Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 6

t-Mattooo (IL Journal Gaxette Tuesday, April 4, By Jim Kimball if 01 If 1 1 II Sports notes from here and there crt--rv ii IT T7 1t'7' i Pl.F ill lp l1 'j I Wavetfes honored Mattooa's girls basketball team, fourth place finisher last weekend In the 1971 State Finals In Illinois' Assembly Hall, was honored Monday at an all -school assembly In the Green Wave gym. The team and Its bead coach Dwlght Perry (third from left) were presented with a red rose and words of praise by principal Tom Buchanan (right). The team members are wearing the medals Joey were presented by the IHSA in recognition of their state snowing. JG Photo team. Also named was Charleston's junior center Rick Scott.

Former Lake Land College and Stew-Stras pitching standout John Widdersheim carved out a three-hit, 7-1 complete-game victory for Illinois last Friday over St Mary's College of Minnesota. He held the visitors scoreless until allowing a two-out homer in the ninth. New Cardinal rightfielder Jerry Morales, acquired during the off-season from the Chicago Cubs, told Springfield State Journal Register sports editor Larry Harnly recently in St Petersburg, Fla "This (the Cards) is a better club than the This team has more speed, better hitters and better pitching. This team has a lot of good, young players Morales told Harnly he thinks the Cubs will finish no higher than fourth behind (and not necessarily in this order) Philadelphia, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.

Mattoon's Mark Avery won the 10,000 meter run in Illinois' four-team meet last Saturday in Memorial Stadium against Northwestern, Noire Dame and the Chicago Track Club. The Illinl senior was clocked in 30:54.6. Teammate Dave Walters was a close second in 30:54.7. Mattoon Warriors, defending E.I. League baseball champions, will be under a new manager this coming season Webb Timm, who skippered the Mattoon Braves team last summer, is replacing John MATTOON Sports notes from here there: 1 Serving as assistant baseball coach at Lincoln Christian College is Ed Semp-srott He is the former Danville High School mound star, who pitched for three seasons In the Kansas City Royals farm system before retiring with an arm injury.

Mattoon's Mark Fitt is an alternate on the South Team for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class AA All-Star Game slated July 8 in Illinois State University's Horton Fieldhouse. Among the players chosen to the South Team are three Big 12 Conference stars, Chuck Verderber of Lincoln; Dodte Dunson, Bloomington and Danville's Matt Houpt Also among the ranks are three players Collinsville. Kevin Stallings, 6-6 John Belobraydic, who reportedly is high on Eastern Illinois University's recruiting list and 6-4 Steve Ray. Chosen to the Class A South Team were Casey sharpshooter Dave Collins and Effingham St. Anthony's Tom Grunloh, two of Lake Land College basketball coach Randy oon.ee' prime recruiting targets.

Champaign Central's Lee Cabutti will serve as head coach of the Class AA South Team. Former Paris coaching great Ernie Eveland will serve as honorary coach of the South Team Fitt, along with Mike Dow, were recently named to the Decatur Herald's All-Area Headed for Knicks Thompson leaving Nuggets Denver put together 11 and 9 point strings after Buffalo had taken an 87-79 lead early in the final quarter, mainly on the work of Randy Smith, who poured in 23 of his game-high 39 points after intermission Denver fell behind by eight on Smith's three-point play with 9 47 remaining in the game But the Nuggets went on an 110 spurt over the next 2'2 minutes before Buffalo's Swen Nater tied it 91-91 with 5 35 left The Nuggets outgunned Buffalo 13-4 the rest of the way, on route to their 46th win of the season "We've played a lot of games like that this year and haven't been able to win," Brown said I'm going to celebrate the losses hurt too much Brown said he doesn't think Jack Nicklaus will be awfully tough to beat1 BUFFALO, NY (UPI) -The Denver Nuggets had just clinched a division title Monday night, but Coach Larry Brown was still bedeviled by the haunting spectre of losing All-Star guard David Thompson Dan Issel's 27 points helped the Nuggets clinch the Midwest Division title with a comeback 104-95 victory over the Buffalo Braves as free agent Thompson, added 20 points as Denver handed Buffalo its ninth straight loss and 51st defeat of the season The Nuggets coach hoped that people wouldn't bargain with the 23-year-old Thompson until June: "Personally 1 want David just to play and have people leave him alone until after the season," Brown said "It's not like a typical free agent situation, where a guy's looking for more money," Brown explained "He's looking to see where he can be happy and win a championship Hopefully, we'll be able to provide that for him Purdue obout to name new basketball coach WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind iUPIi Purdue officials may announce a new basketball coach by mid week, but their search for Fred Schaus' successor might take longer Athletic Director George King said Monday it will be "at least Wednesday, possibly later." before a coach is named NBA standings NBAStmdtnp Eaten Conference Logan at the Warriors helm 1978 League play will open May 21 The same lineup of teams will- vie In two divisions, North and South. Brad Graham, hitting star of Lake Land's outstanding 1976 club, is the starting third-baseman at Centenary College in Shreveport, La) Graham, from Paris, is batting at an even .300 clip after the team's first 36 games Centenary plays a 64 game schedule Mattoon's Jon Spitz, a starter with Illinois Wesleyan University's varsity baseball team the past two seasons, has transferred to Millikln University in Decatur EIU's spring football practice, under the direction of new coach Darrell Mudra, officially began last Monday The five-week session will conclude with ethe annual Blue-White alumni game on Saturday, May 6 at O'Brien Stadium Jacket Weekend on May 6 and 7, a Saturday and Sunday against San Francisco, will lead off a season of seven special days planned at Wrigley Field in 1978. A total of 30,000 15,000 each dy blue windbreaker type Cub Jackets will be given away And, this year, the jackets will consist of a heavier, 12 gauge, vinyl. Cub T-shirt day is slated June 3 against Atlanta; Cap Day June 28, New York; Camera Day, July 13, San Diego, Helmet Day, Aug 14, Atlanta and Fan Appreciation Day, Sept 30, New York in time for the Masters.

