The Sacramento Bee from Sacramento, California • 274

man Former Woodland star makes big strides on mound through the winter and into the early spring But then SCC coach Jerry thinking thawed got a break over the Easter Ralph said of the (starters) had been giving up some hits and some runs I started against Butte in the Easter tournament and threw a four-hitter I was a starter from then And a good one He was listed as third starter and registered a 7-2 record Ralph helped lead the Panthers to the Camino Norte Conference title and into the junior college playoffs They lost in the finals Ralph relied on four pitches to baffle Legion hitters: fastball slider change-up and split-finger fastball He also uses brainpower to confuse liters and earn wins used to just throw the ball instead of pitch I used to try to strike guys he said learning when to throw certain pitches all the mental parts of the game all the tricks Ralph says he uses his slider and split finger fastball to induce batters to hit groundballs His strategy must work more often than not as Ralph and Post 77 both had winning records Yolo finished the regular season with a 15-5 mark did a great job of said Post 77 manager Mike Garcia after win over Post 61 came in and threw He wanted to throw our team leader The players look up t-him because he comes from a good program (SCC) mentally Ralph was drafted this year by the New York Yankees He failed to reach an agreement with the American League team He disappointed still he said I might sign next By Tim Oglesby Neighbors sports writer Without hesitation and in his usual (iiilspiilrii manner Guy Anderson spewed out words of praise recently for Curtis Ralph And Ralph even on American Legion baseball team one of the top two pitchers in Legion this said the Cordova coach whose squad tied with the Woodland-based Yolo Post 77 team for first place in the American League this season Anderson spoke as Post 77 was putting the finishing touches on a hard-fought victory over Sacramento Post 61 in the first round of the playoffs two weeks ago Post 77 won 3-1 as Ralph allowed just three hits in eight innings to earn the win A tired Ralph lasted just 2'A innings in a 7-5 loss to Cordova a few days later The defeat eliminated Post 77 from postseason play Ralph showed his versatility that same week in a playoff win over Haggin Grant ripping a home run two doubles and knocking in four runs in 16-5 win The former Woodland High School and Sacramento City College ace has always been good But in the past year gotten better Much better I first went to (Sac) City I almost know he said is no comparison from high school to the end of this Ralph refined a high school slider into a major league slider developed two new pitches a split finger fastball and change-up and learned more about the mental aspects of pitching He did so while mired in the Sac City bullpen a place he no longer wants to call his baseball home The stint in the bullpen lasted Your Mitsubishi Connection -tuJ ACCURATE TV AND VIDEO three years Miller regrets leaving behind the many friends he made in the Clarksburg area He says that too will be a difficult adjustment to make have some real close ties with the he said became a large part of my life in my 1 9 years there really difficult to EIG SCREEN SPECIALISTS VCR SERVICE FREE IN SHOP ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS 5904 Land Park Dr 391-0574 Miller Continued from Page 21 have a unique thing in Dichiara said only variable in 20 years has been the kids We run the same offense and defense every And will continue to do so Dichiara who finally received approval to hire a new coach from the River Delta Unified School District board of directors three weeks ago after much lobbying will insist that replacement conform to specifications got to be willing to learn our said Dichiara referring to the system developed by John Dinubilo who retired from coaching at Delta this year at age 62 be a tough nut to find difficult part will be trying to replace Joe with someone who can wear all added Dichiara not going to find someone who had the energy and dedication to the program that Joe had really losing about three Meanwhile many Delta players have been lifting weights three times a week under the direction of walk-on assistant coach Jeff Dominguez Dominguez a student at CSUS is not a candidate for the position Dichiara said kids are not in any way down The kids are keeping the program said Dichiara Plans have been made to give Miller a going-away party at 2 pm Saturday at John ranch Besides wanting to confront a new challenge Miller was lured to Manteca because he sees the potential for greater personal growth in a growing area Two elementary schools have been built in the area during the past two years and a new high school (as yet unnamed) is expected to open in COOL OFF IN OUR HOT WATER! How to make the best of summer's hot on August 20th Neighbors will feature a Home Garden section Readers will find timely ideas for fix-up and repairs how to make indoor and outdoor living easier and more fun! Be sure to place your advertising message before the 440000 Sacramento Bee readers (Neighbors Marketing Dept) Neighbors A cmcouMf JptMcnjgn The Saeamaata Baa For more Information Call 348-2700 Publication Date: August 20th deadline Date: August 13th From 99 4160 Florin (at Franklin) irn CD AQ Take Florin Rd West In Southgate Plaza facing Home Club wr rJ I WlghVbW tf Afoto V' to i3.