The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 17, Milford, Kosciusko County, 10 June 1987 — Page 8
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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., June 10,1987
Sports
Nemeth's 73 lifts Warriors to state
| By MARK WEINSTEIN I Sports Editor LAPORTE — For the fourth time in five years, Wawasee boys’ golf team advanced to the state finals in Indianapolis. The Warriors earned the. trip with their third place finish at the LaPorte Regional. Michigan City Elston won the regional, shooting a 312. Northridge ended three strokes behind Elston at 315, and the Warriors were third at, 316. South Bend Clay and South Bend St. Joe rounded out the state qualifiers. “We are playing much better now,” insisted Wawasee’s veteran coach Rudy Cesco. “A few weeks ago we were on the downswing. Now, I think we’re moving upwards. We. picked the right time to play our best golf.” John Nemeth led the Warriors’ effort with a one-over par, 73. He tied two other golfers for medalist honors, but lost the playoff. South Bend Adams’ Tbny Polizzotto was low medalist, by winning the playoff, while Nemeth was second, and Elston’s Rick Butler was third. "We played really well, added Cesco. “We had a few disastrous hole, though, and if it weren’t for
-t. 'ttk ’*** '**" It •«*■ -’«*» * *• jf — << ■ *<•***•**< ‘ iK t* ■< *M® r -w ■ j* 1 " j? £^KL^^mA z ±\ II tw, .Av U ;jy ■[ ■eJW I 87 w 11 Jgj <2/sM| BEST IN THE LONG RUN — Milford’s Greg Weisser, left, and Syracuse resident Tony Clouse share the momemt together after finishing the South Bend Tribune’s Sunburst Marathon Sunday, June 7, at Notre Dame Stadium. Clouse finished in 3:15.09, while Weisser was barely behind Clouse, finishing in 3:15.16.
Cesco is key to Warriors' success
Golf is a crazy sport. One day you can be awesome, placing the ball exactly where you intended. The next day, though, you can stink up the course. Both depict my game, although I generally stink up the course with my play. But for one area high school — Wawasee — consistency is the name of the game. I guess that is just the mark of a quality program. The Warriors, since who knows when, have been guided by Rudy Cesco. Cesco’s knowledge of the sport, along with his teaching profession, go hand-in-hand. At Wawasee High School, Cesco teaches woods. On the golf course, he teaches his athletes how to effectively use the woods, as well as irons. He is a master of the game. He’s a teacher of life. Still, the veteran mentor, downplays his importance to the team. To him, he is just doing his job. He’s right. But the way he works is amazing. He teaches his players the right way to nearly everything. Not only golf techniques, but also ways to better themselves as individuals. ~ ... Because Cesco teaches what he believes in, it seems appropriate that his Warriors earned the right last week to play for the state championship. Twenty teams are in Indianapolis Wednesday and Thursday, all hoping to win the ti- - tie. x — With the present trip to Indy, Cesco is making his fourth tr/p ted the finals in the past five years. In 1983, the Warriors placed 17th, but have improved since.
them, we could have won it.” * Joining efforts with Nemeth was Darin Atwood. The junior scored a 78, two strokes better than teammate Derek Smith’s 80 Doug Nigbor and Dave O’Neal both finished at 85. The Warriors opened their state title hunt Wednesday morning at Indianapolis’ Prestwick Golf Club. Wawasee needs to finish in the top nine after Wednesday’s play to advance to the championship round. Once in the championship round, both scores (Wednesday and Thursday) will be counted for the state title. “We are on a roll right now,” said Cesco. “We just want to go down there, play our best golf possible, and see what happens.” At La Porte State Qualifiers — Michigan City Elston 312, Northridge 315, Wawasee 316, South Bend Clay 317, South Bend St. Joe 320. Other Scores — Culver Military Academy 324, Churubusco 327, Manchester 329, Plymouth 331, Valparaiso 333, Munster 338, Lake Central 344, Portage 347, Highland 352, Hammond Noll 355. Individuals — Wawasee — John Nemeth 73, Derek Smith 80, Darin Atwood 78, Doug Nigbor 85, Dave O'Neal 85. Matt Johnson 74 (Warsaw). Medalists — Tony Polizzotto, Adams (73), John Nemeth, Wawasee (73); Rick Butler, Michigan City Elston (73).
