound sophomore Dennis Brown, from Long Beach, Calif.

"He hasn't gotten any smaller," James said with a smile. "But he's much more defined because of his weight lifting. His lifts are all up." Another member of Washington's front four is 6-foot-5, 280-pound senior Dennis Habib, from Ellensburg. Habib credits weight training with turning him into a major college player. A strong defense has been a major factor in Washington's past successes and James has a trio of seniors starting at linebacker in Rill, Tom Erlandson and Bo Yates.

"We're just going to have to go out and be more consistent as a team this season," said Rill. "We can't give up the big plays on defense. Offensively, we have to make the big plays." Chandler, from Everett, threw a school-record 20 touchdown passes last season, more than any returning NCAA Division I passer. James has said Chandler has the potential to be his best Washington quarterback and he's had several outstanding ones, including arren Moon and Steve Pelluer, now both in the NFL. "I feel like I am a better quarterback than those other guys," said Chandler.

James said he's thinking about redshirting Cary Conklin, a highly recruited sophomore quarterback prospect from Yakima, this season because Chandler is going to get most of the playing time. James insisted the Huskies' offense isn't a one-man show, however. "For us to succeed and for Chris to have a chance for the Heisman, a lot of people are going to have to play well around him," he said. Washington will open its season with a Pac-10 game against Stanford in newly expanded Husky Stadium in Seattle Sept. 5.

Beavers' passing attack needs to reach end zone CORVALLLIS, Ore. If Oregon State plans to improve upon its consecutive 3-8 football seasons the last two years, Coach Dave Kragthorpe will have to devise a way to direct his team's vaunted passing attack into the end zone. Despite junior quarterback Erik Wilhelm pass players in history in his career and judges them with the eye of a longtime third base coach. "The only man I ever saw who could actually put fear into a third base coach's heart was Roberto Clemente," Parker said. The former Pittsburgh right fielder "had the best arm I ever saw.

He got to the ball quicker and got rid of it quicker and with as much velocity as anyone ever did. "Anytime you had a runner on first, you'd hope that the batter wouldn't hit it to right, because you'd have to hold the runner at second. And then if they hit it to right again, you'd have to hold 'em at third. "Now last year, I saw an arm as close to Clemente's as I've seen and that was Bo Jackson. Boy, he could throw that ball.

He might not know where it's going, but he could throw it." As a coach with the Giants, Parker also had the pleasure of coaching Willie Mays. Or of not coaching him. "Willie was one of the very few I never coached at third base. Oh, I'd tell him to stop or keep going, but he did everything on his own. What instincts and reflexes he had.

You can't coach that." The road from Parker's childhood home of East St. Louis, 111., has been a long one. It was there that he received his nickname. While working at a store as a youngster, Parker often ate salted peanuts from the store in his spare time. "And Morris Holtzman (the store owner) did keep track," Parker said, laughing.

"By Saturday night (payday), I never had too much coming. "So Mr. Holtzman nicknamed me Many years later, in 1958, when Parker was coaching for the Giants in their opening series against the Dodgers in the Los Angeles Coliseum, "I heard a voice behind me, calling me. I never looked around until the seventh inning." And there, in a concrete structure that jutted onto the field, was Morris Holtzman. "We were both a long way from East St.

Louis." As a coach, Parker got that treatment once himself from the legendary Leo Durocher. Durocher took over as manager of the Houston Astros from Harry Walker late in the 1972 season. Parker was his third base coach. "I talked to Durocher just twice in a month," Parker recalled. "Leo never really liked a holler guy, and I was always an eager beaver.

"But he helped me get a job with the Angels," Parker added. Like many big league coaches, Parker is well traveled. After years in the minors, he joined the San Francisco Giants under Bill Rigney in 1958 for four years. After that came stints with Cleveland, the Angels, the Mets, Houston, the Angels again and the Giants one more time. When Rigney was fired as the Giants' anager in 1960, Parker thought that he was the leading candidate for the job.

But scout Tom Sheehan was brought in instead. "Up until that time, I really had aspirations of managing. After that, I kind of just dropped it," Parker said. He did manage the Mets for the final 11 games of the 1967 season going 4-7 after Wes Westrum quit. And he also had the Astros for one game between the reigns of Walker and Durocher.

"I would've liked to have to have been one of those guys who were able to get fired," Parker joked. Parker was with the Giants' system from 1976 through 1985 when new people in the front office took over. "They wanted me to scout," said Parker, who was given the feeling that the Giants thought him too old to coach. Parker talked to Seattle's director of player development, Bill Haywood, who installed him as a roving minor league instructor last season. This year, he's based in Bellingham.

