The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 32

C2 The Sun WEDNESDAY. June 15. 1988 Modesto beats Spirit in ninth, 1-0 By JIM LONG Sun Sports Writer KALEIDOSCOPE As title series go, this one's a joke Welcome to the NBA Finals of Comedy, featuring veteran humorist Mychal Thompson of the Lakers and budding superstar John "Spider" Salley of the Detroit Pistons. Heeeere's Mychal: "Football players don't have any sense of humor. That's because of all of eight innings of work (both hits were by second baseman Mike Brocki) before Dave Shotkowski relieved him to start the ninth.

Veres struck out nine and walked four, but Shotkowski (4-0) got the win by pitching a scoreless ninth. San Bernardino missed chances in the eighth and ninth, stranding runners at third base. In the ninth, right fielder Jose Tartabull led off with a single and first baseman Jim Bowie reached on an error. It was the first Modesto error at home in 50 innings. After Goff flied out, A's center fielder Antoine Pickett made a diving catch of a line drive by third baseman William Diaz.

Tartabull advanced from second to third on the play, but left fielder Joe Kemp then popped out to end the threat. Spirit notes Spirit right-hander Colin Ward, who played three years with the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A Phoenix club, was sent by the Seattle Mariners to Double-A Vermont. Ward had knee surgery before the 1988 season and was playing with San Bernardino as part of a rehabilitation assignment. A replacement on the Spirit roster is not expected until the Marin rs announce roster changes after the end of the Cal League's first half Sunday. Jetf Nelson (5-4) starts for San Bernardino vs.

Modesto in tonight 7:30 game. Scott Chiamparino (5-5) throws for Modesto. The matchup ends a run of 34 games over 32 consecutive days for the Spirit, which is off Thursday. place, 1 Vi games back. Spirit starting pitcher Dave Burba (2-4) suffered another tough-luck loss despite tossing 82 scoreless innings before Doyle came on in relief.

Burba struck out 11 and walked four while allowing five hits before Doyle was touched for the game-winning hit by Brito, the only batter Doyle faced. "He (Burba) was mixing pitches, throwing the ball for strikes, and getting ahead of practically every hitter," said catcher Jerry Goff. "You can't throw a much better game than that." Burba's teammates have given him few runs in those hard-luck losses. That they failed him again in the thick of a pennant race made it no easier for them to swallow. "We've got to start putting runs up for him," said King.

"He isn't going to give up too many." Burba has a 2.51 earned run average, but has little to show for it. Modesto's starting pitcher, right-hander Dave Veres, continued to frustrate the Spirit at a time it did not want frustration. He has not allowed a run vs. the Spirit in two starts this season. On Tuesday, he only surrendered two singles in MODESTO Locked in an air-tight pitchers' duel not to mention an equally tough pennant chase about the last thing the San Bernardino Spirit wanted to do Tuesday was suffer a heartbreaking loss in the ninth inning.

The Spirit suffered that nightmare anyway, courtesy of Modesto catcher Jorge Brito. Brito delivered a run-scoring single off reliever Rich Doyle ith two out in the bottom of the ninth to snap a scoreless tie and give Modesto a 1-0 victory before 428 fans at John Thurman Field. "It really breaks your back," said Spirit shortstop Bryan King. "You play nine innings like that and it comes down to one pitch." The loss seriously damaged the Spirit's title hopes in the California League Southern Division's first-half pennant race. The Spirit fell three games behind first-place Palm Springs with only five first-half games left to play.

San Bernardino is tied for third place with Visalia, while Riverside is in second the hitting they take. You can't laugh when somebody's trying to knock your head off." Can you top that. Spider? "Where you from?" Salley asks a pale writer from Los Angeles. "Yeah? Nice tan. (lei some color, willya?" Firing Don Rickles-Iike puldowns and stream-of-con-sciousness one-liners, S.B.

County roster finalized for Twin Counties Baseball Classic By NICK LEYVA Sun Sports Writer Burton has 3-shot lead in jr. tourney RANCHO MIRAGE Brandie Burton, a junior at Rialto's Eisenhower High School, shot a 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday to take a three-stroke lead over the rest of the girls field after one round of the Rancho Mirage Desert Junior golf tournament at Mission Hills Country Club. Burton parred the first 13 holes and bird-ied three of the last five on the Old Course at Mission Hills. She leads Tricia Konz of Chandler, by three strokes. In the boys 11-14 bracket, Eric Lohman of Victorville birdied three of the first five holes on the back side to score a 73 and take a one-stroke lead over Ted Purdy of Phoenix, Ariz.

