The Baytown Sun from Baytown, Texas • Page 18

2-C THE BAYTOWN SUN Thursday, May 2, 1985 Missed opportunities plague Rebels in loss By DAVID BERKOWITZ HOUSTON Dick Smith isn't merely a head coach in a junior college baseball program He is an ardent admirer of the game. When there's a heated battle in progress, there's no greater fan than Smith. Even in defeat, he doesn't hesitate to point out his love for the action. "That was just a great junior college baseball game," Smith said late Wednesday afternoon, following Lee College's 4-2 loss to San Jacinto College at Harrison Field. All of the ingredients were there.

Good pitching on both sides. Timely hitting on both Well, on one side, anyway. If one were to search for the Rebels' downfall in this important Texas Junior College Athletic Conference meeting, the timely-hitting department CELESTINE would be the first place to look. When LC needed the production, it just didn't come. In four innings, the Rebels failed to score when the stage was most appropriately set.

Their biggest enemy was the ground out, which the Gators used to squelch as many LC threats. San Jacinto turned four double plays, which also contributed to their second victory over the Rebels in four conference games. "We had plenty of chances," Smith said. "We just didn't cash in. We didn't do the job." The loss dropped the Rebels' record to 23-5 in the TJCAC, which is two games off the first- place pace of San Jacinto.

LC needs to sweep a double-header from the Gators Saturday (1 p.m.) at Jenkins Park to earn the league championship. A sweep would put both teams' record at 25-5. But since the Rebels would have won four of six games against the Gators, they would gain the title. Smith plans to start pitchers Ed Perez and Jody Supak on Saturday. The Gators will probably counter with Ken Sorenson and Allen Wisdom.

For a while, it appeared as if the Rebels would be in for a long day. San Jacinto scored an unearned run off pitcher Kevin Ayers in the first inning, and Randy Randle's two-run homer to right field in the second made it 3-0. But the Gators managed only two hits off Ayers in the next five innings, giving LC plenty of time to solve Steve Bowden. And they did, to a degree, as Jeff Banister blasted a solo homer in the fourth and then led the way to another run in the sixth. He doubled to right-center field, and designated runner Paul Elliott moved to third on a ground out.

He scored when Bowden uncorked a wild pitch. The Rebels, who collected 10 hits off Bowden (11-0), looked to at least tie the score in the seventh inning. With one out, Duane DeRouen singled and moved to second on a passed ball. Isreal Walker then singled through short, advancing DeRouen to third. Walker promptly stole second to give the Rebels a perfect scoring opportunity.

However, Bowden struck out Keith Graham and induced Greg Sims to ground out to end the inning. An RBI single by Joe Don Bourque gave the Gators an insurance run in the eighth. The Rebels managed only a single by Banister in the final two innings. From Page 1-C myself." Nevertheless, his times in the 100 have been outstanding, and Lee Coach Gene Bosse doesn't seem to mind the sophomore finishing first or second in the event. Celestine also runs in the 440- meter relay, along with cohorts Joel Hubbard, John Hildreth and Damian Auguste.

"We got il together this year in district," Celestine said about their 41.8 performance. That same team placed first in the Dobie Booster Club Relays on April 13. The quartet ran in 42.16. In the same meet, Celestine look first in the 100 dash in 10.8. Celesline went from La Porte in his seventh grade year to Cedar Bayou Junior.

Then it was on to Lee, where he played football and ran. By the time the Rockhold Relays came around, Celestine was moved up to the varsity level. The sophomore decided to turn in his shoulder pads and helmet and focus his attention on running. "I just went out for track and found out that I was faster than a lot of people," he said. Sure, the butterflies still rumble around inside Celestine's stomach, but they're in everyone else's as well.

The main objective is concentration. "I try to concentrate on the start of the gun," he said. "The only thing I can hear is my heartbeat. You really don't have time to think about anything or listen to the crowd." If Celestine keeps up the pace, he is bound to break the school record, which he so dearly has his heart set on doing. WELBORN From Page 1-C job.

It reminds me of coaching offensive linemen. Everyone loves the 100-yard dash and the sprinters. But it's the linemen that get dirty. She's a true athlete and has that dedication." Welborn has cut down on her dedication in the weight room of late. She doesn't want to get physically tight for the regional meet.

She let's her namesake, Uncle Jackie Henderson, handle the mental aspects. "My uncle always tells me to go for it," she said. "I don't know where I get it (the dedication I. Maybe it's from him. He always tells me not to quit." Welborn hopes she won't be quitting her discus workouts until after the state meet.

