The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 23

Spirit rallies past High Desert, 9-7 run in the eighth that cut the lead to 8-7, was ready to protect a one-run lead in the ninth. "When we had two outs, I started concentrating on the next inning," Phillips said. "Then I looked up and saw the ball go out. I breathed a little easier." The home run Phillips referred to, off the bat of Eddy Diaz, gave Phillips all the insurance he would need to pick up his fifth save. Mavericks-Spirit notes In Thursday's game against Palm Springs, Mavericks first baseman Roberto Arredondo was pulled from the game after making a baserunning blunder.

Tookie Spann was playing first base Friday, but manager Bryan Little says Arredondo's absence from the lineup wasn't because of Thursday's faux pas. Arredondo was on first base and there was a runner on second with one out during the second inning. The runner on second, Steve Gill, tagged and went to third on the fly ball to the outfield, but Arredondo was off to second on the crack of the bat. High Desert's Joey Hamilton (1-2, 3.63 ERA) goes against San Bernardino's Mike Hampton at 7:05 p.m. today.

The Mavs held a 4-1 lead in the fifth before the Spirit exploded against Mavericks starter Bryce Florie (4-5), who hadn't allowed a hit until the fourth. After two runners were thrown out on the base-paths, Arquimedez Pozo and Eddy Diaz drew consecutive walks. Tommy Adams hit a two-run double, and Kounas followed with his home run that put San Bernardino up for the first time, 5-4. "He (Florie) was getting a little tired," Kounas said. "He ended up hanging a couple of sliders." In the sixth, the Spirit extended its lead against reliever Lenny Brutcher.

Brutcher gave up back-to-back walks before Manny Cervantes hit a two-run double and Sean Twitty added a RBI single for an 8-4 lead. That was enough for the Spirit, which survived a two-run home run by Tookie Spann and a triple by pinch-hitter Shawn Whalen. Spirit closer Tony Phillips, who had given up a Homers by Kounas, Diaz help San Bernardino to 5-3 second-half start. By Pete Marshall Special to The Sun SAN BERNARDINO The Spirit proved earlier in the week'it could beat a hot opponent the Reno Silver Sox. Friday, the Spirit took advantage of a cold opponent, the High Desert Mavericks, to win 9-7 before 2,322 at Fiscalini Field.

The victory was the Spirit's third win in a row, while the Mavs suffered their third consecutive defeat. The Spirit managed only seven hits, but took advantage of seven walks; five of those runner scored. "We got a lot of key hits," said Tony Kounas, who crashed a key two-run home run. "We capitalized on errors." Felix returns to old Spirit haunts MARK ZALESKIThe Sun he was 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in four games. That earned him a full 1990 season with the Spirit, although he went only 0-3, with a 6.68 ERA.

That prompted the Mariners to leave Felix unprotected, and the Texas Rangers selected him. He went a combined 3-8 in 1991 for Single-A Charlotte (Florida State League) and Double-A Tulsa (Texas League). He remained in the Texas organization just a few weeks in 1992 before he was released, but he was confident he would catch on somewhere. And quite a bit of interest was shown, with the Padres, Astros, Angels, and expansion Colorado Rockies all giving Felix a call. "I've talked to coaches, and they said just because one organization doesn't want me, doesn't mean another one doesn't," Felix said.

While Felix didn't have a stellar set of numbers to put on his resume, he realized he did have one thing going for him, the fact that he's a southpaw. "That definitely helps," he said. However, Felix was told to wait by his suitors: they wanted to wait and see if they had room after the June amateur draft. Meanwhile, he was keeping in shape, although "it was three weeks before I saw any live batters." The Padres finally decided they did want Felix and signed him. "They were the first to show interest," he By Pete Marshall Special to The Sun SAN BERNARDINO Homecomings are commonplace in baseball, but it's not often that a player has the chance to return to an adopted home.

This weekend, former Spirit pitcher Nick Felix has that opportunity. Felix, a lefty who pitched for the Spirit in 1989 and 1990, was signed recently by the Padres and returned to Fiscalini Field Friday for the first time since 1990 as a member of the High Desert Mavericks. "There have always been special fans here," Felix said. "I have lots of memories playing here, winning the (second halfs Southern Division) title in '89, playing against the Dodgers in the playoffs." Felix also found it odd to be warming up in the left-field corner at Fiscalini the visitor's corner. "It's the first time I've been in this 'pen.

