Evansville Press from Evansville, Indiana • 13

TT bm 7 THE EVANSVILLE PRESS Tuesday March 21 1978 Lance Parrish 'He's gonna be a great one' says Detroit's Ralph Houk 13 -v CT-rvV By Bill Madden United Press Internotlonol LAKELAND Fla In the opinion of Lance Parrish who ought to know -protecting home plate is a lot more challenging than guarding Tina Turner Parrish who stands 6-3 weighs a shade under 200 pounds and possesses a shotgun throwing arm along with a textbook batting swing is the latest "find" to emerge from the fruitful Detroit Tigers' farm system Tiger Manager Ralph Houk who has had the pleasure of being handed such outstanding prospects as Mark Fidrych Jason Thompson Steve Kemp and Rave Rozema in the past two years bubbles at the mention of Parrish never saw a catcher with an arm like that" said Houk while observing Parrish who was behind the plate during a batting practice drill a natural and when you see him with the bat well he just looks like a ballplayer It's only a matter of time before he's gonna be a great one" Parrish who is only 21 hit 279 with the Tigers' AAA farm club the Evansville Triplets last season and drove in 90 runs with 25 homers While those statistics likely helped him win promotion to the major leagues they had nothing to do with the rather unusual off-season job he procured agent who handles my financial affairs knows a lot of famous people in the Los Angeles area" Parrish related "He knew I was looking for a job last winter and one day he called me and asked if I'd he interested in being a bodyguard for Tina Turner the rock singer I guess he figured because of my size I'd qualify "She was taping a special in Hollywood and about all I really did was walk around with her and another guy and just kind of stand there It was fun for the time it lasted but it didn't quite compare to trying to become a big league catcher" Actually Parrish was signed by the Tigers as a third baseman after being selected first in the June 1974 free agent draft Because of his powerful throwing arm however he was switched to catcher a year later In his first three minor league seasons he never hit above 221 before suddenly blossoming last year think it was just a matter of maturing that's all" said Parrish "In order to become a hitter you've got to study and learn pitchers I did a lot of studying I also found out that a line line between 'f Staff Photo by Dove Lucas season opens The Triplets open spring training today in Lakeland Fla The home opener is scheduled for April 18 against Springfield Painter Paul Graham of Hormuth Drywall and Painting climbs into the rafters of Bosse Field to begin work on sprucing up the stadium before the Lance Parrish good pitchers and ones with major league ability the fine line being control" When the season opens Milt May the Tigers' incumbent first string ralchcr will be behind the plate However many observers feel that by season's end Parrish could be No 1 Parrish however is quick to point out that he still has a lot to learn big problem for me will he to learn the major league hitters" Parrish said "No matter how well you might hit you've still got to be able to call a good game For that matter got to learn the pitchers on my own club too" One pitcher Parrish has made it a point to learn about is Fidrych They were battcr-ymates at the Tigers' rookie ramp in 1975 when Fidrych was Just beginning to perfect his mound antics "I remember the first time I ever caught Stark" said Parrish was just beginning to learn about catching again and when he started talking to the ball and strutting around the mound all of that stuff I didn't know what to make of It Of course I soon realized that the hitters didn't either and that was to his advantage" Thus having caught both Mark Fidrych's and Tina act first hand Lance Parrish isn't likely to be awed by ton much else in his rookie season With a couple of breaks Tigers could be a surprise Baseball owners must decide if A's move is worth the cost as five rookies make the big jump Everyone particularly the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will be keeping a wary eye on the progress of outfielder Tim Corcoran catcher Lance