The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • 22

2C The News and Observer Raleigh NC Thursday July 11 1991 East Pct GB 10 Str Home Away Players look for relief in the bullpen Pitchers and pranksters find work beyond the foul lines I Toronto 49 34 590 8-2 W-3 21-16 22-18 Boston 42 38 525 512 6-4 1-1 24-19 16-19 Detroit 41 40 506 1 7-3 W-I 23-15 18-25 New York 38 40 487 812 13 1-1 22-18 16-22 Milwaukee 36 44 450 11)2 3-1 W-1 20-21 16-23 By JOEL CHANEY Staff writer Battnore 33 47 413 1412 5-5 W-I 13-25 20-22 'In the bullpen it's a lot more laid-back We pay attention but it's a little more relaxed' Cleveland 26 53 329 21 2-8 1-1 14-25 12-28 West Vd Pct GB 10 Str Home Away Kids ikt here's your chance to be a sportswriter Texas 44 3 3 571 7-3 W-4 24-14 20-19 Minnesota 47 36 566 3-7 L-1 25-17 22-19 Tim Hines Mudcats catcher California 44 31 543 2 4-6 1-4 21-19 23-18 Chicago 43 31 538 212 7-3 W-1 22-18 21-19 Oakland 44 38 537 212 5-5 L-1 25-14 19-24 Seattle 40 42 488 612 2-8 13 21-19 19-23 Kansas City 36 44 450 917 4-6 W-I 15-27 21-17 Tuesday's game All-Star Game at Toronto Arnehcan 4 National 2 Wednesday's games No games scheduled Today's games Kansas City (Appier 5-7) at Detroit (Gakeler 1-2) 7:35 pm Texas (Brown 7-6) at Toronto (Candiotti 8-7) 7:35 pm Boston (Harris 5-7) at Minnesota (Tapani 5-7) 805 pm Chicago (Hough 5-3) at Milwaukee (Wegman 4-3) 805 pm Baltimore (Robinson 4-6) at Oakland (Stewart 6-5) 11105 pm Cleveland (Nagy 4-9) at Seattle (Holman 7-9) 1005 pm New York (Kamieniecki 3-1) at California (McCaskill 7-10) 1035 pm knew he would get to hit about 10 times a year so he knew his role He had a lot of imagination and did some humorous stuff" According to Nettles Tischinski loved to pull tricks on Charlie Silvera Silvera formerly was a coach with the Twins but went to Detroit when Billy Martin became Tigers manager in 1971 "Tischinski knew that Charlie always started walking toward the bullpen when the national anthem was being played" Nettles said "Well we're playing the Tigers at Minnesota and Charlie's on his way to the bullpen He gets to the gate but it won't open Tom had wrapped it shut with wire Charlie is yanking pulling and screaming The national anthem is over and Charlie is still yanking and screaming He was too old to climb over it He's screaming and the umps are too 'Get that guy outta here' Shortly Tischinski struck again Again Detroit and Silvera were the targets "We're playing at Detroit and the Tigers are in their clubhouse while we're taking BP" Nettles recalled "Well there was this little dugout area in the Detroit bullpen that had a drain in the floot "Tischinski fills the drain with towels pounds it tight with a bat more towels and then puts the cover back on "Then he turns the water hose on and aims it toward the dugout It fills up and the water starts running toward the bullpen "Well the game is about to start and the Tiger bullpen crew can't get into their bullpen because it's a flood in there "I tell you he was something' And that's no bull It's a place where good times can be had and it's a place where the world can pull up a seat on your shoulders as time marches on between the foul lines of that big green diamond 16-7 Mt It's where stars have been banished and t4 1' where stars have been found It's that area down the left- and right-field foul lines near the out- Hines er limits of the baseball field designed as a holding station for relief pitchers It's the bullpen It's where baseball players keep one eye on the action on the field and the other one on the scenery in the stands It's where you can make a kid with pockets full of holes feel like a king with just a pat on the head It's where Tim Hines a Carolina Mudcats utility catcher can be found these days And it's a place that brings a smile to Jacksonville Suns manager Jim Nettles an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins in the early 19705 Hines 22 played mostly first base last year at Salem of