The Call-Leader from Elwood, Indiana • Page 6

PAGE CTht Call-Leider Tuesday, March 27, 1979 CamidleireDflao SU's iltoood baseball mm rfak.ed AP poll club story info rgsf. pees T. "cr- I INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Coming off an unbeaten season and the state baseball championship shouldn't put any additional pressure on Evansville Memorial, at least "not more than any other year," says Coach Qucntin Merkcl. "We're probably similar down here (in Evansville) to LaPorte up north," Merkel said. "Everybody points to us, anyway." Coach Ken Schreiber's crew, which finished 29 9 a year ago, received seven first place votes and 199 rating points from the coaches.

Second-place DeKalb picked up four ballots for No. 1 and a close 177 points, while Memorial was third with eight first place votes and 109 points. Kokomo Haworth, like LaPorte and Memorial a state finalist a year ago, was ranked fourth with three first place Elwood'i sectional champions at Anderson the past two years, received honorable mention status in the Associated Press poll Monday. The Panthers will open their season's play in mid- April at Mississinewa and Anderson before opening home season play on April 1 9th. baseball fans have the chance to purchase season tickets for 13 home games (10 playing dates) at this time for only $7, a saving of $3 since single gate admission is $1.

The tickets are on sale from any Elwood player, the coaches, athletic directorand atthe high school office. The Panthers open against Frankton on the 19th of April while other clubs coming into town include Taylor (Z games I.Madison Grant, Wabash, Oak Hill, Pendleton Heights (2 games). Lapel. Mt. Vernon, Madison Grant (2 games) and Alexandria.

A complete story on the Elwood prospects, schedule and roster will be released in the Call-Leader In early April. Joe Synal (.3171 and Sales who plays the outfield. DeKalb is strong in pitching, too. as Coach Bill Jones returns hurlcrs who combined for 24 of the team's 26 victories from a year ago. Leading his all-senior lineup will lie lefty Ty Cobbs that's correct who posted an HI while giving up less than one earned run per game.

At the plate, Cobbs socked the ball at a .347 clip, then raised it to .553 in summer competition. Righthander Brad Blevins and Hank Yoclkcl also had 8 1 records last Kokomo Haworth is led by Tracy Hatfield, who was 8-2 last year with 90 st rikeouts and a ERA. He also led the Huskies with a .415 batting average and 22 RBIs. Other top batsmen include All-Stater Cary Fades (.362 and seven homers Joe Reel (.369) and Mark Robinson Coach Ray Howard returns 12 veterans from a 29 2 Jasper team but needs some hitting punch to go with proven pitchers Brian Persohn (7-1 with a 1.78 ERA) and John Terre Haute North will build around lettermen returning from last year's 21-5 squad. Coach Don Jennings will rely on such players as catcher Brian Dorsett, a .378 hitter; second baseman Fred Avery, .396.

and pitcher Dave Fell. 5-1 Other players to watch include Hammojid's Tommie Franks, who batted .400 last year and had 32 stolen bases; Merrillville pitcher Kevin Spadoni, who posted an 8-2 record with 118 strikeouts and a 1.08 ERA in 71 innings and batted and All-Stater Kent Lynch of Wabash, who swatted .430 last year with seven homers. The Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association preseason Top 24, with first place votes in parentheses and rating points: BIRD WATCHES Larry Bird (left) of Indiana State watches as Earvin "Magic" Johnson (right) of Michigan State participates in post- game ceremonies after the Spartans' 75-64 win over the previously unbeaten Sycamores. Johnson was named the tournament's most valuable player while Bird landed a berth on the all- tourney club. Bird will probably be in the uniform of the Boston Celtics next year while Johnson has two more years of round ball at Michigan State.