Parrish second baseman Lou Whitaker shortstop Mark Trammell and pitcher Jack Morris If even three of them succeed the Tigers have an excellent chance to improve on their fourth place finish of a year ago and quite possibly they could become genuine contenders for the first time since 1973 The most pressing problem facing Houk this spring however concerned Fidrych's physical condition But the eccentric righthander showed no signs of the tendinitis whirh shelved him for most of last season and that was good news Equally good news United Ptim Inter not tonal LAKELAND Fla Detroit Tigers Manager Ralph Houk gets this wry grin when asked about his team's chances in the 1978 American League East pennant race He doesn't come right out and say it but he knows his team could be the surprise of all baseball this year with a couple of breaks In Just about every spring training camp there are one or two good looking young prospects but in the case of the Tigers the supply is beginning to seem endless Two years ago it was Mark Fidrych and Jason Thompson who graduated from the farm system to pay immediate dividends with the parent club Iast year it was Dave Rmtema and Steve Kemp And this spring Houk could have as many was the progress shown by the rookie double play combo of Whitaker and Trammell There was bad news too unfortunately Both Rozema last year's rookie sensation with 15 wins and Morris this year's rookie hopeful came up with sore arms and were considered doubtful for the early part of the season forcing Houk to go with Fidrych and new additions Jim Slaton and Jack Billingham as the primary starters with the rest of the front fine in question STRENGTHS: In Thompson (270 31 HR 105 RBI) Kemp (257 18 HR 88 RBI) Rusty Staub (278 22 HR 101 RBI) and Ron LeFlore (325 16 HR 57 RBI) the Tigers proved last year they can hit with anyone WEAKNESSES: If Rozema and Morris sore arms persist the Tigers will be caught with the pitching shorts The bench is also shallow while the bullpen of John Hiller (356) and Steve Foucault (315) was too often ineffective last year NEW FACES: Rookies Whitaker and Trammell given good chance to win the second-short Jobs Charlie Spikes obtained from Cleveland will battle Corcoran for the right field slot Slaton 10-14 1 comes over from Milwaukee for one season before playing out his option Billingham from Cincinnati adds pitching depth Parrish could supplant incumbent catcher Milt May by season's end OUTLOOK: If the rookies come through and the pitching gets healthy Tigers could surprise However third place would appear to be their limit LA's Sutton sharp in six innings Finley said that lee the American League president told him that if he came up with 2 million baseball owners would pay the rest That comes to about 852000 for each team The question Is whether they would hike that to around 890000 apiece Lurie said "we could he raising over two million dollars over the next 10 years To ask us to put up another million dollars is wrong If Finley would say yes and put up the right amount of money the situation would be resolved" Asked what was the right amount of money for Finley to pay Lurie repin'd "at least 82 million" United Ptim InternoMonol SAN FRANCISCO The much-awaited decision on whether the Oakland A's will move to Denver apparently deper Js on how much the other two dozen major league teams think it's worth to them That became evident yesterday when Bob Lurie the San Francisco Giants coowner refused a suggestion by Oakland owner Charlie Finley that both put 1 million into a payment fund for the Oakland Coliseum Finli cent more" The Coliseum has indicated it wants $325 million as payment for the A's backing out of the last decade of their contract to stay in Oakland United Pres international North Huskies to face Floyd Central Friday New York MetsThe White Sox announced they have released veteran pitcher Bruce Dal Canton and given him permission to make a deal with another major league clubCarney Lansford's three-run double was the big blow of a five-run first inning which carried the California Angels to an 11-9 win over Cal State-Fullerton Roy White and Cliff Johnson homered leading the New York Yankees