THE WEST BRUNSWICK and Russian Army baseball teams line up for a group photo prior to their game F riday. The Troians won 5-4. STAFF mOTOS BY DOUG RUTTE* West Brunswick Rallies Past Russian Baseball Team BY DOUG RUTTER on the cookcr for a posi-gamc meal. West Brunswick's baseball team But the Trojans weren't about to served as a gracious host for the lose on their home soil, even if it touring Russian Army squad Friday was just an exhibition game. night. Pinch runner Steve Holmes scam Thc Trojans had a Russian flag in percd home on an infield error in the place, the Russian national anthem bottom of the sixth inning to cap a cued up on the tape player and 5-4 comeback win for the Trojans to mouth-watering barbecue chicken the delight of more than 200 home IP . ' ?!??? Hi a* WEST BRUNSWICK FANS Ryan Gore and Demetria Butler couldn't resist showing a little support for the Russian visitors. SPORTING SCENE Tar Heel Fans Serve Up Heaping Helping Of Crow You'd think I would have learned my lesson by now. After the Super Bowl XXVII blowout, you'd think I would have given up on predicting the outcome of sporting events. But no. I continue slicking my neck oni so every Tom, Dick and Harry in the county can take an ax to it whenever I'm wrong. The big prob lem is...I'm frequently wrong. I was way wrong in predicting the winner of the Super Bowl. And I was way wrong two weeks ago when I wrote in this column that North Carolina had been fortunate to reach the Final Four of the NCAA Basket ball Tournament. Predicting the Tar Heels had no chance of winning turned out to be a pretty stupid move on my part. Not on ly did North Carolina advance to the championship game, they won the blasted thing. Just my luck. It was bad enough when I blew my Super Bowl pick. But that was noth ing compared to blowing off Carolina in the Final Four in favor of the Kentucky Wildcats. Suffice it to say, I've learned it's not a good idea to pick against the home team, especially if they win. I've also learned that local Carolina fans arc more than generous when it comes to serving crow. The phone calls at home and work were greatly appreciated. It's nice that people actually read what I write and care enough that they would threaten to slit my throat over it. My only question is, why didn't I hear from any North Carolina basket ball fans until after they won? Seems the UNC faithful didn't have much faith in their team. I heard rumblings that some folks were interested in painting my little red car Carolina blue. Gag me with a plastic "spork." I would roller blade to work before I'd drive a powder blue Subaru. Just wait 'til next vear. A Foreign Perspective Several weeks ago, a British writer visited our office while vacationing in the Carolinas. He was working on a golf piece, trying to help other golfers decide whether they would like to visit the area. In last week's mail was a nice letter from Rex Birch and a copy of his full-page article that was published in March 22 edition of the Guernesey Evening Press. Guernesey is an island in the English Channel. "Most things I liked?many very much?but compulsory carts and the fcarsomely slow play deserve mention as detractions," Rex said in his letter. "I was intrigued to find when talking to American golfers that they seemed to share my views about compulsory carts. Golf, after all, is an ex cuse for a 5-milc walk in very nice countryside." Good point. Rex wrote that Lockwood Golf Links and the Maples course at Sea Trail Plantation were his favorites in this area. However, his "real love" was The Pit at Pinchurst. Rex concludes in his article that a winter golf trip to the Carolinas is worth the price if you can put up with the carts and slow play "J had a great time?nine courses in nine days?and despite what re ports sometimes suggest about IJSA, I was not shot, stabbed or mugged." "Everyone was friendly and most helpful. And it's nattering to be told repeatedly, 'I just love your accent.' normally by someone speaking just like Dolly Parton." fans. "This is the biggest crowd we've ever had at this park," West Brunswick Coach Mike Alderson said. "We should do this more of ten." The Russians jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Trojans rallied for two runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and two in the sixth?in cluding the game winner. West Brunswick senior Scott Gore pitched two innings of score less relief