Joining Welborn for the'two- day event will be the Ranger 400- meter relay team of Jackie Jones, Ramona Caesar, Daryl James and Tracy Thompson. Bridgette Caesar and Demetria Wright will join Ramona Caesar and James in the 800 relay. Thompson and James are set to go in the 100. while Bridgette Caesar has work ahead of her in the 200. Stacy Davis is a high jump candidate.

Navratilova rolls HOUSTON (AP) It's been awhile since Anne Smith played Martina Navratilova, the No. i- ranked women's tennis player in the world, but nothing has changed. "She's like a freight train," Smith said Wednesday night after losing to Navratilova 6-2, 6- in a second-round match of the $150,000 Virginia Slims of Houston tournament. "The points arc always fast and when she really gets going, she's impossible to stop." CEDAR BAYOU'S eighth grade track and field team recently won the district championship. Members of the team, coached by Ronnie Adams (front) are (from left, bottom row) Stacie Shepherd, David Connally, John Paige, Arthur Langelier, James Laverge, Jonas Groberg and Peter Lazard.

(Second row) Cecil Roberts, Mike Heimerl, David Arnold, Bryan Braatoru, Jonn Williams and John Nelson, (third row) Jason Vigier, Brad Gunn, David Berna, Lance Drews, Kirk Botkin and Emilio Flores. (Top row) Scott Kramer, Paul Phillips, Drew Ellis and Edwardo Rodriques. Sports briefs Thompson guides Steers 12-6 Jason Thompson hit a triple and scored two runs to lead the Steers to a 12-G West Minor League victory over the Cubs Wednesday night. Pitcher John Wooden picked up the win. Pal McLendon was the loser.

Falcons 13, Wildcats 3 Scott Organ struck out eight to lead the Falcons to their Minor League win over the Wildcats. Juan Navarro was the leading hitler, while Tony Knipple took the loss. Rams 22, Chargers 4 Victor Schwamkrug belted two home runs, a Iriple and had a massive eight RBI lo lead the Rams to an easy victory. Xavier Salinas also hit a homer for the Rams, while Jon Alvarez nailed one for the Chargers in the Minor II game. NORTH LEAGUE A's6, Royals 5 Danny Sedlacek went 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles for Ihe A's.

The Royals nearly lied Ihe score in Ihe bottom of the sixth inning, when Chad Ern- merson tripled. But he was thrown out, trying to steal home. Phillies 4, Padres 3 Wilh Iwo outs in (he final inning and the score lied at 3-3. Jeffery Reznicek delivered an RBI single lo score Philip Patterson with the winning run. Cards gain win Brian Naismilh slruck out 11 lo lead Ihe Cardinals lo a 7-6 Pony League viclory over Ihe Dodgers Tuesday night.

Doug Berry added the offensive punch for the Cards, driving in two runs and scoring two runs. Ken Hathaway also scored Iwice. The Dodgers' Len Noble wenl 2-for-3 and Brett Balcerak went 2-for-4 with two slolen bases. Gianls 9, Orioles 3 Brenl Balke led Ihe Gianls' offensive wilh a 2-for-3 performance al Ihe plate. He scored a run drove in a pair.

Jeff Meyers also went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. The Orioles' Michael While went 3- for-4 withan RBI. Hill golfers 5th BRENHAM The Barbers Hill girls golf team finished fifth with a tolal of 899 slrokes al Ihe Region IV lournamenl Monday and Tuesday. The Eagles were led by Sor- mie Keilh, Angie Mills, Carrie Toliver, Cindy Lane and Carey Davis. Keilh shol a 205 two-day total.

Mills a 212, Toliver had a 233 and Lane a 251. Davis was out part of the day Monday and finished the second day with a 118. Hardin-Jefferson won the 12- team event with a total of 846. Boling took second with 885, and Fairfield and Sealy tied for third wilh 890. Banister, who has been the team's best run-producer this season, did his share by going 3- for-4.

But he was unfortunate enough to lead off the inning each time. "It was a shame to waste a great pitching performance by Kevin," Smith said. "I don't know when I've ever seen a better pitched junior college game." During one stretch, the sophomore left-hander retired 10 batters in a row. He apparently tired in the eighth, when Jerry Littlejohn came on to get the final out. San Jacinto had seven hits off Ayers, who struck out five and walked two.

Now 6-5 overall, he had taken a 6-0 TJCAC record into the game. Walker joined Banister in the three-hit category, getting a pair of singles and a triple off Bowden, who struck out six and walked three. LC's overall record moved to 37-17. San Jacinto improved to 43-6. LC Walker Graham If.

