Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 14

-PageB2 Decatur, Illinois, Wednesday, July 6, 1988 io'w on Colleges chase Mt. Zion senior From July 14-21 Greg will be at Howard Garfinkel's Five-Star basketball camp in Pittsburgh. That's regarded as center stage for the premier high school talent in the country. Then hell be at the Kentucky Blue Chip camp July 24-29. Scharf underwent an attitude adjustment at that camp last summer.

"Right at the end of my sophomore year, some of the older guys were intimidating me a little bit I just decided I wasn't going to be -intimidated anymore. "So at the Blue Chip camp, I asserted myself. Guys would huddle up and say, 'I don't want to guard that guy. And I'd say, 'I'll take Scharf convinced the camp officials and himself that he was up to the task. AS THE whirlwind of athletic interest increases, Scharf has made sure to attend to academic' concerns as well.

He recently returned from Cincinnati and a meeting of Future Business Leaders of America. Among other things, Scharf is the chapter president and state treasurer of die organization. "I'm very interested in busi- ness," he said. "Why? Well, money. The harder you work, the more money you can make." Scharf said he will carefully weigh the advantages of every college academically, athletically and socially.

"I've asked him," said Scharf Greg's father. "What does he want to do? "Is Eastern the best school for him? "Would he be happy at Illinois or at Indiana, maybe sitting on the bench for a couple years? "What curriculum would be best?" Greg Scharfs world is more 1 complicated than it used to be. Mark Tupper Commentary tention. "It just kind of hit me then," he said. "All of a sudden, there I was." Actually, Scharf rise in athletic stature was partly a physical one.

HE WAS 5-10 as an incoming freshman. He was 6-1 beginning his sopho-. more year. Now, in the summer before his senior year, he is pushing 6-5. At about 200 pounds, he has the long, lean look of a stud college athlete in the making.

A few more pounds, a little more muscle, some experience and "The thing that has caught me off guard is the attention in football," said Scharf. "I always assumed it would be basketball. But I've heard from five of the Big Ten teams in football. "All the attention has been nice. It makes me want to play a lot harder." Scharf and his parents Gary and Diane know the recruiting gice will likely quicken during reg's senior year.

There will be trips to college campuses and personal contact with coaches. This summer his training has taken on a more serious air, what with college scholarships hanging in the balance. There's play in the Decatur summer basketball league, regular weightlifting, running and stretching sessions at Mount Zion. '4 'J Photo, by Doug Gaumon Greg Scharf leafs through a mountain of letters from college coaches. MOUNT ZION Greg Scharf life was relatively simple until last November.

He was a good student and three-sport athlete at Mount Zion High School, a handsome young man who shared familiar teen-age worries girls, his complexion, world history, bis jump shot -Then somewhat suddenly, Greg Scharf life took on a wonderful, complicated twist He went on a rebounding and scoring rampage in the Decatur Turkey Tournament and was quickly thrust into the limelight as one of Macon County's top basketball players. Much more quietly, Scharf, 17, had established himself as a football talent in Coach Ted Phelps' successful program. Freshman quarterback. Varsity backup as a sophomore. Blossoming tight end as a junior.

And then, in his junior basketball season, Scharf was coming of age in a hurry. What has happened to Greg Scharf since amazes even him. HE HAS received a hundred or more letters from colleges (probably 35 different schools, some writing frequently). He is being re- cruited for both basketball and football with the majority of his Division I offers pouring in for football. Letters from Illinois Coach John Mackovic.

Football letters from Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Kansas. A basketball letter from Digger Phelps at Notre Dame. From Jerry Pimm at Cal-Santa Barbara. From Rick Samuels at Eastern Illinois. Scharf looks back to that Turkey Tournament explosion as the time that kicked oft this run of at- Mark Tupper is the assistant sports editor of the Herald Review.

"Some people get the wrong idea. "I could be doing about anything and make more money. But baseball is something I really do want to do. "I don't know how long I'm going to do this. I know if you've been around two or three years and aren't really a prospect anymore, they don't want to re-sign you.

"I don't have a set timetable." ik iowDeir Glioses out slhioG atODpnpcs ffoir foogj Sfjr i fa By ED GLENNON Herald Review Sports Writer For a long time, Gene Vincent has been one of the country's finest amateur bowlers. Until this year, however, he has never had the chance to prove it Sure, he has won tournaments all over the Midwest. He has set numerous scoring records. He has bowled four perfect games in competition and had three sanctioned 800 series. He's beaten many of the game's top professionals Pete Weber, Dick Weber, Steve Wund-erlich, Mark Fahy, Mike Berlin.

Because Vincent never strayed far from his roots in Stonington, though, he never built a reputation necessary to attract a professional sponsor. Finally, vindication. This weekend, he will bowl in Deerfield to become a finalist in the Team USA national bowling tournament Team USA is composed of amateur bowlers who will represent the United States in international competition. This year's Team USA will compete in the Olympics in Seoul, Korea, where bowling will be an exhibition sport Vincent 36, averaged 222.7 for 12 games in Springfield three weeks ago to emerge as the Illinois champion in the Team USA tournament "There were guys from all over in Springfield," he said. "There were bowlers from Chicago, Kankakee and Rockford." The victory advanced Vincent to the regional tournament in Deerfield, one of the 11 regionals in the nation.