However, rumors have the Magic Man moving into the pro ranks. (AP LASER PHOTO) djir(gOuii Memorial's Tigers were 30-0 last year and were the first unbeaten state champions. In the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association preseason poll, they received the most first-place votes (eight), but trailed perennial northern power LaPorte, a three-time state champ, and DeKalb in rating points. Merkel was named coach of the year by the coaches and has two returning All-Staters in pitcher Mike Henning, 12-0 with a 0.68 ERA, and first-baseman Don Mattingly, who batted RBIsand'33 runs scored. Other returnees include Merkel 's brother, Greg, who batted .375, second-baseman Larry Bitter and third-baseman Shawn Musgra ve.

The biggest question, however, is whether Memorial can produce a pitcher to replace Jeff King, who hurled the championship game victory at each level of the state tourney last year. King currently is attending Southeastern Illinois Junior College after rejecting a tryout offer from the Oakland A's. An exceptional pitching staff, bolstered by two transfer students, and 10 returning lettermen helped LaPorte's Slicers get the nod in the coaches' poll. to title finished with 19 points. Johnson was asked if he planned to turn pro this year, although he is only a sophomore.

"I don't know," he said. "I gotta enjoy this first and decide later maybe in two weeks." Kelser, who displayed his trademark at the end of the game with a spectacular dunk, was asked he told Johnson when the two embraced with about 15 seconds left in the contest. "I just stopped him, looked him in the eye and told him he played a heckuva game," Kelser said. "And he told me I was a bad dude." Babe Ruth to register Elwood Babe Ruth registration will be held Friday and Saturday of this week at the city building. All boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 15 (not already on a club from last year) are invited to register from 5 p.m.

to 7 p.m., Friday and from 9 a.m. to II a.m. on Saturday. Youngsters must be accompanied by an adult and present a birth certificate at thetimeof registration. v.

State Farm's Hetifement Annuity it can help you set a portion of your income aside now for future enjoyment free from current income tax. FOR DETAILS SEE OR CALL: CHUCK ZINK 617 i. LdtriM 552-9508 Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. State Farm Lite Insurance Company Home Ottice Bloomington. uunois Spartans win first NCAA title SALT LAKE (API -Michigan State threw a net around Larry Bird with a brilliant zone defense and Earvin "Magic" Johnson scored 24 points as the Spartans defeated the Indiana State Sycamores 75-64 Monday to the NCAA, basketball -championship.

The loss ended a Cinderella season for the Sycamores, who had stormed out of now here to the top of The Associated Press poll and had won 33 straight games before the final. Bird, who had been killing just about everyone this season with a 29.0 scoring average, had to work hard for his 19 points against the Spartans' two-three zone, which sagged on the blond bomber every time he went to the basket. The national championship was the first for Michigan State in fts fourth appearance in this tournament. The Sycamores never led after the opening minutes and trailed by as many as 16 points several times early in the second half. But they made it interesting with a late 12-2 flurry behind Bird that chopped Michigan State's advantage to 52-46 with 10 minutes left in the game.

Johnson then spearheaded a rally that put the Spartans in command and quieted the usually raucous Indiana State fans in the noisy crowd of 15,410. Johnson scored seven points in an 8-4 burst that moved the Big Ten Conference power's lead to 61-50 with 5 06 left in the game. The Sycamores never came within striking distance of the Spartans after that Bird, who had been a terror in this tournament in four previous games, was so stymied by the rugged Michigan State defense that at one point he went more tfian 13 minutes without a field goal. Foul trouble hurt both teams in the closely called game, and the calls had both coaches bitterly complaining to the officials throughout the contest. Greg Kelser, who scored 19 points for the Spartans, put the cap on the game with an enormous slam dunk at the end and the Michigan State cheerleaders and some supporters rushed to hug their heroes! While the Michigan State players danced joyously around the court, Bird sat disconsolately on, the bench with his head buried in a towel, his great college career ended.

Bird, playing with a broken left thumb that never seemed to bother him earlier, was only able to connect oh 7 of 21 shots from the field. Bird's eyes appeared red-rimmed when he went up to accept the runner-up trophy for the Sycamores. The Spartans, though holding a 37-28 advantage, seemed to be in trouble because their two leading players, Johnson and Kelser, were saddled with three fouls apiece. Kelser had to sit out a good portion of the second half in foul trouble after scoring only nine points before intermission. Ron Charles fouled out for Michigan State while Carl Nicks had to sit down for the Sycamores in the closing minutes of the game with five fouls.

