The Brandon Sun from Brandon, Manitoba, Canada • Page 10

THE BRANDON SUN, Wednesday, July II, 11 10 E3 john Wacky world of softball Some people do get kinda tense about that" robertson by JIM TAYLOR courtesy of your friendly neighborhood Opportunities For Youth grants. "Yeah," admitted Dick Smedes, "some people do get kinda tense about that." Smedes, 25, is one of four people drawing $90 a week from a $6,100 OFY grant to the Auntie Riot Squad to set up what he terms "rion-tour-naments for people who don't have the ability or don't like the whole organizational hassle of competitive leagues." They work with the parks board and various organized baseball and softball teams to obtain parks not. already in use, purchase minimal equipment and set up a schedule that is, at best, chaotic. Six weeks ago there were 17 teams. Now there are 35.

Men's teams, women's teams, mixed teams. Dress Gas-town mod and optional. A nude game never got past the talking stage, but there are tales of a pitcher who was mobbed by the opposition and stripped from the waist down. "He finished the inning," Flex said admiringly. It is, as Smedes admits, "freak softball," populated in the main by a bunch of guys 20-30 who look like House of David rejects.

There are teams named the Patterson Park Perverts, the Diamond Dazzlers and one made up of OFY staffers called the Mothercrats, a hybrid which defies elaboration. It would be easy to write the whole thing off as another make-play project for people with nothing better to do, except that you watch and think of the days before the decline and fall of the vacant lot, the days before supervised play for kids, when a pickup game was more than a trip around the block checking broads. Vic Doray is 40, the self-styled oldtimer of a team called the Granville Grange Zephyrs that includes some of the city's better-known authors, poets and painters. He plays, he says, because the Kosmics came along "just when I had begun to despair that anything not super organized would ever again prevail." "It's kooky as hell," he says. "We've got people on our team checking manuscripts between innings.

We've got poets and artists like George Bowering, Claude Breeze and Brian Fisher who are absolute fanatics about coming out and playing. "It isn't all perfect. played a team once angry people. They'd tap our catcher on the mask with the bat, and things like that. I don't think we want to play them anymore, but that's the beauty of this thing.

It's so loose, you don't have to play anybody if you don't feel like it. There are, however, disquieting signs that the organization syndrome the Kosmics dread is creeping in. On the weekend, the Afghani Oil Kings turned up in TTshirts all the same There was loose talk on the Flex. Morgan bench of purchasing a second bat. But not yet.

Not with the World Serious tentatively scheduled for whenever they feel like playing it. Not while the Pigiron pitcher can wander in an hour late. Not while an outfielder can call time to talk to a barefoot girl who comes lo the park with tears in her eyes and the whole game stops to watch the dogs fight. Not while the only essential piece of equipment is a hat to throw the beer money in. "Which one's Robertson?" "The fat guy with the big ears!" "Is that the censored) who carved our catchers?" "Yeah, that's him." "Who's he think he is, Jim Murray?" "Awwww he couldn't carry Jim Murray's jock." "Hey, Robertson, How you going to write this one?" Same old way I wish I knew who I could attribute those quotes to, but I was busy interviewing Claude Osteen in a corner of the Dodger dressing room, at the time, and neglected to turn around and rise to the bait.

I think one of the Dodger infielders tried to get my attention. How do I know it was a Dodger infielder? Well, he reached out lo tap me nn the shouider and missed. The hot breath of what seemed like half the Dodger team was buffeting the back of my neck to the point where I'd have given anything to have been able to wheel around and quick-draw a bottle of Scope and offer to buy a gargle for the house. But by the time Osteen had finished summarizing his performancea remarkable 'feat, considering he wourSt up 127 times by actual count without once striking himself in the forehead with the ball the last of the stragglers was just stepping into the shower, carrying his. rubber duck.

At least I assumed it was made of rubber. Or very well trained. Turkey VANCOUVER (CP) The starting infield for Flex Morgan and the mock heroics in tbeir crucial game with Figiron Albatross was five men, four dogs, two bottles of beer and a bicycle. Naturally, the bike was removed. Just as naturally, the beer stayed.