"He hits it long and he had a good tournament last week Australian David Grham, another top foreign entry, was also Impressed by Ballesteros, who will celebrate his 21st birthday Sunday "I would say Ballesteros has as good a chance of winning the tournament as any player in the field," said Graham "He and Jerry Pate are by far the best young players in the world today Watson, who beat Nicklaus in both the Masters and British Open last year, said his game was rounding Into shape following a mini-slump which saw him miss the cut both at Doral and in the Tournament Players Championship "I am playing better now," said Watson, who returned home to Kansas City last week to hone his game "I know my swing Is there, 1 just spent more time on the practice tee nings to lift Montreal to a 5-4 triumph over Philadelphia Don Baylor knocked in four runs and Jim Anderson three as California crushed San Diego 14-6. John Grubb drove in two runs to spark Cleveland to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs Texas pitcher Doc Medich was rocked for 14 hits as Houston dumped the Rangers 8 3. Joaquin Andujar limited Texas to four hits in six innings Rick Dempsey's twp-run homer in the fifth inning carried Baltimore to a 3-2 victory over the Yankees. Right-hander Jim Slaton won his fifth game of the spring in Detroit's 4n3 triumph over Cincinnati John Montefusco fired a two-hitter through six innings and Willie McCovey hit his first borne run of the Cactus League season to lift San Francisco over Los Angeles 2-0 Named Piccolo winner CHICAGO (UPI) Ted Albrecht, the all-rookie offensive tackle of the Chicago Bears, was named Monday the 1978 winnpr-of the team's annual Briah Piccolo Award The award Is given in memory of Piccolo, the Bears' running back who died of cancer in 1970. The club's veteran players vote for the player who best exemplifies Piccolo's "courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor." AUGUSTA, Ga.

-Jack Nicklaus wasn't due at the Augusta National Golf Club until today, but his dominating presence has already been felt all along the lush Masters course. "It's going to be awfully tough to beat him," conceded 1976 winner Raymond Floyd Monday. "Of course, he's a favorite every week and justifiably so." aNicklaus, whose perennial position as golf's dominant figure has been threatened by Tom Watson in recent years, started his latest hot streak with a second-place finish at Los Angeles. He has, followed with a win at Inverrary, a second-place finish at Doral and a win in the Tournament Players Championship Nicklaus has skipped the last two tournaments and spent much of last week here, gearing up for a try at his sixth Masters title. Other top contenders got in practice rounds over the sun Atlantic Dirtta Pet GB I CB Denver 46 32 590 Phila 53 24 688 Mil 42 36 538 4 New York 40 38 513 13', Chicago 39 40 494 Boston 31 46 403 22 Detroit 36 42 462 10 Buffalo 26 51 338 27 Kan City 31 47 397 15 Ne Jrsey 23 55 295 30', Indiana 30 49 .380 16', Central Dfflskn Psdflc Division Pet GB Pet GB San Antn 50 28 641 Portlnd 56 22 718 Wash 41 37 526 9 Phoenix 30 615 8 Clevland 39 39 500 11 Seattle 44 34 564 12 Atlanta 38 40 487 12 Los Ang 43 35 551 13 New Orlns 36 43 456 14', Golden St 40 38 513 16 Houston 26 52 333 24 i-dinctod dMsta title Jabbar to be booed rumors that Thompson will sign with the New York Knicks next year have affected his performance "He's played great He's played better than nybody I've seen all round this year," the Nuggets coach said "David comes up with the key ones.

