A9n Woodford County Journal, Roanoke Review, Minonk News-Dispatch, August 17, 2000 (HI nTTT)Sporte Zobrist retires from Legion post for good By Jeff Wiseman Woodford County Journal Jeff Wiseman TEe Bottom Line On more than one occasion, Harlan Houseworth sets new personal mark Zobrist has retired as general manager of the Woodford County American Legion baseball team only to return Jon Houseworth made the most because a replacement could not be of his appearance at the 16th State Street mile on Saturday in Rock- ford. The Eureka High School junior- found. This time, the move is permanent. "I would have to say that," Zobrist said. After nearly 20 years of involvement, Zobrist has decide to step down.
be done," said Zobrist. "I felt it should have been a goal. It should have been done a long time ago." Zobrist was involved in field managing chores, but reverted back to his G.M. duties in the mid 1990s. Before being associated with the county program, Zobrist helped to form Tazewell Blue, which later evolved into the Morton Not many people put in more time than the lifelong Metamora resident.
More often than not, on the day of a game, he could be found around sunrise out on Metamora 's Al Mulberry Field getting the diamond playable, from mowing to dragging to lining. If rain fell the night before, his workload increased. "I did it because I liked it," Zobrist said. Besides his groundkeeping work, Zobrist attended many high school games during the spring watching potential players closely. He even visited each of the six county schools looking for players.
Gary Jacobson and Jeff Raver have agreed to replace Zobrist. Both men have shared the coaching duties with the Eureka pony team. One of first things they must do, according to Zobrist, is familiarize themselves. "They're not as well-known as I was," Zobrist explained. "I've been around the county all my life." Other duties include filling out insurance forms, formulating a schedule, finding umpires and coordinating travel for away games.
"The big job of the coach is to handle the kids," said Zobrist. "There's so much paperwork now." In 1995, following a trip to the state finals, Zobrist resigned. When no replacement was found, the next season was wiped out. "Sure, it was discouraging," Zobrist remarked. "I was real disappointed that I could not find anyone to help out.
Yet, he was optimistic there would be a revival. "I knew it would come back," Zobrist added. Shortly thereafter, he returned and so did the team in 1997. When asked if there is anything he will miss, Zobrist replied just miss baseball in general. I'll miss the kids." While having a free summer for the first time in many years, Zobrist and his wife, Sue, plan on watching the activities of their four grandchildren.
The oldest, a 10-year-old, has began youth soccer in Morton. to-be put up a personal best time of 4 minutes, 25.2 seconds to win the junior division. His winning He -was one of the pioneers in orga margin was two and a half seconds. He bettered his previous mark by nearly five seconds, despite battling illness during the summer. Houseworth finished fourth in nizing the county team, based in Metamora, that began its inaugural season in 1989.
Eureka served as the headquarters for a Legion team from 1958-1988. "After (Eureka manager) Cy (Cawley) gave it up, I felt it should the 3200 at the state track meet in May and will be No. 1 runner for the cross country team on the upcoming season. R-B camp winners announced EMS takes two from Peoria Christian Roanoke-Benson High School served as the location for a girls' basketball camp, which was held The state of baseball six years later This past Saturday was the sixth anniversary of what began as the darkest period in the history of major league baseball. A strike was called, wiping out the last six weeks of the regular season and all of the playoffs, including the World Series.
This was the first time that had ever happened. Now, six years later, baseball has begun its march into the 21st century. What follows is a list of what I see as positives and negatives currently, followed by what's ahead: Positives Attendance has increased all around the game. Part of this can be attributed to all the great players and part to the home run boom (to be discussed later); Ambassadors of the game. Players such as Cal Ripken Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.
There are many others, but this trio sticks out. All three play the game the way it's supposed to be played. All three have handled the intense media pressure about as well as can be. Ripken and McGwire are shoo-ins for the Hall of Fame. Sosa is three or four more good years away from qualification; -Offense.
Runs have never been scored as much as now. A big reason why the fans come out to watch; -Home run derby. This single event has replaced the all-star game as the most popular attraction of the entire three-day in July; -Low market teams like Seattle, Florida and Oakland putting competitive teams on the field. Each does not have the revenues like the bigger cities do, but Seattle is leadingUheir division and Oakland is in the hunt for the wildcard. However, I think the nic from July 31 to Aug.
4. The following is the list of win ners by category: Free throws: Lindsey Zoss and Kristen Rassi; Most layups in one minute: Maggie Wilkerson and Amy Aeschelman; Speed dribbling: Zoss and April Augsburger; I One game had drama. The another did not. That was how the first day of the season went for the Eureka Middle School baseball team. The Hornets took both ends of a Saturday double-header with visiting Peoria Christian.
In the opener, A.J. Eeten hit a one-out home run with two teammates aboard in the bottom half of the' seventh inning to give Eureka a 5-2 win. Eeten finished with two hits and drove in another run with a suicide squeeze. EMS trailed 2-1 before tying it in the fifth on a PC throwing error. Jake Jacobson, who scored the tying run, collected two hits.
