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

Santana's hitting in step with Spirit success By NICK LEYVA Sun Sports Writer i i for a kid his size." He's listed at 6-foot-2 and a generous 175 pounds. But the slender Santana has eight doubles, one triple and three home runs in 58 games for the Spirit. "Hitting for me is like measuring something," said Santana, speaking through translator and teammate Lipso Nava. "You're going to go up nnrl rlnwn uhilA vnn'rp coming and where I want to go with it." Santana, a self-proclaimed soccer nut who has four younger sisters living in the Dominican Republic, signed with the Mariners as a free agent two Julys ago and spent 1989 with Seattle's San Cristobal club in the Dominican. Last year, he split time with Single-A Peninsula, Seattle's short-season club in the Carolina League, and Single-A Bellingham.

But he prefers San Bernardino to any city right now. "This is by far the best city I have been," he said. "I like the people and the weather very much." Spirit notes The Spirit made another roster move More Monday's game, sending right-handed reliever Marc Rosenbalm to Single-A Bellingham (Wash.) In the Northwest League. Rosenbalm made nine appearances for the Spirit without a decision and a 4.35 ERA. The move reduces the Spirit's roster to 23, but manager Tommy Jones said he has not been notilied of any new players coming to San Bernardino.

Dodgers coach Manny Mota was in the stands Monday to watch his son Domingo, who started at designated hitter for Bakersfield The Spirit announced that tickets for 1,500 general admission seats are on sale for Wednesday's and Thursday's games. The Spirit sends lefty 8ean Rees (0-1) tonight against Bakersfield at 7:05. SAN BERNARDINO Santana's "Oye Como Va" wails on the Fiscalini Field speakers, Ruben Santana steps into the batter's box and digs in. It's been a comforting scene recently for the Spirit a team in dire need of some consistency at the plate if not on the mound. "Hitting is being consistent," said Santana, who has split time at shortstop, second base and designated hitter this season.

"I try to improve on the little things at the plate and remain consistent." He's doing just that right now. Going into Monday night's series opener with Bakersfield, Santana was the California League's seventh-leading hitter with a. 291 average. "He's been our most consistent hitter all year," said Spirit manager Tommy Jones of the 21-year-old Dominican Republic native. "The one thing about Ruben is that he doesn't get cheated at the plate.

He gets his hacks in. He's surprisingly strong Ruben Santana doing jt but the key is improving on the little things to remain consistent." One of those "little things" is picking up the ball's rotation on its way to the plate. "If I can see the ball better I can start hitting better," said Santana. "I would be able to see what kind of pitch is C2 The Sun TUESDAY, July 2, 1991 KALEIDOSCOPE Baseball expansion not for everyone J-! Columnist Rick Bozich of the Louisville Cou- rier-Journal comes up with 10 reasons why base-! ball shouldn't expand in Miami and Denver: 1. The Cleveland Indians.

2. Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray can neither remember nor pronounce the names of the players on the existing dozen NL teams, i 3. Commissioner Fay Vincent is uncertain if he should approve Burglar Alarm Afternoon, Switch-Blade Tossing Night and Pick-Pocket competition from the list of promotions the Mi-I ami franchise has proposed. 4. South Florida meteorologists have projected that the Miami franchise will average I more rainouts than home victories for the first 1 three-to-five years.

5. Seattle deserves an opportunity for major- league baseball first. 6. The AL East. 7.

Don Zimmer is not looking for another stop to prove he absolutely cannot manage a team to a world championship. 1 8. Marvelous Marv Throneberry once hit 42 homers and drove in 145 runs while playing minor-league baseball in batter-friendly Denver. 9. The Denver newspapers will be forced to reduce the daily number of training camp stories on the football Broncos from seven to six.