The tournament marks the sixth stop on the 21-tourney American Junior Golf Association Tour, hich draws boys and girls ages 11-18 from throughout the nation. The 54-hole event continues today and concludes Thursday. Burton was runner-up in this event last year. Defending champion Christie Erb, who defeated Burton in a playoff last year, shot a 77 on Tuesday. CIF 2A finalist Bloomington and Larry Stahlhoefer of CIF 3A semifinalist Chino are also on the squad.

Victor Valley's Larry Perry, another All-SAL pick, and Serrano's Brad McDermott were named to the squad. Rounding out the team are Rim of the World's Lee Pollock, Colton's Ed Yzaguirre, Ontario's Gary Ybarra, Upland's J.D. Haendiges and Buddy McCown, Eisenhower's Lenny Duran. Don Lugo's Tim McDonnell, Yucai-pa's Angel Morales, Chaffey's Felix Figueroa, Barstow's Sean Mc-Clintock and Fontana's Mike Sylvester. The all-star team will play an exhibition game on Wednesday, June 22, at Fiscalini Field at 7 p.m.

against the San Bernardino Indians, a semi-pro team that won the National Baseball Congress state championship last year. Admission is $1 and parking is free. a 7-6 edge in the series. San Bernardino County's roster includes 26 seniors representing 19 schools. Colton coach Bob Ramirez, ho led the Yellowjack-ets to the Citrus Belt League title, will coach the San Bernardino team, while Rubidoux coach Jim Rose will guide Riverside.

Riverside's 26-man roster will be announced Monday. Other players chosen to represent S.B. County were All-CBL picks Ray Aldama and James Garcia of Colton, All-San Andreas League choices Kevin Wardlaw of Hesperia, Cole Preston of Cajon and Steve Osretkar of Yucaipa and All-De Anza Leaguer Joe Preston of Aquinas. Two all-stars recently drafted by major-league organizations are Victor Valley's Tom Irwin (Toronto) and Don Lugo's Pat King (Houston). Sean Ramos of De Anza League Most Valuable Player Mike Bonetto of Big Bear, All-Nevada 2A selection Robert Schubert of Needles and Citrus Belt League co-MVP Ruben Montano of Colton are the top names on San Bernardino County's roster for the 14th annual Twin Counties Baseball Classic.

The all-star classic, sponsored by The Sun, is a best-of-three series matching the top graduating players in each county. The first game is scheduled for Friday, June 24, at 7 p.m. at San Bernardino's Fiscalini Field, and the second game will be played Sunday, June 26, at 1 p.m. at Evans Park in Riverside. A third game, if necessary, will be played at Evans Park.

San Bernardino County holds Mychal Thompson Salley, a second-year pro, is threatening to take the Finals' funnyman title from Thompson, a nine-year NBA veteran. Thompson agrees he may no longer deserve top billing. "He's got me off the court, but he's probably more educated than me," Thompson said of Salley, who studied at Georgia Tech. For Thompson, the bottom line isn't the punch line. "We'll see who gets the last laugh," lie said.

"They say he who laughs last laughs ith the most money, or something like that." Funny thing about those forwards Add Funnymen: Thompson says it's no coincidence that he, Salley and many other NBA jokesters play the forward position. "The centers don't have a sense of humor," he said. "It's from lack of oxygen because they're so tall. They can't figure out what's going on. And the guards are too busy being jealous of the taller players to have a sense of humor.

Forw ards are the happy medium tall, 6-foot-9, good-looking mainstays of the team." A lesson in catinj: vour words Now that he ill be coaching in San Antonio, Larry Brown is trying to make up for making a previous putdow of the city. During his ABA coaching days, Brown angered fans by saying the only thing good in San Antonio was the gua-camole. "I apologize about the things I said about San Antonio a long time ago. I really didn't mean it." Brown said. "I will eat the gua-camole salad.