the Class A Carolina League But this year in Class AA his role is utility catcher He is hitting 198 but is on the disabled list with a cut forefinger Hines warms up relief pitchers and he also plays catch with the left fielder when the Mudcats take the field "It's kind of boring sometimes" Hines said "But you swap stories talk about the guys who are playing And you get closer to some guys Love sports and like to write? Like sports and love to write? Like to take photos of sports events? If you're an eighth through 12th grader now's your chance to see your work in The News and Observer Enter our Sportswriter for a Day contest If you're among the first 100 students who call you'll be a guest of the Durham Bulls at their game Aug 2 against the Lynchburg Red Sox Then you will submit your game story column feature or photos and we'll run the best ones in our sports section on Aug 7 The top entries in each category will win $100 The contest is sponsored by the MO sports department and our Newspaper in Education division You must register with NIE at 829-4778 "And every now and then you look at a few girls who are walking by I'm going to get married in about a year so I'm pretty much taken so I try to take it easy But it's always nice to look up there" Hines busied himself in the bullpen Sunday at Five County Stadium He shaved a couple of bats for batting practice won a $24 pool when Terry Crowley became the first Mudcat to homer in Five County Stadium chatted with fans between innings acted as a waiter by serving clubhouse drinks to the bullpen crew was cooled off by a fan who squirted him with a water bottle and warmed up Ben Webb "Fans normally are talking and asking questions and stuff" he said "Oh you might get a couple of rude ones but otherwise they're pretty good "It's nice of the fans to come up It shows they're interested It's always nice to help someone out" Hines says life in the bullpen differs from that in the dugout "In the bullpen it's a lot more laid-back" he said "We pay attention but it's a little more relaxed "But it's some good times down there in the bullpen" Nettles will agree with that "When I was with the Twins we had a catcher named Tom Tischinski who was famous for doing stuff in the bullpen "Tom was our No 3 catcher and he League leaders (Through the All-Star break) Batting (3) plate appearances) AB Avg Ripken Bait 80 319 111 348 Joyner Cal 78 304 99 326 Sierra Tex 77 323 105 325 Boggs Bost 76 287 93 324 Barnes Oak 72 257 83 323 Tartabull KC 70 275 88 320 Palmeiro Tex 77 320 102 319 Greenwell Bost 78 301 96319 Molitor Milw 76 320 102 319 Franco Tex 73 2 95 318 Home runt Canseco Oakland 21: Fielder Detroit 21: Tartabull Kansas City 20 Carter Toronto 19 Davis Minnesota 19 Henderson Oak land 18 Ripken Baltimore 18 Winfield California 18 Runs batted in Fielder Detroit 65 Canseco Oakland 63 Carter Toronto 59 Tartabull Kansas City 59 Baines Oakland 58: Sierra Texas 58 Thomas Chicago 58 Stolen bases Henderson Oakland 30: Alomar Toronto 27 Polonia California 27 Raines Chicago 26: White Toronto 19 Cuyler Detroit 17: Franco Texas 17 Pitching (eight decisions) Erickson Minnesota 12-3 800 1 83 Langston California 12-3 800 384 Finley California 12-4 750 4 10 Sanderson New York 9-3 750 3 93 Stottlemyre Toronto 9-3 750 303 Gullickson Detroit 11-4 733 400 Key Toronto 10-4714 223 McDowell Chicago 10-4714 320 Saves Eckersley Oakland 23 Aguilera Minnesota 22 Harvey California 22 Reardon Boston 21 Thigpen Chicago 18 Olson Baltimore 17 Je Russell Texas 17 Friday's games Kansas City at Detroit 735 pm Texas at Toronto 7:35 Boston at Minnesota 805 pm Chicago at Milwaukee 835 Baltimore at Oakland 10:35 pm Cleveland at Seattle 10:35 pm New York at California 1035 pm Saturday's games Kansas City at Detroit 115 pm Texas at Toronto 135 pm Baltimore at Oakland 4-05 pm Boston at Minnesota 8 05 Chicago at Milwaukee 8 35 Cleveland at Seattle 1005 New York at California ID OS pm Pct GB 10 Ste' Home Away East Bucs end Bull