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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1992)
Kowak Sports Friday, February 21, 1992 The Battalion Page 5 nas ET you 6KK, I'll ; i w m )MG WD Ml HIM on u m... ^alut 5ion for another n ption caus« close cont its" is : understai id have pro: open »ne five-yei d his paret: 'unseling. ement wass d, the psyclr old theado| off all conlai er, otherwii -eat the boy, a child beiti re extremel] ? of theTe*! of the hi i-open ado; agency si® ■nerated if I by Seader ; not co-| ig, it's m te said, ry her cl new wif use he see; die. /here CHRIS WHITLEY Asssistant Sports Editor 02 •view Horse racing would be Grand in state economy T he city of Grand Prairie sits qui etly next to the thriving, metropolitan city of Dallas. It has been referred to as the "dead spot in the road between the West End and Six Flags." Unlike its flourishing neighbors in suburbia, such as Arlington and Irv ing, nothing much happens in Grand Prairie.’ Its citizens work in Dallas, shop in Irving, and go out to eat in Arlington. A night out on the town in GP in volves eating at Luby's or Denny's and seeing a movie at its one theater. Other than that, the only things going are the annual Western Days parade in May and the pro bowler's tourna ment in January. That might have changed on Jan. 18. On that day, the citizens of Grand Prairie went to the polls to determine their city's fate. They were given an opportunity to bring entertainment, hotels, restaurants, and most impor tant of all, tourist's tax money to their fair city. And all for the price of an other half-cent on their city sales tax rate. The voters could not pass it up, and, consequently, Grand Prairie is the leading candidate for a Class 1 horse racing track in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It's another example of the renais sance the "Sport of Kings" is experi encing in Texas. Ever since the state's voters approved parimutuel wagering on horse and dog racing, people in the horse industry have been licking their chops at what could be a potential goldmine. Texas was one of the leading states in thoroughbred horse breeding before racing was approved. Now, horse enthusiasts have come out of the woodwork to support the few smaller tracks that are already run ning. Trinity Meadows, a small track outside of Weatherford, blew away state wagering records this season just from people commuting from Dallas and Fort Worth. Think what kind of revenue a Gass 1 track would bring in. Plus, Texas has a chance to be come a hotbed for horse racing. When more tracks open up, more See Whitley/Page 6 Aggies welcome UH to Olsen A&M hopes to rebound in SWC after losses at Rice By Doug Foster The Battalion After opening the Southwest Conference season by dropping two of three games to Rice University, A&M baseball coach Mark Johnson told his players to relax be cause there were 33 more conference games left before the season was decided. Johnson and his squad will try to get their conference season back on a winning track today when they open a three-game weekend series with the University of Hous ton at Olsen Field. The Aggies and the Cougars will square off tonight at 7 p.m., and the two clubs will meet again on Saturday in a 2 p.m. doubleheader. After defeating Mary-Hardin Baylor in a twinbill on Tuesday, the Aggies are now 6-4 this season. The Cougars will enter the series hitting more than .300 as a team. Johnson said he was going to have to get good performances from his pitching staff to counter Houston's offense. He also said the A&M team has im proved from their performance in the first conference se ries. "I'm concerned about Houston, because they hit well," Johnson said. "Every series is tough on you, but I think we have improved quite a bit. When we went down to Rice we were way behind because we had not practiced, but now we should be caught up. And the rain can't be an excuse any more." Johnson said his pitchers are closer to being ready to play in big conference series'. "Jeff Granger threw real well in Arizona, and he gave us a big breath of fresh air, because he threw some real good pitches," Johnson said. "When you look at our freshmen, like Chris Clemons and Trey Moore, they are just freshmen and it's a lot to ask of them to come in and perform. But I think when they get some experience they will get comfortable on the mound. Johnson said he's not concerned because he knows See Aggies/Page 6 Barone's Aggies take confidence to UMKC By Anthony Andro The Battalion going 1 A&M men's basketball team with some of the great college dynasties. But, at least now the Aggies are playing with con fidence. This is because the Aggies have done something they haven't done in more than a year — Win back to back ballgames. Wednesday's win over Baylor coupled with last week's victory over Texas Southern improved the Aggies' record to 5-16, and 1-8 in Southwest Confer ence play. With the wins come confidence said A&M coach Tony Barone. "You tend to gain credibility with yourself when you win," Barone said. "When you gain credibility See Barone/Page 6 Trio in transition Transfer, freshmen become A&M starters By Douglas Pils The Battalion three new faces fill the everyday . . _ ‘ Jj KARL STOLLEIS/The Battalion Redshirt freshman Rob Trimble takes over as A&M's catcher this season. Trimble, Eric Gonzalez and Scott Smith are the new members of the starting lineup. T 1 lineup for the Texas A&M basebal team for 1992. One came to A&M as a pitcher, one got the call at the last minute and the other almost ended up with a rival team. Catcher Rob Trimble, rightfielder Scott Smith and leftfielder Eric Gonzalez fill the empty holes in an otherwise experienced lineup. Trimble and Smith paid their dues redshirting last season. Gonzalez, who at 5-foot-4 was considered too short for Division I baseball, went the