It's a different view." But he's glad to be back and eager to face his former club. "I'm anxious to play the Spirit," he said. Felix was originally drafted by the Mariners in the 12th round of the June 1988 draft. He spent the 1988 season with Single-A Bellingham of the Northwest League. Felix split his time in 1989 between Wausau of the Midwest League, where he went 4-5, with a 4.14 ERA, and the Spirit, where Danny Rizo (left) and Chris Lofton exchange punches during their flyweight fight at the San Bernardino Arena on Friday.

Rizo won the match with a second-round knockout of Lofton. Bosler knocks out Butler in last-minute Arena main C2 The Sun SATURDAY, June 27, 1992 Roar of the crowd Letters to the sports editor Patton's all-time Angels goofs had a few, too Regarding Gregg Patton's June 14 column on the Angels: You made some excellent points about the Angels and their mistakes over the years. But they were all made from your "Dodger-Blue" side of the fence. You comment about one of the all-time worse moves in baseball was the Angels letting Nolan Ryan slip away in 1979. But what you lack to say is one of the greatest trades ever (was) when the Angels traded away a washed-up Jim Fergosi for Nolan Ryan, who had nothing but a wild fastball to offer the Angels.

Before he came to the Angels, he was nothing. "What a great trade getting Nolan Ryan that the Angels made." Can you tell your readers this? On your No.2 Angels goof of all time: In 1986, Donnie Moore gave up the big run and lost the game after relieving Mike Witt in the ninth inning (against Boston in Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series). What you don't state in your "Dodger-Blue Blinded Eyes" is that Donnie Moore had a 2.97 ERA in 49 games with 21 saves that year. He had a big part in getting the Angels where they were. If he (succeeds) with that one pitch, it was a great move.

On your No. 3 Angels goof of all time (Luis Sanchez pitching to Cecil Cooper in Game 5 of the 1982 ALCS instead of bringing in Andy Hassler): If you remember, or look up your facts, Andy Hassler had a 2-1 record and only four saves that year and pitched the previous two days. Luis Sanchez had a 7-4 record with a 3.21 ERA and five saves. Plus, Sanchez had a 1.10 ERA against left-handers and was 2-0. Would you have put in a tired Hassler with a worse record? That makes no sense at all.

Mr. Patton, maybe you should stick to tennis or ice skating. STEVE PORTIAS San Bernardino Sports in brief Police looking into Brown's car accident While the tiny Central Florida community of Brooksville mourned the loss of a hometown hero Friday, police pieced together details of the car accident that killed Philadelphia Eagles star Jerome Brown. Brown, 27, and his 12-year-old nephew, Augusta Wesley Brown, died Thursday when the athlete's sports car skidded out of control, went airborne and hit a palm tree and light pole before flipping and landing on its roof. Brooksville police Capt.

Ray Schumacher said investigators were still trying to determine why Brown lost control of the vehicle and how fast he was driving when he pulled away from a car dealership where he had been talking with friends. DRIVER MAY NOT HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP: The driver who ran off the road and killed Detroit Lions lineman Eric Andolsek may not have fallen asleep at the wheel, state police said. After the accident on Tuesday in which Andolsek was hit by the truck while working in his front yard, investigators said the driver may have dozed off. The driver, James E. Bennett, 34, of Baton Rouge, was charged with negligent homicide and failure to maintain control.

He is free on $50,000 bond and will be arraigned on July 24. LINDROS TRADE HEARINGS DRAG ON: The Eric Lindros trade hearings dragged on, with no decision expected until Monday. The Quebec Nordiques, who drafted Lindros in 1991, and the two teams that claimed to have traded for him the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers were to decide whether to begin making their final arguments and prepare to leave the downtown hotel where hearings began last Monday. SHEEHAN TOPS LPGA FIELD: Playing as well as she has "in quite a long time," Patty Sheehan put on a late charge to take a two-stroke lead over Nancy Lopez and Michelle McGann in the $400,000 Rochester International in Pittsford, N.Y. Sheehan, whose last win on the tour came in February 1991, picked up six birdies on her back nine to finish at 7-under-par 65 for the day and 9-under 135 for the tournament.