win streak ISiititheenZLIiaktiOMIMIMI 48 3 1 608 6-4 1N-1 23-17 25-14 Pittsburgh 46 34 575 22 8-2 W-7 20-18 26-16 New York next 5 days (Second half) Eastern Pct GB 10 Str Home Away 44 37 543 5 5-5 W-1 23-19 21-18 St Louis From staff reports 38 44 463 1112 6-4 L-1 22-18 16-26 Chicago 6-4 VI-2 21-19 22-25 Orlando II 5 688 35 47 427 142 2-8 L-I 17-22 18-25 Montreal En3 At Orlando DURHAM SALEM ab bl ab bl Giovanola dh 3 0 0 0 Ratliff cf 5010 Mordecai ss I 0 3 1 Rodriguezss 4110 Kowitz ci 3 1 1 0 List rt 4 3 40 Gillis 3b 4 0 0 0 De Los Santos dh 4 1 2 1 Tarasco ri 4 1 1 2 Truskv If 2 0 1 2 Nieves if 4 000 Audelb 2 000 Lopez 4 1 1 1 Edge 4000 Brust 112 4 0 1 0 Manahan 2b 4 0 2 0 Caraballo 2b 2 1 1 0 Bailey 3b 3 00 0 Totals 32 4 8 4 Totals 32 0 11 3 Philadelphia 33 49 402 1612 3-7 L-3 18-23 15-26 10 6 625 1 9 7 563 2 7 9 438 4 5 11 313 6 -3 W-1 31-15 26-13 5-5 L-1 27-19 17-25 5-5 L-I 25-20 19-24 3-7 W-I 25-20 21-22 x-Greenville Charlotte Carolina Jacksonville West Pct GB 10 Str Home Away 7-3 W-2 25-16 24-15 Los Angeles 49 31 613 Western I Pct GB 10 Str Home Away 6-4 L-2 24-16 20-20 Cincinnati 44 36 550 5 At Orlando Atlanta 39 40 494 912 3-7 I-2 18-22 21-18 Durham 010 120 000 4 Salem 101 020 10x 5 San Diego 40 43 482 1012 3-7 1-2 17-24 23-19 SALEM Va Right fielder Tony Tarasco's throwing error allowed Salem to score the winning run in the seventh inning Wednesday night giving the Buccaneers a 5-4 victory over Durham and snapping the Bulls' six-game Carolina League winning streak The Bucs who had rallied to erase a two-run Durham lead in the fifth struck in the seventh against Bulls reliever Nate Minchey (0-3) Roman Rodriguez opened the inning with a single and moved to third on a single to right field by Paul List who was 4-for-4 Tarasco's throw from the outfield skipped past third allowing Rodriguez to score the winning run Knoxville 10 8 556 5-5 1-2 18-22 17-28 Memphis 10 10 500 I 4-6 L-2 15-29 18-26 x-Birmingham 8 8 500 1 5-5 W-2 28-13 25-20 Huntsville 7 9 438 2 4-6 W-I 18-24 17-29 Chattanooga 7 11 389 3 5-5 L-I 15-29 27-14 San Francisco 35 46 432 1412 5-5 W-2 20-22 15-24 Houston 34 47 420 1512 6-4 W-2 19-22 15-25 At Orlando x-won first-halt title Note: Home-Away records include first halt Brost 2 4 Salem 8 List 2 Trusky (10) Loper (8) (5) Bailey (9) Durham UP ER BB SO Murray 1 31100 Young 3 21121 Minchey (L 0-3) 212 3 3 1 0 Borbon 123 1 0 0 1 0 Salem IP ER BB SO Carlson 623 7 4 4 3 3 Tellers (W 6-3) 213 1 0 0 0 4 Young (Trusky) Um pires: A-2910 At Orlando 13 Tuesday's games No games scheduled Wednesday's game Double-A All-Star Game At Huntsville Ala American 8 National 2 Today's games Carolina at Orlando 705 Charlotte at Jacksonville 735 Birmingham at Chattanooga 7 Memphis at Knoxville 7 Greenville at Huntsville 1335 Fridays games Carolina at Or 7:05 Charlotte at Jacksonville 735 Birmingham at Chattanooga 7 Memphis at Knoxville 1 Greenville at Huntsville 8:35 At Jacksonville Kinston leads CL stars with 9 selections to team Howie sparks AL stars to Double-A victory The Associated Press Tuesday's game All-Star Game at Toronto Amehcan 4 National 2 Wednesday's games No games scheduled Today's games Los Angeles (Ojeda 7-5) at Montreal (Gardner 4-51 735 pm Pittsburgh (Smith 9-6) at Cincinnati (Hammond 7-5) 7 3' pm San Francisco (Wilson 4-71 at Philadelphia (Mulholland 7-8) 735 pm St Louis (DeLeon 3-7) at Atlanta (Avery 8-5) 740 pm San Diego (Hurst 9-5) at New York (Gooden 8-6) 740 pm Houston (Deshates 3-7) at Chicago (Maddux 6-6) 8:05 pm Friday's games Houston at Chicago 320 pm Los Angeles at Montreal 735 pm Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 7:35 pm San Francisco at Philadelphia 7:35 pm St Louis at Atlanta 7:40 pm San Diego at New York 7:40 pm Saturday's games San Diego at New York 115 pm Houston at Chicago 2:20 pm Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 705 pm San Francisco at Philadelphia 705 pm St Louis at Atlanta 7:10 pm Los Angeles at Montreal 7:35 pm tcaroIinaeIgue next 5 days (Second half) Pct CB 110 Sty' Home Away 14 5 737 7-3 W-I 27-16 32-12 12 7 632 2 7-3 L-I 27-16 28-18 9 7 563 3J7 6-4 L-I 29-15 18-21 4 13 235 9 3-7 W-I 17-23 14-53 Southern x-Kinston Winston-Salem Durham Peninsula League leaders (Through the All-Star break) Batting (II plate appearances) AB Avg Gwynn SD 83 332 119 358 Pendleton AU 71 250 81 324 McGee SF 68 259 84 324 Jose StL 77 289 93 322 Biggio Hou 75 273 86 315 a Smith StL 74 270 85 315 Samuel LA 78 313 98 313 Morris Cin 69 244 76311 Calderon Mont 79 301 93309 Sandberg Chi 80 308 93 302 Butler LA 79 311 94 302 Home runs Johnson New York 19 Bell Chicago 16 McGriff San Diego 16 Clark San Francisco 15 Dawson Chicago 15 Gant Atlanta 15 O'Neill Cincinnati 15 Runs batted in Johnson New York 63 Clark San Francisco 59 Kruk Philadelphia 55 Guerrero St Louis 53 McGriff San Diego 53 Dawson Chicago 52 Bonds Pittsburgh 51 Justice Atlanta 51 Murray Los Angeles 51 Stolen bases Nixon Atlanta 42 Grissom Montreal 38 DeShields Montreal 37 Coleman New York 33 Bonds Pittsburgh 21 Lankford St Louis 21 Calderon Montreal 20 Smith St Louis 20 Pitching (eight decisions) Martinez Los Angeles 12-3 800 254: Carpenter St Louis 7-2 778 361 Glayine Atlanta 12-4 750 1 98 Blio Cincinnati 6-2 750 266: Browning Cincinnati 10-5 667 399 De Martiner Montreal 10-5 667 210 Viola New York 10-5 667 280 Portugal Houston 8-4667 381 Saves Dibble Cincinnati 23 1 Smith St Louis 23: Franco New York 19 Da Smith Chicago 16 Landrum Pittsburgh 15 Lefferts San Diego 14 Williams Philadelphia 13 At Salem 1t At Salem Northern Salem Lynchburg Frederick x-Prince William Pct GB 10 Str Home Away 11 1 611 5-5 W-2 23-24 18-23 9 10 474 212 6-4 W-2 21-21 18-28 7 12 368 417 3-7 L-2 15-30 18-26 7 12 368 412 3-7 1-2 21-19 18-25 Kinston placed nine players on the Carolina League All-Star team which was announced Wednesday The game will be played July 24 at Prince William The Durham Bulls had three players selected to the team Javy Lopez Tim Gillis and Scott Taylor Southern Division starters: Javy Lopez Durham Mike Easley lb Kinston Miguel Flores 2b Kinston Pete Castel lano ss Winston-Salem Tim Gillis 3b Durham Tracy Sanders of Kinston Brian Giles of Kinston John Jensen of Winston-Salem Chris Ebright dh Winston-Salem Reserves: Matt Wolbeck Winston-Salem Bobby Holley if Peninsula Tom Eiterman if Kinston Ron Pezzoni of Peninsula Pitchers: Ryan Hawblitzel Winston-Salem Scott Taylor Durham Mike Soper Kinston Garland Kiser Kinston Scott Neill Kinston Troy Bradford Winston-Salem Travis Willis Winston-Salem Chad Allen Kinston Manager: Brian Graham Kinston Coach: Brad Mills Winston Salem Trainer: Dan DeVoe Kinston Northern Division starters: Cesar Devares Frederick Mel Wearing lb Frederick Mike Hankins 2b Prince William Manny Alexander ss Frederick Andy Fox 3b Prince William Daryl Ratliff of Salem Bruce Chick of Lynchburg Boo Moore of Lynchburg Sergio Cairo dh Frederick Reserves: Ed Horowitz Frederick Tony Beasley if Frederick Bill Norris if Lynchburg Jeff McNeely of Lynchburg Pitchers: Sam Militello Prince William Mark Ohlms Prince William Tim Smith Lynchburg Paul Wagner Salem Kip Vaughn Frederick Dove Tellers Salem Erik Plantenburg Lynchburg Darren Hodges Prince William Manager: Mike Hart Prince William Coach: Buddy Bailey Lynchburg Trainer: Adam Wagner Prince William At won first-halt title Note: Home-Away records Include first half HUNTSVILLE Ala Midland's Mark Howie homered and drove in three runs on Wednesday night leading the American League to an 8-2 victory over the National League in the first Double-A All-Star Game Howie one of three players who received Most Valuable Player awards hit a three-run homer in the first inning and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth The game matched all-stars from the three Double-A minor leagues: Southern Texas and Eastern The teams were divided into American and National teams based on the major-league affiliation of the player's team Players from each of the three leagues