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2C ©g)0 SPORTS«nit Cliartottt Sort Thursday, April 20, 2006 Minor-leaguers’ success boosts manager Continued from page 1C prospects in the White Sox organization over these past tliree years and we look for him to continue his success here in Charlotte,” Knights General Manager Dan Rajkowski said. N.C. Central baseball coach Henry White, who was an assistant coach at St. Aug’s' when Shines was a switch-hitting catcher there, said Shines’ attitude builds trust and respect among players. “He’s very loyal,” White said. “He’ll stick up for them through thick and thin as long as you teU him what he needs to know.” That’s just passing on lessons learned over 15 pro fessional seasons. “As a player, I felt I was preparing myself to do this job,” Shines said. “It’s a dif ferent game, but it’s a game I know how to play and I know we have kids that can play it.” Shines had a whiff of the big time as a player in the 1980s with the former Montreal Expos (now Washington Nationals). Tjday, he’s trying to prepare the young Knights for their opportunities to jump to the Chicago White Sox, Charlotte’s parent club. “This is a good ball club,” Shines said. ‘We will fight every night. We’ll be OK here.” Shines was a s-witch-hit- ting catcher who helped transform St. Aug’s into a power offense. ‘He was one of the best hit ters I’ve ever seen firom both sides of the plate,” White said. “He changed our pro gram because he changed our offense from speed to power. We were aU offense - we just tried to outscore peo ple.” Shines also developed a philosophy about work at St. Aug’s that serves him as a manager. “It prepares you. You have to have a certain work ethic in order to play at certain levels and I think taking that approach early in my career has led to where I am today and I’m going to con tinue to work the way I always have.” It’s working in Charlotte, where the Knights are 8-5. But winning is only part of his job. “The more kids we can get to Chicago to help them win another World Series is ben eficial to everybody. That’s my goal — to get these kids to the next level and if I do that, then I’m going to be successful. I’m not successful imtil the/re successful.” Cardinals need time to get acclimated to new baseball home By R.B. Fallstrom THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ST. LOUIS - In time, the St. Louis Cardinals believe the}^ love the new Busch Stadium. Right now, despite a successful opening homes- tand, they’re in a get- acquainted phase. The Cardinals are 4-2 at the $365 million ballpark just a block south of the pile of dirt that used to be occupied by the old Busch. 'Ifeams love the plush clubhouses, and the traditional brick-and-girders look of the new place and the open outfield puts the city’s downtown vista in its best possible light. Reds manager Jerry Narron thought the feel simi lar to old Busch, except when he gazed out beyond center field. “The only place it looks dif ferent to me is when you look straight out, which is a beau tiful view,” Narron said. “It’s beautifiil to see the Arch.” Cardinals players believe it might take a while for them to develop a home-field advantage at new Busch, though. Eight-time Gold Glove center fielder Jim Edmonds complained much of the homestand about a tin nier sound off the bat that made it more difficult to judge balls, and a decorative pattern in the grass that made fielding innocuous- looking balls more of a chal lenge. “When it’s cut hke that,” he said, “it’s cut for looks.” The ballpark seemed to be getting into the head of Edmonds, who committed three errors in a two-day span, or one more than he had all last season. Edmonds missed the last two games after taking a cortisone shot in the joint of his right shoul der after banging into the wall. “I don’t know what’s really going on out there yet, but it’s a lot quieter obviously because you’re not getting the echo of the stadium behind me,” Edmonds said. “I’ve mis read a couple of balls so far that people don’t realize, but Ill get used to it.” Routine plays have not been routine for others. Brewers’ right fielder Geoff Jenkins complained about the grass when he muffed Edmonds’ three-run double earlier in the week, the first of two errors that allowed Edmonds to circle the bases. And Juan Encarnacion dropped a routine fly ball on Simday, opening the door for the Reds to take the lead before Albert Pujols slammed the door with a game-win ning two-run home run. For Edmonds, never shy about voicing his concerns, to complain is one thing. But the usually stoic Pujols also said the opening homestand was something of an adven ture for him. Pujols enjoyed his second career three-homer day on Sunday, hitting a majestic two-run game-vidrining shot off David Weathers in the ninth inning for the last of five lead changes in an 8-7 