Evansville Courier and Press from Evansville, Indiana • 19

The Evansville Courier SPORTS Saturday November 7 1987 19 time in run for roses of 2235 Jones has 66 points and the school record of 73 was set bv Tom Nowatzke in 1964 Jones also should break the school mark of career receptions He is currently fourth with 115 and Keith Calvin has the record of 121 Illinois has won the last six games between the teams and owns a 31-15-2 advantage in the all-time series Starting at quarterback is junior Scott Mohr who has completed 95 of 1 80 passes for 1225 yards and five touchdowns His leading receiver is split end Darry Usher with 37 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns Usher is the leading punt returner in Illini history with 669 yards and he also is leading the team in kickoff returns averaging 28 yards on nine returns The kickoff is set for 1130 pm CST Indiana niinois has allowed a average of only 964 yards passing while Indiana has yielded 1451 Indiana flanker Ernie Jones goes into the game ranked second nationally in receiving yardage with 884 yards (184 per catch average) and is sixth in receptions (60 per game) caught at least one touchdown pass in seven games this year The senior set a school record for touchdown receptions with his 11th on a 41-yard pass play from Schnell last week and tied the school record for total touchdowns on the same score He needs only 46 yards in receptions Saturday to set the school record for yardage on catches in a season With three games to go Jones is also within reach of the record for career yardage and season points He has 1980 career yards and Duane Gunn has the record missing on eight of his first nine passes He later hit three straight passes one for a touchdown but was benched after an interception that helped Iowa open a 20-7 advantage Kramme replaced Schnell on final series of the first half and hit 10 consecutive passes starting the second half in helping the Hoosiers take a 21-20 lead think Indiana possesses the best pass offense in the league with either said White Statistically Indiana has a big advantage on offense The Hoosiers are averaging 236 points compared with 134 for Illinois Indiana has accumulated 3698 yards on offense Illinois is averaging 2988 with only 1019 rushing Indiana averages 1443 rushing Defensively Illinois has the statistical advantage The Illini have allowed an average of 161 points compared with 185 for Nov 14 showdown with Michigan State with one more victory under their belts The Illini are 3-4-1 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play after tying Michigan State and defeating Minnesota 27-17 not a lot of pressure on us I can tell you said Illnois coach Mike White obviously from the standpoint of Indiana they have to beat us to have the opportunity to play Michigan State for the title a nice position to be Quarterback Dave Schnell replaced by Dave Kramme after an ineffective start against Iowa is scheduled to start for the No 18 Hoosiers a touchdown favorite been our No 1 quarterback He had a bad first half I feel he deserves the opportunity to come back and get back in there and said Mallory Schnell began the game against Iowa BLOOMINGTON Ind (AP) Indiana will be trying to stay alive in the race for the Big Ten jackpot Saturday when the Hoosiers host Illinois Indiana coach Bill Mallory who saw his team tumble from first place in the conference with last 29-21 loss to Iowa describes it a little more graphically: is a good gut-check the way I look at Mallory said certainly going to have to play a better football game than we played last week to have a he added An Indiana loss to Illinois and a Michigan State victory against Purdue on Saturday would all but assure Michigan State of the conference championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl The Hoosiers 6-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play would like to glide into taeir BASEBALL Darren Niethammer has new perspective Reds swap for Jackson in 2-2 deal Former catcher for UE discovers baseball can be a lot of hard work By BRAD SCHNEIDER Courier correspondent From AP wire reports Whether the Kansas City Royals made a good or a bad deal with Cincinnati Friday may be up to Charlie Leibrandt who even involved Sending Danny Jackson to the Reds for shortstop Kurt Stillwell leaves Leibrandt as the only proven lefthanded starter Leibrandt who was 16-1 1 last year with a 341 earned run average has filed to become a free agent taking a little bit of a agreed Royals manager John Wathan have a good chance to sign The Royals shipped the 25-year-old Jackson and shortstop Angel Salazar to the Reds for Stillwell and pitcher Ted Power Jackson 25 slid into a season-long slump in 1987 and had a 9-18 record and a 402 ERA Power 32 spent the past five years with the Reds and owns a lifetime mark of 44-42 with an earned run average of 396 and 41 saves Salazar 26 spent most of the past two seasons as starting shortstop for KC with a 224 batting average two-year totals in the majors are a 246 batting average with four home runs and 59 RBIs Pirates acquired shortstop Terry Crowley Jr and third baseman Rico Rossy from the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Joe Orsulak feel we acquired two outstanding infield said general manager Syd Thrift Rossy 23 batted 287 at Baltimore's Class AA Charlotte team in the Southern League Crowley 19 a switch-hitter batted 302 in 78 games for Hagerstown in the Class A Carolina League Orsulak 25 batted 231 in 39 games last season at Vancouver farm team until sidelined by a broken foot In four seasons for Pittsburgh Orsulak has a lifetime batting average of 272 with two home runs 44 runs batted in and 51 stolen bases played games until 5 or 6 It was baseball baseball baseball morning noon and night never worked so hard at any one thing in my life you got to do it got to show the people in the organization you can And work and