The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 21, Milford, Kosciusko County, 8 July 1987 — Page 8

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., July 8,1987

Sports

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LOOKING FOR EARLY EDGE — Runners jockey for an early lead during The Mail-Journal Flotilla Road Race last Saturday, July 4.

-fc- "WUSBL w 1 - MTTfc lOfr 1 Ff/ •- 7 W rr? ' ’ iw/ ’ at j —. W KU.. TOP MEDALISTS — Winners in the 3.3 and eight mile road races display the fruits of labor. Included, from left, are: Andrea Siegel, Homer Miller, James Little, and Barbara Couch.

A look into major league baseball

Let’s talk baseball. With the major league all-star game quickly approaching it makes sense to look at baseball's first half of the season. Indeed, this season has been filled with more excitement than ever before. The season started with the Milwaukee Brewers winning their first 13 games, then, just as quickly, dropping 12 straight. But those streaks pale to the existing pennant races and statistics of today’s players. The hottest pennant race in baseball, currently, is in the American league West. But why shouldn't it be, all teams in the division are mediocre. But that is good enough in today’s world. California is a prime example of the western division’s parity. The Angels are even after 82 games, yet, the boys with the halos are only five games behind Kansas City and Minnesota. Texas, three games under .500, is just six games off the pace. The Royals, by winning nine-out-of-ten and six straight, have moved from the middle of the pack to first place. They share the top spot with Minnesota, both 10-games above the .500 mark. In the AL East, New York seems to be in control. The Bronx Bombers, after a short visit to second place, have overtaken Toronto and now lead the Blue Jays and Detroit by five games. Detroit, though, has been the story in the East. After a very poor start the Tigers, since May, have been the hottest team in the division. Detroit now stands 10 games above .500, after starting June seven games below the break even point. In the National League West, Cincinnati has proven that quality pitching is not needed to win a division. Well, it really is, but the Reds are winning without a quality pitching staff. Manager Pete Rose has the Reds in front of Houston by 3 games, mostly because of the Reds’ defense and offensive firepower. But winning should be easy for Cincinnati — it has Eric Davis. Davis has scored 70 runs, driven in 64, hit 24 home runs, and stolen 33 bases. What a season, and its only half over! The only race where there seems to be little suspense is in the National League East. St. Louis, since the beginning of the season, has resided in the upper 7 echelon of the division. The Cardinals own the best

road record in the majors, anqstfcond best overall record inythe majors. Both are amazing since the Cards have done this without several key players. The longer the Runnin’ Redbirds stay in first place, the harder it will be for someone to catch them. At this point only Montreal and New York look like serious contenders. Chicago has turned into a pretender. On The Mark MARK WEINSTEIN ■ ''JT What a travesty it would be if we didn't take a look at the losers of the game. More often than not losers in the league get less attention than divisional leaders. Lets change that trend. This season, while everyone seems focused on Oakland’s Mark McGwire’s drive towards a new home run record, the Cleveland Indians have been forgotten. How can we forget about baseball’s biggest loser? Especially since the Indians entered this campaign as the favorite to win the American League East pennant! What has happened to the Indians this season? I think the Tribe has flushed their desire to windown the stool. Cleveland, one year ago, had the best hitting team in the majors. This season, though, the Indians have struggled in all phases of the game, especially pitching. I guess we can go back and call the Indians the ‘mistake on the lake’. In the same division, another big loser is Baltimore. The flapless Birds lost more games in June than any other team in Baltimore history. Cal Ripken’s club only won five of its 29 games in the month. Continuing, lets add to the Hall of Shame the San Diego Padres, better known as the Sad Diego Padres. And we can’t forget the two clubs from the windy city — Chicago Cubs and White Sox. The Padres, under rookie manager Larry Bowa, struggled from the beginning. They had the worst record in baseball for the first two months of the season,