Parker is happy working for Sweet, 40 years his junior. "He's very good, an outstanding baseball man," Parker said. "He's a professional." Parker has seen rbapy of the top baseball ByAlWasser The Daily Newi BELLINGHAM In many ways, Francis James "Salty" Parker is a baseball relic. Parker has been in professional baseball for 53 years. His brief, 11-game major league career was with the Detroit Tigers in 1936 a team that included future Hall of Famers Mickey Cochrane, Hank Greenberg, Al Simmons, Charlie Gehringer and Goose Goslin.

Parker has been associated with seven different big league organizations, including the Seattle ariners the past two seasons. But at 74 years of age, Parker who looks at least 10 years younger is much more than a link with baseball's past. He's still very much a working coach. And he would have it no other way. "If I can't be a professional about doing this job, then I'll be the first to say 'See you Parker said.

"I'd never just try to stay on and embarrass myself." Parker is a coach for the Bellingham Mariners this season, and Mariner Manager Rick Sweet said that Parker is still going full bore. "He's amazing," Sweet said. "Sometimes you have to slow him down or he'd run those kids into the ground." In his capacity with Bellingham, Seattle's entry in the Northwest League, Parker is working with the rawest of professional baseball rookies. "I like working with the kids, if they're halfway receptive," Parker said. "I feel baseball helps keep me young.

You've got to stay young to keep up with these kids. If you don't, they'll bury you." Parker, who was a shortstop in his playing days, works mainly with infielders. While players get tired of incessant drilling, he warns them that it's better than the alternative. "Anytime the coaches quit talking to you and quit working with you, when they give you the cold shoulder, that's when you worry, because they've given up on you." til ai enllso Rosemans are state bowling champions Ed, Steve and Jerry Roseman of Longview are the three-man champions of the Washington Bowlers Association state tournament. The Rosemans, who bowled in the early stages of the state tournament in April in Bremerton, rolled a 2,144 series.

They then had to wait through the remainder of the six-week tournament to see if their score would hold up. Last week, they were officially notified that they had won and were given a check for $1,900. Jerry Roseman rolled a 740 series, Steve had a 650 and their ing tne Beavers to a Pacific 10 Conference-leading 286.3 yards per game, Oregon State only managed 13 points each game last season. And Kragthorpe told the touring Pac-10 Skywriters that will have to change if the Beavers want to progress. Kragthorpe dismissed criticism that his team's FanFare Ash threw a three-hitter and Rich Hudleston homered to give Chesterfield, champions of the U.S.

Central region, a 4-1 victory over Mor-ristown, the Southern champs. Quarterfinals conclude today with the Canadian entry from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, playing the Latin American champion, Moca, Dominican Republic, and the U.S. East champs, Dover, N.H., taking on the Western champion, Irvine, Calif. Four are tied for top spot KENNEWICK, Wash. Steve Bowen of Portland, shot a 5-under-par 67 to move into a four-way tie for the lead after two rounds of the Pacific Northwest PGA Championship at Canyon Lakes Golf Club.

Bowen, who shot an opening-round 74, was tied at 141 Tuesday with Walt Porterfield of Portland, host pro Kene Bensel and Doug Campbell of Auburn. Ex-Longview Country Club pro and current University of Washington golf coach Bill Tindall fired a second round 74 for a 146 total. The 54-hole tourney concludes today. average through 17 games and 36 innings. Lender-man has allowed 55 hits and 30 walks and struck out 24.

At the Class A level, Fred Gegen has a .290 average through 369 at bats for Vero Beach, the Dodger farm club in the Florida State League. Gegen, playing third base, has 47 RBI and five homers. Joe Kraemer is pitching for Winston-Salem of the Carolina League, part of the Chicago Cub organization. Through 36 games and 47 innings, Kraemer has a 2.87 ERA with 10 saves and a 3-2 record. He has allowed 44 hits, walked 40 and struck out 35.

Kinney Sims is playing for Bend of the Northwest League. In 145 at bats, Sims is hitting .248 and has stolen 20 bases. NFL players set to strike HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. NFL players are ready, even anxious, to strike next month if no progress is made in contract talks with owners, union president Gene Upshaw says. Upshaw said in meetings with NFL teams, the players are telling him, "If they (management) aren't negotiating with you, why should you keep meeting with them? We've got to be prepared to tsfce the step.

"When do we strike? That's what they (the players) are saying. When you hear from the stars of the league, there are a lot of guys who don't want to wait to strike after the first game. They want to go now." Upshaw said the players can't legally strike until Tuesday, Sept. 15, two days after the regular season starts. Taiwan, Indiana win WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.