work and work The average fan usually associate games with hard physical labor Neither did Niethammer before he realized that baseball is now his job his livelihood college I just went out and played the he said really understand much about it and the things it takes to get better at it what the Instructional League is all about Learning Getting a better knowledge of the game seems like all the guys down there can hit and run and throw But not too many of them understand the game very well trying to learn as much as I can so have that edge I want to play in the big Monty Clegg the assistant minor league director said size speed versatility and hard work have made him one of the top young prospects stock really improved during the Clegg said getting invited to play there is a compliment to the player An invitation to the I-league is the way of saying think a good prospect and we want to work with give you an idea of where Darren stands there were 13 catchers that could have been selected for the I-league and he was one of the three we Clegg said the Rangers project Niethammer as a catcherout-fielder with the emphasis on catching club can never have enough good he said in favor Because he can catch the club will stick with him longer and give him all the chances in the world to play let him play until he decides he just want to Clegg said four years of college baseball also are a plus older and more mature simply played more baseball than the kids signed out of high school The older guys also realize how fortunate they are to get the opportunity to play pro ball They work harder at it because they know how quickly it can be taken Niethammer said easy to spot the hot-shot high school phen-oms during spring training first thing they do is blow Darren Niethammer was checking out the bats on display in 23 restaurant when his gaze fixed on one of the glass-cased pieces of lumber the same bat I he said He pointed to one of the largest bats in the rack It was right next to a Dave Winfield model and just a couple of bats down from a huge black-stained Cal Ripken model The object of his affection was a Louisville Slugger with a sleek comfortable-looking handle and a big hunk of a barrel that had Don name burned into it R-161 just like the ones I Niethammer said referring to the serial number just above signature the best bats I've swung yet Not like that P72 over there (the Cal Ripken model) Those things are like logs so top-heavy this T-141 over here (a Don Mattingly model) a little small for me The skinny too If I used a T-141 spend a fortune replacing all the bats I'd An interested observer was amazed at how intricate the process of selecting a bat is they all pretty much the same? said Niethammer are all different Especially in the quality of the wood Some bats feel like made out of concrete others feel like made out of paper the kind of thing you learn in pro Niethammer has learned a lot of things in his brief pro ball career The North High School graduate a four-year letterman on the University of Evansville baseball team was drafted by the Texas Rangers in June After playing for the rookie league team in Port Charlotte Fla he was one of three minor league catchers invited to participate in the Florida Instructional League program After spending two months in the Instructional League Niethammer returned to Evansville for some R-and-R been playing a little basketball and thinking about March 19 when again report to Port Charlotte for spring training nice to have some time he said the last eight months played more baseball than played during my entire career Especially in the I-League of the players stayed on the Texas spring training complex We worked out each morning from 9:30 until noon and then Courier photo by Dave Lucas Darren Niethammer says bats are all different went toward the engagement ring he gave to his fiance Jan Myers They plan to marry in the spring Art Fowler who coached New York Yankees pitchers in 1978 and 1983 will return as pitching coach next season Fowler rejoins Billy Martin who is starting his fifth stint as Yankees manager Fowler previously worked under Martin at Minnesota Detroit Texas Oakland and New York Also named to the 1988 coaching staff were Mike Ferraro Clete Boyer George Mitterwald Chris Chambliss and Jeff Torborg ing on a wall in the lobby of the restaurant look at that he said looking at the huge handle can tell a solid piece of wood just by counting the grains The more grains there are the weaker the bat is That thing even look like it has any grains reminds me got to go hit over at UE I got to work on some things Let me go get my file Is and show you why I like so all their bonus money on a new he said second thing they do is tell you how good they are when it comes to playing the college guys are are ahead of them The older guys know the ropes on road trips they know how to handle themselves around their teammates and they know how to handle their Which is no small feat in the bush leagues Niethammer made $700 a month His $2000 signing bonus really isn't the important Niethammer said have signed for nothing Just getting drafted was the big thing Getting that chance to play Baseball is my life now and having a blast It was my dream as a kid and now doing it Niethammer examined an old Jackie Robinson model bat hang Veteran Steve Garvey who left the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 1982 season will approach the Dodgers next week and request a one-year career-concluding contract his agent Jerry Kapstein reported Garvey declared himself a free agent after his $145 million contract with the San Diego Padres expired at the conclusion of the 1987 season Aces take on Georgetown in home finale wdru camp nlav Aces roa- rnuancville ic 9-1 Pnmhprland has But Hobson acting like Attila to same Aces Evansville is 2-1 Cumberland has But Hobson acting like Attila By TOM COLLINS Courier staff writer