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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Sports
Friday, April 7, 2000
Terrazas to play in All-Star game in Spain
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Apr. 7, 2000 -- Pecos High School junior Daniel Terrazas will
be concentrating today and Saturday on earning a berth at the Region I-4A
track meet later this month in San Angelo. But this summer, he'll be planning
to take an even longer trip, to Europe, to play in a high school All-Star
football game in Spain.
Terrazas is making the trip along with other high school players from
around the country in late June. The group will leave on June 19 and spend
10 days in Spain before coming home on June 29.
"I'm very excited about the trip to Spain. It's a once-in-a-lifetime
chance," Terrazas said on Saturday, prior to the West of the Pecos Relays.
Daniel, the son of Johnny and Terry Terrazas, earned Most Valuable Player
honors on defense this past season for District 2-4A in his second season
as starting linebacker. He also played on the offensive line his sophomore
season, and spend time at tight end for Pecos this past year.
Terrazas is going as part of a program similar to the one that Pecos
Eagle Lucio Florez was involved in two years ago, when he competed in a
track and field event over the summer in Europe. "They sent me a letter
at high school," he said, offering the chance to play in the game.
"In my application I sent in my position as linebacker on defense, but
if they move me, I'll adapt," Terrazas said, adding he was not sure how
the teams would be divided, but the rosters would be made up of players
from across the United States.
"I saw the roster, and there are players from New York, Texas, San Diego
and all over the United States," he said.
Houston's new field set to benefit hitters
By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON, Apr. 7, 2000 - Pitchers used to get a break when they visited
the Houston Astros in the wide-open spaces of the Astrodome. Now, it's
the hitters who can't wait to get a crack at the trendy short fences of
Enron Field.
The shortest left field in baseball, the 315-foot left field line, and
the 326-foot right field line will be inviting targets for the NL Central
Division, which became Home Run Central when Cincinnati acquired Ken Griffey
Jr. to join Mark McGwire of St. Louis and Sammy Sosa of Chicago.
The Astros host the Philadelphia Phillies tonight in the first regular
season game played in the 42,000-seat retractable roof stadium, sitting
cozily on the edge of downtown. If three exhibition games at Enron are
a guide, this ball park is going to be slugger's turf.
"I think it's going to be a hitter's park, no question," Texas Rangers
shortstop Royce Clayton said. "The ball seems to carry really well here.
It's just a comfortable feeling. I'd be surprised if you don't see a lot
of balls going out of here."
Two exhibition games against the New York Yankees and one with the Rangers
produced nine homers. Two went over the left field fence and the other
seven went to right. No one has threatened the expansive center field,
with a flagpole-topped 30-degree hill rising to the fence 436 feet away.
Astros right fielder Moises Alou has hit the longest ball to center
field so far and it was caught in front of the warning track for an easy
out.
"I really don't think it's going to be a factor too often," Yankees
manager Joe Torre said after examining the new field.
Rangers manager Johnny Oates added: "If center field becomes a factor,
somebody's in trouble."
Hitters took liberties with the rest of the fences. Clayton, a speedster
with moderate pop, homered in consecutive at-bats last week.
So what's going to happen when the big bashers come calling?
"It's going to be an exciting season here, a real challenge," Astros
starting pitcher Jose Lima said. "It's like Wrigley Field, where the wind
blows out. This will be a great place to play. I'm not afraid. I've got
pretty much of an idea what I have to do. I just have to make some adjustments
in my pitching style."
Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell might be the most eager to hit in
the Astros' new home. He hit 42 homers last season, 30 of them away from
the Astrodome.
"I've said before if Bagwell played in Seattle, he'd have as many home
runs as Junior," teammate Craig Biggio said.
The Astros have arranged targets for the big guns. A 422-foot marker
has been bolted just below owner Drayton McLane's office on the sixth floor
of Union Station, the old train depot behind the left-field fence. The
power alleys are an unremarkable 362 feet in left and 373 in right.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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