to an 8-3 decision over the Atlanta Braves Trouble almost erupted when Mickey and Ricky Mahler annoyed at a bunt attempt by Reggie Jackson dusted off the New York slugger but the umpires cooled tempers before anything got startedDave Parker's three-run homer a 450-foot blast lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 win over Die Boston Red Sox in San Juan the third inning of the Orioles' victory over the Royals Scott McGregor Joe Kerrigan and Tippy Martinez pitched impressively for the Orioles On other Grapefruit and Cactus league fronts: Wayne Twitchell pitched four hitless innings as the Montreal Expos defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-3 with the help of a three-run homer by Jose Morales The San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 with Ozzie Smith's two-run double sparking a three-run fourth inning Dick Pole and John Montague combined in a six-hlttcr in the Seattle Mariners' 10-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers Bob Molina ro's two-run single sparked a four-run fifth inning which paced the Chicago White Sox to a 9-8 win over the The Alices 7-15 will take on Bloomfield 13-8 at Vincennes' gym at 1 pm Vincennes students are on spring vacation this week The Alices will fare Boonville on April 1 in the Evansville regional while North will play Mt Vernon in the first round Boonville whirh lost to Aurora in a practice game Saturday takes on Perry Central tonight at 7 Perry Central takes an 18-5 record into the game while Boonville is 15-9 The North Huskies have scheduled a basketball game for Friday night at 7 against Floyd Central at North's gym North is 14-8 following Saturday's 82-69 loss to Shelbyville in a practice game Floyd Central is 15-8 North along with Vincennes Lincoln Mt Vernon and Boonville are waiting for the Evansville regional to start April 1 Vincennes has scheduled a game for Thursday afternoon winner a one-time 20 game winner and unbeaten in post-season and All-Star competition The curveballing right-hander turned in his most impressive showing of the spring and undoubtedly earned the club's opening-day pitching assignment yesterday with six impressive innings in the Dodgers' 14-1 victory over the Texas Rangers John Lowcnslein singled home the Rangers' run off Sutton in the fifth inning Reggie Smith and Dusty Baker each hit a three-run homer and Myron White and Rick Monday also homorod to lead a 17-hit attack the Dodgers' best output of the exhibition season Paul Lindblad was the loser Dave Rozema a 15-game winner as a rookie last season pitched three shutout innings in the Detroit Tigers' 6-1 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds and Eddie Murray Baltimore's outstanding rookie of 1977 hit a two-run homer as the Orioles defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-1 Rozema allowed two hits during his three innings and John Hiller Milt Wilcox and Ed Glynn came on to complete the victory Jason Thompson went 2-for-3 and boosted his spring average to 512 fur the Tigers Murray who had a 283 average with 27 home runs and 88 RBI last season capped a four-run outburst with a two-run homer in The la Angeles Dodgers appear ready to put their bait arm forward when they open the defense of their National League championship The Dodgers' best arm of course is Dun Sutton who has been their most consistent pitcher sinre 1971 a two-time 19-game ISUE defeats Milligan 10-3 Special to The Press SANFORD Fla Indiana State University Evansville's baseball team thrashed Milligan 10-3 yesterday for the Eagle's first win this season Brian Kucster had a triple and a single for three RBI's in ISUE's 10-hit attack Dave Schenk slugged a double and two singles for two RBI's and Glenn Kay had a two-run double The Eagles improved to 1-2 (MIC 01 000 10 10 0 MtHipnn 001 000 0- 3 4 3 Grossmon Sensenbrenner (4) and Kuestei Cmbtf Walker (l)ondU ftaikm MoMnchuVrtv OOO 000 7 7 South IDS 100 13 0 TewhiH vncNvnv (I) and Dolan HR SlU Steib lid 3an Ondo 7th nan on Aducci Itti Ion Gymnastic tourney expected to be close Stiff competition is expected in the girls' gymnastics sectional meet which begins tonight at Reitz High School are a lot of good