Newspaper Page Text
Shawn Akers
HHJ Sports editor j
Baseball is
back and
doing well
Just a few thoughts on Major
League baseball's opening day...
Most opening days in the past
few years have been rather
uneventful. But you can't say that
about this past Monday, when 22
of the 26 Major League teams look
the field.
It almost made the extra week's
wait for the season to start worth it.
But I'll still never forgive the play
ers or owners for the lockout. But
let's forget that and take a look at
what happened.
First of all, the traditional Na
tional League opener in Cincinnati
was not in Cincinnati. The Reds
opened the season on the road for
the first time in several years in a
night game at Houston. More on
that in a minute.
The National League opened up
in New Stork, where the heavily fa
vored Mets sent Dwight Gooden to
the mound against the Pittsburgh
Pirates. An easy victory for the
Mels, you say? Think again.
The Pirates pummeled Gooden,
thanks to Andy Van Slyke’s two
home runs and Bobby Bonilla's
three RBI. Surprise, the Mets,
whom I picked to win the ML East
with case, fell flat on their face. But
its' only one game, and they’ll be
Sfj'cajn lpicked to the
esfgotoff to a bad start as
well. The Padres, with as much of
fensive talent as anyone in the
league, lost late to the Dodgers on a
three-run home run by newly-ac
quired Hubie Brooks.
Tony Gwynn, Jack Clark and Joe
Carter went a combined 0-for-12 at
the plate for San Diego, which
should tell you something.
The Cubbies are having prob
lems with their opening nights at
Wrigley Field. The first night game
ever at Wrigley Field was washed
out in 1988, and this year’s home
opener at night with Philadelphia
was rained out. Turn out the lights
at Wrigley, okay?
Now to my team, the Reds. I
had no confidence in them when I
picked them to finish fourth in the
NL West. I still don’t, until they
prove to me that they can win.
I will give them an A for effort,
however, with a big extra-inning
win over Houston on Monday
night. I thought the Astros’ Mike
Scott would shut them down, but
the offense came through. Go
Cincinnati.
Over the American League, and I
still don’t believe what I saw on
ESPN. Nolan Ryan, at age 43, is
still humming right along. He was
again pitching one of his patented
fifth-inning no-hitters (he usually
takes them into the eighth or ninth)
when Texas Manager Bobby
Valentine decided to relieve him.
I guess Ryan was getting tired,
and Valentine decided Ryan had had
enough. That's the first time I've
ever seen a Major League pitcher
come out of a game with a no-hitter
after five innings. But congratula
tions to Nolan, we know he's pick
ing up where he left off last year.
Surprise, surprise! The While
Sox and Mariners were winners?
Come on, now, this is getting
ridiculous. Os course we know that
they won't hang around for long.
They may be in first place right
now, but that’s the last lime they'll
see first place again in this decade.
And you've got to give the Bal
timore Orioles credit. They hung
around and beat the Kansas City
Royals at Kansas City, and were
able to get to Cy Young Award
Winner Brett Saberhagen.
Another heartwarming story de
veloped in that game, much like the
Hank Gathers story. Orioles' out
fielder Sam Horn, whose mother
Please see AKERS, Page 4B
a The Houston Home a
Journal
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11,1990-Section B
Hornets drop third in row
I
I mm
Hornet lefty Michael Sullivan talks to Coach Mark Lewis
...The Hornets were rocked by the Stratford Eagles
Hornet linksters
are unbeatable
By SHAWN AKERS
Sports Editor
Westfield High School golf
Coach Marvin Arrington can be
found with a wide smile on his
face these days.
What's the reason for all the
joy? You'd be smiling 100 if your
team was as young as the Hornet
linksters are and yet are enjoying
the tremendous success that they
are.
“After winning Monday's
Stratford Invitational at the River
North Country Club in Macon,
Westfield's match record stands at
an unblemished 12-0 this spring.
And the Hornets don't have a se
nior in their top six players.
"I'm really proud of these kids
and what they've accomplished,"
Arrington said.
"We lost a couple of good se
niors to graduation last year, and
we knew that we were going to be
young. But I also knew that these
kids had. the potential to be this
good."
The Hornets' closest competi
tion Monday at Stratford was
Crisp Academy, which trailed
Westfield by 14 strokes.
"Everybody shot well, and that
was the key," said sophomore
John Lamberth, who led Westfield
with a 74.
"All of us are playing well to
gether as a team, and that's why
we've been winning."
Lamberth, the only returning
regular from last year's sixth-place
i
Nate Tharpe gives the
thumbs up sign for his
doings. Tharpe was safe
after a run-down play.
state tournament team, is the
Hornets' No. 1 player. His stroke
average is 76.3 strokes per 18
holes, making him far and away
one of the area's, if not the state's
best players in the GISA.
"I knew what John was capable
of going into the year and it's a
joy to watch him," Arrington said.
"And the thing is, he's going to
continue to get better and better.
That's what l*jn looking forward
to."
Lamberth, who also plays
tennis, says his success stems
from the fact that he's able to get
out on the course four times a
week.
"You've got to play," Lamberth
said. "If you don’t play, your
swing and your whole game gets
thrown off."
Sophomore Jonathan Waldorff
(83.8) junior Andy Sparrow
(84.5), freshman Russ Dunaway
(84.8) freshman Geoff Hill (84.8)
and sophomore Austin Kirby
(89.3) round out Westfield's top
six players.
And it hasn’t just been Lam
berth carrying Westfield. The other
five have contributed mightily to
the Hornets' success.
"We've got a balanced team,"
Arrington said. "When you’ve got
six guys that average under 90 for
18 holes, that says something."
