Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 15

Decatur, Illinois, Tuesday, April 6, 1982 'Elerdld Qeview ports- Section Drr Cubs start with bung JT X. Wills led off the contest with his homer, hammering Mario Soto's second pitch to right field. Moreland added a solo homer leading off the second, and singled to score Larry Bowa with run in the eighth. The game was delayed for 46 minutes after seven innings and finally was called after a second rain delay of -51 minutes. "One win doesn't mean anything," Bowa said in the light-hearted Cubs' clubhouse.

"But' it's in the right direction." Soto also viewed the close game as an example of what to expect from the.new-Idok Reds. Cincinnati swapped power for speed, defense and pitching in the off-season, featuring jiew starters at five positions. "We are going to have a lot'of close games," Soto said. "Thepitchers are going to have to work harder." Winner Doug Bird limited the Reds to five CINCINNATI (AP) Keith Moreland and Bump Wills, newcomers to the Chicago Cubs' organization, helped the perennial losers take a small step Monday in a new direction. The two slammed solo home runs, and Moreland added a run-scoring single as the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 Monday in a National League opener shortened to eight innings by rain.

The Cubs acquired Wills, a second baseman, and Moreland, a catcher, as part of an off-season overhaul. Their new motto is: a New Tradition" "It's not last year's club," said Wills, who came to the Cubs from Texas 10 days ago. "We've got new personnel, new front office people, a new direction. "I'm as excited as heck about hitting that home run. It probably was the highlight of my major league career." Cards to face Ryan hits in seven innings, and got relief help from Lee Smith and Willie Hernandez, who got the save.

Soto struck out 10 batters in seven innings, yielding six hits: -r The Reds scored in the seventh inning when German Barranca doubled with two out and Ron Oester singled to left field- Pinch-hitter Mike Vail doubled home a run in the eighth inning as Cincinnati loaded the bases, but Hernandez retired Rafael Landes- toy on a fly ball to end the threat. The Cubs and the Reds, -two revamped ball-clubs, launched the 1982 season under gloomy April skies. Former baseball commissioner A.B. "Happy" Chandler was honored before the game for his upcoming introduction into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Space shuttle 'astronauts Joe Engle and Richard Truly presented the first ball, flown on Columbia's second mission last November. Most of the 51,864 fans wore winter coats and gloves against the 42-degree temperature and a misty drizzle at game-time.

Snow predicted for the day held off however. Orioles rout Royals: At Baltimore, Eddie Murray's grand slam was one of four homers by the Baltimore Orioles in a 13-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Despite 46-degree weather, the Orioles had their hottest opening day ever a record regular-season crowd of 52,034 was on hand as the Orioles set club records for runs and homers in a season-opener. Baltimore led 7-5 when Dan Ford sparked a rally in the seventh with his three-run homer. Murray's grand slam came in the third off loser Dennis Leonard.

Cal Ripken and Gary Roenicke also homered for Baltimore. Umps sign contract: Major League umpires signed a four-year contract Monday raising their top salary to 75,000 a year. Richie Phillips, attorney for the umpires' union, said in New York that the contract represented an average increase of 40 percent in the first year and 60 percent over four years. For example, an umpire who earned the $18,000 minimum last year would make $26,000 in 1982 and $37,000 in the final year of the deal, Phillips said. The previous pact expired at the end of last season.

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Astros, with narrow World Series misses the past two seasons, will send Nolan Ryan against St. Louis' Bob Forsch today when the two teams open their National League seasons in the Astrodome. Ryan was 11-6 last season, including a record fifth career no-hitter. Forsch was 10-5. Houston has lost in the playoffs to Philadelphia and Los Angeles the past two seasons.

The Cardinals of Manager Whitey Herzog hope to challenge Montreal in the Eastern Division with a strong infield led by Keith Hernandez, at first base. Despite Houston's reputation as a weak-hitting team, Manager Bill Virdon says the 1982 team will be improved. "We hit .257 last year, which isn't bad," Virdon said. "I think we're capable of .265 or even .270 this season." Virdon calls the 1982 Astros the best team he's had since coming to Houston in 1975. "I am a little disappointed in the number of wins," said Virdon, "but wins vs.

losses in spring training is no indication of the type club you've got. I'm more concerned with pre paring for opening day." Sox opener postponed: The Chicago White Sox home opener against the Boston Red Sox has been postponed because of poor weather conditions. Originally scheduled for today, the opener has been rescheduled for 15 CST p.m. Wednesday at Comiskey Park. Other openers postponed today until Wednesday because of cold weather were Toronto at Detroit and Cleveland at Milwaukee.

