A Re erence nae tenant Apriti7,1988 CastlégarNews 13 ' bd SPORTS COMMUNITY NEWS me 82 Castlegar News 4001117. 1988 Hitting looks easy, but isn't By TOM MALUNEY Canadian Press TORONTO — The action is deceivingly neanderthal Simple. Swing the bat, hit the ball. Yet, even the most potent offensive stars in baseball testify to the delicacy of the swing. During the four-game series between Toronto and the New York Yankees this week, Don Mattingly worked out of an early season slump by adapting the relaxed postures of the retired Rod Carew and the Blue Jays’ Tony Fernandez to his own swing. In the batting cage before the game Tuesday, Mattingly began drooping his bat toward the ground before beginning the swing. He insisted it was just a relaxation technique that did not affect his actual swing “From the Bells to the Carews to the Boggs to Brett to Fernandez to me to the Molitors, there’s a lot of different styles at the plate,” Mattingly said. “If you look at them, it looks like a lot of different guys doing a lot of different things at the plate. “But once it gets to the swing — the bats in the air and you're ready to\ hit the ball — everything’s pretty much the same. People use different things to get there, but at the point of contact? Everything’s pretty much the same. Success at the plate is a matter of timing, Mattingly said. Like a golfer who suddenly begins slicing out of bounds, a batter can develop a small, very frustrating fault in his swing that leads to the dreaded- slump. SYNCH FRAGILE “If you never got out of synch, you'd hit 1.000,” said Chris Chambliss, the. Yankees hitting instructor and a former first baseman. “Everybody goes out of synch. It's human. You'd have to be a machine to hit the same way every time.” Ted Williams, acknowledged as one of the great all-time hitters, wrote a book about the Sweet Science of hitting. It proved Chambliss's point — nobody even hits 400 any more. Sometimes, hitters just suffer from bad luck — the old hitting-it-right-at-people syndrome. Other times the fault is so miniscule it’s inevitable that it works itself out. Toronto manager Jimy Williams felt that way about the slumping rookie, Silvestre Campusano, who had gone hitless in his last 15 at-bats before Thursday's game. “He'll probably get three hits tomorrow,” Williams said Wednesday. On Thursday, Campusano hit a home run. “Just a little bit of timing will change the pop of the ball off the bat,” said Mattingly whose four-year totals with the Yankees, including a .337 career average, reflect those of Hall-of-Famer Lou Gerhig. “It's timing.” Fernandez, who led Toronto with a .822 average last season, works laboriously on his hitting. Besides taking his turns in the cage, he'll often have hitting coach Cito Gaston lob balls into the air'so he can hit them into a net — not unlike a field-goal kicker practising on the sidelines at a football game. Mattingly subscribes to the hard-work theory. “You just don't play at the major league level without any talent,” Mattingly said. “I think the guys who succeed are most consistent with it, who works at keeping it up.” Frycer, criticize Brophy TORONTO (CP) — Veterans Miroslav Frycer and Borje Salming led a player rebellion against head coach John Brophy as members of the Toronto Maple Leafs parted company “It's finally over,” said Frycer, saying 90 per cent of the players despise working for the coach. “This has been a nightmare for this team, this city, myself and my family “There is no way I will ever play again for Brophy. It really hurts me to say that my days here are over, but I'll never be back. I'll play out my contract (two more years) somewhere else, I don't care where, and then go back to Europe.” Frycer, 28, a right winger born in Czechoslovakia and now a Canadian citizen, was injured often and played in only 38 of Toronto’s 80 games during the 1987-88 season, scoring 12 goals and adding 20 assists. He was in the lineup for the first three games of the NHL Norris Division semifinal against Detroit but missed the last three. The Red Wings won the best-of-seven series four games to two. “It's kind of obvious I'm not in their plans,” Frycer said “I've had some problems with John in the past and there's no way I'll be back.” Frycer said players who said after the team’s elimina tion Thursday that they were eager to play for Brophy again next season was not being truthful. FR R FED UP “Those guys are young and they have a future ahead of them