Banner Graphic, Volume 21, Number 172, Greencastle, Putnam County, 26 March 1991 — Page 5

Juniors head county’s All-WCC selections

By STEVE HELDS Banner-Graphic Sports Editor Three Putnam County juniors in position to leave a lasting impression upon on their schools and the county are among the eight county players named to the 1991 All-West Central Conference Basketball teams, released on Monday by league secretary Jim Huter of South Putnam High School. Laura Ledbetter is already the leading scorer in Greencastle High School girls basketball history. Daniel Johnson will enter his senior year in position to become North Putnam’s all-time scoring leader and South Putnam’s Damon Slaton will be shooting at the 1,000-point mark. JOHNSON AND SLATON join Putnam County seniors Cory Robinson of South Putnam and Brent Branneman of Cloverdale on the All-WCC Boys Basketball team. Ledbetter joins Greencastle teammate Jenny Black, Cloverdale’s Monica Koosman and South Putnam’s Karen Nelson on the senior dominated All-WCC Girls Basketball team. Edgewood won both the boys and girls basketball championships this season with 9-0 records. South Putnam and Cascade tied for second in the boys race with 7-2 records. Greencastle was 7-2 and thire in the girls race, as Owen Valley finished 8-1 for second. NORTH’S JOHNSON JOINS Cascade’s 6-7 Daryl Peterson and 6-3 Scott Rissot, Edgewood’s 6-1 Chad Pate and Monrovia’s one-two combo of Matt Belcher and Brad Johnson as repeat members to the All-WCC Boys Team. Ledbetter and Cloverdale’s Koosman join Edgewood’s Joni Brown and Rachelle Chambers and Cascade’s Diane Peterson as repeaters on All-WCC Girls Team. Johnson led North and Putnam County in scoring this season with a 22.6 points per game average. The 6-4 Johnson averaged 20.3 points per game in the nine WCC games, netting 30 points against

Sooners sweep into NIT final with Cardinal

NEW YORK (AP) Oklahoma streaked into the final of the National Invitation Tournament, while Stanford took the inside track. Oklahoma wiped out a 14-point deficit in the second half and beat Colorado for the 24th consecutive time, 88-78, Monday night at Madison Square Garden. In the opener, Stanford used its inside power to defeat Massachusetts 7371 and advance to Wednesday night’s championship game. IT WILL BE the first NIT final for both schools. Jeff Webster scored 24 points as Oklahoma continued its mastery of Colorado, which hasn’t beaten the Sooners since 1982. “When you play some teams, you feel you can beat them anytime,” said Oklahoma guard Terry Evans, who scored 16 points. “It seems that every time we’re in a close game with Colorado, we win.” IT WAS THE second straight time Colorado blew a big lead against Oklahoma. When they played in Boulder on Feb. 27, Oklahoma overcame an 18-point deficit and won 69-68 on a last-second shot. “We could have won two games against Oklahoma this year,” said Colorado coach Joe Harrington. “We’re going to beat them before too long. We know it, and (Oklahoma coach) Billy Tubbs knows it.” Colorado (18-14), making its first postseason appearance since 1969, was led by center Shaun Vandiver with 31 points. “Oklahoma has a lot of tradition and pride, and a team like that isn’t going to lay down,” Vandiver said. “I didn’t really think about the streak. I was just concerned about winning.” COLORADO MATCHED its largest lead of the game, 62-48, with 13:06 left before Oklahoma began its comeback. A 12-2 run featuring three consecutive baskets by Roland Ware pulled the Sooners to 64-60. After Vandiver scored to give Colorado a six-point lead, Webster made four straight free throws to cut the margin to two. The Sooners finally took the lead 68-67 on a jumper by Kermit Holmes with romQinino Qnd ctavpd in front