A year later, Wawasee finished sixth in the 20-team field, while the 1985 squad placed ninth. But coming back from the 'BS squad is the Warriors’ top player in 1987, John Nemeth. To go along with Nemeth’s consistent play, Wawasee added Darin Atwood, Derek Smith, Dave O’Neal, and Doug Nigbor. All five players have been instrumental in the Warriors’ success this season. Just ask Cesco. Just ask the players. It has been a very interesting On The Mark mark WEINSTEIN R 1 K V ■ 7 season for the Warriors. Many expected them to finish high in the Northern Lakes Conference. They did. Many expected them to win, or place high at the Churubusco Sectional. They did. Many expected them to win, or place high at the LaPorte Regional. They did Now, many expect them to perform very well in this week’s state finals. They will. Wawasee’s boys’ golf team finished the season unranked. A mistake. At worst, with those ad“Vrmcing to the state finals, the Wantiors are 20th. But after Wednesday, look for Wawasee to be in the top nine. And, if all goes well, the Warriors
1 * iOS ■ 18. ~ w— OFF TO STATE — Derek Smith, pictured above ready to drive the ball, is one reason why Wawasee is playing in the state golf finals. If the Warriors finish in the top nine Wednesday, they will play Thursday for the championship. (Photo by Mark Weinstein)
Braves ruin Warriors' comeback
GOSHEN — A true character of a quality team is its ‘never say die’ attitude. Wawasee had that trait in 1987, and it was never more evident Saturday when the Warriors battled back from a 4-0 deficit, only to drop a 6-5, eight-inning sectional game to Bethany Christian. Wawasee, trailing 4-0, scored three runs in the fifth inning to make the Goshen Sectional semifinal a contest. Scott Baker brought in two runs with a single, while Chris Yoder and Baker teamed up on a double steal, with Yoder scoring. The Warriors, then, pushed two runs across the plate in their final at bat forging a 5-5 tie, sending the game in extra innings. However, in Bethany’s seventh, Wawasee nearly lost the game. With one out, Scott Bodiker reached third base on a error. After Warrior coach Scott Siler
Ladies' golf
MILFORD — Twelve ladies in Big Boulder’s Belle’s league played Wednesday, June 3, with the play of the day being ‘guess your own score’. Sally Gilland was victorious in the game of the day, guessing her score accurately. No other golfer finished the nine-hole course with
could very well challenge for the Indiana High School Athletic Association State Championship. What away to end the season. What a tribute to such a quality coach, with outstanding young men. Q The Lakeland area was well represented during last weekend’s South Bend Tribune’s Sunburst road races. The annual event offered a marathon race, as well as 10K, 5K and a fun walk. In the marathon race, Milford's Greg Weisser finished third in his age division (19-24) with a 3:15.16 time. However, he wasn’t the fastest marathoner from the area. Tony Clouse, a few years older than Weisser, finished the 26.2 mile course in 3:15.09, just ahead of Weisser. In the 10K run, three Syracuse runners finished the race. John Longenbaugh defeated the course with his 46.39 time. Meanwhile, Tom Francis finished in 47.44, and Robert Powell finished at, 54.13. In the 5K race, Milford’s Fred Weisser finished with a respectable 21.57 time. He was the only area runner in the category. Os the several hundreds of fun walkers, only one individual — Melissa Saul — was from the area. Saul is a Syracuse resident. □ The Wawasee Swim Club will be having a swijnathon at the high school pool Wednesday, July 1, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The purpose of the event is to raise money for a new clock and scoreboard system at Wawasee. The swimathon is open to any member of the Wawasee community. Swimmers participating in the event will solicit donations for the number of laps they swim.
