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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 1990)
1 The Battalion SPORTS Monday, February 12, 1990 Sports Editor Alan Lehmann Spons Writer Fans and fun: new season goin’ well for baseball ▼ hat goes “Step, step, step, scratch, squat, unh, uho, dos, tres?” The fans at the Shack By The Track did when Jose Rubiera came to bat last weekend. Rubiera, the University of Texas-Arlington centerfielder, who played his high school baseball in the Bronx, was adopted by the fans at the Shack this weekend. When he came to bat Saturday, the fans mimicked his every move. They chanted “step” when he walked to the plate, “scratch” and “squat” as he did each before stepping into the batter’s box. The crowd yelled “unh” when Rubiera hit the plate with his bat and counted each of his practice swings in Spanish. Although the crowd probably started the chants to disrupt Rubiera, he said that he wasn’t affected. “They didn’t disrupt me at all,” Rubiera said. “In fact, I enjoyed it. They’re a really nice crowd and I think they respected me.” Rubiera won over the crowd with his style during Saturday’s second game. From then on, the crowd didn’t seem to cheer against him as much as they did for him. In fact, when Rubiera singled in the eighth inning of the last game, half of the crowd gave him a short standing ovation. The attentiveness of the crowd impressed him, he said. “I’ve never seen such a crowd so much into a game,” Rubiera said. “It’s much different than New York. “It really shows a lot about the team here, and how much they appreciate the team.” Rubiera said that he’d played in front of larger crowds, but none more impressive that the fans at the Shack. “I’ve played in Farmington, New Mexico in front of a large crowd,” he said. “But this was more exciting. Because these people were on me and the team (the whole game). “The way they did it was so nice, because they wanted to see me do good. Usually, (crowds) want to see you do bad, but it was the opposite. It was nice.” Fans enjoy Aggies, too Chad Broussard was a hero in his first game as an Aggie. Broussard, a junior transfer from San Jacinto Junior College, got the game winning hit in the 10th inning of Friday’s opener. He said that his San Jacinto teams seldom played in front of crowds larger than 150 fans. “It was incredible,” Broussard said. “There were so many people out there cheering for us to win, and ragging the other team.” Panola Junior College transfer David Rollen, who hit a home run in the third game, also enjoyed his debut before the fans at Olsen Field. “It felt great,” Rollen said. “The fans were really behind us.” A&M Head Coach Mark Johnson said that the fans are important. “I hope the fans stay with us all season, because they’ll make a difference in the outcome of some ballgames,” Johnson said. “No question, when the fans are here, and they’re hooked up like they were this weekend it’ll make some difference. “We appreciate them coming out, and on the whole I think they’re really good fans. They know the game and they enjoy coming out.” The Shack: D.D.’s place No doubt about it, A&M baseball is fun for Aggie fans. One reason is public adress announcer D.D. Grubbs. Grubbs keeps fans involved by playing a “theme song” for each Aggie hitter. He also livens up the game by providing a musical theme for foul balls and announcing “lucky numbers”. Saturday, Grubbs announced a lucky number to win a Valentine’s cake from the A&M Food Services Bakery. The crowd hissed loudly, and Grubbs shot back, “Have you even tasted it yet? Then shut up!” For fans and players alike, baseball is back at the Shack By the Track. '• «. . jl Photo by JnyJamter First baseman Jeff Bernet Is thrown out In an unsuccessful steal attempt Saturday. The Aggies won, 6-0. By ALAN LEHMANN Of The Battalion Stall New team. Same results. f.. ^ - ; The Texas A&M baseball 'team opened the 1990 season just like they did last year: with a three game sweep at Ol sen Field. ' I This season’s first victims were the University of Texas-Arlington Maver icks. The Aggies beat them 3*2 in 10 in nings