One bottle sat on the pitcher's mound, the pitcher moving up two feet so it wouldn't spill. "A question of priorities," explained the man from Pig-iron. When the game ended, Flex Morgan had won 9-7. Or possibly 11-9. Their manager and the keeper of the only score-card had lost track, perhaps during the discussion with the base umpire, who happened to be his wife.

The plate umpire had just over-ruled her on the grounds that "of course she said he was safe." "She's his old lady." Thus Flex Morgan lurched triumphantly through another Kosmic Softball League game on the way to a showdown with the Afghani Oil Kings, or maybe even the Rapid City Ramblers all through the KINGSTON, Ont. (CP) -One of the big losers hi Monday night's 14-man breakout from Millhaven penitentiary was the prison's softball team, which lost Its lop pitcher. Richard Smith, 32, of Fetro-lia, who has appeared in all 16 Circle Softball League games for the prison team the Sabres this season, joined the 13 others who escaped from the prison. move Tuesday all by himself in the shadowless Illumination of the stage of Reykjavik's Sports Palace. There was something surrealistic about this world championship series, with prize money of about 1300,000, starting with only one man sitting at the chess table.

Fischer, as usual, was late. He arrived seven minutes after Spassky moved his queen's pawn and referee Lothar Schmid pressed the button lo start Fischer's clock. The game went cautiously at first, with the players al-loted ZV4 hours each to make 40 moves. The experts said Fischer was trying for a draw by exchanging pieces. Sure for cure sore arm Smith out of Portsmouth infielder Murray Black, who smashed a home run and two singles off Smith, said after the game: "I wouldn't say he (Smith) was jittery, however, I don't think hs was himself.

He didn't move the ball around at all but rather was just throwing straight strikes." Today Black remembered a conversation he had with Refreshments on the pitcher's mound are a. top-priority feature of games in the far-out Kosmic Softball League in Vancouver. Pitcher Flex Morgan makes sure he doesn't spill beer during recent game by moving up two feet towards plate before delivering the ball. Fun-oriented league has 35 teams and gets financial help from federal Opportunities for Youth program. 1: Experts give it to Spassky lineup now Smith, who was serving a 12-year sentence for seven charges of armed robbery, as the Portsmouth team was leaving the prison.

"I was. talking to him after and I said I'll see you Thursday (in reference to the Petes' next scheduled league game) at Millhaven." "He (Smith) didn't answer but sort of grinned "Now I know why." 0 a estimated Spassky will Fischer divide at least another 155,000 as the players' share of the sale n( television and film rights. Before the players separated Tuesday night, Spassky wrote -his 41st move on a sheet of paper, sealed it in an envelope and gave it to Schmid, the reieree from WeM Germany. Schmid will open the envelope this afternoon and make Spassky's first move for him. The championship match was scheduled to begin July 2, hut encountered delay, arguments and threatened walkouts.

Pitcher The escape came after Smith suffered his worst defeat of the season, a 10-2 thumping at the hands of Portsmouth Petes, The loss cost the Sabres sole- possession of first place in the seven-team league. Smith pitched the first five innings Monday night then moved right field for the sixth inning and was replaced in the seventh. He galloped his bishop down a long black diagonal, snatching up a Spassky pawn. In a few moves the bishop was trapped. In exchange, Fischer lost the bishop for two pawns.

Byrne called it a blunder. But if it was a blunder it was an attempt to inject life, and perhaps victory, into an apparently stalemated game. What surprised many was the cautious play at the opening and middle of the game by Fischer, who has a reputation for killer instinct. Experts from five countries said It appeared the challenger was trying to force a draw and split point for the first game. The Dodgers had Just struck a blow for the law of averages by winning one in a row after five straight lossesand I had been formally invited to attend their post-game buffet as the main course.

