The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 20

spirit beats jinx, Filots lor lirst win ol season By Pete Marshall Special to The Sun RIVERSIDE The Riverside Sports Complex was a stadium of horrors for manager Greg Mahlberg and the San Bernardino Spirit last season. The Spirit was 0-10 at the home ofthe Riverside Pilots last season, several times losing games on errors and bad hops. When an error led to the tying and losing runs in the ninth inning on opening night Thursday, it looked like the Sports Complex jinx had continued with the 1994 Spirit as well. That was before Friday. The Spirit scored seven runs in the second inning, and coasted to a 9-2 win before 853 Tans.

"It's all downhill from here," Mahl- berg said. "I'm no longer 0-for-River- side." San Bernardino banged out 12 hits, including eight that went for extra bases, as it evened its record at 1-1. Right fielder Derek Reid led the club offensively, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and two RBI. The Spirit managed only a two-out double in the first inning, but broke it open in the second. Colin Dixon led off with a double, then with one out, Edgar Tovar tripled, Ray Cervantes and Jeff Motuzas singled and Abdiel Cumberbatch's triple scored two.

Reid hit a two-out, two-run homer to left field to make it 6-0. Errors by third baseman Mike Hick-ey and shortstop Andy Sheets on ground balls hit by Andy Allanson and Dixon ter where it is." "Too bad it (the streak) had to carry over from last year," Cervantes said. "(But) the bottom line is when you play good, you win." Spirit notes The Spirit didn't arrive at the Riverside Sports Complex until 35 minutes before scheduled game time. They took their batting practice at Fiscalini Field because a UC Riverside game prevented them from doing so in Riverside The Spirit will send left-hander Jim Pena, who was in the Padres' chain last season, to the mound when they open a three-game series at Rancho Cucamonga today. The Spirit announced Friday that Bob Harvey and Joe Lyons will rotate as announcers for the 1994 home season.

Because of previous commitments the pair will not necessarily rotate every other game, but will work around each other's schedules. plated the seventh run. The outburst came against starter George Glinatsis (0-1), who pitched for the Spirit in '92. Glinatsis made it through the second inning, but not into the third. "He made too many pitches in the innings," Riverside manager Dave Myers said.

The Spirit added single runs in the third and fourth against reliever Sam August. "I think our guys were more relaxed tonight," Mahlberg said. Keifer Rackley ended the Spirit's shutout bid by hitting a solo home run, leading off the seventh against reliever Jim Patterson (1-0). "I like his (Patterson's) approach to the game," Mahlberg said. "That's exactly what we were looking for (in his performance)." Starter Sandi Santiago lasted only 3Ya shutout innings because he was on a 50-pitch count, but received rave reviews for his performance.

"He's got an awful good arm for the Yankees to send to a co-op team," said Myers, who had Santiago clocked at 90-92 mph. Two players from the '93 Spirit were in the starting lineup, and helped put an end to the jinx. Second baseman Ray Cervantes was l-for-3 with an RBI single and two runs, and catcher Jeff Motuzas was l-for-4 with a run. Said Motuzas: "Last (Thursday) night was a tough loss. It's nice to win no mat NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Quakes rally, clobber Mavs zmm: tSSf ff 1 Roundup Rangers win President's Cup The New York Rangers did what they set out APWIREPHOTO By Ed Erjavek Special to The Sun RANCHO CUCAMONGA The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, who rallied from a 9-0 deficit to defeat High Desert last year, gave the Mavericks another lesson in the big rally.

The Quakes rallied from a seven-run deficit to defeat High Desert 19-11 in a California League baseball game Friday night before another sellout crowd of 6,100 at the Epicenter. The Quakes improved to 2-0 as left-hander Joey Long earned the victory while the Mavericks fell to 0-2. "Once they started, it snowballed," Rancho Cucamonga manager Tim Flannery said. "They real- ized how good they could be." "You can't get complacent with the type of play-ers we have," High Desert manager Phil Hannon said. "We're teaching the kids to play the game according to the scoreboard." Rancho Cucamonga, which scored 16 runs in the sixth, seventh and eigth innings, was behind 11-9 -entering the bottom of the seventh before erupting -for six runs.

Quakes catcher Mike Basso homered off High I Desert pitcher Brian D'Amato (0-1) to make it 1 1-10. The Quakes tied the score when pinch-hitter Sean Mulligan singled in third baseman Derrek Lee. The tie-breaking run was scored by left fielder Larue Baber on an infield single by center fielder Chris Prieto. Second baseman Homer Bush's RBI single and first baseman Jason Thompson's two-run triple greeted reliever Jeff Hostetler to make it 15-11. High Desert took a 9-2 lead by scoring seven runs in the top ofthe third inning, and Quakes starter Marc Kroon got the hook before he retired a batter in the inning.