here. For me, I've been here almost seven years, and I don’t give a damn. Living with those guys on the road and sitting with them after games having a few beers, they say completely different things.” Frycer was asked how many of the players hate playing for Brophy “Ninety per cent. But they are not going to say it. No Another player, who spoke on the condition that he would not be identified, was asked if 90 per cent was an accurate estimate “It's closer to 100 per cent,” he replied. Another Leaf who asked for anonymity summed up the season: “What you saw this year was a team that quit on its coach after he had quit on them. He ripped the heart out of every guy on this team, one by one. We'd all like to pa bullet right between his eyes.” Brophy refused to comment on Frycer's statements. In the two years that Brophy has been head coach, the Leafs have a 51-87-22 regular-season record. Brophy said that owner Harold Ballard has assured him that he'll be back as head coach next season. Brophy has two years left on his contract. SALMING BLAMES BROPHY Salming, who turns 37 today and has played 15 seasons in Toronto, says players take the blame for losing and Brophy is let off the hook by the media. “It's all our fault,” said Salming sarcastically. “He works hard and we don't respond — that’s what you guys have been writing all year. Well, he has to take responsibility. If you can't get the players playing, then the coach has to take responsibility. “It's different if you've got horse (bleep) players, but we don't have that here. If he can’t put everything together, then he's not doing his job. He has to change if we're going to get better.” Salming’s contract is about to expire. He says he has yet to decide if he'll play next season. He could begin with another team without compensation to the Leafs. Ballard wants him to take a pay cut to remain a Leaf. “You just can't scream at guys all the time,” Frycer said of Brophy’s coaching tactics. “I'd wake up.in the morning and hate the thought of facing him again. I finally said to my METS WIN AGAIN Pirates blank Cubs CHICAGO (AP) — R.J. Reynolds’ three-run homer capped a four-run third inning and Doug Drabek shut out the Chicago Cubs on five hits Saturday, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-0 victory It was the fifth triumph in the last six games for the Pirates and the second career shutout for Drabek, who blanked Houston on two hits last August. Andy Van Slyke opened the Pitts. burgh fourth with a single and Bobby Bonilla drew a walk off loser Greg Maddux, 2-1. Sid Bream doubled to score Van Slyke and Reynolds followed with his first homer of the season into the left-centre field bleachers. REDS 8 ASTROS 2 HOUSTON (AP) — Eric Davie's tiebreaking double highlighted a five run eighth inning that lifted the Cin cinnati Reds to an 8-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday. With Houston leading 2-1, pinch hitter Leo Garcia doubled off reliever Ernie Camacho, 0-1, to start the eighth. Garcia then scored the tying run on Barry Larkin’s single. After a sacrifice, Kal Daniels was intentionally walked and Davis doubled to the left field wall for the go-ahead run. METS 6 CARDS 4 NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Carter and Howard Johnson hit consecutive home runs off St. Louis relief ace Todd Worrell as the New York Mets rallied for three runs in the eighth inning Saturday and beat the Cardinals 6-4 for their fifth straight victory. Worrell started the eighth with a 4-3 lead and Kevin McReynolds met him with an infield single. Carter followed. with his fifth home run this season, tying him for the major-league lead, and Johnson, 4-for- 29 going into the game, followed with his first homer, giving the Mets a major-league high of 18. David Cone, 1-0, pitched three scoreless innings of two-hit relief for the victory. Randy Myers pitched the ninth for his third saved. TIGERS 4 ROYALS 2 DETROIT (AP) — Doyle Alex- ander allowed six hits in 8 1-3 innings and Alan Trammell homered as the Detroit Tigers beat Kansas City 4-2 Saturday, ending the Royals’ four- game winning streak. Alexander, 1-1, struck out seven and walked one. Bo Jackson's third homer of the season in the fifth inning and George Brett's second homer in the ninth accounted for the Royals’ runs. Mike Hednneman got the final two outs for his third save. Charlie Leibrandt, 1-2, who beat Alexander 8-1 last Sunday in Kansas City, allowed five hits but