Terry Donnelly also was a key factor for Michigan State, 26-6, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the second half with some sparkling outside shooting MICHIGASTATE(75) Brkovich 1 3-7 5, Kelser 7 5-6 19, Charles 3 1-2 7, Donnelly 5 5-6 15, Johnson 8 8-10 24, Vincent 2 1-2 5, Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Longaker 00-00. Totals 26 23-33 75. INDIANASTATE (64) Miley 0 0-1 O.Gilbert 2 0-4 4, Bird 7 5-8 19, Nicks 7 3-6 17, Reed 4 0-0 8, Heaton 4 2-2 10, Staley 2 0-1 4, Nemcek 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 10-22 64. Halftime Michigan St.

37, Indiana St. 28.. Fouled out Charles, Nicks. Total fouls Michigan State 19, Indiana State 24. Technical-Bird.

A 15,410. 7 tods' viefliry emotionally his great player had taken the defeat. "When you play as hard and as intensely as Larry did, you have to have emotion," he said. "This was not just the end of a game for him, it was the end of a career." Hodges, who took over the vxeins of the Indiana State team when head Coach Bob King suffered a heart, attack before the season, expressed keen the defeat but praised the performance of his team for its successful season, which included 33 victories without a defeat prior to Monday night's final and No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press poll.

"If we had been able to hit on our free throws, it could have been a different game we mighteven have won," Hodges said. Indiana State made only 10 of 22 free throw attempts, a miserable 45.5 percent performance. "This team played good all year it never gave up," the coach said. "My feeling is that the Lord has blessed us with a tremendous year. Anyone who would be disappointed with 1 that would be less than realistic.

Hodges was asked why he had put Bird on Michigan State's 6-7 Greg Kelser, the team's top scorer, at the start of the game. "I didn't feel I had any alternative," he said. "We wanted to prevent Kelser from getting those back-door dunks which he normally gets, sending his team off to an early lead. They got no back-door dunks. Fifty minutes after the end bf the game, Ed McKee, Indiana State's sports information director, emerged from the locker room with a handful of mimeographed quotes from Bird.

1 The quotes read: "Michigan State is an excellent team. They played very tough defense and had a real good zone. Unfortunately, the ball wouldn't drop for us and we missed too many free throws. "It's been a long season, but I'd like to play them again. It certainly could be a different story." IV.SU SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -Michigan State Coach Jud Heathcote, his stars wreathed with basketball nets representing NCAA victory, said it will be some time before he realizes the enormity of the Spartans' accomplishment.

No. 3-ranked Michigan State got 24 points from All-American Earvin "Magic" Johnson and 19 from Gregory Kelser in winning the tough NCAA title game 75-64 over top-ranked Indiana State. "Down the line I'm going to feel this is a great personal goal," Heathcote said. "But right now, I feel that, it's the players that have accomplished so much. "That was a very hard-fought game and we feel fortunate to win.

We lost a little of our offensive punch in the second half when Kelser got in foul trouble, but our defense kept us iin the game. The 'Magic Man' directed the show and we got good basketball out of the rest of the team. Kelser, who like Johnson sat at the postgame news conference with a basketball net draped around his neckj put the difference in the outcome of the game in succinct terms. "Our shots were dropping and theirs weren't, and that was the difference in the ball game," Kelser said. The Spartans outshot Indiana State from the field 60.5 percent to 42.2 percent.

Heathcote said he told his players before the game that whenever Sycamore Ail-American Larry Bird got the ball, he was to have one man guarding him. But if Bird put the ball on the floor, one of the Mich'igan State guards wasjo doubleteamhim. Asked if it was the best defense played by the Spartans this season, Heathcote hedged. 'I think our defense worked very well tonight, I think it's worked just as well in other games," he said. Of Bird, Heathcote said, "I kept thinking that every shot he would shoot would go in, but he did not have a good shooting night." Bird hit only 7 of 21 field goals attempts and votes and 152 points.