the Hun in his ravaging of the UE record book this season is nursing bruised ribs and as of Friday was listed questionable got kids who will fight you all the way and Randy is at the top of the Moore said try to play been practicing our backups (sophomore Jamie Holland freshman John Croarkin) all and finished league play at 3-1 In the final home appearance for the seniors the Aces play host to the Tigers at Arad McCutchan Stadium today at 12:30 on Parents Day been harping on that theme all said Moore why in a conference so the eighth or ninth games on the schedule means Moore hopes to have all eight seniors on offense answering the call to kickoff They are Sean Pack Dave Zurliene Kirk Stallings Jeff Will-man Phil Peach Randy Hobson Billy Joe Masters and Bobby Lewis Another is often-used backup runner Steve Maudlin very coach Dave Moore said checking his scouting report us Sabotin looked like an all-American Against Georgetown he looked like Deputy Dawg And Indianapolis look anything like they did against us They must have spent too much time celebrating beating Celebrating is what the Aces could do Saturday night if they defeat a strong Georgetown (7-1) club that executes the wishbone offense A victory would give Evansville (2-5-1) a share of the Mid-South Conference championship tying Georgetown and possibly Cumberland Georgetown is 2-0 in the Mid-South with Kentucky Wesleyan still to play Gary Gaetti the Most Valuable Player in the American League playoffs was among 11 players including three members of the World Series champion Minnesota Twins to file for free agency Other Twins filing were catcher Tim Laudner and relief pitcher George Frazier Also filing were pitcher Bryn Smith and utilityman Dave Engle of Montreal outfielders Steve Henderson and Dwayne Murphy of Oakland pitcher Dave LaPoint of the Chicago White Sox catcher Mike Heath of Detroit outfielder Rick Manning of Milwaukee and pitcher Charlie Leibrandt of Kansas City line So they went a secondary receiver and Doug Sabotin caught the ball back-peddling in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown and a victory after time had expired Now the scene shifts to Georgetown Ky last Saturday Georgetown and Indianapolis are playing and the Greyhounds are threatening in Georgetown territory They try to throw to the tight end but tied up at the line So quarterback Tom Crowel looks for his secondary receiver Sabotin There he is back-peddling into the end zone Crowel lobs a pass in his direction and Sabotin trips and falls as the ball sails over his head Georgetown eventually wins 31-9 So you really want to know what the University of football team has to contend with each week? You want a peek at that black cloud rumored to hang over the program? Consider the last two weekends: Two weeks ago the Aces had Indianapolis dead Time had run out and the Aces were ahead 24-21 But on the last play an Evansville defender lined up offsides The Greyhounds were awarded another play from the 2-yard-line They tried to throw to the tight end but the Aces tied him up at the Hobson and Masters rank No 1 nationally in Division II in total offense and receptions per game respectively Hobson is averaging 3231 yards per game Masters leads with 10 catches per game Evansville will play Xavier in MCC soccer tourney today By TOM COLLINS Courier staff writer Black Beauty Field for a regular-season match It was then that Ernst after Jack goal got things going blasted in three consecutive goals for the coveted as the Aces registered a 6-0 blowout of the Muskies and first in the tournament respectively drew byes into the semifinal round Xavier and Dayton posted fist-round victories Friday to join them Xavier seeded sixth upset third-seeded Detroit 1-0 on a goal by Jim Ferello midway through the first half Dayton the fourth seed beat fifth-seeded Loyola 2-1 the NCAA tournament An MCC championship while not guaranteeing a berth would be a boost to both chances The 24-team NCAA tournament field will be announced Monday and tournament play begins the following weekend All seven of losses have been by one-goal margins The Aces with Jon Halliwill and Mark Smith alternating in goal have posted 1 1 shutouts They in turn have been shut out four times Mick Lyon the senior co-captain and midfielder and a candidate for all-America honors remains doubtful for match Lyon is suffering from a recurring back injury He sat out the win over Dayton victory over Dayton by a 5-0 margin Wednesday night Again Ernst was the headliner He scored the first three goals for his second At that time he had scored last six goals having scored the only goal in a victory over Memphis State on Sunday and both goals in a 3-2 loss at Cleveland State on Oct 30 Should Evansville and St Louis play for the championship the Aces would be trying to avenge their only home-field loss of the season The Billikens edged the Aces 1-0 on Sept 20 In addition both teams are waging late-scason rallies in attempts to gain berths in The happiest player on the University of soccer team right now must be freshman forward Tim Ernst and with good reason Ernst would not have been faulted if he began dancing a jig Friday night upon learning the soccer opponent today in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference semifinal round is Xavier The domination was such that Evansville got off 27 shots on goals and the Musketeers had five shots first semifinal match at 1 pm pits St Louis (11-5-4) against Dayton (12-9) Evansville (14-7) will square off with Xavier (7-12-2) in the second match championship match will begin at 1 pm Evansville also holds a regular-season They got the opportunity to repeat today at 3:30 CST at the Indianapolis Soccer and Sports Center across the street from Bush Stadium Evansville and St Louis seeded second Ernst hotter than a $3 bill of late first made his presence known back on Sept 27 when the Aces welcomed the Musketeers to.