The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 124

Sports (the (Daston Observer Sunday April 14 1991 Page 8 it enson's home on the 11' angers' team '-4 01 I eio' 511- I 11- I 1 il: -5 5 5 1lif rommulormammommiumimmam LAURA MULLERStatt against the Asheville Tourists Today is his first game as a starting pitcher Home boy: Mickey Henson a 1990 South Point High graduate sits in the bullpen Friday night before the Gastonia Rangers game Rangers action Results of the Gastonia Rangers game against the Asheville Tourists at Sims Legion Park section Rangers schedule Home games in caps April Today: ASHEVILLE 15-18: at Greensboro: 19-22: at Charleston WVa 23-26: MYRTLE BEACH 27-30: at Spartanburg May 1-4: at Fayetteville 5: OFF DAY 6-9: GREENSBORO 10-13: CHARLESTON SC 14-17: at Greensboro 18-21: CHARLESTON WVa 22-25: at Asheville 26-29: CHARLESTON WVa 30-31: SUMTER SC June 1-2: SUMTER 3-6: at Columbia 7-10: GREENSBORO 1114: at Asheville 15-18: at Charleston WVa 19-22: SPARTANBURG 23-25: All-Star Break at Savannah 26-29: at Asheville 30: at Greensboro July 1-3: at Greensboro 4-7: CHARLESTON WVa 8: ASHEVILLE (2) 9: OFF DAY 10-11: ASHEVILLE 12-15: at Sumter SC 16-19: CHARLESTON SC 20-23: FAYETTEVILLE 24-27: ASHEVILLE 28-31: at Charleston WVa August 1-4: GREENSBORO 5-8: CHARLESTON WVa 9-11: at Myrtle Beach 12: OFF DAY 13-16: at Greensboro 17-20: ASHEVILLE 21-24: at Charleston WVa 25-28: COLUMBIA 29-31: at Asheville September 1: at Asheville 2-5: at Spartanburg lessons our team SINE vg-TOINIt AI likt N4 44- ty fa a a IA' 4 1 I' Gastonia Rangers Record: II through April 12 Statistical leaders Hitting Player Avg AB Hits HR RBI Greg lilevins 000 0 0 II 0 Miguel Cast lellanu 113 7 1 0 0 Michael Crespo 2811 7 2 0 3 Sid Ilulland 375 8 3 0 2 Peter Laake 000 II ll 0 0 David Lowery AIN) 0 II 0 0 Randy Marshall 281 7 2 II 0 Paill Matachtin 167 I 1 0 0 Malvin Maws 375 3 0 0 Keith Murray 250 8 2 0 I Shannon l'enli 100 5 9 0 I) Marty Posey 100 5 2 0 I Jun Shave 167 li 1 II 1 Pitching Player W-I ERA IP SO BB SV Tufty Bunion 0 0-0 000 Il 0 0 Il Terry Burrows I HI 180 510 7 1 0 Aust Carduna I 0-0 000 20 9 I 0 Steve Dreyer 0 0-0 000 0 0 0 0 Scott Erickson II 0-0 000 0 0 0 0 Chris Gies I 0-0 000 611 7 1 0 Mkkey I ieuslati 0 0-0 000 0 0 0 0 Victor Madrigal 0 0-0 000 0 0 0 0 Keith Mcnough I 0-0 000 20 3 2 II Tyrone Washington 0 0-0 000 0 0 0 0 Tin) Wells I 0-1 000 22 2 I II Matt Whileside I 0-0 1100 01 1 0 0 ful on 10 of 16 and nine of 13 stolen-base attempts Penn made good on his first try Friday beating Asheville catcher Bob Huributt's throw despite a pitchout "I felt good" Penn said "1 was real relaxed I knew I was going to get it" Relaxation Penn said is the key to base stealing When you're relaxed inside it makes you a lot quicker" Penn said "I just want to keep learning this year" The rest of the names on the publication's "Texas Rangers Prospects With the Best Tools" list are familiar Here are the former Gastonia players listed with the year they played here in parentheses: Best athlete Donald Harris (1990) Best pitching prospect Robb Nen (1989) Best player prospect Ivan Rodriguez (1989) Best power potential Tony Scruggs (1990) Best lastball Nen (1989) Best slider Bobby Reed (1990) Best curveball Travis Buckley (1990) Best control Mike Amer (1990) Best catcher Rodriguez (1990) Beat defensive first baseman Mike Burton (1990) Best defensive second baseman Jetf Frye (1989) Best defensive third baseman Dean Palmer (1987) Best defensive shortstop Jose Hernandez (1989) Best arm infielder Palmer (1987) Best defensive outfielder Scruggs (1990) Best arm outfielder Kevin Belcher (1988-89) He prefers Gastonia's comforts GASTONIA A year ago Mickey Henson's most taxing Sunday exercise was driving to grandma's house Today things get tougher Henson a 1990 South Point High graduate is scheduled to make his Gastonia Rangers debut at 3 pm The 6-3 190-pounder the team's youngest member takes the mound as the Rangers host Asheville And there will be a few familiar faces in the crowd "I think about every body I know is going to be Rangers there- said Notebook Henson 18 John who was born Glennon in Kings Mountain and 11111111111111'm raised in Bel mom Included in the Henson booster group will be his parents his brothers his relatives (about 20) his girlfriend his girlfriend's parents his Little League coaches his high school teammates and his high school coach "I've been trying not to think