ordered Todd Roberts to play third, being the seventh infielder, and -two straight intentional walks, the bases were full of Braves for Pedro Hernandez. The maneuver worked for the Warriors. Hernandez bounced to short, forcing Bodiker at the plate. Then, with Wawasee returning to its regular defensive positions, Craig Chupp lined to Nathan Rhoades at third, ending the inning. Ironically, the game came down to one pitch, a 3-2 delivery to Chupp. Wawasee’s Kevin Parker made the pitch, and Rhoades made the play. But the Warriors couldn’t capitalize on the momentum booster. In the eighth, Wawasee put runners on first and second with two out, but failed to score. Bethany Christian, instead, scored. ? Eric Risser lined a two-out single to right, deflecting off a diving Warrior, as the Braves ad-
the correct score guessed. In regular play, Betty Scott and Maxine Johnson shared the low gross honor. Low net went to Helen Hay, while second low net was shared between Marilyn Bray and Scott. Low put honors went to Bray, with the second low putt going to Johnson and Scott.
Pledges will be accepted beginning the third week of June. For additional information, contact Sandy Laub at 457-4810. □ The Northern Lakes Conference will be represented well at the IHSAA girls’ softball state finals in Indianapolis this week. Two schools, Concord and Warsaw, advanced to the state round with convincing regional championships. Now, the two NLC foes will square off against each other in the first round of the playoffs. In an earlier meeting, the Minutemen defeated the Tigers 9-5 at Concord. However, in the contest, Warsaw's pitching ace, Suzi Kintzel, was forced to leave the game with an injury. Concord enters its game with Warsaw with a 21-4 record. Warsaw stands at 14-9, and has the worst record among eight-team field. _ □ Wawasee’s Swim club started practicing this week for the upcoming swim season. Practice is held Monday through Friday from 8-9 a.m. Membership fee is S4O. In addition to the regular swim club, there will be a precompetitive swim class offered by the swim club. This is for beginning swimmers wishing to gain further training before joining the regular club. □ Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Holy Cow!!! Exciting days are ahead for those who love baseball — in Chicago! The Cubs, with Andre Dawson leading the way, have stayed near the top of the National League East all season. There’s no reason to think they won’t stay there until the end.
Basketball camp has openings SYRACUSE — There are still openings for• those boys interested in participating in Wawasee’s boys’ basketball camp. Camp begins Monday, June 15, at the high school. Joining camp director Gary Goshert will be Troy Albert and Neal Frantz, both high school assistant coaches. Several high school players will assist in the program _ ■ . _ In the two weeks of camp, boys who just completed the third and fourth grades will gain instruction from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Fifth and sixth graders have camp from 9:15 a.m. until 10:30, and eighth and ninth graders’ camp starts at 10:30 and lasts until 12-noon. Cost for the camp is $25. SWIM CLUB SCHEDULE The Wawasee swim club will open its season June 16 against Pine Valley. Below is the rest of ihe schedule. June 16 Pine Valley 5:15 p.m. June 25 Orchard Ridge 5:00 p.m. June 30 Black Hawk 5:15 p.m. July 1 Swimathon 5:00 p.m. July 2at Kendallville 5:00 p.m. July 9 Pocohontas 5:00 p.m. July 14 at Pine Valley 5:00 p.m. July 16 Auburn 5:00 p.m. July 20 Columbia City 5:00 p.m. July 22 Championships 1:00 p.m. at Pine Valley
vanced to the sectional final. “What more can you say about this team, they’re battlers,” said Siler following the loss. “They may not have won a lot of games, but they never gave up on themselves.” Yoder, Baker, Rhoades, and Dan O’Haver paced Wawasee’s 13-hit attack with a pair of hits each. No Warriors, however, collected an extra-base hit. “I felt we were hitting the ball hard,” insisted Siler. “We weren’t driving it very well, but we were hitting the ball. I was pleased with the way he hit.” The Warriors finished the season at 11-19, and just shy of a sectional championship. Bethany Christian, in the title game, scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Goshen 9-8, and claim its first sectional crown. The Braves' six-run rally offset Goshen's five-run uprising in its seventh.
