6 The Tar Heel Thursday, July 17, 1975
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by John Hopkins
Asst. Sports Editor
Baseball is an interesting game. It doesn't
maintain the pace of basketball. It doesn't have
the violent action of football. But a lot of things
can happen on the diamond that you will never
see on the gridiron or hardwood.
Take, for instance, the happenings at Friday
night's game at Boshamer Stadium.
A cool wind suddenly sprang up. The nearby
pines began swaying hysterically.
Then, along the first base stands, a scream
sounded. In a scene reminiscent of Jaws, the fans
began fleeing up the steps to the rear of the ball
park.
The rains had come to Boshamer.
It was the bottom of the sixth inning; if the
game were stopped here, the score would stand.
The scoreboard showed Louisburg leading
Carolina 4-2.
On the field. Early Jones was perched at third
base, by virtue of an opposite field double and a
passed ball. Bill Lee stood at first after having
walked a few moments earlier. Mike Fox was at
the plate with a count of 2 and 2. There were two
outs. A couple of hits and the Tar Heels could tie
the score.
Louisburg first baseman Sonny Wooten called
time, apparently to confer with his pitcher.
Randy Warrick. Wooten, who in the third inning
jacked up on a Clay Johnson curve ball and sent
it high over the rightfield fence, began walking
aimlessly toward a point somewhere between the
mound and the visitors' dugout.
The rain got harder. Plate umpire Ed Wall
called time and the Louisburg players scurried
for the dugout.
UNC Coach M ike Roberts scurried right up to
Wall's face. The coach was livid. Oblivious to the
heavy shower that was pelting him, his jaws were
working, his head was bobbing and his foot was
stomping.
He finally tore himself away from the ump and
gathered a few of his players to help him place
tarps over the mound and home plate areas.
- "You just don't call time in that situation,"
said Roberts, still fuming in the Tar Heel
clubhouse. "With the tying runs on,, it had better
be pouring."
Wooten accomplished his purpose. He figured
that the umpires would be more likely to suspend
the game if time were already called. He was
right.
"It was a smart move by Wooten," said Wall.
"He was just stalling," complained Roberts.
After about 20 minutes of the mandatory 30
minute waiting period, the rain began to slack a
little.
The umpires appeared. Looking out at the
field, where the dirt and grass alike had water
standing. Wall said, "We have to wait 30
minutes, but it doesn't look good," indicating he
had already made up his mind.
At 9:34, the end of the waiting period, the
umps began walking the field, listening to the
squish of their footsteps and shaking their heads.
Roberts and his boys were already at work
spreading out the puddles, dipping water from
low spots and throwing dry dirt around.
The rain had stopped now. As the umpires
neared Roberts, the UNC coach said, "This field
is hard as a brick. We'll have this water off of here
in a few minutes."
"You've already had 30 minutes," said Wall, a
little perturbed.
"You gotta be kiddin'!" Roberts said. "We had
to wait for the rain to stop. There's no rule that
says you can't wait more than 30 minutes."
The umps continued walking and shaking
their heads. "Thirty more minutes," said Wall.
And the umps left again.
The "grounds crew" began w orking even more
feverishly. There was a smattering of applause
from the couple of hundred spectators still
cowering at the rear of the stands.
One Louisburg supporter on the third base
side was indignant. "Are you crazy?" he
demanded of the umpires as they made their way
to their dressing room. "I can't believe it."
Louisburg coach Sam White seemed amused
by the whole thing. He sat in the dugout, staring
out at the running Tar Heels, who were
becoming more proficient at their new jobs as
groundskeepers. "If we were behind, I'd be out
there like Mike if I thought I could get it ready,
but I don't think he can.
"I've played in worse," White recalled. "There
was this semipro tournament in Roxboro, and
we had to have a winner that night. . ."
As the 10:04 deadline approached, the Heels
had the infield looking good. The problem now
was leftfield, where water was still standing.
"Watch out for the sharks," cautioned one Tar
Heel.
The umps emerged right on time. "Be sure to
go out and check leftfield," urged several
Louisburg players. "It's really bad out there."