about it" Henson said 'Cause I get a little nervous" Henson who pitched on the Gulf Coast Fla rookie-league team last year is the only Gastonia player living at home this season And he loves it "Most of the guys are wondering if they should get a color TV or where to get a bed and mattress" Henson said "I don't have to go through that" Henson also likes his schedule better here than in Florida when the team had to arrive at the field at 8:30 for morning games "Here I don't even get out of hed until I h30 or noon" Henson said "It's a pretty good deal" South of the border In addition to the United States and Japan Gastonia Rangers manager Bump Wills also has played professional baseball in Mexico From 1974 through 1980 Wills played off-seasons there mostly for Hermosillo of the Pacific League One year Wills helped a team with pros Chet Lemon Francisco Barrios and Alex CALENDAR 1 TODAY PRO BASEBALL Asheville at Gastonia 3 pm COLLEGE BASEBALL Pembroke State at Belmont Abbey 2 pm MONDAY PRO BASEBALL Gastonia at Greensboro 7 pm PREP BASEBALL Kings Mountain at Crest Shelby at Hunter Huss 730 pm PREP SOFTBALL Hunter Huss at Ashbrook 4 pm PREP TRACK Gaston County girls at North Gaston PREP TENNIS Gaston Day at Providence Day Hickory at Ashbrook Kings Mountain at Concord Lincoln-ton at Fred Foard West Caldwell at East Lincoln 4 pm TUESDAY PRO BASEBALL Gastonia at Greensboro 7 pm COLLEGE BASEBALL Belmont Abbey at Wingate 2:30 pm PREP BASEBALL Cresset Christian at Gaston Day 4 pm Fred Foard at Lincoln ton 4:15 pm: East Lincoln at West Caldwell Harding at East Gaston Hunter Huss at Ash-brook Mooresville at Cherryville North Gaston at East Rutherford South Point at Burns West Lincoln at Bessemer City 730 pm PREP SOFTBALL Bessemer City at West Lincoln Cherryville at Mooresville East Lincoln at West Caldwell Games start at 4 pm PREP TRACK Gaston County boys at South Point Cleveland County boys and girls 4 PREP TENNIS Bandys at West Lincoln Cherryville at Bunker Hill Myers Park at East Gaston R-S Central at Kings Mountain South Point at North Gaston Westchester Academy at Gaston Day 4 pm WEDNESDAY PRO BASEBALL Gastonia at Greensboro 7 pm PREP SOFTBALL Ashbrook at Olympic Bessemer City at Cherryville Kings Mountain at Hunter Huss 4 pm PREP TENNIS Burns at Cherryville East Lincoln at St Stephens Lincoln-ton at Hibriten 4 pm PREP TRACK East Rutherford Kings Mountain Shelby at R-S Central THURSDAY PRO BASEBALL Gastonia at Greensboro 7 pm PREP BASEBALL West Lincoln at Lincointon 4 pm Gaston Day at Gastonia to offer tennis Baseball results Results of Bessemer City at South Point game and Belmont Abbey at Pembroke State doubleheader section Join Trevino win Mexico's first-ever Caribbean World Series But not all the memories are so wonderful Wills still remembers the first night he spent south of the border "I bought some tacos from an old guy pushing a cart around" Wills said "I don't know what was in them but I've never been so violently sick as I was that night "Ever since then though I've been able to eat or drink anything there I think it helped my immune system" And he recalls being rained out in a small town named Guasave on Christmas day "I was thinking 'What am I doing Wills said "But that's made me appreciate the minor leagues more It's made me a stronger better person" Texas' thief According to the publication Baseball America the Texas Rangers' best base-stealing prospect is playing for the Gastonia Rangers The publication lists second baseman Shannon Penn 22 as the organization's fastest and best minor-league base runner In the past two seasons both in rookie league Penn was success Charlotte Christian 4:30 pm Cherryville at Bessemer City 7:30 pm PREP SOFTBALL Fred Foard at East Lincoln Shelby at North Gaston West Lincoln at Maiden 4 pm PREP TENNIS Ashbrook at Myers Park Burns at South Point Hunter Huss at Garinger North Mecklenburg at East Gaston West Lincoln at Maiden 4 pm PREP TRACK West Lincoln and Bunker Hill at Bessemer City Lincoln Lincointon at St Stephens East Rutherford R-S Central at Kings Mountain South Point Shelby and Burns at North Gaston Ashbrook at Myers Park FRIDAY PRO BASEBALL Gastonia at Charleston WVa 7 pm COLLEGE BASEBALL Carolinas Conference baseball tournament at Barton PREP BASEBALL Hibriten at Lincolnton 4:15 pm Maiden at West Lincoln 4:30 pm East Gaston at North Mecklenburg Fred Foard at East Lincoln Garinger at Hunter Huss Kings Mountain