Sims 3b Banister Elliott Chavez cf Barnett Ib. Hoke rf Knox ph DeRouen 2b Totals LC San Jacinto SAN JACINTO ab ..4 ..2 ..4 ..4 ..0 ..4 ..3 ..4 3 1 ..4 33 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 1 0 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 10 bl 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Griffin Bourque 3b Dishman Ib Bartel Vasquez dr Sowers 2b Handle ss Plckettcf Totals 000 120 ab ...4 ...3 ...4 ...4 ...4 ...0 ...3 ...3 .3 ...2 30 101 000 i i 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 1 I 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 7 bl 0 0 i 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 4 Walker, Graham, Ayers. DP San Jacinto 4, LOB LC 7, San Jacinto 6. 2B Banister, Chavez. 3B Walker.

HR Handle, Banister. SB- Walker. S-Fertltta. IP ER BB SO LC Ayers (L, 6-5) 74325 Llttlejohn Vj 0 0 0 0 0 San Jacinto BowdenlW, 11-0) 9 10 2 2 3 6 WP Ayers, Bowden. PB Bartel.

Astros' relievers aid in 10-3 victory NEW YORK (AP) Houston Astros Manager Bob Lillis was talking about the "mileage" he got out of his bullpen, while New York Mets Manager Dave Johnson was saying his needed a tune-up. While the Astros' relievers held New York scoreless through the final four innings Wednesday night, Houston exploded for five runs off Mets' reliever Doug Sisk in the ninth inning to win 10-3. Jose Cruz's three-run homer capped the inning and gave him three hits, three runs batted in and three runs scored ffr the game as he raised his average to .337. "We got good mileage from our bullpen tonight," Lillis said. "We needed it.

Then we got some timely hitting late in the game, and that took the pressure off. "We need to cut up some of those runs and save some," the manager said. Bill Dawley worked two innings in relief of Astros starter Bob Knepper, 2-0, and Frank DiPino pitched two more scoreless innings to earn his fourth save. Each reliever yielded just one hit. The Astros split the two-game series which began a 10-game road trip.

The victory also boosted Houston one game over .500 at 11-10. HOUSTON ab bl Doran 2b 5 1 2 0 Bassrt 5 i 2 2 Walling Ib 5 2 2 I C'ruz If 5 3 3 Mumphrcy cf. .5 1 20 Garner 3b 5 0 2 1 Bailey 4 (I CKeynoldsss, .4 1 Kncppcrp 2 0 Uawlcy 1 0 DiPino 1 1 NEW YORK ab Chapman 3 Sisk 0 Gardenhire ss. 1 ss 3 HernandezIb .4 Strawberry cf .4 Footer If .1 Wilson pr 0 Hurdle Christensen rf Ilceprf HKcynoldsc Johnson Darlingp Backman Totals 42 10 16 9 Totals 33 bl 0 0 0 000 000 000 0 2 (I 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 I 1 2 I 0 1 0 0 1 1 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 393 ER BB SO Houston 010 201 NcwYork 000 021 000-3 Ohrislcnsun. Gardcnhirc, Foster.

DP Houston, New York. I.OB Houston 5, New York 0. 2B Chrlstc-nscn, Walling. Garner. 3B Christensen.

UK Cruz SB Wilson (HI. Darling. SF Knight IP Houston Knepper (W. 2-01 5 Dawlcy 2 DiPino (S. 31 2 New York Darling (L.

1-11 O'i Sambito Sisk 2 Knepper pitched lo two batters in fith. Dawley pitched to one batter In nth. WP Knepper. PB Hurdle. 2:45.

A 17.073. I) RANGER GOLFERS From Page 1-C hour. "Oh, gosh yes I'm pleased," he said. "A lot of the girls played betler loday lhan they did yesterday. They all shot what they should have shot today.

"It was the first time in regionals for Ihese girls, and lhey'11 all be back nexl year. Cindy shol Ihe besl she's ever shot and Patrice brought down her score. I think it took them a while to get used lo the course. II takes a while to get used to where the water is and where the pins are. Today, Ihey were playing Ihe course instead of letting the course play them." Of Ihe 70 golfers compeling, Hullurn's score was good for seventh overall.

Taylor's tied her for 12th and McQueen's was good enough to earn her a tie for 17lh. Finishing behind Memorial lo lake fiflh place was Houston Lee (829). Rounding out the top ten were West Orange-Stark (870), Clear Creek (888), Lee, Sharp- slown (914) and Porl Neches- Groves (928). Rent-A-Car U-SAVE AUTO RENTAL Check Our Weekend Special 422-0535 2716 N. Main Sun Classified 422-8323 AAA Narrow! EEE Wide! 1155 The Pecos Boot is, by far, our best-selling boot.

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