Only this turkey has hair under each wing. Apparently, I had rubbed a few of them the wrong 'way fokay. wash your mind out with soap), by writing that among other things you had to hand it to the Dodgers, otherwise they tended to drop it. There were a few other rips my own quaint way of drawing attention to the fact they'd made 15 errors in their seven previous games. Writers have a way of looking out for each other, and one of L.A.'s finest ink-stained wretches whispered in my ear-before the game.

"Look out for Duke Sims. He says he's going to cave in your nose." I was aghast, and I don't even drink. "But don't worry." he said, "I made him promise to try and hit you with a baseball. How does three throws for' a quarter sound?" "Fine," I said. "I was afraid for a minute.

The grapevine has is that all your catchers are pretty good boxers. When I sidled into the Dodger room, shortly-. after their 7-3 conquest of the Expos, their Kangaro Court was in progress. Why a kangaroo? Well it makes an ideal soap holder in the shower, after court's adjourned. My idea of a baseball kangaroo court had always been a vision of Dick "The Monster" Radatz sitting on the bench, with Freddie Patek's head poking out his shirt-front.

But "The Judge" in the Dodger court is either Maury Wills or Frank Robinson, and the: defendants are Dodger players called on the carpet to answer for bonehead plays. Only yesterday, four of them were declared habitual offenders. One infielder was sent to the minors recently because, in the opinion of the court, his Gra-bark-ewifcz was worse than his Gra-bite-ewite. As grateful as I was about getting through most of my interviews before being recognized as John The Ripper, the thought struck me that I'd come in the Dodgers dressing room, both here and in Los Angeles, maybe 15 times in the last four seasons and had asked casual questions of just about every one of them, after first introducing myself. Another ugly face Round by STEPHENS BROENING REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) Bobby Fischer made his opening assault on the Soviet chess fortress Tuesday night, but world champion Boris Spassky repelled it and left the American with a tough fight for a draw when their first game was adjourned.

The first game of history's richest world chess title match was called after 4(1 moves and three hours and 34 minutes of play. It resumed today at 12 noon CDT. When play was called off for the night, there was little left on the hoard: a king and five pawns for Fischer; a king, three pawns and a bishop for Spassky. special to The Sun with hah YESTERDAY BMpiJnp fllfl f)TA MrV-- Daupnin mi in oox- i 1 1 ThorriHon, unK 12-t) (S nnd WcC--n Nickf H-0) nt B-ll. Minol 002 OJ0 5 11 Rlvrsid OOJ l0 JJlC 12 5 BarwiMi 11-1), Kwrlnsi (7) and Wrlshfi E-ntrarS (J-2) ntf 5afsi' HHv V.in-Krflfl 2 (1).

Himinta 31 919 ion Bimeiinh 212 1M Wi in; ST511 id WokJi, VAurr-v V.hkow fgt. Usviik id; Partem HR: Hm-M. Smith (IV The 29-year-old American needs Wh. points to lift Spas-sky's crown in the 24-game match, which could last' two months. Spassky, 35, needs only 12 points a draw to retain the championship, which has been in Soviet hands since One point is.

given Tor a game victory, a half-point for a draw, London oddsmakers rated the lanky American the favorite to win the competition. The winner gets five-eighths or the 5125,000 put up by the sponsoring Icelandic Chess Federation, or $78,125, plus $75,000 of the $130,000 contnht.ued by London investment banker James Slater to persuade Fischer to end his holdout last week. Sometimes it just doesn't pay Treat your mends U.S. grandmaster Robert cyrne said: "riscner is going to have trouble making a draw. 1 don't see how Spassky can lose." Svetozar Gligoric, the Yugoslav grandmaster, said: "It is doubtful whether black can save a draw." Fischer is playing the black pieces and Spassky the white, which means the Russian had the first move.

Fischer has played Spassky five times in the past. The three times he played the black pieces he lost. Playing while he was able to salvage two draws, but has never triumphed over the Soviet player. Spassky made his first Roy McLachlan tripled, and Marv Hollander hit a double and single-Meanwhile at Binscarth, the visiting Red Sox were nursing a three-run lead going into the last inning. Garth Neville, who worked bul two-thirds of an inning, was credited with Urn victory.