Eeten's homer made a winner out of B.J. Raver, who went the distance. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out 12. EMS scored 1 2 in their opening at-bat of nightcap and rolled to a 15-1 decision. The game was called in the fifth due to the 10-run rule.
Raver and Jordan Noe both went deep. Derick Cawley had two hits. Four players scored twice, including Eeten, Jacobson, Cawley and Brett Stewart. Three Hornet pitchers went to the hill. Starter Chris Mischley was credited with the win.
"It's always nice to get off to a good start," EMS coach Craig Gerdes remarked. "The first game was a great baseball game. Our pitching was superb, we had good fielding, we laid down a couple of good bunts and Eeten came through in the clutch. It's early in the season, but it gives us some motivation for the rest of the season." High point winners at the county swim meet were front row, from left: Keegan McNally; Elizabeth Mahannah; Abby Robertson; Jimmy Mahannah; Ben Frerichs and Jonathan Heinold. Back row: Kevin Garman; Lindsay Green; Justin Houch; Kerri Gravlin and Heather Myers.
Si' Best shooting mechanics: Wilkerson and Aeschleman; Best defense: Jamie Pfister and Angela Oltman; Two-on-two champions: Augsburger and Tricia Leman; Three-on-three champions: Augsburger, Marisa Durley and Bethany Leman. The camp was conducted by junior high coach Jeff Hamer. Tall Oaks league results Play continued in the Tall Oaks golf league last week. Results are as follows: Monday. Aug.
7 Hostesses: Elaine Sheets and 1. UM DRKir AC est story is in Florida. After winning the World Series in 1997, the team was torn apart and started from ground 71W Wiegand chosen academic Ail-American zero. The Marlins have a lot of young talent. It amazing they are playing above .500 ball; -Fan balloting for the all-star game.
This is a no-brainer. Baseball, as well as all major sports, would not even be around if it were not for the fans. It's great the people vote for the starters, Luke Wiegand was bestowed an honor even after graduating from high school. The recent Eureka graduate was selected as one of 65 to the Academic All-American wrestling team. even if some calls are questionable; pounds.
Wiegand's career record was 114-26. Criteria for inclusion onto the team includes a combination of gpa, class rank, test scores, academic honors and -Finding a commissioner. After a four-year search, Bud Selig was cho Eureka Area Swim Team coach Andy Sprague (seated) is shown sen as the man. Whether you ve liked or disliked what he has done, at least Wiegand finished with a 3.49 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. On the mat last season, Wiegand enjoyed similar success as he did in the someone is sitting in the seat.
Negatives classroom. He oosted a 37-5 record other wrestlino- -The home run. To some, this maybe a positive. For me, it is not undertaking a new hairstyle. Sprague made a bet that if EAST members reached their quota of selling discount cards that he would get a mohawk and dyed hot pink.
In the front row are Elizabeth Mahannah and D.J. Gouge. In the back row are Royce Zehr; Bryan Sherman; Jimmy Mahannah; Styling Station owner Christy Casey and Justin Houch. Cards are still available at 1 2 businesses in both Eureka and Washington for $10. If interested, contact either Deb Houch, (309) 467-4962 or Jane Thompson, 467-4180.
and a state runner-up finish at 140 related accom- '-u'e Wiegand Chapman to run at Augustana Over the last three years, I do not think I have ever seen so many fly balls that were not hit on the sweet part of the bat yet clear the fence. Sometimes, too much of a good thing is not always good; -Salaries. There is too much money laying around. It does not matter who the player is, no one is worth $20 million a year. No way.
Plus, you have You can now e-mail your sports news to Jeff Wiseinan at woodcojomtco.com. This week in sports history 10 YEARS AGO Eureka College named Karen Switzer as the new softball coach. Jess's Pub of Minonk placed second in a recent tournament to earn a berth in the Class state men's slowpitch softball tournament at Kankakee. teams like the Yankees who have a payroll near $100 million and someone like Montreal whose isn't even one-tenth of that. When this is done, i "V's 11 ticket prices are also increased, fore Ryan Chapman will continue with the two sport theme at the next level.
The recent Eureka High School graduate will run both cross country and track at Augustana College. Chapman was a vital part in the success the EHS running programs have experienced the last few years. He helped the cross country team to two straight state titles. He earned all-state recognition both years, placing 25th in 1998 and sixth last November. In track, Chapman earned four state medals.
Three of those came on the 3200 relay, which posted a time of 7:55.50 for a runner-up finish at state this past spring where he was the anchor. He also was runner-up in the 1600. Chapman is the school record holder in the 800 at 1:57.5. Augustana is an NCAA Division III school located in Rock Island, one of the four Quad Cities. ing some families not tp attend games because they cannot afford it.
A sal ary cap needed; -Eliminate salary arbitration. What in the world does this serve? The player and his agent come up with a figure. A team owner comes up with a figure. A judge is brought into make the final call. Someone is labeled the Gloria McGough.