Friday, m Front of 3,948 fans. A&M completed the sweep by taking both games Saturday, 5-5 and 6-0, in from ol 3,471. The Aggies didn’t blow the Mavericks away, managing only five hits in the first game and three in the second. But A&M ran the bases well, and took advantage of nine UTA errors to squeeze out the first two wins. ' ^ ' The Aggies’ defense also was shaky, committing six errors in the first two games. ' ' ' v ' But the third game was all A&M. Finally, the Aggie bats came alive and A&M grabbed an early 5-0 lead en route to a nme-hit attack. The best pitching also was saved for last, as junior transfer Rich Robertson struck out 12 Mavericks ; and* allowed only one hit in seven in nings of work. Coach Mark Johnson said he was pleased with the overall performance of his team, but saw some weak spots. “For the first weekend, I’m not dissa- pointed,” Johnson said. “We didn’t play real well today, bur I thought Coach Lawler had the pitchers throwing really well, - ; •/ -V ' | ‘T didn’t think we hit the ball real well. But, we did do some situational hitting.” Key hitting saved the Aggies Friday.. However, they didn’t even need a hit to score the first run of the season. In the second inning, Aggie third baseman Travis Williams drew a walk. He was balked to second by UTA starter Jeff Burrow, and scored on Jason Mar shall's grounder one out later. With one out in the third inning, Dan Robinson hit Burrow’s first pitch over the left field fence for the Aggies' first home run of the season. ' The score stayed 2-0 until the top of the seventh. With one out A&M starting pitcher Ronnie Allen gave up a double to UTA rightfiefder Joe Cuuity. Allen then hobbled a ground ball, and walked a batter to load the bases. Junior pitcher Bo Siberx, a transfer from Westavk Community ^College, came on in relief and gave up a two-run single to catcher Shayrte ^ujirtio;;' The score stayed knotted until the bottom of the 10th inning. With one out, pinch hitter Jeff Bernet drew a walk. Cornelius Patterson came on to pinch run, and stole second base. A - wild pitch by UTA reliever Kyle Smith Mark Johnson and intentional walks to Robinson mid Blake Pyle loaded the bases. .? Junior left fielder Chad Broussard, a San Jacinto Junior College transfer, worked the count full before lining the 8 ae-winning single past third baseman HysGottld;'' “It was a fastball right down the mid dle,*’ Broussard said. ‘T was just trying to keep the ball out of the air and trying to get k through the infield somewhere for Cornelius to score." . ' Broussard said that his first game in front of the Olsen Field crowd was fun. ! *Tt was incredible,” he said. “There were so many people out there cheering for its to wm; and dragging the other team.” ; fc ' , / Siberz picked hpjjhe win with 3.2 in* nings of scoreless relief. Allen was dissa- ■ ted at not getting the win, but ted only himself, “It was my own fault,” Allen said. “I missed the ground ball. If I’d have got ten that guy, l think 1 would have been our of the inning. .1 *T expected to patch a little longer, but I think l ran opt ofjuice a little there at the end from being hyped up all day." Thanks to the work of more JUCO transfers, Saturday’s games weren’t as close. In the opener, the Aggies again jumped out to an early lead. In the bot tom of the first, leadoff hitter Dan Rob inson walked, and advanced to third on a walk and a wild pitch. David Rollen, a Panola Junior College transfer, scored Robinson on a deep sacrifice fly. The Aggies grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third when Robinson again walked. Witte doubled him to third, and they both scored on Roilen’s double down the left field line. UTA scored one run off A&M starter Pat Sweet in the fourth inning on an er ror and an infield hit. Sweet cruised un til the seventh inning, giving up only four hits until first baseman Charlie Lle wellyn’s two-run home run. Then, with- the Aggies leading 5-3, Coach Johnson pulled Sweet in favor of junior Jason Bullard, another San Ja cinto transfer. Bullard retired the last two hitters to earn his first save of the season. Saturday’s