performers and it's going to be rough" said Don LcDur coach of the defending champion Harrison Warriors "On the optional level North is the team to beat" North enters the sectional which was delayed for a For the record has really helped our tram Wo ve added a few things to i lie routines" Kathy Nicholson and Lori Means are expected lo he Harrison's top optional performers However they xhoulil face plenty of competition North's Annette Thurman unbeaten on the bars anil ip all-around is considered the top optional contender The Wildcats' Vescovi however could upset Thurman Vescovi was second in the state in all-around last year and the state champ on the uneven bars Bosse Kelly Hoepner advanced to the regional last year and is expected to do so again Central's Becky Karr and Elaine Knight are also strong optional contenders At the beginner level Central's Carey Hobbinx who is unbeaten in all-around competition and Harrison's Tracy Ralph are expected to earn trips to the regional North's Kim Sexton Reitz' Kay Wilkins and Bosse Fran Beal round out the top beginner all-arounds Last year's state beginner champ Lvnn Organ of Harrison has moved up to the intermediate level and is still considered an excellent performer Other top intcrmcdi-ales include Central's Sallie Halsey unbeaten on the bars North's Rhonda Brooks Harrison's Arlene Siegel and (Is members of the unbeaten Reitz team week because of the energy crisis with a 6-0 record in optional competition Central iz unbeaten in beginner competition and Reitz is undefeated in the Intermediates In addition Harrison won the city championship and Mater Dei's Cindy Vescovi is one ot the top all-around challengers "The competition is really well-rounded this year" said Central coach Karen Dawson Vaulting and uneven bars competition on all three levels will begin at 6 at the Reitz gym Floor exercise and balance beam competition will begin tomorrow night at 6 at Reitz The seven city schools along with Washington and Sullivan will enter teams Tickets for both nights are 8250 fur adults and $150 for students and children Single session tickets cost $1 50 and 81 The top three finishers in each of the four events will advance to the April 1 4 regional at Edgewood High School The winning optional team will be the only team to advance Harrison enters the sectional as the three-time defending optional champion The Warriors are 5-1 this season their lone loss coming to unbeaten North going to give North a run for its money" said LcDuc "The delay gave us an extra week of practice which baseball basketball bowling Franklin Lanes NBA Exhibition results Yesterday's result Indiana 127 Cleveland 104 Tonight's game i at Washington Epoi 5 Twins 3 of Ddytano Roach Flo Mtanacoto 000 070 010 1 5 Nlonti cal M10M10i-S Zatin Morgan (S) Scrum (7) and anchor Twitrhdl Alcala (S) Batmen McFnaney () and Cartel Reece WP-Twdchcll I P-Zohn Hit- Montreal Morales Minnesota Kinfek Hutteft 733 Wayne Tevoult 730 Clorence Boi 730 Tim Kelley 775 Tom Fulkerson 775 Men series: Clarence Bote A34 Ken Pugh 17 Dick HuHetteOO Buck KHteV 00 John Cormock 599 game: Dorothy Parsons 20 Ann Winter heimer 749 Clndv Moesner 744 Sweetie Howe 277 Pat Blair 77 Women's series: Jacfcv Graupner AM Pudgy Martin AN Rovelia lobe 03 Betty Dally 07 Beverly Crews 597 Colonial Lanes wens series- Rck Brooks 017 Buff Edwards 07 Jim Gerhardt 04 Gillian 507 Gary Wright 55 Women's gome: Armmfa Wfllis 704 Delores Burden lie Millie Davis II Women's series: Arinina Will1 50 Delores Burden 505 Debbie Bowlin 474 Willow Lanes Men's game: Basil Morgan 73 Tom Howard 777 Jim Webster 771 Gary Hot 754 Pol Rayburn 725 717 Man's series: Pot Rayburn 7 Strew 57 Meet Bennett 54 Dei Stugsdell 53 Daryl Fogle 577 Women's gome: Bern! Goebel 712 Jill Noth 700 70 Ella Mae Johann TOO Juno Haley 703 Ln Crowley 190 Women's series: Jill Northern 549 Betty Walsh 51 Becky Basham 501 Sandy Petr io 495 Barma Goebel 49 City at Detroit otmdwno New Jersey at New Orleans Houston otChicogo Los Angeles ot Son Antonia sat Milwaukee York at Denver at Golden state i at Portland Tigers 6 Reds ot Lotielond Fk I Fla I- I SI Z7l 400 10 -0 17 7 Cincinnati Detroit Men's oame: Len Claude But