had control problems. TEXAS 2 BOSTON 0 BOSTON (AP) — Paul Kilgus allowed three hits in 8 2-3 innings and Larry Parrish hit a home run as the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 2-0 Saturday. Kilgus, who had a 2-7 record after joining the Rangers as a rookie last June 6, struck out two and walked three in beating Boston rookie Steve Ellsworth, 0-1. Kilgus, who was primarily a reliever in the minor leagues, made 12 starts for the Rangers last year. He got the first two outs in the ninth before walking Dwight Evans and Mitch Williams came on to get the last out for his fourth save. Wings need netminder TORONTO (CP) — Gerry Gallant, the interim Detroit Red wing captain in place of auxiliary pressbox of Maple Leaf Gardens during Thurs game, Red Wings general manager Jimmy Devellano “It was ready to help. certainly made the way. Those who say they're happy about him coming back it’s all lies. The last few years have all been lies. A lack of communication and hiding it. It has cost us a good hockey Fryc team.” Brophy family ‘That's it. I don't need this. I don't deserve this.’ Not only me, but everyone in this dressing room.” laid the blame for a terrible season squarely on here is only one person to blame." Referees come under fire By ALAN ADAMS. Canadian Press Terry O'Reilly pounded his fists against a locker. Dan Maloney raised his hands in surrender. John Ferguson was so irate that he wrote a letter to complain, while riled up John Brophy and Jim Schoenfeld screamed So what's the beef? Officiating in the playoffs NHL officials have adopted a new approach in the Stanley Cup playoffs They're enforcing the rules. Heading into Saturday's seventh and deciding game of the Patrick Division series between Washington and Philadelphia, there have been 1,071 infractions called compared to 985 over the first 48 games of the playoffs last year — an increase of 86 penalties. Anything short of decapitation usually went unpenalized late in a game or in overtime, but that’s no longer the case. In overtime, a total of six infrac tions have been called to date com. pared with none a year ago. LEADS TO LOSS? “I hate to lose a game on a referee's mistake and that's what that was,” fumed O'Reilly after referee Kerry Fraser called a tripping minor on Glen Wesley five minutes into the overtime period last Sunday. The Buf. falo Sabres scored on the power-play Fraser's boss, John McCauley, the NHL's director of officiating, said O'Reilly couldn't be any further from the truth. “We don't create the penalties, they are happening out there,” said McCauley Before the season started, Me Cauley got a directive from the NHL's board of governors telling him they wanted a more consistent standard of rule enforcement from the start of the game to the end. “The players were taking advant age of the officiating generosity and you can't have that,” said McCauley “The whole perception of our officia ting, which at one time was fine, was damaged — and you can't have that.” Before the playoffs stagted, a league representative met individually with each of the teams in the chase for the Stanley Cup. MEETS TEAMS The purpose of the meeting, said veteran referee Andy van Hellemond, was to open up the lines of commun. ication. “They know the rules,” said van Hellemond. hey know how we're going to call the game. It's up to them to act accordingly.” On opening night, in eight playoff games, 28 special team goals were scored. No game was more than four minutes old when the first minor penalty was called. The average game featured a total of more than 25 power. play minutes for both teams. While McCauley considers the officiating to be top-notch, there might be some basis for complaints that led Ferguson to file a letter of complaint to the league. The Winnipeg Jets general manager fired off the letter after the Edmonton Oilers eliminated his team Ferguson was riled that referee Ron Hoggarth first pointed to a Winnipeg goal in Game 5 and then dis allowed it “They had penalties in the corner when the play was up the ice, penalties at centre ice, What can I say?" roared Ferguson. “It's frustrating. Totally frustrat- ing.” McCauley said the standards are nothing*to complain about “The game requires more pen alties,” he said. “There are more pen alties in the game. That's all there is to it.” the injured Steve Yzerman, is the first to admit his club didn't play up to par in its first-round NHL playoff ser ies