Taiwan Coach Yu Jung-Hsing said his players were nervous in the opening game of the Little League World Series. The scoreboard certainly didn't reflect it. Wang Pei-Ching threw a two-hitter and hit a home run as the juggernaut from Hua Lian, Taiwan, set down a mostly American team from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 7-0 in an opening-round game Tuesday. "I was confident in my team," Jung-Hsing said through an interpreter. "We had only five hits, so I don't think we played well, but it's the first game here." In the other quarterfinal game Tuesday, Brad finesse-oriented offense is unable to score once it nears the end zone.

"We have to score from 50 to 60 yards out," Kragthorpe said. "Last year, we did not have the big play." If the Beavers are to have more success scoring this season, they'll again need to depend heavily on Wilhelm to run an offense which last season threw the ball an average of almost 48 times a game. Wilhelm said the coaches have told him they plan to throw the ball a little deeper this year. "I like to throw the ball deep. Any quarterback would," Wilhelm said.

But, he said, the basic offensive philosophy remains the same. "You've got to take what the defense gives you." After only 15 games as a starter, Wilhelm has already thrown for 3,761 yards, shattering the school's career-passing mark set by 1962 Heisman Trophy winner Terry Baker. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound Wilhelm lost his favorite target, flanker Dave Montagne, who graduated after leading the conference last year with 78 catches. But Wilhelm has a host of other pass catchers returning to an offense that usually sends out five receivers on pass patterns. It's those receivers in whom Kragthorpe says he hopes to find much of the big play capability he's trying to develop.

He cited sophomore tight end Phil Ross, who sat out last year injured, as one person he's counting on. "Ross is the type of guy who can make a difference in a close ball game," Kragthorpe said, possibly remembering Ross' five catches for 73 yards against Washington in 1985 when the Beavers stunned the Huskies 21-20 in Seattle. Kragthorpe mentioned wide receivers Roland Hawkins, with 24 catches last season, and Robb Thomas, with 22 catches, as other potential game-breakers. The running game, which Kragthorpe said would be given greater emphasis this year, looks to fullback Pat Chaffey and tailback Montgomery as two players with some experience to help relieve the pressure on Wilhelm. But the top concern for Kragthorpe is the offensive line.

father, Ed, rolled a 565. Rollen Jones, 58, dies Longtime local sports enthusiast Rollen Jones, 58, died Monday in a local hospital. Jones was a youth baseball coach for a number of years and was also a football and baseball official. "He loved sports," said local sports referee Bill Hall. "He did a good job in football for us." Hall said that Jones refereed football for about 10 years.

"I think he quit about the time his son (Rollen V. Jones) got to high school. He was obviously very dedicated to his son." Jones is also survived by his wife, Doris, and daughters Cindy Lou Rowton of Vancouver and Kellie Lynn Jones of Longview. Services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at Dahl's Ditlevsen-Moore Funeral Home.

Ex-Red Devils doing well Several former Lower Columbia College Red Devils are active in professional baseball this season. First baseman Jim O'Dell is playing for the Birmingham Barons in the Southern League, the Class AA farm club of the Chicago White Sox. O'Dell has 14 homers, 15 doubles and 65 runs batted in through his first 362 at bats. His batting average is .251. Third baseman Dave Cortez is also at the AA level, hitting .269 in 145 at bats for Wichita of the Texas League.

Wichita is in the Chicago Cub organization. In the same league, with New York Mets' farm team Jackson, is Clatskanie's Dave Lenderman. Lenderman has a 1-6 record with a 9.66 earned run Seahawks trade Essink SEATTLE Ron Essink, a one-time starter who walked out of the Seattle Seahawks' training camp on Aug. 6, has been swapped to the Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks will receive a draft choice, club spokesman Dave Neubert said.

The trade is thought to be made on condition Essink makes the Cowboys' roster this season. Also on Tuesday, the Seahawks released six players, including llth-round draft choice Darryl Oliver, to reduce their roster to 83 players. Oliver, a running back from Miami, was the first Seahawks draft pick to be released. He had three carries for one yard in Seattle's first two exhibition games. Also trimmed were safety Bill Callahan, Pittsburgh, a one-year veteran who was signed as a free agent; punter Russell Griffith, Weber State, a rookie free acent; kicker Scott Hagler, South Carolina agent; guard Matt Hanouse a rookie free agent; and linebacker marsnall tuikney, Alabama a rookie free agent.

The Daily News and AP.