To be honest I really kind of like (it). I like to eat it more than I like to wear it on my shirt." Talk about a personal attack The Minnesota Twins are 24-15 with Tommy HiMT at second base and 6-11 without him, but that apparently isn't good enough for some fans. clever sign at the Metrodome last weekend read: "(Steve) Lombartlozzi: We want IIJM.M, tin wv in- i Speedway: Reopens tonight Continued fromC1 Highway Vehicle Park near Devore, eight miles north of the old site. On Sunday, more than 40 riders came there to practice for tonight's inaugural race. "Don Brown had an off-road race going (on the off-road course), so there were about 5,000 people out there," said IMS publicist Kay Moran.

"A lot of people walked over to see what was going on. We had families sitting on the hill behind the back-stretch watching the practice." The Turf Club, the grassy slope behind the back straightaway, is one of the attractions of the new IMS. Families can bring their children, lawnchairs and blankets, and watch the races without being confined to a grandstand seat. For those who prefer grandstands, they are located on the front straightaway. And for motor-home owners, the area behind Turn 2 has been reserved for them.

The only requirement is they get there by 6:30 p.m., when the gates open. It costs $10 for a vehicle to enter, plus regular admission for the occupants. Portable concessions stands will also be on the grounds. In a few weeks, they will be replaced by permanent structures. "We want to make it like an open restaurant," Moran said.

Not all of the final touches will be completed by tonight. "I just don't know what to expect," said Costa Mesa's Bobby Schwartz, one of the most successful ft ooEiooQoaaoo UFAST OIL CHANGE 7 ei ruau I eDo nips liter Most cars FAST tire service FAST flat repair Most locations ODOODDEli 0a0BlSC BRMESiop BEST TWO WHEEL a 0 BETTER TWO WHEEL Good Plus Turn front rotors Pack inner 4 outer front bearings Bleed system Front grease seals GAS yacPHEBSOfln STRUT CARTRIDGES MFG. BY MONROE Good Better Plus Smale oistoncalic Single piston caliper GAS SHOCKS S1Q93 EACH re build GOOD TWO WHEEL Install quality disc pads Fl 'Inspect rear brakes 53999 0 Semi -metallic oarte (dual or 4 piston extra) 93 93 108 64 Plus installation i 5 etra I Addert parts ertra it neeoed I FDD rarsert'a PI Most car? Plus Installation Fl riders on the circuit. "I think it will take a few weeks to iron out the all the problems. Fans and riders will have to have a little patience.

But I think it's going to become a better facility than the old one. It has great potential. But it can't happen in one week." A few of the favorites, including Faria, will be missing from tonight's field since they returned to England to race after Sat-urday night's Nissan 44 mJI aa. Bl I a aat mbbb aw mm I aaaiAiai HmS bmB Imb rnnn BETTER BEST FRONT EH0 i' TWO WHEEL for Most Domestic A Import cars Good Plus Hebui.ld two wneei cylinders TWO WHEEL Good And Better Ptus Hold downaod return springs (combi kite) TWO WHEEL for Forftqn cars Only 0 Install Qualitv linings Hack front bearings hen dumtj front branes Turn two drums Hleed adjust system 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bobby Schwartz ALIGFIFJEIIT 'Check cambercaster toe: Adjust it needed Suspension inspection $9199 MOST CARS Call us for low prices on truck, 4-wheel or computerized alignment 93 SPORTS IN BRIEF Raiders suffer in two court rulings LOS AXGELFS The Los Angeles Raiders were thrown for a loss in rulings by separate judges, who dismissed a claim the team Hied against the city's Coliseum Conimiootball League. The stale and federal court rulings Monday have revived disputes over the team's playing fields.

U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter Jr. revived an 8-year-old legal squabble by deciding to allow the NFL to argue in a new trial that the Raiders should pay the league for its Oakland-t d-Los Angeles move. The NFL was previously ordered to pay damages including S14.5 million to the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission for wrongfully impeding the move. A short time later, Superior Court Judge Dintra Janavs dismissed the team's $9.5 million claim against the Coliseum Commission.