Brian McAuley started for the front-running Orioles. He was relieved hy Steve Sobkow in the eighth. Binscarth, in picking up its 13th win of (be season, managed 16 hits, three each by Reg Parton and Herb Andres. Ron Low, Dale Gies and McAuley all added doubles and singles. Mel Smith hit a two-run homer in the third inning for Hamiota, and team-male Lynn Caldwell garnered two singles and a double.

At Riverside, the Canucks won in spite of the outstanding eirorts of Minot 's Tom Kraft. The heavy-hitting Merchant unloaded his third and fourth home runs of the season, driving in all five Minot runs. He also added a single. Grant Rvcrard for Riverside and went the distance in picking up his fourth win of I he season, He allowed only five hits, while striking out a dozen and walking one. Terry Barsness suffered the loss.

He ivas replaced in the seventh inning by Rill Koer-ing. Besides Rath well's game-winning hit. tie also singled in in eight. Gord Hunter and Gene Cory chipped in with two-run singles. T.

But I guess to them I was just another ugly face who wrote the usual pablum-platitudes which most ball players accept as their due. "Gee Frank you're thE greatest!" ''Hrnmrnmmm now there's a guy who knows his baseball." To me the highlight of this game was the tremendous standing ovation given ex-Montreal Royal Jackie Robinson. I'll never forget Ferguson Jenkins's tonguc-in-cheek social commentary on how the game has come a long way in its treat-, ment of black athletes. "When Jackie Robinson broke, the color barrier, they sent 'him all the way up to Montreal in the hopes the people might be a littie understanding. But when I first became the first black Canadian to make the pro ball, the Phillies signed me, and sent me to Little Rock and roomed me with Richie Allen." Goodnight Just to make it unanimous last night, when I was cutting across the field to the Expo dressing room, along with several other writers, groundskeeper Lubie Veal drove by on his tractor and shouted.

"Good evening, gentlemen! And you too Robertson." Then when I entered Gene Mauch's office, the first thing he said was: "Well, Robertson, what kind of a pep talk do you plan to write to build. a fire under the Dodgers with tomorrow?" Driving home. I almost, got to feeling sorry for myself, until suddenly I thought of something one of the Dodger piayers shouted at me in the dressing room. I dashed in the house and put a call in to Jim Murray in Los Angeles. "Hello Jim'''' I said.

"One of the Dodgers just paid you the greatest, compliment. They said I couldn't carry your jock." vfcSS gently. Tuesday, July 11, 1972, was not a particularly happy day for two veteran pitchers in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League. Eventful yes, but definitely not. happy.

At Dauphin, Brandon Clo-verleafs' starting pitcher and co-manager Bob Thompson lost his cool and the host Red-birds ended up winning the game, 4-2. Meanwhile at Binscarth, Hamiota Red Sox veteran moundsman Glennis Scott made an infrequent throwing error on a routine last out of the final inning that allowed the Orioles to push across the tying and winning runs in a 9-3 contest. In the only other game played last night, a pinch-hit three-run double by Wes Rathwel! in the seventh inning highlighted a Riverside Canuck come-from-behind B-5 victory over the visiting Minot Merchants. At Dauphin, pitcher Thompson was ejected from the game when he lost a debate with an umpire. It was in the fifth inning, and at the time the learns were deadlocked 2-2.

Relief pitr-her Ron Funk was saddled with the loss. Nicho! sf.ail.efl for the. winners and writ the distance in picking up his faurth win against, no losses. He struck out II while walking only two. Jerry Shumanski was the horo at th piste for f.hp Rfd-birrls.

hilling two singles and a double. Rws Slnnc rhippe'i in with a triple. For Brandon, THE MSBL STANDINGS Snilfi Dlvfsfon Pel. GSL TO 7 .584 7 TO .412 .1 Norm Division 1.1 3 .811 Ei-o i-l- Brandon at Saurls wjj Hiram Wdlua Special Old..