sports

WCC Standings West Central Conference Boys Basketball at a Glance Final Standings School WCC Pct. Total Pct. Edgewood 9-0 1.000 14-7 .667 Cascade 7-2 .778 15-5 .750 SouthPutnam* 7-2 .778 17-6 .739 Monrovia 6-3 .667 16-6 .727 Owen Valley 5-4 .555 11-10 .524 North Putnam 4-5 .444 14-9 .608 Danville 4-5 .444 7-13 .350 Tri-West* 3-6 .333 7-14 .333 Cloverdale 1-8 .111 6-15 .286 Greencastle 0-9 .000 4-17 .235 Girls Basketball at a Glance Final Standings School WCC Pct. Total Pct. Edgewood* 9-0 1.000 NA NA Owen Valley 8-1 .889 NA NA Greencastle 7-2 .778 15-5 .750 Cascade 6-3 .667 NA NA Danville 54 .555 NA NA Cloverdale 4-5 .444 9-9 .500 Tri-West 4-5 .444 NA NA Monrovia 2-7 .222 NA NA North Putnam 1-8 .111 5-14 .263 South Putnam 0-9 .000 1-17 .055 * Sectional champions Owen Valley and 29 against Cascade. Johnson has scored 988 career points in just two varsity seasons, which leaves him 53 points away from tying the North Putnam scoring record of 1,041 points, set by Glenn Logan (1977-81). LED BY SLATON and Robinson, South’s Eagles went down to the final weekend of the season contending for a piece of the WCC championship. Slaton led South’s scoring at 16.9 points per game for the year and averaged 15.3 points a game in conference play. In South’s final two conference games, at Owen Valley and at Edgewood, the 6-4 forward scored 46 points

the rest of the way. A free throw by Colorado’s Stevie Wise made it 71-70, but Oklahoma scored 10 of the next 12 points and was never threatened again. Wise scored 18 points but was only 5-for-23 from the field, including l-for-9 from 3-point range. “I JUST DIDN’T hit the shots,” Wise said. “I was wide open sometimes, but I just didn’t make them.” Holmes scored 17 points for Oklahoma (20-14) and Ware added 15. Starting center Bryan Sallier, averaging 21 points in his previous four games, did not score. Center Adam Keefe scored 24 points and forward Andrew Vlahov added 20 as Stanford edged Massachusetts. KEEFE AND VLAHOV each had 14 points in the second half as Stanford withstood a late rally by the Minutemen, who trailed almost the entire way. Vlahov grabbed 11 rebounds and Keefe got 10 for the Cardinal, which outrebounded the Minutemen 42-31. “Our big men caused them a lot of problems,” said Stanford coach Mike Montgomery. “That’s probably an understatement.” Monday’s NIT Boxes By The Associated Press At New York STANFORD (73) Vlahov 4-8 12-12 20, Wingate 4-6 0-0 8, Keefe 10-15 4-7 24, Ammann 2-10 2-2 8, Patrick 3-10 11 10, LoUie 0-2 1-2 1, Garrett 0-1 0-0 0, B.Williams 1-2 0-2 2. Totals 24-54 20-26 73 MASSACHUSETTS (71) Barbee 4-7 2-7 10, Herndon 4-8 3-6 11, 11. Williams 7-14 4-5 18, Brown 1-3 0-0 2, McCoy 6-15 4-4 16, Tate 0-2 1-2 1, Giles 5-13 0-0 13. Totals 27-62 14-24 71. Halftime—Stanford 35, Massachusetts 31. 3poi.it goals—Stanford 5-12 (Patnck 3-6, Ammann 2-6), Massachusetts 3-13 (Giles 3-10, H.Williams 0-1, Brown 0-1, McCoy 0-1). Fouled out—Wingate, Barbee. Rebounds—Stanford 42 (Vlahov 11), Massachusetts 31 (H.Williams 7). Assists—Stanford 19 (Vlahov 8), Massachusetts 18 (Brown 10). Total fouls—Stanford 23, Massachusetts 23. A—NA OKLAHOMA (88) Holmes 8-15 1-1 17, Webster 7-10 10-10 24, Sallier 0-4 0-0 0, Hams 1-1 0-0 3, Price 1-4 5-6 8, Evans 4-7 7-8 16, French 2-3 1-2 5, Ware 4-5 7-10 15. Totals 27-49 31-37 8 8. COLORADO (78) Guest 2-5 1-2 5, Hunter 4-12 1-2 12, Vandiver 1321 3-4 31. Law 1-4 2-2 4, Wise 5-23 7-10 18, Walters 2-7 0-0 4, Ah 1-1 0-0 2, Robinson 1-7 0-0 2, Markham 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-80 14-20 78 Halftime—Colorado 46, Oklahoma 33. 3-pomt goals—Oklahoma 3-7 (Harris 1-1, Price 1-2, Evans 1-2, Webster 0-1, Ware 0-1), Colorado 6-27 (Hunter 3-8, Vandiver 2-3, Wise 1-9, Law 0-2, Robinson 0-2, Walters 0-3). Fouled out —Webster, Law. Rebounds—Oklahoma 40 (Holmes 16), Colorado 39 (Vandiver 11). Assists—Oklahoma 15 (Evans 6), Colorado 17 (Robinson 5). Total fouls—Oklahoma 14, Colorado 25. Technicals— Oklahoma coach Tubbs, Guest. A—8,064