against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “We didn’t play at all,” says Gallant. “The two games they won, we made a lot of mental mistakes. “Even a cotiple of the games we won, we didn't play as well as we could have.” The Red Wings defeated the Leafs 5-3 Thursday night to take the best-of-seven Norris Division semifinal four games to two. They open the division final at home Tuesday night against the St Louis Blues. Detroit and St. Louis have met only once previously in NHL playoffs — in 1984 when the Blues were clear winners in the first round. Detroit had been an over. whelming favorite to beat Toronto. “It's pretty hard,” Gallant says when asked about the odds. day's game. That's where Dave Dry. den, a Red Wings consultant and fromer NHL goalie, was watching the game. Red Wings backup goal- tender Sam St. Laurent — brought up from Adirondack because of Hanlon's injury — was knocked out of Thurs- day's game with a twisted right knee early in the first period. SEARCH BEGINS After Stefan entered the went scurrying for help. “I have to find us another goalie”, Devellano told col- umnist Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press. “The rules say it's got to be someone on our reserve list. Dave Dryden. I'm going to ask Dave Dryden. I'll sign him to a contract right here,” Devellano said. Dryden, who played with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers, evening a little more mem- orable,” Dryden said. Devellano said he was willing to pay $2,000 to Dryden for the game. He wrote the contract on a piece of paper Albom provided. Dryden said he never saw the contract. and never sig- ned anything. “I don't know how serious it all was,” Dryden said. “We were down to one goaltender. Jimmy was concerned about what our options were.” Weekend Wrap-up BASEBALL AMERICAN LEAGUE ost Division w yaepeg? gf 8 West Division Konsos City e Calgory ot Phoenix, ppd. + Albuqu: BASKETBALL NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlentic Division John Charters ... Reflections & recollections CANCER TAKES THE LIFE OF A FRIEND Kiki, the girl dog, the Terri-poo-who-grew-up-to-be- a-Sheltie, is gone. We bought her over 15 years ago (a long time in the brief lifetime of a dog) as a small dark-brown puff-ball with a black-button nose and a wiggly stick tail. Our first dog, a dainty, black and white fox terrier called Pixie, though only six years old, was beginning to show sings of failing and Kiki was bought to fill the gap. The idea did not sit well with Pixie and she pouted for over a week under the fireplace apron. Finally, however, she relented and accepted the newcomer who reciprocated with a total devotion and hero-worship to the older dog. Whatever Pixie did was right, thereafter, — a relationship which totally suited the imperious “small-dog.” As a consequence, the two dogs became fast friends and Pixie took a new lease on life while the puppy who gtew to be twice the size of her diminutive friend sublimated her involuntary, operation-thwarted instincts with an equally maternal devotion to her heroine. Pixie lived another nine years, eight of them with a remarkable liveliness. The last year with cancer was a sad one and indulgent self-pity rather than compassion kept us from doing what should have been done. We vowed that it would not happen again. Nonetheless, when deafness, cataracts in both of Kiki's eyes, arthritis and cancer edged intent into reality, the final step was no less traumatic. Kiki had been a devoted friend, a good companion. Timid and totally affectionate, she was also the most feminine dog I have ever known, for despite a vigorous resistance to going to the dog groomers’, once the ordeal of shampooing and clipping was over she would parade and show off before any audience in a manner that would have put any fashion model to shame. Oddly enough, it was this latter quality which raised the barrier of personal ingrained abhorrence to doing any injury to a female which in turn made a particularly difficult problem of the final step. However, circum- stances finally forced my hand and on Monday morning, clinic day, I drove with her into Nelson. She loved the ride as always and the familiar journey was a fine adventure to be appreciated by raising her Roman nose to snuff the fresh breeze and to cock her now rarely cocked ears for real or more probably imagined sounds. When we arrived she walked quite gaily into the clinic (it would have been infinitely easier to have