received MVP awards Joining Howie who plays in the Texas League were Thome from the Eastern and winning pitcher Pat Mahomes from the Southern Thome was 3-for-3 with three runs scored while the Orlando pitcher did not allow a run in two innings striking out two At Tuesday's games No games scheduled Wednesdays games Salem 5 Durham 4 Kinston 4 Prince William 3 Peninsula 7 Winston-Salem 3 Lynchburg 12 Frederick 2 a A Today's games Durham at Salem 7 Prince William at Kinston 7 Winston-Salem at Peninsula 1 Lynchburg at Frederick 705 Friday's games Durham at Salem 1 Prince William at Kinston 7 Winston-Salem at Peninsula 7 Lynchburg at Frederick 7:05 At a From staff reports Best chance for gold is on track African runners pace Olympic hopes From wire reports 111 HOMER RACE: The best race in the second half might be for the home run title in the American League Cecil Fielder and Jose Canseco got hot heading into the All-Star break and share the lead with 21 home runs Right behind them is red-hot Danny Tartabull with 20 including nine in his last 11 games 1 LEADERS MEET: The Rangers betrayed by a rotation that was supposed to be its strength but bolstered by a major-league-leading 275 batting average will leave the All-Star break atop the AL West for the first time since 1983 The Rangers will visit the Sky Dome in Toronto starting tonight for a four-game series against the AL East-leading Blue Jays The Rangers have activated infielder Mario Diaz from the disabled list and optioned shortstop Gary Creen to Oklahoma City of the Class MA American Association DYKSTRA UPDATE: There's no date set for Len Dykstra's return It won't be tonight when the Phil lies open a series against the Giants even though Dykstra has been bugging team physician Dr Phillip Marone for several days to let him back Marone will examine Dykstra on Friday and decide when he may return NI ALL-STAR WRAPUP: Carlton Fisk 43 became the oldest player to get a hit in the All-Star Game when he singled in the sixth inning Fisk broke the mark held by Ted Williams who got a hit at age 41 in the second All-Star game of 1960 The game drew a record crowd of 52383 to the SkyDome The previous record was May 28 when 50299 attended the Blue Jays' game against the Athletics The NL had plenty of chances to win And that's why it's so frustrating Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn says "The first day you get here everybody talks about having fun" he says "But when you get the uniforms on everybody talks about winning When we jumped on them in the first inning our side got fired up Everybody was saying 'Let's get some more' The Red Sox' Jeff Reardon is the 36th player to make the squad for three teams Cal Ripken's three-run homer was the first home run with more than one runner on base since Fred Lynn's grand slam in 1983 for the AL The AL has won four straight games tying their record The AL has won five of the last six games Jack Morris is the 10th pitcher to start three or more games Lefty Gomez of the Yankees holds the record with five starts Dennis Eckersley matched Bruce Sutter's record with his third save r'''''' it VrAlikr14144'z' :0 3::::: :74 A' l' 3-- -t :4) 4iy0 if1 4 0ffif i a I 'A7 i eA 4 --4 -1 T- 1 i ''V i 1 1: 1::: 7 147 '7 r- f' I i "4 3 :42 --4 lir '41 t''''2 1' AI 4 I f7 i 'i I 7 )' 1 7 :6 Here are the latest developments in various sports on the day after the International Olympic Committee readmitted South Africa to the Olympics: SOCCER: South African officials predicted that soccer players would be the first t0 participate in international events However officials at the international soccer organiza- Lion FIFA said that it was unlikely South African teams would play in either the 1992 Olympics or the 1994 World Cup because of its process for readmission will take longer 1 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: In Victoria British Columbia organizers of the 1994 Commonwealth Games said they expect South Africa to