But there was a sharp dropoff in support after Haworth. Jasper was a distant fifth with 9 points, followed by Terre Haute North at 51, South Bend Adams 49, Jeffersonville 45, West Lafayette 42 and Hammond 41 to round out the Top 10. Bill Shuta figures to be the mainstay on the LaPorte pitching staff this season. He posted a 16-5 record with a 2.15 earned run average as a sophomore. Duane Burger, also a junior this year, returns from a 6-0 and 0.72 ERA campaign.

Dale Weeks and Bill Sales saw limited action but should be improved this year. To make matters worse for Slicer foes, two transfers have added to the LaPorte depth. Kevin Gaw, a hard-throwing right-hander, transferred from nearby John Glenn, and Schreiber feels he could challenge Shuta for the No. 1 spot. Also, southpaw Joe Liberatore transferred from Fort Madison, Iowa( and will add his powerful bat to the Slicer attack as well as his pitching arm.

Liberatore, a senior, has never batted lower than .357 in high school. Top returning batsmen include designated hitter Kirk Porter third baseman hits in three times at bat for the Reds. Ken Henderson, another outfielder-pinch hitter hopeful, has been in Cincinnati this week being fitted for a foot supporter to protect a that's bothered him since he crashed into a wall last year. The axe fell for two other players Monday as the Reds sent infielder Rafael Santo Domingo and non-rostered pitcher Davis May to their minor league complex for reassignment. That left Cincinnati with 35 players in camp, 10 more than will go north with the team for the season opener on April 4.

Doug Bair continued his effective relief for the Reds, pitching one no-hit inning. Dave Tomlin hurled the final inning, giving up two hits, but he got out of the inning with a double play: Cincinnati's strikeout leader continues to be a young pitcher who either won't make the team or will be in, the starting rotation. Frank Pastore is 2-0 with an 0.82 earned run average. He's only 21, and Manager John McNamara has said he ll either make the team as a starter or be back with the Indianapolis Indians of the Class AAA American Association. Last Oct.

13, they were opposing pitchers in the third game of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. On Monday, they were on the mound again in different parts of this time Don Sutton pitched well and Ron Guidry was shelled. Sutton hurled a two-hitter, becoming the first Los Angeles pitcher to go the distance this uD ISU SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -Larry Bird, this year's Player of the Year, broke down emotionally and refused public interviews Monday night after his previously unbeaten Indiana State University team lost a heartbreaker, 75-64 to Michigan State in the finals of the NCAA basketball championships. Larry's coach, rookie Bill Hodges, apologized publicly for the failure of his All-American player to appear at the postgame interview session. "I asked him in the dressing room if he would go to the interview room and he told me he would not.

"I told him he had given his just due and he could just relax. He is a good person. He does his talking on the basketball floor. I know some of you guys will not like it, but it can't be helped." The 6-foot-9 Bird, wjio is headed for a lucrative pro contract with the Boston Celtics having first shot at him, was held to 19 points, hitting on only seven of 21 field goal attempts and five of eight tries from the foul line. Bird had averaged 28.7 points a game during the season.

Although he played a strong game defensively, getting a game-high 13 rebounds and making several steals, his offensive weapons were dulled by Michigan State's skillful so-called "matchup The big blond, hailed as one of the most complete players to come out of college in a generation, had two and three players hanging close to his shoulders every time he got within basket range. Chief of his tormentors were Jay Vincent, a 6-8 sophomore 'guard, and the Spartans' celebrated "Magic Man," Earvin Johnson. Immediately after the game, Bird went to the Indiana State bench, sat down and buried his head, first in his massive hands and then in a towel. Hodges was asked how Car wash to be held by Frankton team The Frankton high school golf club will sponsor a car wash at the high school Saturday fromxa.m. to 12p.m.

All proceeds will go to the golf program. The cost will be $2 for each car, both inside and outside being completely cleaned by the golf club while head golf coach Jimmie Jack Howell calls the shots from the sidelines. I. LaPorte (7) 197 177 2 DeKalb (4) 3. Ev Memorial 181 4 Kokomo Haworth (3) 5.