junior college route. Trimble, whose father and grandfa ther were in the Corps of Cadets, came to the Aggie program as a standout pitcher. In high school he posted a 33-2 record and led Carthage to ihe^state championship in 1990. His redshirt year in 1991 was the first time he had ever tried catching and after last fall he had worked his way into a pla toon system with La Harbor Junior Col lege transfer Robert Lewis. Lewis was declared academically inel igible after the fall, thrusting Trimble into the starter's role. He and Blinn Junior College transfer John Keller are now the Aggies behind the plate, with Trimble re ceiving the bulk of the starts. Still, there was a question as to how a redshirt fresh man would handle the chores of develop ing a cohesive pitching staff and a feel for each pitcher's strengths. "There was a lot of pressure before the season started," Trimble said. "After that first Rice game, I started to feel more com fortable. The toughest thing is getting the chemistry down with the new guys. It hasn't been a problem with the older guys because I was here last year. "I've got to make them confident in me. I've got to learn what there best pitch is, when to go out there and chew them out or when to pump them up." Having been on the other end of the battery in high school, Trimble knows the ins and outs of a pitcher's mind. "I know where there mind is at during certain situations," he said. "Being on the other side definitely helps the communi cation process." The 1991 season was tough on Trimble and Smith — they had gone from being stars on their high school teams to curious names on the scorecard. "I came in thinking I had a chance to play," Trimble said. "It was hard to sit out, but I realize that it was the best thing for me now. It was a good time to learn. Blake Pyle (last year's starter) taught me a lot and the experience has helped my con fidence." Smith was ready to pack up and go play at Navarro College in Corsicana, when he got a call from A&M assistant Jim Lawler. It was the first time he had heard from a four-year university, and the call came from where he had always wanted to go to school. But this didn't make sitting out 1991 any less bearable. "I didn't like it one bit," Smith said. "You stay in tune because you play in trasquad games. But putting on that A&M uniform to go play is something else. It really feels natural." Smith takes Dan Robinson's place in rightfield. He played high school ball at See Newcomers/Page 6 In Memory of Our Fellow Taiwanese who Died in the February 28 Massacre on Taiwan in 1947 In the 228 massacre about 20,000 Taiwanese, most of them local leaders and intellectuals of that era, were killed by the KMT (Kuomingtang, Chinese Nationalist) in Taiwan. Is this event a fight between Taiwanese and Mainlander or a cultural struggle of evolving democracy against corroding dictatorship? Mr. Chen Farng-Ming, a famous Taiwanese historian and political critic, will be invited to give a speech titled: "The Background and Impact of 228 on Taiwan", at Richardson 101 at 7:30 P.M., Feb. 29, 1992. Sponsored by Taiwanese Student Association ..sW' ..•sSSSS' * % 3. %. Tension Headache? Individuals with moderate to severe Tension Headaches wanted to participate in a 4-hour headache relief research study with an investigational medication in tablet form. Flexible hours. $75 incentive for individuals who are chosen and complete the study. Daily, till 6:30 776-0400. Weekends 361 -1500. % % High Blood Pressure Study Individuals either on or off high blood pressure medication needed to participate in a high blood pressure research study involving an investigational oral medication and an investiga tional intravenous medication. $600 incentive paid to those chosen to participate upon completion of the research study. V » * Chem 101 and 102 TEST 2 Review Sessions Time Part I Mon 2/24 Part II lues 2/25 Partlll Wed 2/26 Example Teats Thurs 2/27 : 5-7 p.m. Chem101 Chem101 Chem101 Chem101 7-9 p.m. Chem102 Chem102 Chem102 Chem102 9-11 p.m. Chem102 Chem102 Chem 102 Chem102 Held at College Station Conference Center ik 8-10 Page Review Packet Included in Price. Ik No Waiting in Line— Call for Reservations. SEATING IS LIMITED Call today! 775-2600 taring SKIN INFECTION STUDY Individuals age 13 and older wanted to participate in a research study for bacterial skin infections such as: abscess, infected burns, boils, infected hair follicles, impetigo, and others. Investigational oral antibiotic in capsule form. $100 incentive for those chosen who complete the study. '4 Asthma Study WANTED: Individuals, age 12 and older, with mild to moderate asthma to participate in a clinical research study for 15 weeks with an investigational medication in capsule and inhaler form. $400 - $500 incentive for those completing the study. % % For more information call BIOPHARMA, INC. (Formerly Pauli Research) 776-0400 % % % k 3 % $ GOES CATCH SPRING BREMFEVE AT TEXAS'HOTTEST RESORT. WITH COOL PRICES, STARTING FROM $30* Hit the road to Port Royal in Port Aransas for Spring Break and chill out in the world’s largest lagoon pool. An awesome 500-foot long wet and wild playground with swim-up cabana bars, hidden grottos, cascading waterfalls, whirlpools and our super water slide—all just steps from the white sandy beaches of Mustang Island. Plus: • Luxurious suites with built-in stereos, wet bars.washers & dryers, kitchens & sundeck terraces • Poolside party with live music every Wednesday • Special rates on horseback riding • Free tennis & beach volleyball • Restaurant & baron premise PORT • “Sunset cruises & buck beer” Hi^—■ • Greyhound races — B^JI So when school’s out. come Park Road 53. Mustang Island hang out at the biggest and Port Aransas. Texas 7S373 best pool in Texas. 1-800-242-1034 1 ‘Price based on 6 people per 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom suite.