"You need more of that If you expect to go anywhere in this league," he added Thompson says he doesn't think too much about moving on to another club. "I keep it in the back of my mind," he said. "When I'm out there on the floor, I'm just concentrating and playing the best I possibly can for the Nuggets He says money won't be the major factor in a move "Quite naturally, money is going to be a big part of it, but it's not going to be the total Westers Conference MkhDtvuwi tonight "There's enough pressure riding on this game already," Nelson said "We've played them twice in A and I don't think it's going to affect us The Bucks won that opening game 116-112 after Jabbar was ejected They haven't beaten the Lakers since, losing in Los Angeles 109-108 and 131-114 The Lakers hold down the fifth playoff spot in the Western Conference playoff race, one game ahead of Milwaukee. The Bucks have a 42-35 record and the Lakers are 43-35 home game with Northeast Missouri The only first-time opponent on this year's schedule is another conference --opponent, the University of Akron Eastern will play the Zips on Sept 30 in their 30,000 seat Rubber Bowl Eastern will journey back to Ohio for a game at Youngstown State on Oct 7 with an open date the next weekend Then come two straight games in Michigan, first at conference foe Northern Michigan on Oct 21 followed by a meeting with Wayne State in Detroit on Oct 29 The Panthers are back home and appropriately, it's Homecoming against long-time rival Illinois State on Nov. 4 Murray State, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, will come to Charleston to close the home season on Nov 11.

The final game of the year is an. "ference outing at Western Illinois University on issue," he explained "Other things to take into consideration, such as the type of player's I'll be playing with, and feeling comfortable in a particular city Thompson says the door is still open for other clubs "A lot of teams are in the picture, I'm a free agent so any team can talk to me," Thompson said mi names football assistant URBANA, 111. (UPI) Mike Colletta, 32, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, has been named assistant football coach at the University of Illinois. Athletic Director Cecil Coleman announced Colletta's appointment Monday Colletta, currently an assistant coach at Western Michigan University, will coach offensive guards and centers, the same positions former of I coach Glenn Mason tutored Mason now is at Ohio State. From 1972 to 1974, Colletta served as football coach and athletic director at St Alphonsus High School in Dearborn, Mich.

In two football seasons there, this teams compled a 15-2 record. Wabash Valley cage coach switches jobs MOUNT CARMEL, 111. (UPI) Jay Harrington, Illinois Junior College Coach of the Year, Tuesday announced his resignation as Wabash Valley College basketball coach to become assistant basketball coach at the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Harrington led Wabash College to the state championship this year with a 33-2 mark and in three years at Wabash Valley had a 67-38 record. He came to Wabash Valley from Western Kentucky at Bowling Green where he was an assistant coach.

Nov. 18. Following is the complete schedule with EIU's all-time won-lost record against each opponent SEPT 2-CENTRAL (Ohio) STATE (2-2), SEPT. 9-at Butler (Ind) University (1-3). SEPT.

16-NORTHERN IOWA (0-2), SEPT 23-NORTHEAST MISSOURI (2-4), SEPT 30-at Akron (Ohioi University (0-0) OCT. 7-at Youngstown (Ohio) State (0-4). OCT 14-Open Date OCT 21-at Northern Michigan (0-5). OCT. 28-at Wayne (Mich (State (2-2) NOV.

4-ILL1NOIS STATE (23-35-8), lp.m. NOV. 11 -MURRAY (Ky.) STATE (1-3), NOV. lS-at (11-29-4). Western Illinois Eclcersley shines in debut with Boston mer Indiana star has missed most of the season because of a variety of nagging injuries and is currently the backup center to John Gianelli Jabbar also suffered because of the incident He not only lost support and admiration in the city where he once was king, but was handed a stiff fine and missed 20 games because of a broken hand The fans are going to be concentrating on Jabbar, but Nelson said it won't be a big deal baked course Monday, Including defending champion Watson, Tom Weiskopf, Hubert Green, Hale Irwin and Gary rPlayer The course was pronounced In excellent condition.

"It's going to be terrific," said Floyd. Watson expressed concern that the putting was not as fast as he would like, but Floyd said a quick surface will materialize Thursday when the officials begin "double-cutting" the mammoth greens. "They are probably going to be faster than ever," said Floyd In' addition to the acknowledged group of favorites, much of Monday's attention was focused on Severlano Ballesteros, a handsome young Spaniard who won the Greater Greensboro Open Sunday with a closing round 67. "I think Ballesteros would be a good target," said Floyd, who said his own game was Yastrzemski's single and triple were the big hits for the Red Sox, who tagged Nino Esplnosa with the loss. On other fronts, rookie Bob Beall belted a grand slam home run In the first inning to start Atlanta to its 9-4 win over St.