All-WCC ALL-WEST CENTRAL CONFERENCE BOYS BASKETBALLTEAM Name School Cl. Daryl Peterson* Cascade 12 Scott Rissot* Cascade 12 Brent Branneman Cloverdale 12 Trevor Wiggam Danville 12 Chad Pate* Edgewood 12 Matt Belcher* Monrovia 12 Brad Johnson* Monrovia 12 Daniel Johnson* North Putnam 11 Eric Gooch Owen Valley 12 Cory Robinson South Putnam 12 Damon Slaton South Putnam 12 Ty Smith Tri-West 12 ALL-WEST CENTRAL CONFERENCE GIRLS BASKETBALLTEAM Name School Cl. Diane Peterson* Cascade 12 Jody Watson Cascade 12 Monica Koosman* Cloverdale 12 Amy Jo Hadley Danville 12 Joni Brown* Edgewood 12 Rachelle Chambers* Edgewood 12 Jenny Black Greencastle 12 Laura Ixdbetter* Greencastle 11 Amy Turner Monrovia 10 Darcie Redenbaugh Owen Valley 9 Karen Nelson South Putnam 12 Joni Burkhart Tri-West 12 • Repeat All-WCC players against OV and 26 against Edgewood. Robinson averaged 10 points per game overall his senior season, but 11.6 points a game in conference play. The 6-1 guard scored 37 points in the final two conference games, including a season-high 21 against Edgewood. COACH KIETH PUCKETT noted at South’s awards program that Robinson was 32 of 33 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter of the final 12 games. In conference play, Robinson shot .885 from the free throw line, hitting 46-52, including 30 of his last 33 attempts and 8-8 against Edge wood. Cloverdale’s Branneman, who

Indianapolis Hoosier Dome W ; ~l KANSAS (26-7) Saturday, March 30, 5:39 p.m. N. CAROLINA (29-5) t DUKE (30-7) 30 Minutes after 1 st game UNLV (34-0)

ACC rivals eye NCAA title

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) Don’t bother mentioning to Mike Krzyzewski the prospects of a fourth North Carolina-Duke meeting this season, this time for the NCAA title. “I think what you have to guard against, and they would have to do the same thing, is the fact that we’re not playing one another,” he says. “We may not play each other. They have to concentrate on Kansas and we have to concentrate on UNLV. The fans, let them have fun with it.” FOR STARTERS, Krzyzewski is just happy to be making his fourth straight trip and fifth in the last six seasons to the Final Four. And, for the second consecutive year, the Atlantic Coast Conference has two teams in the semifinals. But Krzyzewski is only celebrating for one team. “I think it’s great for the conference,” he said. “It would be stupid for me to say that there’s a special feeling, more special because Carolina’s in it. I have enough feeling for Duke. “I think you respect what they’ve done and the manner in which they’ve done it. I’m not happy because of anybody else being in it than Duke. I think that’s the normal reaction.” WHEN KRZYEWSKI arrived 11 years ago, the general reaction was not to ask him to bring the program up to the level which North Carolina had reached and maintained. Catching the neighbors in Chapel Hill wasn’t the top priority. “The athletic director just mentioned that we want

closed his career with a blazing 29 effort in the sectional against North Putnam, averaged 16.8 points per game for the year. The 5-8 guard averaged 15.4 points per game in conference play, scoring 23 in Cloverdale’s first WCC win since 1983 over county rival Greencastle. LEDBETTER AND Black have paced the Greencastle girls basketball team to a 27-14 overall record the last two seasons. Ledbetter was the state’s fifth leading scorer this season at 26 points per game and averaged 30.2 points a game in conference play. She scored a Greencastle singlegame record 41 points against Cloverdale and has 1,281 career points, which leaves her 253 behind current record holder Ann Hutcheson, a 1989 Cloverdale graduate. After playing four years of varsity basketball and being nominated at least three times by coach Glenn Hile, Black was voted All-WCC by the league’s coaches. The 5-9 guard, who set career records for assists, steals and rebounds, averaged 10.8 points per game overall for Greencastle and 10.5 points a game in conference play. In her final two league games, Black netted 16 against Cloverdale and 17 against Edge wood. KOOSMAN CLOSED A fouryear varsity career at Cloverdale with 920 points (by unofficial count). She averaged 18.8 points per game this season and 17 points a game in conference play, including 19 against unbeaten league champion Edgewood and 21 at Cascade. Nelson averaged 10.7 points per game as the center of South Putnam attack. The senior center or guard or forward averaged 10.2 points per game in conference play, including a 19-point game againist Cascade. Voting on the All-Putnam County Boys and Girls Basketball Teams is being completed this week and will be announced the week of April 1.