only to be caught by Cleveland in July. Cleveland continues to hold the worst mark (28-53) but only by a whisker. The Padres have a 29-54 mark, and the wounded Birds from Baltimore own a 32-50 slate. The White Sox (31-48) look like world-beaters compared to Cleveland, San Diego, and Baltimore. The Cubs have an average record, but they are slipping—quickly. Some people might add Los Angeles, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia to the shameful list. But, all these clubs have been perennial losers lately. They are ’ just doing what they know best lose baseball games. Baseball has enjoyed a very productive season, so far. and all of the credit must go to the •players. That makes sense. Lets look at some of the in dividual accomplishments around the league this year. First up, the probable American League ‘Rookie of the Year’, Oakland’s Mark McGwire McGwire belted his 30th home run of the season Sunday, putting him in sight of Roger Maris’ 61 home run season in 1961. Batting second, perhaps the most dreadful hitter in the National League, St. Louis’ Jack Clark. Clark, after a mediocre season last year, is enjoying his finest season of his career Listen to Clark’s numbers talk: 63 runs scored, 77 RBIs, 24 home runs. The only thing he hasn't ac complished is pitch a complete game victory. That may be the only aspect of the game he doesn't conquer this season. Hitting third, the most talented player in the game today, Cincin nati’s Eric Davis. Like Clark, Davis’ numbers speak for themselves. In 67 games with the Reds, Davis is hitting .312, has scored 70 runs, driven in 64 runs, belted 24 home runs, and stolen 33 bases. In addition, he has taken away, at least, two home runs by climbing the centerfield wall. Both home run saving catches were against Clark. Just think, if you add four more RBIs and a pair of roundtrippers to Clark’s figures his stats become out of sight, not to mention mind. The cleanup hitter, from Bean town, Wade Boggs. Although he isn’t doing anything he hasn't done, in his short career, Boggs is the American League's top hitter.

The race, which began at Lakeside Park, suw 246 runners compete —a record showing tor the 10th year event.

Elkhart resident had little' to worry about during road race

I By MARK HUFFMAN Staff Writer .Janies Little, a cross country runner from the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, had ' little” to worry about when he entered the starting blocks of Wawasee begins football conditioning SYRACUSE •— Wawasee High School opened its 1987 football conditioning program Monday. July 6. at the high school. Warrior head coach Myron Dickerson is putting his players through a three-day workout. The program is designed to get players physically fit for the upcoming season. Players workout on the high school football field Monday. Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6 7 p m

Boggs .is hitting .381 with 114 hits, 64 runs scored, and 19 doubles. Boggs isn’t flashy, but probably the best percentage hit ter in the game. The fifth player has failed to get a base hit this season, but Kansas City still feels he's their main weapon. Obviously I’m talking about pitcher Bret Saberhagen. Saberhagen has the best numbers in the game today. He’s 14-3 with an earned run average around 2.00. It is possible that Saberhagen could win 15 games by the all star break. Standing in the sixth position is the best pitcher in baseball since 1980, Detroit’s Jack Morris. Morris, after going through salary ar bitration with the Tigers this winter, has responded by winning 12 of his 15 decisions. He is the main reason Detroit is challenging New York in the AL East. Hitting seventh, the star for the Chicago Cubs, rightfielder, Andre Dawson. The free agent has enjoyed a very productive season at Wriglev In the Cubs’ 82 games, Dawson has hit 285 with 72 RBIs, 95 hits, including 23 home runs. He's also played flawless defense for the Cubbies. Batting eighth, the most unlikely cleanup hitter in the league, Detroit’s Alan Trammell, arguably, the best shortstop in the American League, if not baseball. But, some Cal Ripken, Jr. and Ozzie Smith fans may get upset, so I’ll compromise and list Trammell in the top three. However, this season, Trammell is having a better season offensively — than Ripken and Smith. The Tiger leader is Mtting 339 with 95 hits and 50 Tuns. Trammell also has played solid defense for Sparky Anderson’s team. And batting ninth, Montreal pitcher, Neal Heaton. A newcomber to the National League, Heaton has jelled as a pitcher. He holds a 10-3 record and should make the National League's all-star team. Heaton is a good example of how important it is NOT to play for Cleveland. When Heaton was with Cleveland he lost with more regularity than most people have bowel movements. Since depar ting from that losing environ ment, Heaton has become a winner.