Games at New York, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia scheduled for today were in jeopardy. The rest of today's American League schedule had Texas at New York and Seattle at Minnesota. The Twins' game is not in jeopardy. It's in the new Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodomei which has a fabric ceiling.

For-casts for New York were calling for snow. In the National League, scheduled games today had Montreal at Pittsburgh and San Francisco at Los Angeles. At night, it was the New York Mets at Philadelphia and Atlanta at San Diego. Both games in Pennsylvania were in trouble. Snow was forecast in both Philadelphia and AP Laserphoto Bump Wills is congratulated by coach Gordy MacKenzie after homer.

man Golf pro hopes to revive Nelson Park pl By REX SPIRES Herald A Rtview Sports Wrilw Greg Hopkins could sell swimsuits to Eskimos, singing lessons to Kenny Rogers, flood insurance in Death Valley. Greg Hopkins may have missed his true calling by becoming a teacher. He surely would have been successful as A salesman. But he's managed to combine his enthusiastic sales pitches to whatever gains his attention as a worthwhile pursuit. As a physical education teacher at Enterprise School and at French School, he sold more than 100 youngsters on the virtues of running in a grassroots track program.

While in charge of the Decatur Park District Recreation Department Junior Golf Association program last summer, Hopkins went up against Little League baseball and made considerable headway in attracting youngsters to the links. Hopkins happens to love golf, so his recent appointment as the full-time pro at Nelson Park is a natural. Now, Hopkins can apply his salesmanship talents to hopefully revive what Decatur Park District officials have suggested is a dying patient. Nelson Park was nearly closed because of falling revenues and decreasing numbers of Hopkins has been on the job just a short time; but already he has made progress in his attempts to build traffic at Nelson Park. More players mean increased revenue.

In turn, that means Nelson Park remains open. That happens to be one of Greg Hopkins' goals, along with increasing his pro shop and concession business. "Closing Nelson Park or any other city golf course is a negative move, one that may become necesssary if revenues don't improve, but my feeling is let's exhaust all the positive possibilities before that step is Hopkins said. "That's why I'm working closely with Ralph Rosser (Decatur Park District director) and Rick Anderson (Park District commissioner) in trying to develop ways to make the course more attractive to golfers and regain some of the traffic that may have gone elsewhere in recent years." Some of the things being done are moV-ing teeing areas to appeal to more junior and women golfers, adding a few traps to make the course slightly more difficult for the better players and growing grass in some areas that have been barren. "I see these improvements doing two things," said Hopkins.

"It gives me a product to sell and it give people a reason to come back to Nelson to play golf. I'm trying to make it more comfortable and appealing to play golf here by the improvements we've made in the locker room area, by offering breakfast and lunch in the snack bar facilities and providing a full line of golf equipment for those interested in taking up the game or adding to what equipment they already have. "I've also installed equipment for repairing clubs and adjusting club loft to customer specifications," noted Hopkins. He also has sold two organizations on starting golf'leagues at Nelson a Staley Company women's league and a Shriners Club group. He plans to make other such pitches to build additional traffic.

"I've found in other situations that when you show an interest in people, tell them what you're trying to do and ask them if they want to be a part of it that often they respond," continued Hopkins. Maybe they wanted to in the first place, but nobody asked them. I'm working on that premise right now and I seem to making a little progress." Hopkins has a myriad of other sales ideas for turning Nelson into a beehive of golfing activity. You'll be hearing from him. Photo by Herb Slodounik Greg Hopkins repairs a club in the Nelson Park pro shop.

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61701. By The Associated Press When the National Hockey League realigned last summer, one of the main objects was to renew old rivalries and create new ones. That's exactly what happened and, for proof, just look at the matchups for the best-of-five opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which begin Wednesday. The Montreal Canadiens play the Quebec Nordiques, the Philadelphia Flyers battle the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins face the Buffalo Sabres in three of the more attractive series. The other series feature the two-time Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Minnesota North Stars vs.

the Chicago Black Hawks, the Winnipeg Jets against the St. Louis Blues, the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Los Angeles Kings, and the Vancouver Canucks vs. the Calgary Flames. pressure on them all over the ice." The Islanders seem strong.

They wound up with a points, most in the league, and appear primed for their third run to the Cup. "We're just as hungry as ever and just as anxious to get going," said the Islanders' John Tonelli. "The only thing there is in hockey is winning the Stanley Cup." The Oilers will ride the incredible scoring talents of Wayne Gretzky and the goaltending of rookie Grant Fuhr. Though the Oilers hardly are a two-man team, Gretzky and Fuhr will be the keys. "For the last two weeks we've been tuning up for the playoffs," admitted Gretzky, who smashed just about every individual scoring record.