to be competitive and we want good kids to be educated and represent Duke,” Krzyzewski says. “Don’t worry about winning. Maybe I was naive enough to believe that, and I’m still naive enough to believe that.” Maybe the administration held that belief, but those fans who might now be dreaming of the North Carolina-Duke rematch next week weren’t as patient. WHEN VIC BUBAS left in 1969, North Carolina had just finished the third of its threc-year run in Final Fours. The Tar Heels lost the 1968 title game to UCLA and lost two consolation games. Duke had been to the Final Four in 1966 after winning the ACC championship. The Blue Devils lost to Kentucky in the national semifinals, but earned third place with a victory over Utah in the consolation game. The Blue Devils struggled with mediocrity after Bubas stepped down. North Carolina made two more trips to the Final Four in the 1970 s and won four more ACC titles under Smith. THE BLUE DEVILS dropped below .500 in three of the next seven seasons; they were 13-13 in 1975 and 14-13 in 1977. Three coaches passed through Durham before Bill Foster arrived and put the brakes to the slide. After hovering around .500, Foster took Duke to the championship game in 1978, where the Blue Devils lost to Kentucky. Duke was upset in the opening round in 1979 and lost in the Mideast Regional in 1980.

Boys all-state Indiana High School Basketball 1990-91 All-State Teams By The Associated Press The Indiana high school basketball All-State boys’ teams for 1990-91, selected by The Associated Press: First Team Glenn Robinson, 6-9, Sr., Gary Roosevelt Alan Henderson, 6-9, Sr., Indpls Brebeuf Brian Evans, 6-8, Sr., Terre Haute South Ryan Wolf, 64, Sr., Martinsville Steve Nicodemus, 6-4, Sr., Whitko Second Team Charles Macon, 6-8, Jr., Mich. City Elston Lamar Morton, 6-2, Sr., Muncie South Andy Elkins, 6-7, Sr., Evansville Bosse Brandon Brantley, 6-8, Sr., Andrean Jeff Massey, 6-2, Sr., Concord Third Team Marlon Fleming, 64, Sr., Southport Chad Kleine, 6-8, Sr., Mt. Vernon (Hancock) Michael Bush, 6-4, Sr., LaPorte LaSalle Thompson, 5-10, Sr., Indpls Pike Brady Adkins, 5-11, Jr., Morristown High Honorable Mention Eric Ford, S.Bend Riley; Andre Owens, S.Bend Riley; Carlos Floyd, Gary Roosevelt; Alan Bush, Bedford N.Lawrence; Ron Darrell, Evansville Bosse; Herb Dove, Indpls Perry Meridian; Chris Wilburn, Martinsville; Bob Denton, Martinsville; Russ Marcinek, Hammond Noll; Daimon Beathea, Elkhart Memorial; Cory DeGroote, W.Vigo; Tony Etchison, Noblesville; Craig Simmons, Fountain Central; Darnell Wilcher, Morton Memorial; Rick Yudt, Portage; Randy Zachary, Anderson Highland; Jerry Freshwater, Marion; Artise Long, Muncie Central; Malt Burgess, White River Valley; Craig Brunes, Brownsburg; Rich Hammel, Lafayette Jeff; Brian McAtee, Washington Catholic; Asunia Robertson, Muncie Central; Scott Shepherd, Carmel; Eric Sherman, S.Dearborn. Others with votes (listed alphabetically): Lance Barker, Columbus East; MATT BELCHER, MONROVIA; Shawn Blaich, S.Decalur; Keith Blythe, Bellmont; Darrin Bowling, Avon; Dave Boyer, FW Christian; Chris Brand, Bloomington South; Cole Casbon, Boone Grove; Dan Chadd, Southmont; Gary Cooper, Wabash; Neil Coyle, W. Washington; Derrick Cross, Bloomington North; Justin Davis, Crawfordsville; Antiwan Easley, Indpls Ben Davis; Dan Elliott, Warsaw; Matt English, Greenfield; Joe Estes, Jeffersonville; Matt Fine, Winchester; Aaron Finnegan, Southwestern (Hanover); Brandon Fites, N.Miami; Mondo Fowler, Kokomo; Tony Frieden, Manchester, Maurice Fuller, Anderson; Chad Gilbert, Charlestown; Brian Gilpin, Mt. Vernon (Hancock); Tom Gohmann, Clarksville Providence; Matthew Graves, White River Valley; Chip Hammel, Lafayette Jeff; Brad Hampton, Northfield; Ryan Harding, Gary Roosevelt; George Hemphill, Southport; Barry Huckeby, New Castle; Roger Huffman, Mt. Vernon (Hancock); Jeff Hutz, Terre Haute South; DANIEL JOHNSON, NORTH PUTNAM; Brent Kell, Ev. Harrison; Kevin Ketchmark, LaCrosse; Jason Lambrecht, Bedford N.Lawrence; Scott Lawrence, LaCrosse; Mark Lucking, Austin; Lee McGregor, Vincennes; Jason McKenzie, Warsaw; Laßon Moore, Franklin Central; J.B. Neill, Eastern (Greene); Cory Norman, Jeffersonville; CHAD PATE, EDGEWOOD; David Pugh, Winamac; Josh Rang, Blackhawk Christian; Craig Reed, Mich. City Rogers; Corey Reeder, Indpls Arlington; Charles Ricks, E.Chicago Central; Brandt Schuckman, Vincennes; Kelly Shepherd, NJudson; Zack Sellers, Mich. City Rogers; Ryan Smoot, Sheridan; Damian Springer, Marion; Shane Steimel, Washington Catholic; Mike Swanson, Concord; Derek fislow, Vincennes; Chad Wade, Loogootee; Herman Washington, Mich. City Elston; William White, Hammond Gavit; James Williams, Mich. City Elston; Jason Williams, Indpls Pike; Mike Wolff, S.Bend Clay; Mark Yoder, Westview; Kevin Ziolkowski, LaPorte.