Rial-to's Brandie Burton shot a 69 and is seven shots behind Sheehan. FROST LEADS BUICK CLASSIC: David Frost was in the lead at the halfway point of the $1 million Buick Classic, but was hearing footsteps from the four feet of Fred. "There was nothing heroic about it. Not very exciting," the South African Frost said after a 68 broke a five-way tie for the top and staked him to sole control of the 36-hole lead. Frost, who completed two trips over the rolling hills of the Westchester Country Club in 7-under-par 135, was one shot ahead of Fred Funk and three in front of Fred Couples.

BRIEFLY NOTED: Parker Bohn III beat Ron Williams 185-162 in the final game to earn the top seed for the championship round of the PBA El Paso Open. Bohn needs to win just one game in today's finals to capture his sixth PBA title. Jack Ferrelra resigned as general manager of the San Jose Sharks Matt Dryke fired a national record to win his 10th national skeet title at the U.S. International Shooting Championships in Chino. In the standard pistol competition, Jerry Wilder of Remington, won with 1 139 points, beati ng George Ross of Santa Clarita by one point Kenny Bernstein, Al Hofmann and Warren Johnson used track-record times to emerge as the leaders after the opening day of qualifying for the 22nd annual le Grandnational Molson at Sa-nair International Raceway.

Giorgio Furlan of Italy finished in the lead pack of 78 riders and clinched the overal title in the Tour of Glbby Gilbert shot a tournament-record 8-under-par 62 in the opening round of the Southwestern Bell Classic in St. Louis, matching the lowest round on the PGA Seniors Tour this year. Mentone's Dave Stockton fired a 1-under 69. From Sun News Services Faria races to scratch win Kigundu-Hernandez match canceled before paid crowd of 677. By James Curran Sun Sports Writer SAN BERNARDINO The third card this year at the San Bernardino Arena proved to be as unpredictable as the sport of boxing itself.

The main event, featuring North American boxing Federation welterweight champion Prince Wilberforce Kigundu and Eddie Hernandez of Coachella, was cancelled and an undercard bout altered. But 677 fans at the Arena saw Barry Bosler of Phoenix capture a technical knockout victory over Earl Butler of Denver in the eighth round of a cruiserweight bout in the newmain event on Friday. Bosler launched a flurry of punches at Butler within the final minute of the eight-round fight before it was stopped at the 2:28 mark. Bosler improves to 9-1 with five KOs. Butler is 9-12-1.

The Butler-Bosler fight was a put together at the last minute. Hernandez reportedly was pulled out of the match with Kigundu for failing a pre-fight physical. Butler said Dr. Freddy Curlin, the pro-motor of the bouts, had understated Bosl-er's abilities in trying to hustle a main event. "Dr.

Curlin told me that (Bosler) wasn't in that great a shape," Butler said. "I told him I wanted to box six rounds and that was final. He told me that he wasn't going to pay for that. "Then he started telling me that (Bosl-er)'s not that tough. Finally, I said OK and rushed to the airport to get here.

They conned me into that one." Curlin was unavailable for comment. The well-conditioned Bosler won most of the rounds with powerful body shots that showed its effect on Butler. "I lost my last fight so I needed to build my confidence back," Bosler said. "I've been working on quick, hard punches. I think I did what I wanted to do in the fight." Bosler picked up $1,500 for the win; Butler $800.

In other fights, Jose Ochoa (3-0) blasted Gilberto Diaz (0-2) with a big left to the jaw for a knockout at the 1:53 mark in the first round of a featherweight bout. Danny Rizo (1-1) of San Rafael recorded a TKO over Ontario's Chris Lofton (0-1) in the third round of a four-round flyweight bout. Riverside's Francisco Perez improved to 3-0 all victories at the Arena by taking a unanimous decision over Luis Me-jia (4-5) of Irvine. Ricky Ramirez picked up a victory in his professional debut, a junior lightweight fight with Frankie Lizarraga (1-2). Brent Warner of Hesperia crossed the finish line first in the eight-lap handicap main.