Although there are distractions,
as all high school-age kids
Please see GOLF, Page 4B
Athletics sweep
to even record
By MARK BLUMEN
Staff Writer
PERRY - Larry Whitfield scattered eight hits and pitched a complete
game as the Perry Athletics defeated the Upatoi Wildcats 7-4 to complete
a sweep Sunday afternoon at Perry Middle School's field.
With the sweep, the Athletics evened their record at 2-2 as Stanley King
pitched a complete first game and the Athletics rallied with eight runs in
the sixth inning to pull out a 9-2 victory.
In the second game, Upatoi jumped in front 1-0, as leadoff hitter,
Saunders singled, stole second and Wes Brescia hit a one-out single to drive
in Saunders.
In the third inning, Saunders doubled and scored on a Brescia single to
give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
It stayed that way until the Athletics fourth inning. David Small singled
to start the inning and Rodney Norwood doubled driving in Small.
Nate Tharpe hit a one-out double driving in Norwood. Alex Cainon
reached on an error by the shortstop moving Tharpe to third.
Renard Solomon, who hit a first game two-run home run, pinch-hit for
Roy Adams but struck out. J.D. Jackson pinch hit and walked to load the
bases.
Virgil Newberry walked to drive in a run, giving the Athletics a 3-2
lead.
The Athletics fell behind 4-3 in the top half of the fifth inning, but
Perry rallied for three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Norwood hit a one-out single; James Scott reached on an error; Cainon
singled, driving in a run and after a wild pitch moved Cainon to second
base, Solomon singled in Cainon.
Please see A's, Page 4B
Perry sports
Complete coverage of Perry High, Westfield, Recreation leagues & Outdoor news
By J.J. COOPER
Staff Writer
PERRY-The Westfield High
School baseball team's season
neared rock bottom Tuesday at the
Hornets' Nest, as the Hornets lost
to Stratford Academy, 8-1.
The Hornets bats were again
silent, as Eagle pitcher Joey Hiller
fanned 16 Hornets, as he spread five
hits over seven innings.
"I’ve told the team somebody
better find a plug and stick it in this
boat, because we're waist deep in
water," said Hornet coach Mark
Lewis.
The Hornets bats have been
silent since coming back from
spring break two weeks ago.
"We killed ourselves with our
hitting," said leftfielder Shayne Ar
rington.
Michael Sullivan took the
mound for the Hornets, filling in
for Arrington, who was unaWe to
pitch because of a sore arm.
Sullivan suffered through a
rough first inning before settling
down.
But the Eagles jumped on Sulli
van again for five runs in the fourth
to take an 8-0 lead.
However, Sullivan's teamates
jwy j| M H
Sophomore John Lamberth has been Westfield's No. 1
player this year with a 76.3 stroke average per 18 holes
Westfield 000 000 1 -1 5 1
Stratford 300 500 0 -8 7 2
Westfield- Michael Sullivan, Lee Asbury(7) and
Brian Lewis, Jeremy Wilson (7). Stratford- Joey Hiller
and Mark Haskins. WP- Hiller, LP- Sullivan (1-2). Top
Performances- Stratford- Hiller 7 IP, 7 Hits, 0 Earned
Runs, 16 Strikeouts. Westfield- Lee Asbury 1 IP, 0
Hits, 0 Runs.
said the blame rested on their
shoulders.
"Sully did a good job. We just
didn't back him up with anything,"
said ccnterficldcr Bobby Thompson.
Coach Lewis also agreed.
"Michael started off a little
rough, then settled down. When he
kept the ball on the outside comer
he did fine," said Lewis.
The Hornets slump has stretched
over the past couple of weeks. The
players are all searching for a an
swer on how to regain their hitting
form.
But Lewis thinks that they may
be trying too hard.
"They want to do so right that
they overtry," said Lewis.
Stratford, acknowledged as one
of the favorites to contend for the
state title, wasted little lime in get
ting on the scoreboard.
IJ(!(r
IBF _^ v :
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iilP‘ r
-
Stanley King throws to the plate Sunday against Upatoi
...King pitched a 3-hitter leading the A's to a 9-2 win
Mark Haskins singled and stole
second lo set up pitcher Joey Hiller
Hiller singled to knock in Hask
ins and advanced lo second on the
throw to home.
Hiller reached third on a wild
pitch and scored on a Chip Ogburn
line out.
Brian Hcndlcy then homcrcd over
the right field wall to give the Ea
gles a 3-0 lead.
Sullivan led off the Hornet s half
with a double, and Bubba Gibbs
walked lo pul men on first and sec
ond.
But Hiller retired the next three
Hornets on nine straight strikes l(
end the inning.
Sullivan settled down and sent
the Eagles down in order in the
second.
John Gamble sandwiched a sin-
Please see HORNETS, Page 4B
Lamberth's
74 leads
Westfield
MACON - John Lambcrth
knew that the Westfield High
School golf team could win the
Stratford Invitational tournament
Monday.
But by 14 strokes? Lamberth
wasn't that confident, but that's
just what happened as the Hornets
outdistanced second-place Crisp
Academy, 318-332, to lake the
tournament title. *
-With the win in the seven-team
tournament, Westfield's match
record improved to 12-0 this
spring.
Lambcrth shot his best score
this spring, 74, to take top
medalist honors. His lowest score
before Monday was a 75 against
Southland.
Last week against F.P.D.,
however, he had shot an 80.
"I shot a 74 last year when we
played in that tournament," Lam
berth said. "I really could have
played even better (Monday), 100
I shot a 34 on the front-nine, made
a couple of bogeys on the back
nine and shot a 40. I was
disappointed with that."
Coming in second place indi
vidually was Crisp Academy’s
Jeffrey Hunt with a 77.
Westfield Coach Marvin Ar
rington was extremely pleased
with his team's performance.
"The kids really played well,
the best that they've played this
year," Arrington said. "Everybody
Please see WINS, Page 4B