The Mail-Journal Flotilla Road Race last Saturday, July 4. The cause of his confidence? — Weil, it's simple, he "knew” he would at least finish in the top two of the eight-mile pack. Afterall, he’s become a fixture at the familiar race. So much so that he even had a suggestion for Race Director Tony Clouse, urging him to rename it "Come spend a day at the park race.” Perhaps the Elkhart resident's reasoning comes from the fact that theunini-marathon is just that for day at the park. '*-w< The lead runner for the Purple Aces’ cross country team and a fixture in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events in track. Little is a favorite to win the National Col legiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II national title in cross country. An avid runner, he admits a ’slow” start this year, having on ly completed three races thus far. with only two more scheduled this summer. While such a schedule would be enough for the average distance runner. Little isn’t what you would call average, having entered races with some of the top marathoners in the country "My next race will be the Big Seven-miler in Davenport, lowa, where I hope to place in the top 10," Little said, noting that such

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women’s Mail-Journal 3.3 mile road race. Kneeling in the front are Alyson Mills, Laura Walker, Ashley Couch, Melanie Hobbs, Wendie Pressler, Jodie Clark, and Teresa

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MEN’S 8-MILE WINNERS — Shown are the top three winners, according to age groups in the men’s 8-mile race. In the front row, from left to right, are Jeff Carey, Mike Anthony, Greg Weisser, Kent Van Dyne, Mike Rhoades, Hal Pearson, Steve

racing greats as Rob DeCastillo and Ashley Johnson have traditionally entered the race. A winner in a 10K race in Evansville two weeks ago, Little admitted to some grogginess entering last Saturday’s race. Nevertheless, he finished first, outdistancing his nearest competitor by over two minutes with a 42:03 clocking. “I was hoping to run about a 40:30 today but I didn't have anyone to push me,” he said after the race. With last year's winner. Tim Mylin of Carmel, absent from the Ifet of entries, Little was "forced to push himself to the front of the pack, with few other runners offering a serious challenge. Little finished second to Mylin last year, coming in 54 seconds behind the leader. "I was really hoping Mylin would be here. I finished about the same this year as I did in 1986, and it was cooler this year,” he stated. Nevertheless, Little will gladly take the trophy and add it to a bevy of momentos at his Elkhart home. "I hope to be back next year,” he says, adding, “I really enjoy this course.” Still recuperating from a torn achilles tendon suffered during the track season. Little will begin training for cross country next week, increasing his average of 55-65 hours of training per week to an excess of 75 hours.

■ fly * 2‘SJ ' RIGHT ON TIME? — James Little checks his time near the end of the eight-mile version of The Mail-Journal Flotilla Road Race last Saturday. The Elkhart resident finished well ahead of a pack of 90 other entrants to place first in the event, clocking in at 42:03. (Photo by Ron Baumgartner)

Yoder selected to IHSBCA all-star team

SYRACUSE — Chris Yoder of Wawasee has been selected to participate in the 13th annual Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame All-Star baseball series. Fifty playeis were selected by the coaches association members. The annual series will feature a twi-night doubleheader Saturday, July 18. and a single game the following day. The North won two out of three games last year, and now leads the series 23-11. The all-stars will be the guests

Standing in the back are Amy Clouse, Lex Bitner. Laura Kroh, Connie Powers, Ginger Marcinkowski, Karen Craft, Sandra Shores. Dixie Douglas, Carolynn Riddle, Rose Willits, and Barbara Gephardt. Not pictured is Linda Neff. (Photo by Ron Baumgartner)

Caswell, Kevin Van Dyne, Doug Fekete and Don Inglis-Widrick. In the back row, from left to right, are George Etherington. Larry Averbeck. Larry Podawiltz, Gene Gran, Jim Peppier. Phil Ehernmaii. ‘ David Cox, Paul Randall and Eugene Haines.

at the IHsbla flail of Fame induction banquet Friday, July 17. Lefty Gomez, former New York Yankees pitcher, will be the featured speaker. Four Indiana baseball greats will be inducted into the hall of fame. Yoder is one of several players in the upcoming series to be awarded a college baseball scholarship. Also, a large number of players have been drafted by professional teams. Yoder will play baseball next season at the University of Wisconsin.