second game belonged to the transfers, too. Robertson not only kept the Maver icks off the bases, but was overpowering, recording 12 strikeouts and allowing only one hit in seven innings. Rollen gave Robertson all the support he needed with a solo home run leading off the bottom of the second inning. "It was a fastball outside,” Rollen said. “I thought it wasjust a Unedrive, I didn’t know k was out until 1 got to first base.” The Aggies didn’t let up there, they scored four more runs in the fourth in ning. Johnson took advantage of the blow out to work in some substitutes. He also got a look at returning pitcher Steve Hughes, who worked the last two in nings of the doubleheader. Hughes got into trouble in the ninth, but got of a no- outs, bases- loaded jam. “I was having trouble from the wind up,” Robertson said, “My patches were a little up. Once I got the lead, I tried to spot my pitches a little bit.” Johnson said he liked what he saw from his pitching staff. “Rich Robertson was really impressive today for me,” he said. ”1 thought all of our pitchers did a good job for a three- game series. I’m glad they did, because we’re not hooked up real well offensively yet, “We’ve got to make some adjustments, but that’s typical of a new bajlclub. I’m' not disappointed that we’re not hooked up offensively . We’ve just got a ways to go. I think there were some nervous people, some jitters and unanswered questions. But now we’ve got something to build on." Lady Ags keep hot streak alive A&M now 3-0 in second half of SWC play STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS DALLAS — The Lady Aggies’ basketball team continued their winning streak through the weekend as they defeated Southern Methodist, 90-71, in Dallas on Saturday. A&M hasn’t lost a game since the start of the second half Southwest Conference schedule, which began Feb. 3. The Lady Aggies downed the Baylor Bears, 94-55. Then A&M fought off Texas Christian in a grudge match, 84-70. And with Saturday’s victory over the Mustanqgs, the Lady Aggies increased their streak to 3-0. A&M controlled the ball most of the first half by jumping out to a four-point lead in the opening 55 seconds. However, both teams battled hard as they exchanged leads six times in the first 20 minutes. SMU finally pushed through, taking a five-point advantage at the 9:37 mark. The Aggies kept their poise by playing heads-up ball, and regained the lead. They extended their lead to nine points and led at the half, 41-32. At the start of the second half the Lady Aggies exploded, never giving the Mus tangs a chance to get back in the game. A&M had the lead for the entire second half of play, extending their overall lead to 23 points with 2:16 left in the game. Lady Aggies sophomore guard LaTanya Irving and junior center, Louise Madison scored 14 and 12 points respectively in the second half to help give A&M their 90-71 win. The Aggies had three players in double figures for the night. Irving scored 22 points to lead all scorers, with Madison close behind, posting 20 points. Sophomore guard Sheri Dillard had 14 to round out the top scorers. With the win, A&M increased their lead to 7-4 in the SWC, and 15-7 over all. 1C Richard Tijerina 845-26I E LLP \ Official’s call gives A&M late win over SMU WAN DIFF ENT By CLAY RASMUSSEN Of The Battalion Staff Guest Kings lookir DA LI. AS — For Texas A&M men’s k er 9 e ti c ketball coach John Thornton, Holmes where the heart was Saturday. Southwest Conference referee Son Holmes sent Thornton a valentine fc days early, as he reversed a controveri call at the end of the game to give A&Jl 58-57 victory over Southern Methodist. With 35 seconds left in the gameandtr iling the Mustangs 57-55, the Aggieshu final chance to set up a shot and trytosti the game into overtime. Senior guard To: Milton, who was 2-of-17 from the fid took the inbounds pass, drove inlothelt and missed the layup. “The lane was wide open,” Milton said just missed the layup. That’s the wayittf all night.” SMU senior forward John Colburn who led the Mustangs with 25 points,ca down with the rebound but fell over A forward David