Louis pitcher Jerry Reuss dropped a suicide bunt to score the winning run In the sixth inning and Willie StargeU had two doubles and a single as Pittsburgh beat Toronto 6-5 Wayne Garrett hit his second homer in two games and Steve Rogers pitched six strong in- Reno lisis baseball favorites RENO, Nev. (UPI) -Harrah'i Reno-Tahoe Racebook Monday picked the New York Yankees to take the American League pennant and the Lot Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Rds rai co- favorites to win in the National League. Toe Yanks are 5-7 choke, fellowed by Kansas City and Texas, both at 7-1 Tne Dodgers and the Reds art both 7-4, followed by the niiladetpnkPhlUlesatl-1. EIU reveals 1978 football schedule Nancy Saegesser Saegesser, three mates honored CHAMPAIGN, 111. -Mattoon players dominated the first Champaign News-Gazette girls' All-Area team.

The Green Wave, which finished fourth In the State Finals, placed one player, Nancy Saegesser, on the first team, and three more, Linda NuxoU, Lisa Newman and Sheila Trower, on the second team. Saegesser, a 5-foot-5 senior guard, led the Wavettes In scoring with a 17.4 average. The other three Mattoon players were all double-figure scorers with Newman, a Junior, setting a school rebound record and NuxoU breaking her own free throw accuracy mark Also named to the first team along with Saegesser was Areola's Abby Ingrum, a 5-10 Junior who averaged a whopping 24 1 points a game. Other first team picks Jody Jarboe, Bement; Kathy Lanter, Georgetown; DeeMcClure, Gibson City; Pat Plymlre, St.Josepb-Ogden; Karen Schumacher, ABL; Becky Slebert, Onarga; Cheryl Urbana and Lesli Spencer, Clinton MILWAUKEE (L'Pl) Not long ago, Milwaukee Bucks fans cheered wildly when Kareem Abdul Jabbar was introduced al the Milwaukee Arena Tonight those same fans are going to boo him unmercifully It's not because he is now wearing a foreign uniform, that of the Los Angeles Lakers, but because just two minutes into the first game of the season he punched Kent Benson in retaliation for an elbow he said Benson threw The fans are sure to be excited over Jabbar's return but Milwaukee Coach Don Nelson Monday said there's something more important than that the playoffs Milwaukee currently holds down the number six spot in the Western Conference and with just four games left, can't af ford a loss Jabbar's punch marked the start of a sour season for Benson, the No 1 choice in the NBA draft last year The for Local sports menu TODAY. 2 p.m.

-Lake Land tennis team hosts Olney Central Community Collffe 4 -MHS boys track team hosts Mount Zlon on Gaines 4 IS MHS baseball team it Champaign Central. WEDNESDAY 4 15 pm MHS girls track team at Champaign Central 'Urbana) 1 skt 1 indoaseball team hosts MUlikin University's Jayvee team on Laker -Lake Land tennis team i "ollege By United Press International So far Dennis Eckersley and the Boston Red Sox appear well suited for each other. LThe talented right-hander, on whom Boston is relying to win the American League East title, pitched three-hit ball for five innings in a 6-0 victory over the New York Mets Monday In his first game in a Red Sox uniform. Eckersley came to Boston last week in a six-player deal with Cleveland. After kicking around possible -trade combinations all spring, the Red Sox sent pitchers Rick Wise and Tom Paxton, infielder Ted Cox and catcher Bo Diaz to Cleveland in exchange for catcher Fred Kendall and Eckersley.

"I think we got one of the fiye top pitchers in the league," Boston Manager Don Zimmer said at the time. Zimmerwill need all the help he can get if the Red Sox are to give the New York Yankees a run for their money of which the Yankees have plenty. On Monday, Eckersley yielded three doubles, two to Ron Hodges and one to Lenny Randle, while striking out three and walking two batters over five innings. Boston's Bill Campbell gave up two hits in two innings and Dick Drago stopped the Mets on one hit in the final inning as the Red Sox won their eighth game in the last 10. Fred Lynn's double and Carl CHARLESTON, III Eastern Illinois University's 11 game 1978 football schedule includes five conference games for the first time since the old IIAC folded in 1969 The Panthers enter league play this fall as one of six charter members of the Mid Continent Conference Unfortunately, though, four of the five games are on the road The home conference mal chup will be early in the season, Sepl 16, against Northern Inwa in a Parents Weekend game Three of the five home games are during the month of Sep tember with the other Iwn in November so during October the Panthers will hit the road The first game is a' home.

Sepl 2 i Latxr Day weekend against Central '() Stale The next Saturday. Sept 9 F.astern will be at butler followed by (he Northern Iowa clash September 23 ha Wr, designated Band Day for the.