Play consisted of low putts and four clubs low net on the front nine. Low putt winners were: Tracy Schultz, Denise Duffy, Mary Kearfott, Mary Lou Pille and Sheets, all with 17. Four club low net winners were: McGough (30 12), Jan Lampe (31), Karla Bartman (34) and Pat White (35 12). Rosemary Ehrnthaller sunk a birdie on No. 6.
Clarissa Streitmatter chipped-in on No. 2. Play scheduled for Aug. 8 was canceled due to rain. Sports schedule for the week of Aug.
18-24 Friday, Aug. 18- Flanagan Roanoke-Benson Junior High School (baseball) 4 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 19- Eureka Middle School Lexington (baseball doubleheader) 10 a.m.; Fieldcrest West Middle School El Paso (baseball DH) 10 a.m.; FMWS vs. Prairie Central Forrest (softball DH) 10 a.m.; Monday, Aug. 21- Eureka.
Fieldcrest R-B in Midland Invitational Lacon Country. Club (boys' golf) 2: 15 p.m.; Prairie Central vs. Fieldcrest Tall Oaks with Pontiac (girls' golf) 4 p.m.; Streator St. Anthony vs. FWMS Veteran's Park (baseball soft-ball) 4 p.m.; Chenoa RBJHS (baseball) 4 p.m.; Normal Metcalf EMS (baseball) 4:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug.
22- FWMS Henry (baseball softball) 4 p.m.;" RBJHS Normal Metcalf (baseball) 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 23- Eureka vs. Dunlap Arrowhead, Edelstein (girls' golf) 4:15 p.m.; EMS vs. Parkview Creve Coeur (baseball) 4:15 p.m.; Fieldcrest vs. Olympia Bluegrass Creek Course.
Minier (boys' golf) 4:30 p.m.; Olympia vs. Fieldcrest Tall Oaks (girls' golf) 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 24- EMS Washington Central (baseball) 4 p.m.; Princeton vs. Fieldcrest Tall Oaks with Tremont (girls' golf) 4 p.m.; Streator Northlawn vs. FWMS Veteran's Park (baseball) 4 p.m.; R-B vs.
Marquette Ottawa with Bradford-Henry (boys' golf) 4 p.m.; Prairie Central vs. R-B (ff Snag Creek (girls golf) 4 p.m.; RBJHS Fieldcrest East' (baseball) 4 p.m.; -conference game winner and the other the loser. Nei WW1 ther one is really a loser; -Make the ballparks bigger. See the home run mess. Example: Enron Field in Houston; WE WILL RUN ANY 1 ITEM CLASSIFIED FOR 4 WEEKS AT A COST OF ONLY -Eliminate artificial turf.
The fake stuff takes its toll on a player's body $18.95. for an entire season. After three or four, it can be excruciating, especially on the knees and legs. If the turf goes, Uf 3t 'v. careers will be extended; -Raise the pitching mound and come up with a universal strike zone.
A double whammy. Doing both will cut down the homers some. Let's try to make the game as fair as possible IF THE ITEM DOES NOT SELL, CALL US AND WE WILL RUN IT ANOTHER 4 WEEKS FREE J5 Word Limit No Commercial Ads 1 Item Only No Refunds Must Call By Noon Friday The Week Classified Ends For Rerun Classified payments must be included with this form. Classified deadlines and office locations are in the information box on the preceding page. Or call 467-3314 with credit card.
(Name Phone "1 for both hitters and pitchers. What's ahead n. iiiv it a Potential labor problems exist in the Address City next year or two. Another strike could be on the horizon, starting with a lockout at the start of spring training. Baseball should look to head off this problem early before it breaks out of con trol.
Negotiations should be in the on-ing. 15 Word Limit. Additional words are 75C eachjor 4 weeks If this happens and another strike Players that comprised the Eureka pony squad that won the Suburban League regular season and tournament titles for third consecutive year are front row, from left: Brian Hambleton; Nathaniel Puent; B.J. Raven Reed Lance; Tim Cooper, Bran-' don Thomas and Jake Jacobson. Back row: Jeff Raver, coach; Brandon Neal; Jordan Noe; Ryan Eigsti; Josh Thompson; Randy Waters and Gary Jacobson, coach.
The group had a three-year record of 101-30. They won 43 of 49 league contests over that stretch. The team also became the first Eureka team to win its own tournament. Illinois Valley Press -JSLSHEkS 'AOCDfORD COUNTY JOUSNAl-ROANOKE REVIEW M'NONK NEAS WATCH-WOODfOBDSTAR takes place, some fans may never come back. Baseball was fortunate to have someVeturn after the last strike, but another could be a fatal blow to America's pasttime.
Football would be the permanent king of sports, if it Qas-sifitd Guarantee offet good on For Sale clissifieds onJy. It does 01M include uto of real esiaie. isn already..