Harris. Holmes called Colbourne for travel and the Aggies got a second chance “There’s no question about that on SMU Coach John Schumate said. “We it on the film after the game. Hewasli ally body slammed to the floor. “But that’sjust the breaks.” With only four seconds left in thegai Thornton called a timeout and set up play. “We were in a dilemma because we h they had fouls to give,” Thornton said. to fill \ Most May a tembe of yea knew we were not going to get good si: A y s Browr Dalla because they could foul us. We had a hie pick down with (junior guard Ly Suber coming high. “He caught the ball and thoughthisit “'OUSi option was to drive in and try to draw foul or get the layup.” Suber took the inhounds pass from! ton, drove up the middle and missed easy layup, all hut signalling the end of game. However, Harris and freshman gut Brooks Thompson tipped the ball to right corner baseline where Suber ended up after his failed attempt. Suber picked up the ball and lobbd See Ags/Page 11 East All-Stars outshine West in 130-113 win For i Gi Sequo Applic; availat Stude lowing safety Fransi ng S Tyler, ity w Tated shopp mately ng. $‘ 2736 OUNSf IASS./C ALAR RAVEL |IDS Ah The fo Tihery, Iall, b Iheerl Irums, eymna: Jack, h jure, i Piano MIAMI (AP) — It was truly an AM show for the Eastern Conference on Siii 10PES, dav. 1 CUBA . N' ¥7 t l J ,L I VSI.WA No one on the East had more than, MA Objei Com: Mone Cost: points, but nine players had at leasteigli®ADLI' a 130-113 victory over the West, whichf IECK, strong perf ormances from Magic Johns V0MEN and Tom Chambers but shot only43.8ps ^ cent from the field. It was the lowest total for a losing lean an All-Star game since the West lost B WIN A 109 in 1976. ORB Michael Jordan and Charles Barkleyki RAISE 17 each for the East. Isiah Thomas bad points and nine assists, Robert Parish points and Patrick Ewing 12 points and rebounds. Johnson was the Most Valuable Plat with 22 points, one more than his high total in eight previous All-Star appearans He also hit four 3-pointers, matchingin® i )L game the career All-Star record! rat ®’ Thomas. Johnson, who had five 3-poinU 1 T tempts Sunday, now has five career AM 3-pointers. Chambers added 21 points for theWs yy e are The East led by as many as 20 poinii: , the first half and by 13 at halftime, and breakaway dunk by Jordan with 7:12lefi: , the third quarter gave the East an 8M ef lS 1 margin. ^PP ro ^ A dunk by Ewing, a jumper by Thoc 3ume < and a 3-pointer by Joe Dumars gavetl lard W< East, which shot 63.6 percent fromthef* Work ot in the third quarter, its largest lead,' 11 with 4:05 left. The West got as close as nine pointsW in the f ourth quarter as Fat Lever scored of his 16 points in the period. A basket by Rolando Blackman madti 118-109 with 2:20 left, but consecutive kets by Barkley, Jordan and Thomasseai the outcome. Parish scored 10 points in a spanofk fNeed than five minutes late in the first quar and early in the second, leading a 29-12r that expanded a 22-19 East lead to 51 with 9:16 left in the half. West coach Pat Riley then inserted a W center lineup of Akeem Olajuwon and" vid Robinson, and that seemed to settle team as it rallied to close the gap to 554 The East scored eight of the next points, four by Barkley, to rebuild the®*] gin to 17, but two 3-pointers by John!' helped the West make it 65-52 at halftime] The East missed four of its fintflL , shots, three of them layups, and fell betel ^ 1 7-2 before scoring 10 consecutive point: * pull ahead to stay. Jordan had a 3* he sum ame, f :o Sum Frit I0U5 dorms i $180.01 I male he He rently a route ca Barkley a three-point play and Ewingte straight points for a 12-7 East lead. Later in the first period, the East pul* gether streaks of six, seven and six po® ballooning the margin to 15 before Do®! ique Wilkins arched in a 30-footer will tenth of a second left, making it 40-23 at’ end of the quarter. CRUl: for spri The West made only nine of 24 fieldftion ^n^anw attempts in the period and made its: ” le tion worse with 4-for-10 shooting from line. Johnson was 4-for-5 and Chamberi* _ for-2, and the rest of the West was3-for