"Look at that infield," countered Roberts.
"It's ready to go. I've never seen a game called
because of the outfield. There might only be one
ball hit out here all night."
Wall, shaking his head, began his walking
ritual anew. "This is the hardest part of
umpiring," he declared.
The Tar Heels remained busy. They were
frantically digging potholes and dipping water
out with paper cups.
The Louisburg players were standing in front
of their dugout, some in street clothes, others in
only gym shorts, anxiously watching the
umpires.
It began raining again. Ed Wall looked at
leftfield; then he looked up. He raised his hands,
and said, "That's it."
A cheer rose from the visitors dugout. The
players hustled to the lockerroom. Their driver
began warming up the bus.
The Tar Heels walked slowly toward their
dugout, carrying their shovels, squeegies, rakes
and paper cups. It was a tough way to lose a
game.
"We did the best we could," said Roberts.
At least the Heels went down swinging their
shovels.
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Sports briefs
Boshamer Field
Drop 3 straight
TOW
by John Hopkins
Asst. Sports Editor
Carolina's Summer League Tar Heels
saw their league lead dwindle to two
games as they dropped three straight,
including their only home game, after
winning early in the week at East
Carolina.
Despite the weather, only one game
was lost to the rain. That one, a home
encounter with Methodist, will be made
up on July 31.
A week ago Tuesday, the Heels visited
East Carolina and atoned for a recent
home loss by topping the Pirates 5-2.
After scoring four in the first inning,
UNC coasted to the win over ECU.
Bernie Menapace singled home Fuzzy
Baldwin, who had walked. Early Jones
then followed with a three-run homer,
his second of the year. In the third
inning, Menapace walked, stole second
pew
at
Methodist's Tolar Player of the Week
On the Monarch bench, the word is
that most of the talk centers around the
tobacco industry during North Carolina
Collegiate Summer League games. On
other benches, though, the talk has been
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shifting not to tobacco but to how to
pitch to the man who talks about
tobacco, Sam Tolar.
Tolar was the hottest hitter in the
league last week, belting two home runs
while going six for 10 (.600) and driving
in six runs. He also pitched 1 1 innings
spread through two games in which the
Monarchs were leading when he tired,
but failed to get a decision. For his
efforts, Tolar 4 has been named the
second repeater on the league "Player of
the Week" team.
Former North Carolina star George
Karl has signed a long term contract
with the San Antonio Spurs of the
American Basketball Association.
Karl, the Spur's No. 3 guard, enters
his third professional season with the
club this fall. The 24-year-old Penni
Hills, Pa., native was second in assists!
last season with 334 and ranked third
with 96 steals while averaging eight
points a game coming off the bench.
Karl has earned a reputation around
the league for his toughness by
establishing defensive position and
taking offensive charges. He underwent
knee surgery in the offseason.
Rainbow Soccer will conduct a
coaching and referring clinic July 18
August 2. The camp will be run "to
equip parents and other interested
people with the tools and knowledge of
soccer for involvement in other than
playing roles," according to Rainbow
A s
lH , r
officials.
Activities will center around the
classroom (at Phillips Junior High
School) and the playing field (at
Muirhead Stadium). Among the
instructors will be Danny Ariail, Abe
Baggins, Kip Ward, Anson Dorrance
and Dick Broad.
The camp will provide room for out-of-towners.
The fee is $40 for
individuals, $50 for couples when one
attends each session and $60 for couples
when both attend each session.
Those who desire further information
should call 919-929-3268.
Righthanded pitchers Monty DeRatt
of Stantonsburg, N.C. and Greg Norris
of Whiteville, N.C. have signed baseball
grant-in-aids with the University of
North Carolina, Coach Walter Rabb
announced this week.
DeRatt, whose brother Jimmy was a
star football and baseball player with
the Tar Heels for the last three years,
pitched for Saratoga H igh School, while
Norris played at Whiteville High.
"Both are big and strong and have
demonstrated fine arms," said Rabb.
Entries for the UNC intramural golf
tournament are due July 18 in 215
Woollen Gym.