Brant was second with Apple Valley's John Aden coming in third. Robbie Hackman of Torrance was the winner of the five-lap support class main, and partners Peter Lewis and Jamie Macy of Pomona won the six-lap sidecar main. The Sun PERRIS Mike Faria of Colton took first place in the four-lap scratch main event Thursday night in front of 3,102 fans at Lake Perris Speedway. Scott Brant of Riverside was second followed by Rob Pfetzing of Orange and Chris Manchester of Hesperia. (H) (H All-Star football game tonight Plus ton on a 60 month closed end lease.

Total payments $85 40 plus $1200 lentol reduction plus tax Dfhra oft SI 504 (019277, 038648. 016483, 023663) I I I I IT Start Your iSAT. Weekend'1 5 JUNE On The Right 27th GATES OPEN 5 P.M. RACING Track AT 7 P.M. scramble in the open field.

"We're probably going to use a power-I offense and a spread offense," Clifton said. "We have four pretty good running backs who can also catch the ball." The offensive line will feature BYU-bound Jason Behunin (6-7, 290) of San G. and Nick Monica (6-4, 265) of Cajon. Look for Redlands kicker Buddy Wellman (headed to Nevada) to possibly connect on some long field goals. The West is stacked with talent.

How much? All-American running back Omar Love has been relegated to playing defensive back. "There's just a lot of good running backs on this team," Love says. Armstrong said Don Lugo's Rick Lopez (6-3, 205) is the top quarterback. He might also use Fontana's Chad Reed, Chino's Mike Penland or Montclair's Art Rivera. In the backfield, Fontana's Richard Stephens, Trona's Vaughn Kerkhoff and Chaffey's Montigo Irvin, the county's top rusher in 1990, are likely candidates.

The West also features a strong corps of wide receivers, including Ike's Robert Talley and Fontana's Stevie Woods. The offensive line will be anchored by Fohi's Derek Longsworth (6-3, 235) and Montclair's Vic Venegas (6-6, 270). Ail-Star notes Tickets are $5 apiece and available at the gate tonight beginning at 5:30 p.m. The East will be at a disadvantage numberswise, losing seven players and picking up just two Twen-tynine Palms' Tom Conners and Rim of the World's Colin Peckham. The West leads the series, 3-1.

The East's lone victory came two years ago when San Ron Rivers (Fresno State) rushed for more than 200 yards in a 12-9 struggle. Etiwanda coach Larry Tlsdale, who has helped organize the game for the last four months, said a crowd of at least 2,000 fans is needed for the game to break even. Cal Spas and the Rancho Cucamonga Lions Club are co-sponsors of the game. By Nick Leyva Sun Sports Writer RANCHO CUCAMONGA The keyword at both team practices was "fun." Not surprisingly, both Mike Clifton of Big Bear and Dan Armstrong of Colton hope to have a good ol' time at tonight's fourth annual San Bernardino County East-West All-Star Football Game at Chaf-fey College. A crowd close to 3,000 fans is expected to attend the game that features the county's top prep football players.

The East All-Stars, coached by Clifton, have been practicing all week at San Bernardino Valley College while the West All-Stars, led by Armstrong, have been preparing at Colton High School. "We're just trying to have some fun in this game," said Clifton. "You have to remember, these young men are adults now. That military stuff doesn't go over too well now (in practices). "But these guys have been super.

We haven't had any problems. They've made this week a lot of fun for me and our coaches." Armstrong, whose team is probably the odds-on favorite in today's 7 p.m. game, said he hopes to play 100 percent of his roster. "We're going to get as much playing time to everyone as possible," said Armstrong, entering his third year at Colton. "That will be easier to do in this type of game because we're playing 15-minute quarters." That will also call for players to be better conditioned and coaches to keep fresh legs on the field.

Clifton said the East's offense will likely be centered around Big Bear quarterback Ryan Campuzano. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound QB features one of the top arms in the county along with the ability to FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT! ALL ADULTS $5 KIDS (5-11) $3 CELEBRATING JET CAR NOT FIRING DICK STEINBECK'S BIRTHDAY! IIIIIIHMfllh STREET STOCKS IIIIIILWML stocponys IlllimmiJ. BOMBERS ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWA FOR INFORMATION CALL 714888-5801 or 884-0178 PHMIUP AUTO MOTORCYCLE lUll.lllU FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR BUY EARLY! SAVE $2 4TH JULY RESERVED SEATS NOW ON SALE IN ADVANCE AT INLAND TICKET SERVICE AT THE ORANGE SHOW its-.