He registered 92 goals, 16 more than anyone else ever had, and 120 assists, for 212 points. "When the Canadiens and Nordiques play, every game is like a war," said the Nordiques' Marc Tardif, who grew up in the province and has spent most of his career playing in either Montreal or Quebec. Montreal had a 3-3-2 record against Quebec this season. The other Adams just as tense. Boston finished in second place in the Adams.

The Bruins have built up a pretty heated rivalry with the Sabres. The teams took turns dominating the old Adams Division before realignment. Boston was 5-1-2 against the Sabres this season. The Rangers also fared well in their season series against Philadelphia, going 4-2-2. That doesn't faze Flyers captain Bill Barber.

"We're evenly matched, there's no question about that," said Barber. "They work hard and are disciplined. We have to do the same. We have to put the VIVA RADIAL TIRES AS LOW AS $0044 Other sizes also at low pricts AAflAllPA AAHIIPH OIL CHANGE UUAUHtt UUKlJtll How strange: Yanks imitate Sox 428-TEAM FAIRVIEW PLAZA M0A OFF Mates vp to 5 Qts nymm! now at art compete (toss naODlMWCmlMn 3.95 COACHES CORNER USUAL LOW PRICE W9 Includes many mports and an appowftnent Bob Fall strom FRONT-END AUGNMfNT -Pncas start at SH0ES ANDOR GLOVE IF YOUR TEAM BUYS THEIR SHIRTS AT C0ACHES CORNER THIS YEAR Commentary a a a fi ii Mgnmam Mr-. "vio.PrBBnd Jl nM wtiMl amr.

"Ter. tarn to mar At the end of the summer, COACHES CORNER will sponsor a Slow-Pitch Tournament for men's and womens It's like drenching vanilla ice cream with catsup, like flavoring popcorn with pepper. Forever it seems, the New York Yankees' taste in ballplayers was predictable. The slugging type was cultivated, starting with Babe Ruth. Now George Steinbrenner has weeded out the sluggers.

In favor of the streamlined, speedy singles and doubles hitter. George Steinbrenner is the owner. If he wants a new taste, that's his business. It's just that this taste seems a bit exotic, a "bit unusual. After all, the Yankees are liable to finish last in the American League in home runs.

Instead of a thundering attack, the Yankees will go for the scratch, scratch, scratch one-nin-at-a-time approach. That's the style pioneered by the Chicago White Sox. As the Hitless Wonders. Now it turns out that the Sox were ahead of their time. The amusing aspect is that the Sox relied on speed and defense because of necessity, the Yankees having monopolized the power-hittirig players.

Who would have, guessed the Yankees would eventually imitate the Sox? Graig Nettles, the third baseman, will hit a few homers: And so will Bob Watson as the designated hitter and sometimes first The decrease in homers is offset, Steinbrenner figures, in speed. So much so that the new nickname is "Bronx Burglars." Superceding "Bronx Meanwhile, New York remains the home run capital. The Mets corralled George Foster to double up with Dave Kingman. Each could hit 50 homers. The Mets have the power.

They jcan't match the Yankees in speed, defense and pitching. Especially in pitching. The Yankees have four reliable left-handers when most clubs are hard-pressed to find one. Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Dave Righetti and Rudy May are the lefties. The Yankees are still overpowering.

In pitching. Goose Gossage and Ron Davis and George Frazier are about as good a 1-2-3 combination in the bullpen as you'll find. George Steinbrenner's conversion to finesse makes Another tradition falls. Pass the catsup and pepper, teams who purchase their 1- MIVMIMm HNMCtl Miirut ui uiiiiuiiiib ai COACHES CORNER! MpaBaloa. (acsudat front, wnaat driwa.

Omnnm. aght tmefcs mi can raaahiny BBBSj JJjcJJaniolwMscfljQjBRjjjja 1 OFtfl EXfWS4 The Sox style was not all that effective, you'll remember. The Go-Go Sox won the pennant just once: In 1959. George Steinbrenner is gambling that he has a more consistent singles and doubles output. Just to make sure, Steinbrenner raided the Cincinnati Reds, trading for Ken Griffey and signing Dave Collins as a free agent.

Griffy joins Dave Winfield and Jerry Mum-phrey in an outstanding outfield. Collins will play first base. The major changes include the departure of Reggie Jackson, the No. 1 home run threat. Now the rap against the Yankees is lack of power; How strange it is.1 1st Place in each will receive FREE UNIFORMS FOR 'This offer also applies to the leagues who do business with us.

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