victory. On Friday, playing under the lights, he was off- balance at the plate the entire game against the Reds’ Aaron Harang, hitting three weak groimd-ball outs plus a fourth grounder that he beat out for an infield hit. “It’s pretty tough here,” Pujols said. ‘That night I thought I felt good and I just couldn’t see the ball from Harang.” On Saturday, Pujols, per haps losing track of the ball in the stands, thought he got lucky on a couple of fielding plays. “There’s a couple of areas on defense. I’m telling you, that yesterday I don’t know how I made some of those catches,” Pujols said. “I think I threw my glove and they got in it. “It’s going to take more games and hopefully it gets better, so weT see how it goes.” Coming off the heightened interest that consecutive 100- win seasons and a World Series appearance in 2004 will produce, the Cardinals sold out the first six games and will have no problem keeping that run going when they return on Friday for a three-game series against the rival Chicago Cubs. Glitches have been minimal thus far, considering the sta dium is stiU imdergoing con struction and most of the upper deck in left field is stiQ not fan-ready. Some fans have complained about seats that angle away from the action or with poles or plexi glass barriers obstructing their view and the open feel comes with a price: a smaller wall of soimd when the crowd erupts after a key play. Mt. Olive Presbyterian Church 5125 Mt. Olive Church Road • Charlotte. NC 28278 • 704-394-8814 Znd Annual Mt Olive Presbyterian Church Golf Tournament • May 12, 2006 Sponsored by: The Men’s Ministry OtlAOO Location: Renaissance Golf Conrse 1525 West Tyvola Road Charlotte, NC $8ff Entry Fee Per Player Women and Men are invited to play; Three Rights; Men • Women • Seniors (62 or older 'X Captains Choice is the format of the tournament Registration will be held from 7;00 am until 7;45 am For additional information, please contact; Ernest C. Grier 704-421-5228 John Lathan 704-591-0914 Robert E. Grier 704-589-8928 ’ Harris wins Par Busters tourney Tim Harris shot a round of 69 to win the Par Busters Golf Spring Tbumament at Crystal Creek Golf Club in Pineville. Doc McLean finished sec ond at 73. Robert Evans fin ished third. • Matt Kilgo won the Black Jacket Promotions tourna ment at Hillcrest Golf Club in Orangeburg, S.C. Kilgo fired a one-round total of 68 in the Jacket A group, two shots ahead of Robert Miller and four in front of Brad Martin. Thny Pierson won Jacket B with 75, four strokes ahead of Robert Parker -with Al-vin Thompson five shots behind. • Walter Worthen topped Mike Rattler in a tie-breaker to win the Master City 18 Hole Shootout in Augusta, Ga. Both shot a one-roimd low score of 73, with Worthen taking the playoff. 'Thomas Wallace was third at 78. Sam Scott led the first flight with 85, a shot ahead of Ira Miller. Charlotte Nelson won the ladies’ flight with a 97. Herbert L. White Hopewell sprinter looks to duplicate indoor success Continued from page 1C with Hopewell. Between practice and compe tition throughout the season, he’s also an excellent student. Jordan signed a full schol arship last week to attend Georgia 'Ibch. He plans to pursue a career in architecture. “Zo is the epitome of a hard worker. In the classroom he carries a grade point average of 4.6. He also scored 1270 on the SAT,” said Guy. “My ... training during the off season is very excruciating. Zo never complains. He is a living success story. If I had a thousand Zos to train, I would be a millionaire.” In addition to jumping, Jordan also runs the 110 and 300 meter hurdles to show his versa tility. “I think one of my weaknesses is trying to do too much at one time,” he said. Jordan has his sights on not only doing well in state competition, he wants to shine on a larger stage, too. ‘My ultimate goal is to win outdoor states and nationals to qualify for the world games in Beijing, China,” he said. “I want respect, and I want people to appreciate what I do.” NC A&TGhariotte Metro Aggie Club 3rd Annual Spring Golf Tournament at The Olde Sycamore Golf Club Date: Saturday, April 29,2006 Time: Check-in at 7:00 AM: Shotgun Start at AM Place: ’I’he Olde Sycamore (rolf Club (Soft Spikes Rt^uired) Format: 4-Players Captains Choice Suppporl bevels: Platinum S400 - fmir players • tee sponsorship - I)anner recognitiom - full page placement In promotiointi material - 4 muiiigan.s - Choice of start point Gold ^00 -four players - tee sponsorsliip - two mulligabs half page in promotional material - one player - tee sponsorship - l#ulligan i^ed in promotional material PHOTO/WADE NASH CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Ebonie Cunningham from Southeast Raleigh tries to run down Harding’s Sherelle Froneberger in the 800 meter relay at the Vance Invitational last week.
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