Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The first game starts 10 a.m. today at Salem Municipal Field. Eastern Connecticut State will be putting its 28-10 record at risk against 32-17-1 Methodist (N.C.). This double-elimination format really will offer an opportunity to watch some baseball.
Two teams from the field that also includes Carthage (Wis.), Cortland State (N.Y.), LaVerne (Cal.), Marietta (Ohio) and William Paterson (N.J.), could be playing for the trophy as late as Tuesday.
Then you think to yourself: Municipal Field? Weren't they supposed to have thrown this shindig at that new ballpark, the one the City of Salem is building for millions next to the football field, where you froze like a TV dinner two years running while watching the Stagg Bowl?
That's right. That new ballpark isn't ready yet, but Municipal Field will be a pleasant enough place to watch the first-day quadrupleheader.
You take your seat, open your scorebook and pull out your pencil, looking both ways before preparing to indulge that old habit of licking the tip of your pencil.
That's when you notice a serious baseball fan sitting a few seats away. You know the type: minor-league team cap, Oakley wraparound sunglasses, authentic major-league team jersey, copy of Baseball America in his lap.
You decide you're going to dazzle him with your knowledge of the game and the Division III teams in attendance.
``Isn't it great being in Salem, Division III championship city? Can you believe that they're going to be having five different title events here in the next 12 months? The World Series already has decided it's going to be back this time in '96. Guess they'll play in that new ballyard after all. It'd be six championships decided in Salem in the next 12 months, if you count the women's softball they just had at the Moyer Complex here last week. That was a Division II event hosted by out-of-town Longwood College.''
Or you could impress him with:
``Put your money on Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Titans are the defending champion and they're here at the Series for the 11th time in 12 years. They won it twice and finished fourth or better nine times. Shortstop Tim Jorgensen, with his 37 home runs, leads a posse of swatters who have stroked 83 homers, the fourth-highest total in D-III history.
Perhaps seize his attention with:
``I hear that Don Schaly, the coach at Marietta, can spin strategy with the best of them. The guy's won 1,102 games and lost 251. That means he's winning at an .814 clip.
``As good as he apparently is, though, he'll have a hard time pulling the wool over on the likes of Bill Holowaty of Eastern Connecticut State [797-297-4], Jeff Albies of William Paterson [562-236-8], Owen Wright of LaVerne [551-362-2] or Tom Austin of Methodist [508-192-1].''
Or mesmerize him with:
``Speaking of coaches, did you realize that Carthage bench boss Augie Schmidt was the second pick overall in the 1982 amateur draft? The Toronto Blue Jays thought he was a can't-miss and chose him ahead of such soon-to-be luminaries as Jose Canseco, Terry Pendleton, Jimmy Key, Bret Saberhagen and Dwight Gooden.
``Well, Schmidt missed big in his bid for the bigs. But he's been a hit at Carthage, where he's a five-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin coach of the year.''
If that doesn't work:
``Did you know that Jack Richarz of Carthage has 222 career bases on balls, an NCAA record?
If he still isn't stirring, try:
``Jack Richarz is not to be confused with Aaron Richartz or Kevin Reichardt, both of whom are among the six assistant coaches for Wisconsin-Oshkosh.''
If you then realize the reason the big fan isn't responding is because he's dozing behind those Oakleys, you could always just shut up and watch the ballgame.
by CNB