After 18 games, the regional field will be cut to five. 'I don't expect to be a millionaire. With a degree in business, I'll be able to take care of Brett Robinson Robinson has had to shift gears mentally in the last week. An injury to another pitcher altered the starting rotation, and Robinson, a right-hander, was moved to the bullpen. "Our pitching coach (Rich Kranitz) emphasized that it wasn't because I wasn't doing the job as a starter," Robinson said.

"He just thought I would be versatile enough to go to the bullpen. "It's a strange experience. Tve been a starter my whole career. "I've had to go through a whole new preparation mentally. "As a starter, I had two or three days to mentally prepare.

In the bullpen, I have to think with the manager. Robinson has a 5-6 record not bad for a team a dozen games under .500. He may have found his niche as a reliever, allowing just three hits in six innings, no earned runs, and picking up a victory. He has lowered his ERA from 4.08 to 3.82. "My split-fingered fastball has been effective," he said.

"My speed is pretty good (86-88 mph)." Photo by Larry Dalley Brett Robinson is spending his summer with the Peoria Chiefs. Gene Vincent Those five will be among an elite field of 24 vying at the national finals in Milwaukee Aug 15-20. "This is my big chance," Vincent said. "I want to make this count "In Deerfield, they said they were going to put in four different conditions. "They want to see who can play the lanes the best, who can play the lanes the most different ways." Vincent has spent the month keeping himself sharp and ready to bowl.

"I'm working out to get my legs and knees in shape," said Vincent. "I'm riding my bike: to Moweaqua (from Stonington) and back every other night a 12-mile round-trip. "In bowling this is a big deal. This definitely would be my biggest thrill more than any tournament I ever won or any 300 game I ever bowled." By ED GLENNON Herald Review Sports Writer PEORIA Brett Robinson has a community crossing its fingers. Could he be the one? Could he be Bethany's first big leaguer? "I know a lot of people have their hopes up," Robinson said.

"When we played in Springfield, we had a list of people this long (holding his hands far apart) from Bethany. "The support has been great" Most of the time, however, Robinson plays without fanfare. He is just another pitcher passing through the turnstile that is the Peoria Chiefs; the Chicago Cubs' Class A farm club. The ultimate: Playing at Wrig-ley Field. A possible reality: Spending two or three years in Peoria, then going home to find a "real" job.

"It will be hard," Robinson said. "I mean, I know the odds. "I don't think anybody starts out expecting to be a millionaire." Between questions and answers, Robinson signed a half-dozen autographs. After aU, he might be famous someday. "When I'm not pitching, I think about it," he said.

"But that's the worst thing you can do on the field. "You've got to keep concentrating. "As soon as I quit thinking about the ballgame, thinking 'I wish I could have gotten that last pitch I'm in trouble. "Pitching is a lot more mental than a lot of people think." OsbReznlctk This is Robinson's second year in the minors. He spent' his first year in Geneva, N.Y., in the New York-Penn League.

His salary was $700 a month, quite a bit less than what he would be making had he found a job in business. "I'm making a financial sacrifice," said Robinson, who has a business degree from Wesleyan. Determination keeps softball star on rise gust," she said. "You need everything to-come together at the right Those are the games Reznicek thrives on, said Davis. "She's just a tiger." he said.

"She's really a tournament pitcher. Every year she peaks and she cranks her determination up another notch." And Reznicek has never had a problem finding that extra gear. "I think I'm probably a smarter pitcher than I was 10 or 12 years ago," she said. "You're always learning. You hope to learn from your mistakes." Reznicek obviously has, and hopes to continue doing so.

"I plan to keep pitching as long as I can," she said. ''Pitching is so hard to come by. I hope to to be able to get by for a while longer." And Reznicek will get by, smiling all the way. and doesn't want to yet" This routine is nothing new for Reznicek, the Sherman mother of two who's married to an umpire. She has seen it all and done most everything else.

An All-America pitcher at Eastern Illinois, a pro hurler for the ill-fated St. Louis Hummers, a three-time participant in national tournaments. "It's kind of like a dedication," she said. Reznicek also has incentive. This year, the Rockettes host the women's fast pitch state tournament July 13-17 at Borg-Warner Field.

The top two teams advance to the nationals Aug. 12-19 in Pekin. After missing last summer, Reznicek plans on the Rockettes being there. "I'm getting ready for July and Au By CHUCK CARLSON Herald Review Sports Writer Through it all, Deb Reznicek just keeps smiling. Her face is tougher to read than Egyptian hieroglyphics.

She could be throwing a perfect game or losing by 20 runs. It matters little. Deb Reznicek just keeps smiling. "I enjoy throwing," she said. And few in the Midwest throw better than the Decatur Perfect Rockettes 34-year-old right-tender.

"She loves the game and she loves the competition," said Rockettes Coach Jim Davis He should know. He's Reznicek's father and her coach for nearly 25 years. "We've figured she's won more than 600 games," Davis said. "You have to Wit" Through last weekend, there has been a lot for Reznicek to love. She has an 13-1 record, an 0.33 ERA and has averaged eight strikeouts per game.

It gets better. She has allowed only 15 hits all season, walked nine in 89 innings, has thrown three perfect games and, against Macomb, struck out 20 of 21 hitters. Yet despite those sparkling numbers, Reznicek isn't happy. Really. "I wish I was throwing a little better than I am," she said with a straight face.

"I need to be in a little better shape, concentration-wise." Davis agreed. Really. "She's just pitching mediocre right now," he said, "She really hasnt peaked I.