participate "We don't see any 7 problem as far as the Commonwealth athletes are concerned" said Sharad Rao of Kenya a legal adviser CRICKET: The International Cricket Council voted to recognize the new United Cricket Board of South Africa a non-racial organization after a ban of 21 years ICC chairman Colin Cowdrey said the South African cricket board had been elected to full membership "with immediate effect" WINTER OLYMPICS: Sam Ramsamy head of the newly recognized National Olympic Committee of South Africa said it is there will be a South African team at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville France "Win- ter sport in South Africa is largely an establishment sport" he said "It would be obscene and objectionable to the majority of South Africans" TRACK AND FIELD: It is unclear whether South African athletes will take part in the world track and field championships in Tokyo in late August The International Amateur Athletic Federation has said it plans to readmit South Africa just days before the start of the competition Ramsamy said: "Talking about and speculating about participation in Tokyo is a provocation Any discussion on the issue is not valid now" Budd-Pieterse set world records after the Olympics but returned to South Africa in 1988 a nervous wreck from the protests that dogged her every race She said she was through with international competition at the age of 22 She has since married returned to competitive running and has grown visibly stronger and more mature "I have surprised myself how well have run since coming back to serious athletics" she said in the Sunday Times newspaper last month "1 think it is because I feel relaxed am just running because I enjoy it" said Budd-Pieterse 25 who logs 85 miles a week Her personal best in the 3000 meters 8 minutes 2883 seconds is still among the top 10 of all-time But fellow South African Elana Meyer ran an impressive 8:3200 earlier this year beating Budd by more than three seconds Another potential medal candidate is Myrtle Bothma whose time of 5407 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles was among the best in the world last year Frith van der Merwe ran the marathon in 2 hours 27 minutes and 36 seconds in 1990 making her a contender as well Among the men one well-known face could turn up in a South African uniform Tom Petranoff Petranoff an American who once held the world record in the javelin and was on the 1988 US Olympic team moved to South Africa three years ago and is applying for citizenship At 33 he's still among the world's best JOHANNESBURG South Africa If South Africa were to compete in the Olympics tomorrow there is little doubt that its biggest impact would be in track and field South African athletes although away from the international spotlight and competition for several decades have managed to maintain world-class levels in a number of running events Zola Budd-Pieterse is the name everyone knows but South Africa has several talented runners particularly women The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday readmitted South Africa to the Olympics 21 years after the country was expelled because of apartheid It appears virtually certain the country will compete next year in Barcelona Spain With its year-round warm weather and the mile-high altitude in the Johannesburg area South Africa has ideal training conditions for runners The country could field medal contenders in sports from yachting to boxing but its best chances are in track and field where Budd-Pieterse should again be in the spotlight She was a barefoot teenager in 1984 when she touched off a firestorm of controversy by receiving a British passport so she could compete in the Los Angeles Games Her celebrated collision with Amen The Associated Press Zola Budd-Pieterse center already has one Olympics to remember can star Mary Decker Slaney in the 3000meter final brought her even more notoriety From wire reports The Associated Press i A I.