Jasper 152 59 51 6. Terre Haute North 7 South Bend Adams 8 Jeffersonville 8. West Lafayette 10 Hammond High 11. Martinsville 12. Marion ID ''13 Blackford 14.

Logansporl 15. Muncie North 16. Muncie Central 17. Chesterton 18. (Tie) Southmont Indpls Marshall 11 20 South Spencer 42 39 35 32 31 25 18 17 14 14 13 Others receiving votes, listed alphabetically: Bloomington North, Carmel, Columbus East, Concord, Elwood, Ft.

Wayne Snider, Indpls Pike, indpls Washington, Lafayette Jeff. Lawrence Central, Merrill-ville, Mooresville, N.Montgomery, N.Putnam, Pendleton Hts, Sheridan, S.Bend St.Joseph's, Tell City, Winchester. spring as the Dodgers won their exhibition game from the Minnesota Twins 2-0. The veteran right-hander retired the first 15 batters. He walked Butch Wynegar to lead off the sixth and then gave up his first hit, a single by Bobby Randall.

Guidry walked six and was rocked for six hits and nine runs Monday in 31-3 innings including a grand slam by Junior Moore as the Chicago White Sox trimmed the New York Yankees 11-5. Frankton LL league to register All boys and girls ishing to register for the Frankton little league baseball program will have the opportunity to do so Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week at the Frankton little league diamond. ThetimeswillbefromSp.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

Each youngster must be accompanied by an adult, pay a registration fee and present a birth certificate at the time of registering. Tryouts for the boys and girls ill be held on the April 9, 10, 11 and 12 dates starting at 5 p.m. each day. Youngsters turning age nine before August 1st of this age and not turning 13 before the same August date may register for the little league. Boys and girls turning age 8 before August 1st may register for the minor leagues Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of this week at the same site.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) George Foster has hit plenty of home runs in his baseball career, but none quite so strange as one Monday in an 11-4 exhibiton game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cincinnati Reds slugger had a ball bounce off the top of Cardinal center fielder George Hendrick's glove and over the center field wall for his latest homer. "Never had one like that before.

But I've seen 'em," Foster saia. It was only Foster's second game in a week because of a death in the family. Hendrick blasted two home runs for the Cardinals, driving in seven runs. "He sure had the stroke today," observed Cincinnati reserve catcher Don Werner. "He had 10 runs batted in seven for them and three forus." Foster and Hendrick traded three-run home runs in the third inning.

Hendrick also unloaded a grand slam shot in the seventh, when the Cardinals scored seven runs. Bill Bonham pitched the first six innings for Cincinnati. He was never in trouble except in the third inning, when he gave up the three runs to Hendrick and an RBI single to Tony Scott. The Cardinals unloaded on Manny Sarmiento, who up to that point had been having a reasonably good spring, in the seventh. Sarmiento gave up seven tubs, five of them earned, Before retiring a batter.

Champ Summers, still filling in for Ken Griffey in right field while Griffey is bothered with shoulder tightness, had two DISTRIBUTORSHIP WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH PRESENT EMPLOYMENT NO SELLING REQUIRED TO START FIRST TIME OFFERED lAe are selecting distributors lor fast moving Products in Elwood and surrounding counties. These products publicized in newspapers, TV, magazines, etc. Twenty-five ytor old company will ploce products in grocery, department, drug (tores, super markets, gift shops, etc. Distributor will service these retail outlets monthly, requiring approximately 30 hours spore time per month. CPA reports excellent profit potential.

Earn 50 to 75 mark up from day one. Each location requires 1277.50 investment. You may hove 18, 24. or 30 locations to start. Company secure locations and ins tolls products for you.

This is bonafide offer and if you are not sincere about owning your own business, or do not meet the above financiot requirements, let's not waste each other's time. FOR PERSONAL CONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEW CALL PAUL KING. 4S9-t001 KOKOMO. INDIANA TODAV thru WEDNESDAY A.M. to P.M..