Mavericks designated hitter Joe Hayward had an RBI single and catcher Raul Santana had an RBI single to make it 4-2. A two-run double by third baseman Dominic Therrien extended the lead to 6-2. A wild pitch by reliever Craig Hanson scored Therrien and Heath capped the inning with a line drive home run to left field. High Desert was leading 10-3 when Dean Hin-. son, a converted catcher, made his pitching debut for the Mavericks by relieving starter Darren Pax- ton in the bottom ofthe sixth, but it was a rough one.

Lee had a two-run double, Baber crashed a two-run homer to left field and Thompson hit a two-run homer to right field, and High Desert's lead slipped to 10-9. The Quakes started their rally by pulling within 9-3 when shortstop Roberto De Leon drew a bases- loaded walk to score designated hitter Raul Casano-; vain the bottom ofthe fourth. High Desert shortstop Hanley Frias singled in Therrien to make it 10-3 in the top ofthe fifth. The Mavericks opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI single by first baseman Chad Towns-end to drive in Heath. High Desert extended its lead to 2-0 on an RBI single by Santana, scoring Hay-ward.

Rancho Cucamonga tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Right-fielder Stoney Briggs led off the inning, hitting a home run to right-center field. Basso doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lee. Quakei-Maverlcks Notes Rancho Cucamonga outfielder Bobby Bonds II was a late scratch from the starting line-up because of a strained chest muscle. Probable starters for tonight's 7:05 opener of a three-game series between Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino at the Epicenter are Quakes right-hander Greg Keagl and San Bernardino lefthander Jim Pena.

Probable starters Sunday at 2:05 p.m. are Spirit right-hander Bart Inman and Rancho Cucamonga right-hander Ken Grzelaczyk. Probable starters for Monday's 7:05 p.m. game are San Bernardino lefthander Chad O'Laughlln and Rancho Cucamonga righthander Jared Baker. The Mavericks open a three-game series tonight at Riverside at 7:05 with right-hander Dennis Burllngame scheduled to start.

The Mavericks are scheduled to start right-hander Rich Llcursl Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Pilots. The High Desert starter for Monday's 7:15 p.m. game is undecided. Edmonton's Scott Pearson (center) runs into Ducks goalie Guy Hebert in the first period of Friday's game.

Valk leads Ducks over Oilers "Now we can put this behind us and get ready for the playoffs," Rangers coach Mike Keenan said following a 5-3 victory Friday night over Toronto that clinched the NHL's regular-season championship for New York. In winning their second Presidents' Cup in three years, the Rangers clinched home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs, which start on April 17. "That will be important, particularly in games five and seven," Keenan said. "Any advantage that you can (get) should work for us." The Rangers not only clinched the Presidents' Cup, but also established a club record for victories in a season with their 51st and tied the club mark for points with 109, set by the 1970-71 and 1971-72 teams. Goaltender Mike Richter, who made 34 saves, extended his own club record to 41 victories to help the Rangers win their fifth straight.

FLAMES 5, SHARKS 2: Joe Nieuwendyk earned an assist in his return after missing 17 games with a knee injury as host Calgary helped determine San Jose's playoff berth with a victory. Calgary has 93 points compared to Detroit's 98. The two teams meet Saturday night at the Olympic Saddledome. The Flames would have to win their remaining three games while Detroit must lose its last four for Calgary to finish first. The Sharks' defeat, combined with Chicago's victory over St.

Louis, means they will be seeded eighth when the Western Conference playoffs open April 18. They would play either Calgary or Detroit. BLACKHAWKS 6, BLUES 1: Joe Murphy scored twice in the second period and Ed Belfour stopped 32 shots as host Chicago beat St. Louis. The Blackhawks won for only the second time in nine games and prevented the Blues from clinching the fifth spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

SABRES 1, CANADIENS 0: Dominik Hasek made 31 saves to get his seventh shutout ofthe season in Buffalo's win over host Montreal. The win moved the Sabres into a tie with Boston for second place in the Northeast Division, a point ahead ofthe Canadiens. The Sabres have 93 points after 81 games, while Boston has played 80 games. ISLANDERS 5, STARS 1: Pierre Turgeon scored two goals as host New York beat Dallas to gain the inside track for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. New York tied Florida for eighth place with 80 points, but the Islanders hold the edge because they have two more wins than the Panthers.