March 26,1991 THE BANNERGRAPHIC

Girls all-state Indiana High School Basketball 1990-91 All-State Teams By The Associated Press The Indiana high school basketball All-State girls’ teams for 1990-91, selected by The Associated Press: First Team Jennifer Jacoby, 5-7, Sr., Rossville Cindy Lamping, 5-11, Sr., Batesville Carrie Mount, 5-2, Sr., Bedford N.Lawrence Dana Creighton, 5-11, Sr., Warsaw Sarah Armington, 5-9, Sr., Anderson Second Team Amy Walker, 5-5, Sr., Bedford N.Lawrence Amy Brauman, 6-0, Sr., Brownsburg Liza Reed, 6-0, Sr., Warsaw Alana Hancock, 6-0, Jr., Valparaiso Natasha Weddle, 6-2, Sr., Indian Creek Third Team Shannon Lindsey, 64, Sr., Warren Central Marla Inman, 5-6, Jr., Bedford N.Lawrence Damice Cloudy, 5-5, Sr., Gary Mann Anissa Lewis, 6-0, Sr., Jeffersonville Antoinette Towler, 5-10, Sr., Evansville Harrison High Honorable Mention Molly Dreisbach, Penn; Megan Boguslawski, Mich. City Elston; Angie Cree, Cass; Falonia Edenburg, Gary Roosevelt; Faith Cyr, Benton Central; LAURA LEDBETTER, GREENCASTLE; Leslie Wade, Loogootee; Tiffany Longworth, Kokomo; Lisa Szymczak, Penn; Kelli Kerkhoff, McCutcheon; Sharleen Hooper, S.Bend Clay; Charmonique Stallworth, S.Bend Washington; Denise Kulig, Lake Central; Monique Walls, Richmond; Molly Herman, Vincennes Rivet; Tricia Deffendoll, Pike Central; Amy McLaughlin, Brownsburg; Mandy Miller, Terre Haute South; Kerrie Moore, Southmont; Leslie Johnson, FW Northrop; Julie Comer, Jac-Cen-Del; Abby Conklin, Charlestown; Susan Feder, Crown Point; Kenja Kendrick, Seeger; Danielle McCulley, Gary West; Diane Poulson, Huntington North. Others with votes (listed alphabetically): Jamara Anderson, E.Chicago Central; Jamie Anselm, Valparaiso; Deb Bartoszewicz, New Prairie; Jenni Beaver, Eastern Hancock; Beth Brechner, Portage; Daina Brikmanis, Center Grove; Maggie Bryant, Crawfordsville; Jennifer Bursley, Hebron; Juhe Cary, Mt.Vemon (Hancock); Kristye Cherry, Indpls Ben Davis; Kate Clemmer, FW Northrop; Maya Colakovic, Munster, Hope Conley, Eastern Hancock; Monica Cox, Noblesville; Tiff Crist, Winamac; Rometris Davis, Anderson Madison His.; Danell Dillon, N.Knox; Robin Downs, Terre Haute North; Susan Edwards, Crown Point; Sabrina Fowler, Franklin; Michelle Freyberger, Barr-Reeve; Tiffany Gooden, FW Snider; Melissa Graham, Anderson Madison Hts.; Nikki Granson, Western; Angela Hamblin, Gary Wallace; Alicia Harkins, Penn; Kelly Heath, Lafayette Jeff; Rona Henderson, Indpls Tech; Ann Hensley, Lafayette Catholic; Livia Hester, Terre Haute North; Jenny Holmes, Eastern (Greene); Megan Hupfer, Pendleton Hts.; Lori Jackson, W.Noblc; Pat Jackson, Elkhart Memorial; Chris Jumper, Twin Lakes; Kristal Kelly, Switzerland Co.; Jennifer Kleine, Westville; Jamie Laßue, Fremont; Lisa