10. Jack Clark cannot think of anything nasty or ugly to say about Denver or Miami. Had his Phil of him Phillies GM Lee Thomas on Atlanta's Otis Nixon kicking Philadelphia reliever Wally Ritchie in the stomach alter Ritchie beaned Nixon: "I don't care if a guy wants to fight, but when you kick somebody that's about as chicken as you can get." Old Yankees never die 100-meter showdown Nike camp will have local flavor Mavericks sink into last place By NICK LEYVA Sun Sports Writer The Sun 5-. jj uaie oi neaven venieiery supervisor rsiu on Billy Martin and Babe Ruth both being Jjuried near Yankee Stadium: "When they buried Billy Martin, somebody left a note on Babe wuin grave, usiuu, i aise care ui me mu. oiiuw Jhim urs on limelight APWIREPHOTO Carl Lewis (center) outran Ben Johnson (left) in their first head-to-head meeting since the 1988 Olympics.

However, Dennis Mitchell (right) won the 100-meter race in the BNP Grand Prix track and field meet in Villeneuve D'asco, France, with a time of 10.09. Outspoken Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds his popularity: "I don't think I ever could be a i Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson type. I get in I trouble because I tell the truth, whether likes it or not." Fans wouldn't stand for it Kansas City Star columnist Bill Tammeus on Bo Jackson's sport comeback: "The good taste of the Chicago White Sox continues. So far in their new ball park they haven't scheduled Bo Jack-! son Crutch Night." VISALIA We will have to forgive Tim Worrell if he does not remember fondly his debut with the High Desert Mavericks. The right-handed pitcher, younger brother of major-leaguer Todd Worrell, was racked for eight hits and six runs in 3 innings as the Mavericks were overwhelmed 12-4 by Visalia and fell into last place in the Cal League's South Division on Monday.

Worrell (0-1) was hit for three runs in the first, another in the second and two more in fourth before he left. He gave up four walks and struck out three. The relievers who followed didn't fare much better as High Desert's pitching returned to its woeful state one day after a welcome shutout by Scott Sanders. Visalia piled up 18 hits against five Mavericks pitchers. Left fielder Rex DeLaNuez had the biggest day for the Oaks, going 4-for-6 with a double, two RBI, two runs and two steals.

Steve Dunn had a two-run homer for Visalia. Al Newman (6-5) got the victory for Visalia, limiting the Mavericks to three runs in seven innings. He gave up six hits and four walks and struck out seven. Matt Witkowski led the Mavericks offense with two hits, including a double, and two RBI. Ray Holbert and Jay Gainer also had two hits for High Desert.

Holbert stole home in the third inning to score the Mavericks' first run. In the fourth, Gainer scored on a passed ball and Mark Gie-seke singled and scored on a hit by Witkowski. Witkowski drove in High Desert's final run when he doubled home Paul Gonzalez in the eighth. Brian Wilkinson and Scott Fredrickson were two other Mavericks pitchers roughed up. Wilkinson gave up four hits and three earned runs in one inning, and Fredrickson gave up four hits and two runs in the eighth.

U.S. soccer team impressive in shutting out Guatemala SAN BERNARDINO Three prep basketball players from San Bernardino County have been invited to participate in Nike's ninth annual ABCD Camp in Indianapolis beginning Friday. Cajon's Shaun Battle, Fonta-na's Travon Carmichael and former San Bernardino High School player Etdrick Bohannon are three of 120 players who will attend the prestigious camp, which features a rigorous weeklong schedule that is designed to simulate college life. "These players are going to be in the classroom more than on the court," said Carolyn Izzo, a spokesperson for the Nike camp. "The players are selected from all over the nation for their ability on the court as well as in academics." The ABCD (Academic, Betterment and Career Development) camp, which moves from Princeton University to Indiana-Purdue University in Indianapolis this year, runs through July 10.

Battle, a two-time All-San Andreas League selection for the Cowboys, is a 6-foot-6 senior forward-center. Carmichael, a highly touted sophomore who has yet to play a minute of CIF basketball, will attend Fontana High School in the fall. Bohannon played for the Cardinals as a sophomore, but last year transferred to Laurinburg Institute in Laurinburg, N.C., along with Cajon's Manjue Sampson. Bohannon, listed as a 6-10 center, will be a senior this fall at Laurinburg Institute. Last year, San Bernardino HS graduate Ray Owes was invited to the Nike camp, but couldn't attend because he was sick.