vanced to the sectional final
Field Shots was the play for the Maxwelton Ladies Day, Wednesday, June 3. Winners are as follows: First — Jane Musser and Joy Farr, tied Second — Jackie Wortinger Third — Marge Heckaman and Sandy Connor, tied
Chicago has adequate starting pitching, although somewhat young and inexperienced. The bullpen is sound, as usual, and the Cubs have an explosive offpnse. Insert all those ingredients, sprinkle in a sound defensive unit, and Chicagoans come up winners this summer. Holy Cow!!! However, there is one drawback to the Cubs’ selling card — Harry Caray. Oh, he’s a decent broadcaster, but is nothing special. I’d much rather hear Jack Buck (Cardinals), Joe Tait (Cleveland), or Bob Uecker (Milwaukee), and, of course, Ernie Harwell (Detroit), than Caray. My reasoning, perhaps unjust, is because of Caray’s handling of the television broadcasts on WGN. Maybe on radio, if you couldn’t see the game, he’d be better. Caray is slow, often side-steps the point, and generally, boring. I also get tired of his post-game advertisement, but, that’s Caray. Still, Caray is just a small frustration, notlflbg big enough to stop me from watching my favorite team in the National League. I’m a Cub Fan and a Wiser Man — and I hope you are too. □ The 10th annual Mail-Journal Flotilla Road Race is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at Syracuse’s Lakeside Park. A custom T-shirt will be given to the first 225 runners registering for the 3.3, or 8 mile run. In addition, medals will be awarded to the first three position in each age group. - Registration forms may be picked up at The Mail-Journal in Milford, or Syracuse’s The Paper office.
Illi I IHt f Vil ,M I II ’I S tW -Ira ■W 1 UM fl to BH. 1 J YODER TO WISCONSIN — Chris Yoder, Wawasee’s top baseball prospect, signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Wiscoifcin. Pictured with Yoder are his parents, Dorothy (seated, left) and Steven Yoder (Standing, right), along with Wawasee head baseball coach Scott Siler (standing, left). Yoder will be receiving a partial athletic scholarship in baseball. At Wawasee, Yoder batted .529 his senior season, and led the team in runs scored, home runs, hits, runs batted in, and stolen bases. He was never caught stealing, successfully stealing 41 straight bases. (Photo by Mark Weinstein) -if ™ z Mfr -Wk iw ‘ 31' f rePyl..:.. Jut HL VjoW' n I. I .! B' Li/ I > .JI lAW r F . iißMßMn** l *■- **** SOFTBALL AWARDS — Wawasee High School honored its girls’ softball team Thursday evening in the high school’s cafeteria annex. Pictured above are those players who received awards. Sitting, from left to right, are Rhonda Stookey, RBI leader; Jennifer Brumbaugh, Most Valuable and Offensive award; and Heidi Brower, On Base Percentage award. Standing in the back are Michelle Coy. Pitching award; coach Mark Timpe, and Stacey Lent, Coaches award. Lai Reed, winner of the Defensive award and Stolen Base award, was not present for the ceremony. II lk *£ 'XiujJnD fz'/\ ■vk UM I wSlBr MB ~ I I wH * ? 11 to IB Mil ■!&. ii 1 k Ik If Wl'iK W r — V I fl ’to' *♦***-■ ■ i i to i >\ ■ i i fl to «» ~ «* ■ ■■ GUIDING THE TROOPS — Wawasee head baseball coach Scott Siler directs his outfield to shift in their position during a tense moment at the Goshen Sectional. Wawasee defeated Jim town in the opener, but lost to Bethany Christian in the sectional semifinal. (Photo by Mark Weinstein)