Soccer fans stir up trouble FRANKFURT. West Germany Knglish suecer fans have launched their "Invasion of Germany 1988," leaving behind a string of arrests and a trail of broken beer bottles from Stuttgart to the Ruhr. Infuriated by their team's 1-0 loss to Ireland in the opening round of the European Soccer Championships, the staggering English rowdies were preparing for a possible major clash with Dutch fans Wednesday night in Duesseldorf. About 300 English fans smashed store windows and clashed with police at Duesseldorf train station Tuesday evening. Judge rules for Angels owner Autry ANAHEIM California Angels ow ner Gene Autry praised a judge's decision upholding his lease and its guarantee of parking spaces at Anaheim Stadium.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Frank Domenichini granted the Angels' request for an injunction barring construction of a high-rise ollice complex on part of the parking lot, but said it could proc eed if the city meets several conditions. He ruled that city officials must guarantee adequate parking and access to the Stadium before construction can begin on the proposed $200 million complex. BR IK FLY NOTKI): Goaltender John Van-biesbroui of the New York Rangers cut tendons in his left wrKt during a fall in his home atid will miss the first half of the 19HH-H9 sea-so)i. Yanbiesbrouck was using a videotape camera when the table he was leaning on gave way. Organizers of a track meet in Casablanca lujve announced alter reviewing film that Said Aouita's performance Saturday night in the two-mile run did not break the world record.

Herb lirooks is out as Minnesota North SUirs coach and Jack I rrreira is in as general manager, the NHL team said Tuesday. From Sun News Services 99 $54 69 93 39 0 Added parts extra it needed With front heel brake 0b grease seals S1 1 99'patr QDQQQQDaQQDQ W. IMPORT CAR RADiALS PI AMERICAN CAR STEEL RADIALS $1Q0S '145SR 13 -MP155 P15580R 13 i LOW PIlcCES P165WR13 33.99 P17b'80H13 33.99 P18580R13 34.99 WGM PERFORMANCE STia KLFED NAOIAU I6570SRI3 M.J9 1b'T0bR 13 31.99 18W0SR13 J3 99 18570bR 14 35.99 75 H'4 37.99 37.99 38.99 42.99 43.99 Pl657bR13 32.99 23 25 99 79 99 30.99 30.99 Ib'jR 13 13 17SR 14 165R 15 P19W4R13 33.99 AVAI UullE P20575R14 34.99 American Speedway Final at Long Beach Veterans Stadium. But Schwartz and Lucero head an all-star cast that also includes Brad Oxley, Alan Christian, Gary Hicks and Scotty Brown. Jim "Animal" Fishback, the 34-year-old Etiwanda racer, is coming out of retirement and will make his debut at IMS tonight.

Fishback, who is being sponsored by Don Brown Racing, finished fourth overall in the 1987 off-road series in the unlimited single-seater class. "I didn't hear one negative thing about the track during Sunday's practice," Moran said. There are two racing surfaces at the facility, with the outside surface serving as the main track for speedway racing. The track is wider and longer than the old facility. It is one-eighth of a mile (220 yards) in distance, compared to the 180 yards of the old track, and is the longest speedway track in Southern California.

"The race track is a very nice shape and very nice size not too big or not too small," Schwartz said. "The location is nice. But until they get underway there, I don't know hat to say." Said Lucero: "It's going to be very good racing. It seemed like a fast track. When a track first opens it doesn't stay together that well, but with the equipment they have out there, they should make and keep a good track." Ticket prices remain the same.

Admission is $6.50 for adults, $1 for children ages 6 through 12 and free for children under 5. Parking is also free. To reach the speedway from San Bernardino, drive north on 1-215 toward Devore and take the Palm AvenueKendall Drive exit. Turn left on Palm and continue straight after Palm ends and Institution Road begins, then go right on Verdemont Ranch Road to the track. N0MGKEYD0WN 01 APPROVED CREDIT 90 DAYS SAME AS CASH Coupons apply to most passenger cars.

Services offered, credit terms and prices may vary at participating stores American txpress Not Honored COLTON 444 E. Valley Blvd. (714) 825-6565 FONTANA 9340 Sierra Ave. SAN BERNARDINO 101 S. Mt.

Vernon Ave. (714) 884-4837 HIGHLAND 2536 E.Highland Ave. (714)862-4980 REDLANDS 525 W. RedlandsBlvd. (714) 793-2596 MEANS VALUE (714)822-1161.