had to carry her) and sat quiet and unafraid of the examining table. While the assistant and I petted and talked to her the vet came from behind and administered the anesthetic. She passed as quietly into death as she had lived her long days. I brought her home then and buried her in a corner of the garden under a young Japanese flowering cherry. A white chrysthamum marks her grave. Last week we received a letter of condolence from our vet, Dr, Keith Marling, and his staff. Included with the letter was a clipping which he wished to share with us. By way of thanking him and his assistants for their compassion and help over the years, and as a help to others in a similar situation I am taking the liberty of passing on this remarkably sensitive piece of advice. I regret that I cannot recognize the author by name. The article is titled: Where to bury a dog. Kiki is gone now but we still hear her scratch on the door to get in and we still hear her chasing the dream cats of her youth, for everything in life has a price, even its memories. “A subscriber on the Ontario Argus has written to the editor of that fine weekly, propounding a certain question, which, so far as we know, yet remains unanswered. The question is this : Where shall I bury my dog? It is asked in advance of death. The Oregonian trusts the Argus which will not be offended if this newspaper undertakes an answer, for surely such a question merits a reply, since the man who asked it, on the evidence of his letter, loves the dog. It distresses him to think his favorite as dishonored in death, mere carrion in the winter rains. Within that sloping, canine skull, he must reflect when the dog is dead, were thoughts that dignified the dog and honored the master. The hand of the master and of the friend stroken often in affection this rough, pathetic husk that was a dog. “We would say to the Ontario man that there are various places in which a dog maybe buried. We are thinking now of a setter, whose coat was flame in the sunshine, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or unworthy thought. This setter is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and its proper season the cherry strews petals on the green loam of his grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good dog. “Beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer, or gnawed at a flavorous bone, or lifted head to challenge some strange intruder. These are good places, in life or in death. Yet, it is a small matter, and it touches sentiment more than anything else. For if the dog be well remembered, it sometimes, he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging it matters not at all where that dog sleeps at long and at last. “Ona hill where wind is unrebuked, and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in puppy-hood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most exhilarating cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to you, and nothing is gained and nothing is lost-if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a dog. One place that is best of all. “People may scoff at you, who sees no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no whimper pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them and which is well worth the knowing. The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of its master.” RAILWAY STATION Zalm's enthusiastic visit to Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park in the fall of 1986, those responsible for the premier's tour in this area contacted the Castlegar Heritage Ad- visory Committee to make the newly-acquired Castlegar railway station available for a private premier on Friday. aborted by Vander Zalm’s Twe staff at the last moment, but the extensive preparations for the visit did not go to waste. “You look at the TV and read the papers and it says Detroit's going to have a Friday Results pretty easy time with Tor. lexos 2 Boston 1 (10 wings) onto and sometimes maybe you think that. “But they played a pretty good series and it wasn't as gette Son Francisco 8 Son Diego 3 Top 10 Hitters ae McReynolds, NY Special tour given By JOHN CHARTERS Since Premier Bill Vander operational days, the visit proved to be an enthusiastic extra with hopes of a return summer visit. inspection by the However, plans were Meanwhile, on Tuesday 39 Hobbit Hill children and 10 adults visited the chapel house while on Thursday, a island and house. For Your Convenience W OPEN MONDAY IN TICKETS nesday until 5 p. A group of some 25 Trail senior citizens who had made arrangements to come for a A TIVE CASTLE TIRE (1977) LT. picnic and tour of Zuckerberg - Island on Wednesday were given a special tour of the bie Ave station by hosts John and Bunny Charters. Since a number of the seniors were familiar with the station facilities from the KRATIRELTO. 