Owes later signed with the University of Arizona. A typical day for a camp participant is three hours of classroom time beginning at 9 a.m., 90 minutes of counseling sessions or a guest lecture, two hours of afternoon games, more counseling sessions and more evening games until 10 p.m. Izzo said high school and college coaches and members of media throughout the country submit applications for the Nike camp. The final selections are made by chairman of the selection committee Bob Gibbons, editor and publisher of All-Star Sports Publications. By DAVID T.BRISTOW Special to The Sun SPORTS IN BRIEF Denver man files lawsuit over park A Denver man has filed a lawsuit seeking to forbid the Metropolitan Stadium Board from buying a ballpark site in lower downtown, saying he could build one at no cost to the taxpayers.

for unsportsmanlike conduct late in the second half. Coach Bora Milutinovic was also ejected, but Balboa's ejection bars him from competing in Wednesday's game against Costa Rica, which will be the toughest match the U.S. faces in the Class. "I regret the expulsion of Balboa, but I'm sure he will play in the final game," said Milutinovic. "The fact that he was ejected was unfortunate, but we will overcome it." Apart from the loss of Balboa, the game was near perfect for the U.S.

squad. The hosts took the lead 11 minutes into the match when midfielder Bruce Murray found himself all alone in front of the Guatemala goal and drove a 15-yard shot into the net. The U.S. increased its lead to 2-0 just one minute into the second half when midfielder Brian Quinn drilled a 35-yard shot over the head of leaping Guatemala goalie Jorge Humberto Marotta, after taking a pass from midfielder Chris Henderson. The final U.S.

goal came in the 52nd minute, when forward Eric Wynalda took a pass from Murray in a pack of players directly in front of the goal and flipped in the ball. The United States will play its final game in Class at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Coliseum, facing the imposing Costa Rican team, which was formerly coached by Milutinovic. PASADENA The Guatemalan national team fell to ruins before a superior U.S. squad in the second round of the CON-! CACAF Gold Cup, with the Americans rolling to a 3-0 victory before a crowd of 6,344 at the Coliseum Monday night.

With the victory, the U.S. raised its record to 2-0 and all but assured itself a berth in the semifinals of the $250,000 tournament, which features the eight top teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. "This is our best match so far," said U.S. defenseman Desmond Armstrong. "It felt pretty easy, and I think we're getting better as each game goes by." The victory Monday was in stark contrast to the team's first-round victory over Trinidad and Tobago, which was won only with a pair of goals in the final three minutes.

Instead, the U.S. took the lead early and added to it throughout the 90-minute match. "The answer to this game is simple: The U.S. team is in excellent physical condition and they did their homework," said Guatemala coach Haroldo Cordon. However, the U.S.

did suffer the loss of one of its top players, defenseman Marcelo Balboa, who was ejected with a red card I weYkTnd i Planflreat every Friday 1 ana saiuraay Ofc I with The Sun. Atlanta cuts Moses Malone Escape the Heat NBA NOTES ana Keep mm mm Frank Hawkins, 59, revealed his plans for a proposed baseball park in March, months past the deadline for submitting proposals. But the merchant banker says his offer is so compelling that a judge must consider his plan. He says he can build the park twice as fast as the I stadium board and for one-half the cost, Hawkins, whose office is in downtown Denver, says a ballpark there would create traffic and parking hassles that would drive away fans. "I'm trying to give the taxpayers their money back," he says.

"Who else is going to do that?" The Colorado Baseball Partnership, the ownership group for Denver's proposed major-league baseball team, says it is not encouraging Hawkins. "He's just too late. Had he made the propo-sal on a timely basis, there might be some merit it," spokesman Paul Jacobs said. Ivy League: Freshmen can play 'NEW HAVEN, Conn. The Ivy League will allow freshmen to begin playing varsity football in 1993 to save money through the elimination of freshmen programs and reduction of the number of recruits.