DEVILS 7, PENGUINS 2: Bill Guerin scored two first-period goals and Scott Stevens had a goal and three assists host New Jersey ended a three-game losing streak. John MacLean, Bobby Holik, Randy McKay and Jim Dowd who was recalled from Albany of the AHL earlier in the day also scored for New Jersey. From Sun News Services OILERS. goaltending by Guy He-b and could not finish off their scoring opportuni Next: at Vancouver, 5 p.m. today The Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta Gerry Valk scored a key goal as the Ducks scored twice in the third period to beat the Edmonton Oilers, 3-1, Friday night in a battle of NHL also-rans.

Valk flipped home a rebound at 10:08 of the third for what proved to be the winning goal. Tim Sweeney capped the night off for the Ducks with a power-play goal at 18:24 after Edmonton defenseman Luke Richardson was handed a match penalty for intent to injure. Patrik Carnback, who had an assist on Valk's goal, was the other scorer for the Ducks, who, like the Oilers, will finish out of the playoffs. Anaheim, however, had a record of five wins and a loss against the Oilers, who are struggling to rebuild after winning five Stanley Cups in the 1980s. Kelly Buchberger scored the Edmonton goal in the first period to create a 1-0 lead that lasted into the latter stages of the second period.

The Oilers outshot Anaheim 39-28, but encountered steady said the game was a rough affair, something which often occurs in games between the two teams. "It got chippy because we didn't show up physically in the first period and allowed them to take some liberties." Wilson said Stu Grimson turned things around in the second period for the Ducks. "He took some penalties (two for elbowing) but it settled things down and it wasn't very chippy after that, until the last few minutes when they got frustrated," Wilson said. Buchberger said the Ducks play a defensive game that usually frustrates the Oilers. "Hebert doesn't let out too many rebounds.

He controls the puck and allows the team to set up and get it out. When they get the lead they send one guy in and keep two guys back. It's tough to forecheck them." ties. Fred Brathwaite played well for Edmonton, but allowed a rebound on a soft shot from the boards that Valk turned into the winning goal. Anaheim took nine of 16 minor penalties and scored the only power-play goal.

Each team had six power-play opportunities. Buchberger scored the only goal of the first period at 14:00, his third ofthe season. In the second period, Carnback came down the left side and beat Brathwaite cleanly from the top ofthe faceoff circle with a slap shot that caught the top corner. Anaheim coach Ron Wilson Strong field set for Santa Anita Derby MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IN THE MINOR LEAGUES SAN BERNARDINO ANDY ALLANSON ERIC N0LTE TIM LAYANA JIM PENA TM PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CLUB DON'T MISS OPENING venile. Even so, one can find excuses for his second-place showings: traffic problems in the Hollywood Futurity, encountering the deeper part of the muddy race track in the San Felipe, his first start in three months.

"Plus, I had no intention of gearing him up for his first race back," Winick said. "If he won it, great, But our main goal was the Derbies, Kentucky and here. I feel very confident in this horse. Why not? I think he's the best horse and I think he will win." Tabasco Cat, owned by W.T. Young of Lexington and Louisville native David Reynolds, is unbeaten this year.

He has won five of his past six, the lone setback being the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, when he was third, but just 6'3 lengths behind the winner. Tabasco Cat could give trainer D. Wayne Lukas his fifth Santa Anita Derby victory. Lukas' son, Jeff, who is making a remarkable comeback from serious brain in- turies after being run over by Ta-insco Cat in December, will watch the race in a secluded TVESDA APRIL 12 Til 7:00 P.M.(gaten open at 5:30) By Jennie Rees Gannett News Service ARCADIA The 57th Santa Anita Derby, the season's most contentious Derby prep, will be held today with the strongest field in several years. Favored Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Brocco, San Rafael winner Tabasco Cat, San Felipe winner Soul Of The Matter, the lightly-raced Strodes Creek and his stablemate, Numerous, all have an excellent chance to win the $500,000, Grade 1 18-mile event.

"I would say you might get the most horses out of this field than of the Derby preps," said Randy Winick, who trains Brocco. "I think the horse who could finish third or fourth in this race might be as good or better as the horse who wins or is second in the Jim Beam, the Arkansas or Louisiana Derby." Brocco is the 7-5 favorite, but he's coming off two defeats after winning his first three starts, capped by the Breeders' Cup Ju San Bernardino Spirit Central Valley Rockies MOQKIIES TM SPIRIT SCHEDULE MAGNETS FOR THE FIRST 1,250 FANS THROUGH THE GA TES COMPLIMENTS OF LIFE SA VTJVfSX HANK ANIi OUFS SAVINGS BANK, FSB "OlSF riFRC95.1.