ns 394 Rkfc Erma Took 735 Earl Illinois girls Eldorado A7 Mt Vernon 7 Benton 57 Goreviile 37 Tri-State tourney INTRODUCING THE SEIBERLIRIG STEEL BELTED RADIAL 31 AS LOW AS t'i i 1 'i A HV Hume Downing 11 Murray (71 Bair (I) and Plummer Roretna Hiller HI Wiko 11 Glynn tl and Parrish Klmm (7) WPRoitmo IP-Hum Oriole 7 Royal 1 OtMKHM Kansas City OIMOOMO-Baltimore 104 110 00m 19 3 711 is: Hni transactions (7) ana veooer Gulden (Ik WP button LP-Lindblod La Angetet Smith Baker Monday White Mariner 10 Brewer 2 at Tempo Ai it Milwaukee 01 1000 000 7 9 1 beam 000 772 04x 10 IS 1 Bear McClure (A) end Moore Morttnef Pole Montague (A) and Stinson WPPote LP-Beare Milwaukee Garmon Seattle Robertson Blue Jay 4 Cards 2 at St Petersburg Fla Toronto (A L) 00 100 300 A 0 0 St LOUi(NL) 000 007 000 2 170 Lemanciyfc Darcy (7k Willis (9) and Cerona Denny Terlecky (k Mortinei (7V Meteger (9) and Tomaf go Swisher (7k WP-Lemonc-t yd LP-Terlecky HRs- St Louis NLk Tamargo Yank 8 Braves 3 at Ft Lauder date Fla Atlanta ON 000 100 3 A 0 New York (AtlOOO 174 01 -1 10 I Mahler Mahler () McWHte amt (7) and Noion Figueroa Gas tog (7L Eastwick (9) ond Johnson Narron (I) WP-Ftgueroa LP-M Mahler New York White Johnson A' 8 Indians 4 at Tucson Arli Oakland 000 2N 103-114 0 Cleveland 007 Ml 100 4 10 0 Keouph Coleman (5k Heaver lo (7) and Newman Eckersley Fdrmerrit (Ok Kinney (9) ond Kendall Hossie WP-Keough LP-Eckerilev Pirates 5 Red Sox 4 at San Juan Puerto Rica Boston 0M 301 0M 4 AI PHtseurfh 003 ON 5 7 1 Paxton Wr ighf Stanley (1) ond Fisk Dior (5k Robinson Jones 5k Tedulve (01 and Oft WP-O-Jonev LPWrlght Boston Car bo Scott Pittsburgh Parker ITT Tech (4A1 Whirlpool (A9) fg tt pf fg ft pf Collins 13 0 0 MHIender 5 0 1 Comer 0 0 1 Summers 3 Sprinkle 0 0 0 Curtiss 4 King 5 7 0 Grimes 10 0 I WeafhYd 0 0 0 Gentry 1 0 0 Mays 7 0 Carr 1 Morrison 0 Powefl 2 Treat 0 0 7 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Carr 10 0 NHL -ff i i 0 A iKfh i Ih vj i'i-sMi'ent 'if rti ft 0 K'i te a I vkt-t f'l '1 ih ti-io i'i i fx 1 -t i k1 1 ig AM a (Jl-r lip ipt riilf VI Ite 1 141 -1 I 0 JD -'I HP Trammel 1 McIntosh 1 Bcucball Chicago WMta So NHiantd path Frtd Howard and tufthw MNk CMOorn lo Iowa AAA taom RftosMd prtctw Sruc Dal Canton Football Cnicaoo Nomod Kan Mover ottmlvf coordinator Cincinnati Tight ond Bob Truffi PV onnouncod Ml rottromont Soccer ColbornBlrd(S) wmgorl (7) Gma (l)ondWathonKuvner (7fcMcGre-or Kerr Non Marhnes ond Scape wPMcGregor LP-Cofeorn HR- Baltimore Murray Padre 5 Giant 2 at Yuma Arii Son Francisco 000 910 100 7 9 1 bon Diego Ml 310 90b 10? newer Tom (41 Lovelle ()ond HHI boded (fc Jon Finger (7) and Sweet Robert (9) WPJons LPKnppr White Sox 9 Met 8 at borosoto Fla New verb (ML) IN NO 300-1 101 CMCOOOIAL) 007 14200 9 130 Espinosa Berenouer (51 Myrtch (A) and Stearns Benton (7k Wood Wortham (SI Johnson (7k LoGrow (9) WF-Wor thorn LP-Berenpuer Chicago Jome 't BR78-13 Of FIR EXPIRES APRIL 1 COMPLETE AIR CONDITIONING SALES A SERVICE COMPLETE BRAKE SERVICE TERMS AVAILABLE 0 1 Wade 7 0 0 0 0 Pettit 0 0 7 0 0 1 1 0 0 Totals 77 3 I Totals 34 1 9 ITT Tech I 17 I 10-4 Whirlpool 74 II 17 9 All Stars (7 AX Power (09) toffpf toff pf 1 I 7 7 0S I Beailey 3 0 3 1 Rhoode 3 0 7 0 S'buth I 3 2 1 Winston 4 0 4 1 Seifi 1 0 0 9 Huff 111 3 West 0 0 0 7 Crossed 0 0 0 Russell 0 2 1 Totals 331014 Totals 79 17 All Stars 10 IS 14 19-7 AC Power 1 10 71 14-49 YtstenW result Philadelphia 4 NY Wander 7 Montreol Si Vancouver Tonight's gomes Boston at Cleveland Pittsburgh ot Minnesota Buffalo ol Los Angeles Tomorrow's game NY Islanders of Toronto Ationta at Detroit Chicago at Washington Colorado at Pittsbur eh NY Rangers at SI outv WHA Tontghf't garnet tndtanapolit at Now England Birmingham at Quebec Tomorrow'! gomet Houston at Cincinnati yyinnkwo at Nm England Elrml notion at Edmonton Comm (NAIL) Haldor Tarry Garbatt to a ono-voor cant act Tennis Ptiocaly Nemo Svd Mt of AottroM coach MASTER TIRE CO COLUMBIA at 2ND AVE 425-9093 CoUtgc Dodger Ranger afveroBeochna Texas 090010 900 1 14 Let Anoete 301 1A? Olx 14 17 1 Llndbtod CueHar (Sk Busfcev (7) and Bin Fohav UK Sutton welch Ohio State Announced the retirement of football defensive end coach Esco Sorkklnen effective June 31.