Ivy League freshmen already are eligible for varsity teams in all other sports except men's crew. Kendall in satisfactory condition INDIANAPOLIS Race car driver Tom Kendall was in satisfactory condition Monday 'following nine hours of leg surgery. Kendall, from La Canada, broke his right thigh bone and both ankles when his Chevy Intrepid slammed into a tire wall during the Camel Continental VIII IMSA Camel GT sports car race on Sunday. Spectator killed by jet boat GRANDE CACHE, Alberta A spectator was killed Monday in a jet boat race near Grande Cache. A woman was taken to a hospital in Grande Cache after a boat shooting through the Hell's Creek Rapids hit a swell and came up nose-first on the bank, hitting as many as six spectators, police said.

BRIEFLY NOTED: Great Britain's Port Pendennis syndicate, lacking the funding to build a yacht, has withdrawn from the 1992 America's Cup. Peter de Savary, head of the syndicate, said that although he was stepping aside, he would not formally withdraw the challenge by the Port Pendennis Vacht Club for a month, in case another British syndicate was formed to pick it up. Florida State officially joined the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday when school officials handed the ACC a $500,000 check to cover the league's entry fee. Vinny Pazienza (29-5) and Ron Amundsen (20-4-1) will meet for the U.S. Boxing Association junior middleweight championship tonight at the Providence (R.I.) Civic Center.

From Sun News Services the $150 Cash Back! KJ ATLANTA Moses Malone, the seventh player in NBA history to score 25,000 points, is a free agent again. Malone, who signed big free-agent contracts with Philadelphia in 1982 and Atlanta in 1988, had his Hawks' career officially ended Monday when they traded for Denver center Blair Rasmussen and put him on the roster in Malone's place. Malone, a 15-year veteran, lost his starting job early in the 1990-91 season and averaged a career-low 10.6 points. He managed to lead NBA reserves with 8.1 rebounds per game. The Hawks gave up veteran guards Doc Rivers and Spud Webb and the rights to first-round pick Anthony Avent in three deals over the past week.

"I wouldn't say we're cleaning house," coach Bob Weiss said. "That implies that we didn't like what we had, and that's not true. We see a need to get younger without making the talent base deteriorate." Bulls trying to sign vets CHICAGO On Sunday, the Chicago Bulls exercised an option to keep reserve forward Cliff Levingston, and on Monday they announced their intention to try to resign starters John Paxson and Bill Cartw-right and backup center Scott Williams. The Bulls also have the right to match any offer made to Williams, who will undergo surgery on his right shoulder this week and may have an operation on his left shoulder later in the month. 76crs don't sign Mahorn PHILADELPHIA Rick Mahorn became a free agent after the Philadelphia 76ers decided not to sign him to the $1.6 million option year in his contract.

Although he could sign with the 76ers, Mahorn is free to talk to any team in the NBA. Knicks make Walker free agent NEW YORK The New York Knicks tendered a qualifying contract offer to guard John Starks and allowed forward Kenny Walker and guard Greg Grant to become unrestricted free agents. Walker, the Knicks' first-round pick and the fifth selection overall in the 1986 draft, averaged averaged a career-low 4.3 points in 1990-91. Bucks trade for Avent MILWAUKEE The Milwaukee Bucks acquired the rights to 6-foot-10 Forward Anthony Avent of Seton Hall in a three-way trade Monday that sent Denver Nuggets center Blair Rasmussen to the Atlanta Hawks. The Nuggets traded Avent's rights to the Bucks for the rights to Milwaukee's No.

18 pick last week, Southwestern Louisiana forward Kevin Brooks. Denver will also receive Milwaukee's second-round draft choice in 1994 and other considerations. Celtics sign top pick BOSTON The Boston Celtics announced Sunday that Rick Fox, the 24th player chosen in last Wednesday's NBA draft, had agreed to a multi-year contract for an undisclosed amount. From Sun News Services Payne's rebate offer won't be around long. So call your participating Payne Dealer today, before time runs out.

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