and picked up the win. Gore also had two of the Trojans' six hits and scored a run. The Russians scored three runs in the second inning on an infield error, three consecutive walks and a two run single by second baseman Osckar Aiadzanov. In the third, the visitors bumped their lead to 4-0. Center fielder Sergei Zigalov hit a lead-off single, advanced to second on a wayward pickofl attempt, stole third and scored on a throwing error. That was all the Russians would get. West Brunswick started its comeback in the bottom of the third. Eric Johnson and Marty Earwood opened the frame with back-to-back singles and both scored on Wayne Branch's base hit to center field to cut the Russian lead to 4-2. The Trojans trimmed the advan tage to 4-3 in the fourth. Gore tap ped a one-out single back through the middle and later scored from third when the Russians dropped Johnson's fly to center field. West Brunswick completed its comeback in the sixth. Aaron Buder led off with a walk, advanced on a poor pickoff attempt and passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch to tie the score. With one out. Gore picked up his second base hit of the game and Holmes was sent in as a courtesy runner for the pitcher. The speedy junior stole second and third and scored the game-win ning run when the Russian shortstop bobbled Johnson's two-out ground ball. Coach Alderson said he was im pressed with the Russian team. "They were fundamentally sound. They field the ball properly and hit the ball well. Their pitching staff's not bad." Valcri Galkin pitched the first three innings for the Russians, and Jouri Zirov pitched the last four. They combined for seven strikeouts and issued just two walks. Pitching for West Brunswick were Mike Turner, Yates Gupton, Jason Benton, Eric Johnson, Mike Johnson and Gore, who held the Russians hitless over the final two innings. The visitors had five hits in the game. "All of the pitchers got to pitch tonight, and all of the players got to play," Alderson said. "That was my game plan for tonight?win or lose." Alderson said the Trojan players will remember the game for years to come. "A couple of them told mc to day they've been looking forward to ALL STAR FLAGS 1-800-868-FLAG ?Flags ?Banners ?Flagpoles 'Pennants A Variety Of Flags State & Foreign Flags Festive Flags & Banners FREE Catalog & Delivery 101 Aviators Lane [????? Burgaw. NC 28425 Catherine Moore, Owner it all year. They had a loi of fun tonight." Prior to the game, coaches and players exchanged gifts. Each Rus sian player received a T-shirt com memorating the game, while the Trojans received Russian Army pins. Following the two national an thems, West Brunswick Principal Ed Lemon threw the ceremonial first pitch. Off the field, the local crowd was attracted 10 tables of Russian souvenirs offered for sale. 'There was a lot of preparation for this game," Alderson said. Helping the coach get ready for the game were athletic director Jim Brett and booster club members Alice Gray, Danny Gore and Harold Benton. The Russian team arrived in the United States last weekend and opened its 20-day baseball tour with a 9-1 victory over Waccamaw Academy Tuesday. The visitors fell to Whitcville 11-3 last Wednesday. The Russians, who have visited North Carolina each of the last three springs, had games scheduled this week against Cape Fear High of Fayeueville on Wednesday and East Bladen on Thursday. 'This is good experience for our team before national champion ship," said Nickolai Geresoff, one of the few Russian players who speak English. He said most of the team mem bers have only been playing baseball a few years. "I think four, five year we be better. This is first generation baseball. Maybe alter 10 years we learn to play." Sergei Onishchuyk said visiting North Carolina each year is the Russian Army equivalent of spring training in Florida. "In Moscow cold and snow now, much snow. We do not have possi bility training now in Moscow," he / ALEXANDER IVANOV sets up his table of Russian souvenirs at the West Brunswick baseball field. said. "The winter was very cold and Onishchuyk said. "Right now it not the winter six or seven month every very popular, but he who know this year." game will like." The Russian players said baseball ~ c _ is not very popular back home, but it ? u ? y is gaining supporters. Russ. Army 0 3 1 000 0?4 5 3 "Baseball like in Russia," W. Bruns. 0 02 102 X?56 3 ? ?4 3Wm. ?