1507 Columbia Ave CASTLEGAR & AREA RECREATION DEPARTMENT APRIL 17 — Robson Flee Market 9-1, breakfast available Horseshoe Club Annual Meeting 2 p.m. Conference Room. Everyone Welcome APRIL 18 — Aerobic Fitness 10-11 a.m. Babysitting available Complex, Fitness 7-8 p.m. KJSS. Castlegar Slo-Pitch League begins APRIL 19 — Tennis Lessons. Adult and Childrens. Rotary and Lorne Zinio Tennis Courts, open and free to the public Circuit Wt. Training 6-7 p.m., Hunter Training 6:30 SHSS APRIL 20 — Aerobic Fitness 10-11 a.m., 7-8 p.m. Aerobic class will be held at the Complex. Blueberry Creek Preschool Activity hour at the park. 10-11 am. $15 for 10 weeks. CPR Heartsaver 6:30 p.m APRIL 21 — Aerobic Fitness 7-8 p.m. Complex $2 drop in APRIL 22 — Aerobic Fitness and Babysitting 10-11 am Complex APRIL 23 & 24 — Tennis Lessons Beginners 10.12, Stroke Improvement 1-3 MAY 6 — Wine Tasting Course, 8-11, $12.50 Complex 2101-6th Ave., Castlegar Phone 365-3386 Hawgood named to all-star team CALGARY (CP)— For the Darcey Norton and right third consecutive year, de- winger Mark Recchi. A tie in fenceman Greg Hawgood of the voting means Norton the Kamloops Blazers has shares the left wing berth been named to the Western with Troy Mick of the Port Hockey League's West Div- land Winter Hawks. ision first all-star team, the league announced Saturday. Hawgood and Spokane Chiefs goaltender Troy Gam. ble were the only unanimous choices in voting by the league’s West Division The Cougars dominate the coaches. division's second all-star The Blazers, who have won team with three selections. the division championship for Wade Flaherty was named the fifth year in a row, goaltender while teammates dominate the all-star team Gary Moscaluk and Joel Sa. with three selections. Joining vage took defence and right Hawgood are left winger wing respectively The votes were also tied for defencemen Jayson More of the New Westminster Bruins and Andrew Wolf of the Victoria Cougars. easy as a lot of people thought it was going to be.” Detroit coach Jacques Demers, in his second season with the Red Wings after leaving the Blues, knows the next round will be difficult. TOUGH TEAM “The St. Louis Blues (Bernie) Federko, (Doug) Gil. mour, (Brian) Sutter, (Greg) Millen — they're competitive player says Demers. “They're tough. “They beat a pretty good Chicago team and they'll be tough against us.” Demers gave his players Friday off. His biggest concern is the team's goaltending. Glen Hanlon is out with a groin injury and Greg Stefan is recuperating from the flu. In fact, the Red Wings desperate search for a back. up goalie took them to the Toronto, 8 riples: Bolnmore, 2: Wilson, Kon 08 City, 2; 19 hed Home runs: Conseco, Ooklond, 5; Bell Toronto, 4; McGwire, Ooklond, 4. Snyder Cleveland, 4: tour ted with 3 lender 10: Dowson, Houston, 13; Clark. Son jan. Houston, 9; Polmeiro Dovis, Houston, 15; Dans " . Doran. Houston, 9: Griftin, 1. 16; Dowson, innati, 16; Butler 15, Bonds, Pittsburgh, 14 nego. 14 js. Pittsburgh, 5: Bream, Pur Palmeiro, Chicago, 5: tive tied 3; Worrell, $1. Lovie. 3; Franco. Diego, 2 Chicago 100 New Jersey 99 Atlante 103 Philadelphio 101 (OT Detroit 92 Milwaukee 91 jashington Son Antonio 116 Soc Portland 147 Golden Seattle 115 Dalles 88 “TRANSACTIONS | Mam Oo inebocke: derson ond fullback Derrick thomas Putnsous yi te dnector a ticket good for draws for the next five Fridays! To pick up your FREE tickets, drop into the Castlegar News off - OF phone 365-7266 by 5 p.m. Wednesday to claim. F . you're the winner of Tuesday or Wed- your name below CASTLEGAR pr ses.714s ACARI, 365-2955 “SH 365-2155 365-3666 365-3311 MALONEY PONTIAC BUICK, SALES & SERVICE 365-2175 365-7252 RESTAURANTS EASTOATE GARDENS Wa Columba Ave 365-7414 365-3255 365-7782 SHOES TRIOS SHOE SAL 465 Columbio Ave 365-7813 WOODWORKING JOODWORK P. Markin. Rilcot, Re 365-7250 222-102nd. Costiegar ...andall should be well! Yes, by 9 a.m. Sundays you should be enjoying your Sun NELSO) HARDWARE ELECTRIC & PLUMBING SUPPLY Ymir Rood 352-3624 day Castlegar News It you're not, we want to correct the matter