Mahone, Indpls Ben Davis; Kasia McClendon, Gary West; Amy Mclntyre, Connersville; Shelly Meadlo, Southport; Melissa Meux, Indpls Tech; Jessica Montgomery, Mich. City Elston; Beth Morgan, Bloomington South; Nicki Nettrour, Valparaiso; Tracy Nixon, Jay Co.; Marci Norris, Northwestern; Misty Norris, Bloomfield; Mislina Oliver, Kokomo; Dennicka Parchman, S.Bend LaSalle; Tracey Pearson, S.Bend Adams; Tracy Seitz, Pike Central; Carmen Skoog, Benton Central; Heather Smith, North Wood; Sarah Solinsky, Marion; Lori Sparling, Carmel; Suzanne Stewart, LaPorte; Cari Stover, Kokomo; Anne Swackhamer, Clinton Prairie; Cindy Trefz, Southmont; Maria Valdez, Mich. City Elston; Daria Weitckamp, Sullivan; Sheila Williams. N.Knox; Theresa Wright, Gary WaUace.

Buffalo behind in count BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) National League officials who will decide where to put two expansion franchises told Buffalo what it already suspects about its chances: solid ownership and a first-rate ballpark might not be enough to overcome the area’s declining population. “YOU CAN’T DO anything about it and we can’t do anything about it, but it would be great if you had another million people living here,” said Douglas Danforth, president of the Pittsburgh Pirates and chairman of the league’s expansion committee. Danforth and three other committee members Philadelphia Phillies president Bill Giles, New York Mots president Fred Wilpon and National League president Bill White came to Buffalo Monday afternoon after a visit to Washington, D.C., in the morning. The committee visited three Florida cities Orlando, Miami and St. Petersburg earlier in the year and is scheduled to go to Denver today. Danforth said the two new teams, which would begin play in 1993, would be announced by mid-summer. ACCORDING TO THE 1990 census, Buffalo had 328,000 people down from 357,000 in 1980. Surrounding Erie County dropped from 1,015,000 to 968,000. Prospective owner Robert E. Rich Jr., whose family owns the largest privately-held frozen foods company in the country, has recently questioned whether major league baseball is economically feasible in smaller cities. Noting mushrooming player salaries, the $95 million cost of the expansion teams and a national ecomonic downturn, Rich said in December that he was interested in bringing “affordable” baseball to Buffalo. DANFORTH SAID THAT Rich’s concern which was discussed in a meeting with the committee following their tour of Pilot Field is shared by others in baseball. “There are a lot of people that are concerned because salaries have jumped about 35 percent between 1990 and 1991,” Danforth said. “Heretofore it was 8,9, 10, 12 percent (annually).

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