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and third and scored on Jones's ground passed ball. After Chris Hager
out. That gave Jones four RBl's on the grounded out, Bill Lee walked. With the
night. count 2 and 2 on Fox, time was called
Bob Thomson went the distance, for rain and play was never resumed,
allowing six hits and gaining his fourth Sunday at Methodist the Heels gave
win against one defeat. up five unearned runs and lost by an 8-7
Wednesday, things began to slide score. UNC was leading 7-6 with two
downhill as the Heels visited out in the bottom of the ninth. With a
Wilmington and took it on the chin, a 9- man at first, Methodist's Sam Tolar
2 loss. The Seahawks managed one run blasted a Duke Hale pitch out to give the
in the third inning, before breaking Monarchs the win.
loose for four runs in the sixth. With the exception of the Louisburg
Wilmington used five singles in that game, shoddy defense has been the5
frame to chase Carolina starter Matt biggest reason for the Tar Heels' skid.
Wilson, who was also hurt by an error "Too many errors," lamented UNC
and a passed bail, making three of those Coach Mike Roberts. "We're not being
four runs unearned. aggressive on defense. You've gotta
Carolina got their runs in the eighth want the ball to be hit to you, and be
when Mike Fox, who had doubled, confident you can make the right play,
scored on a fielder's choice by Randy We're not doing that."
Porch. After Porch was caught stealing, The Heels will try to get back on the
Steve Rackley and Baldwin singled, winning track when they visit
Menapace then singled home Rackley. Wilmington tonight. The next home
Friday the Heels returned home to action will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
face Louisburg and came out on the against East Carolina,
wrong end of a 4-2 score in a rain
shortened contest. Results
TheHurricanesjumpedtoa2-01ead UNC5f East Carolina 2
in the first inning on a leadoif walk, two o nuro
i i f. , . T, , . Wilmington 9, UNC 2
singles and a fielders choice. The lead Louisburg 4, UNC 2
was stretched to 4-0 in the third by Methodists, UNC 7
Sonny Wboten's two-run shot off loser
Clay Johnson. Summer League Standings
Carolina tightened things up in the 9 9
bottom of the third when Bill Lee W L CD.
reached on an error. Fox followed with UNC 11 7
a single and Randy Porch walked. Lee Est Carolina 9 9 2
scored when Rackley's grounder was ''T1"?011 9 10 &k
booted by first baseman Wooten. Fox JJ, 9 10 Vh
came home on Baldwin's sacrifice fly. OU,S ur 8 10 3
The score was 4-2. This Week's Schedule
UNC threatened in the sixth when, Thurs at Wilmington
with one out, Jones doubled down the Sat. East Carolina
rightfield line. He moved to third on a Wed. at East Carolina
UNC SUMMER LEAGUE STATISTICS
HITTING AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR AVG
Bernie Menapace 57 10 22 13 3 2 0 .388
Early Jones 57 9 18 17 4 2 2 .318
Kevin Haeberle 76 8 21 7 1 1 0 .276
Mike Fox 63 18 17 2 3 0 0 .270
Randy Porch 35 3 9 6 0 0 0 .257
Steve Rackley 76 16 18 12 6 0 1 .237
Jimmy Baldwin 67 9 15 8 1 1 0 .224
Chris Hager 14 1 2 1 0 0 0 .143
Bill Lee 56 13 8 4 1 0 0 .143
Laird Williams 47 3 5 1 0 0 0 .106
Don Davis 24 3 1 0 0 0 0 .042
George Swain 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
PITCHING IP H R ER ERA BB SO W-L
Wayne Long 24 13 19 8 7 2.59 17 18 1-1
Bob Thomson 44 13 39 14 13 2 64 18 24 4-1
Duke Hale 41 23 33 18 14 3.02 24 22 3-2
Clay Johnson 40 23 46 27 23 5.14 9 25 3-1
Matt Wilson 13 13 15 10 8 5.40 5 4 0-1
Chris Home 10 13 15 9 7 6.09 6 3 0-1
Greg Leighton 113 4 3 3 20.25 0 0 0-0
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