at Shelby Myers Park at Ashbrook South Point at North Gaston 7:30 pm SATURDAY PRO BASEBALL Gastonia at Charleston WVa 7 pm COLLEGE BASEBALL Carolinas Conference baseball tournament at Barton PREP SOFTBALL Crest at Bessemer City TODAY'S TV COLLEGE BASEBALL Miami at Florida State (SS) 1 pm MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs (WGN) 2 pm Atlanta at Cincinnati pm Seattle at Oakland (ESPN) 8 pm NBA New York at Boston (NBC) 12:30 pm San Antonio at Phoenix (NBC) 3 pm WORLD LEAGUE OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL Orlando at Barcelona ff (ABC) 1 pm GOLF The Masters IT' (CBS) 4 pm The Masters Update (CBS) 1130 pm MISCELLANEOUS NCAA men's and women's swimming 11 (CBS) 3 pm MOTORSPORTS NASCAR Winston Cup Valleydale 500 (ESPN) 1 pm RADIO HIGHLIGHTS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Atlanta at Cincinnati 1:45 pm WCSL-AM (1590 Cherryvtile) WGNC-AM (1450-AM Gastonia) MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Asheville at Gastonia 7 pm WGNC-AM (1450-AM Gastonia) We want you on Our team The Gaston Observer has its eye on sports from the hard-charging Hornets to your church bowling team Catch that record fish? Finally sink a hole-in-one? Proud of a son or daughter who excelled on the playing field? The Gaston Observer wants your sports results achievements and activities from Gaston and Lincoln counties and Kings Mountain If you have a sports item you want to get in the paper call us collect at 864-4319 or write: Sports Editor The Gaston Observer 127 Franklin Blvd Gastonia NC 28052 NOTES Registration is limited to first 600 entries For information call Carolina Sports Marketing at 366-9633 anytime or the Gastonia Athletic Club at 865-2193 6 am-It) pm Monday-Thursday 6 pm Friday or 8 pm Saturday Legion baseball BESSEMER CITY The Bessemer City American Legion Post 213 will hold a meeting today at 1 pm for all boys interested in playing baseball this summer For more information call Jim Greene before the meeting at 922-5391 John Glennon limit NSA rules Trophies to 10 all-tournament players top three places and most valuable player Call Joe Mee ler at 827-46 3-9 pm weekdays April 27 NSA rules Tire Country Invitational Bessemer City's Washington Park Class church and industrial teams Entry fee $80 entry deadline April 25 One home-run hitter per game For more information contact Shane Shuford at 629-9571 anytime or Scott Pruitt at 922-0650 anytime April 27-28 SSA and world and state qualifiers Gastonia $85 entry fee $15 sanction fee Call Mike Johnson at 822-1806 54) pm or 865-2280 11 am-5 pm weekdays April 27-28 NSA Class World Regional and State qualifier Pharr Park in McAdenville Call Mick Chandler867-0876 5-10 pm weekdays If you have softball information call (704) 868-7740 collect or write: The Gaston Observer 127 Franklin Blvd Gastonia NC 28052 GASTONIA The Gastonia Parks and Recreation Department will hold tennis lessons this spring and summer The first session is May 7-9 and May 11 -16 the second is June 4-6 and June 11-13 the third is July 9-11 and July 16-18 and the fourth Aug 13-15 and Aug 20-22 Junior classes (ages 7-14) are 7 to 8 pm and adult classes are 8 to 9 pm For information call Janet Taylor at 866-6840 1 to 5 pm daily Biathlon sign-up GASTONIA The first Gaston Fitness Biathlon is 8 am Saturday at the Gastonia Athletic Club The biathlon is a lb-kilometer run followed by a 40-kilometer bicycle ride Thf)se under age 15 w(m't be allowed to ride the bicycle segment but they can participate in the run SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS Here's a list of softball leagues and tournaments in Gaston and Lincoln counties and Kings Mountain: Thursday-Friday SSA and world and state qualifiers Gastonia $85 entry fee $15 sanction fee Call Nlike Johnson at 822-1806 5-9 pm weeknights or 865-2280 11 am-5 pm weekdays Next Saturday-Sunday Revels Construction Invitational Call Flip Dow at 865-8551 9 am-5 pm or 865-0206 6-10 pm weekdays Next Saturday-Sunday Revels Construction Invitational Call Flip Dow at 8658551 9 am-5 pm or 865-0206 6-10 pm weekdays Next Saturday-Sunday NSA Class World Regional and State qualifier Harold Rankin Park in Lowell Call Mick Chandler at 867-0876 7)-10 pm weekdays April 26-27 Rodden and Crescent Fields in Belmont all classes welcome two home-run Home To Some Of Charlotte's Most Valuable Real Estate Information -4-- Every Saturday ObsetverHome SECTION I.