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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Sports
Thursday, October 1, 1998
Eagles seeking boost for offense
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Oct. 1 -- The Pecos Eagles will be looking to turn
around their suddenly quiet offense Friday night, against a
team that did just that last Friday, when they take on the
Kermit Yellowjackets at Kermit's Walton Field.
The Eagles close out their pre-district schedule against
the Jackets at 7:30 p.m. in a place where they've always
been able to find a way to win in recent years. Pecos has
never had an easy time in Kermit, but since 1986, when the
teams renewed their regular season rivalry and the Eagles
ended the Jackets' six year homefield win streak, they're a
perfect 5-0 at Walton Field, including a 21-13 victory two
years ago.
However, in the past two weeks, the Eagles have managed
just seven points, off a trick play in the closing minutes
to beat Fort Stockton. They were shut out by Kermit's
District 4-3A rival Crane last week, 29-0, to fall to 2-2 on
the season.
The Jackets, meanwhile, struggled on offense through the
first three weeks of the season, then got well last Friday
at home with a 47-6 win over McCamey. Kermit was able to do
all that damage without having to rely heavily on their
all-district rusher, Louie Bossett. He had just 61 yards but
scored two touchdowns, while his backup, J.W. Loffler, had
two late TD runs for 109 total yards, and also returned a
fumble 58 yards for a score.
"Inconsistency has plagued us a little bit, so we're just
trying to get more consistent on offense," said coach Todd
Pearson, whose team figures to battle Greenwood, Monahans
and Alpine for the other two district playoff berths along
with the state-ranked Cranes.
Although Kermit spread around the offense last week,
Bossett remains the key threat for the Jackets. "He does a
real good job with a young offensive line," Pearson said.
"If we can get them to execute and open some holes, I think
we'll do a good job."
"Javier Saenz, their other running back, has got decent
speed, but Bossett is big, strong and fast," said Eagles'
coach Dan Swaim. "If he gets up a head of steam, he's hard
to bring down."
Bossett ran for 68 yards two years ago against Pecos, and
had 113 on 16 carries last year, when Pecos scored twice in
the final period to rally from a 7-6 deficit and beat the
Jackets, 19-7.
Kermit's passing game has been spotty this season behind
new quarterback Marvin Jameson, who played in the defensive
secondary last year. "We've dropped a lot of passes, and
we've thrown some bad passes," Pearson said.
"They throw the ball quite a bit, but mainly when they're
behind," Swaim said. "Their quarterback doesn't do a bad job
of throwing the ball."
Jameson was just 2-for-6 last week, as Kermit stayed on the
ground in their win over McCamey. Pearson said he's one of
eight new starters on offense, with Bossett, lineman Matt
Bartlett and tight end J.J. Chavez the only returnees.
Defensively, Swaim said the Jackets "are real good and
aggressive. They stunt a lot so our offensive line is going
to have to do a real good job."
Kermit also runs the `split-6' defense, which puts as many
as nine defenders at or near the line of scrimmage, which
will be a challenge for the Eagles' offense, which was held
to 106 yards last week by Crane.
Pecos was in the game until a late first half fumble the
Cranes turned into a broke tackle touchdown run by Cody
McGuire that put Pecos in a hole they were unable to climb
out of. Crane scored 21 points off two Pecos turnovers and a
blocked punt, while the Eagles were unable to come up with a
turnover on the Cranes' two first half fumbles.
Swaim said the Eagles' defense will be helped by the return
of two starters, defensive end Alonzo Valencia and
linebacker Robert Gonzales. Valencia has been out since
hurting his knee on the first offensive play of the Eagles'
first scrimmage, while Gonzales severely sprained his ankle
at the start of the second quarter of Pecos' season opener
against Denver City.
Their return will be among several changes in the Eagles'
starting lineup on Friday. Swaim said Jacob Esparza, who had
been starting for Valencia, will move over to tailback,
while Len Carson gets his first start at fullback. John
Gutierrez will also start at defensive tackle, while Cesar
Coria starts in Gutierrez' offensive tackle spot.
Youth hoops sign-ups Friday, Monday
PECOS, Oct. 1 -- A `Players In Progress' (PIP) youth
basketball program is being formed for Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
elementary school students, with registration scheduled for
Friday and Monday at the new Pecos High School gym.
Pecos Eagles girls basketball coach Brian Williams said the
PIP program is similar to ones in place in other area towns,
including Monahans. The program is designed to improve the
basketball skills and teach various tricks to boys and girls
from kindergarten through sixth grade.
PIP basektballs and T-shirts will be provided to each
student, and Williams said the boys and girls involved will
perform their routines during halftime of Pecos' home
district basketball games, beginning in January.
The program is scheduled to begin on Saturday, Oct. 10,
from 2 to 6 p.m. at the new Pecos High School gym, with
registration set for Friday and and Monday at Williams'
office in the new gym, at a cost of $45 per student.
"We need a minimum of 45 boys and girls to run the program,
and if we get more, we could have more than one group
performing," Williams said.
He added that parents or other adults are needed to help
with the PIP program, and need to attend a 30 minute
certification class, which will be held following the first
PIP class for boys and girls on Oct. 10.
For further information, call Williams at either the new
gym (447-7234) or at home (447-6494).
Shane guns down Rangers, 3-1
By BEN WALKER
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK, Oct. 1 -- By today, the whole baseball world will
know the tale of Shane Spencer.
Spent eight full seasons in the minors. Bounced between
Triple-A and the majors this year. Put up big September
numbers.
Spencer capped an amazing month in which he went from a
virtual unknown to New York's newest hero, homering in his
first postseason at-bat as the Yankees beat Texas 3-1
Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in their AL division series.
``He doesn't get cheated up there,'' Rangers manager Johnny
Oates said. ``He knows what that piece of wood is made for,
and it's not to clean off his shoes.''
The 26-year-old rookie also singled ahead of Scott Brosius'
homer, and that was plenty of support for Andy Pettitte.
Texas, the top-hitting team in the league this season, has
managed just 10 hits and one run in the series so far --
Spencer has outscored the Rangers all by himself.
``It won't be storybook until it's all over,'' Spencer
said. ``We've still got eight or nine more wins to go.
``I'm just riding it now, cherishing the moment. Maybe
someday I'll look back on it,'' he said.
Spencer's start in right field came as the Yankees got word
that Darryl Strawberry, whose career has been beset by
personal problems and injuries, was scheduled for further
tests after doctors discovered a spot on his colon.
Strawberry underwent a test Wednesday, then went to Yankee
Stadium to talk to manager Joe Torre and his teammates. He
said doctors discovered something the size of ``a pimple''
on his colon. Bothered by stomach pain for more than a
month, he was to undergo a colonoscopy today at
Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.
``If all goes well, he could join us in Texas for Friday
night's game,'' Torre said. ``We really won't know anything
until tomorrow.''
The Yankees will try to sweep the best-of-5 playoff on
Friday. David Cone (20-7) starts for New York against Aaron
Sele (19-11).
Pettitte atoned for a season-long struggle and pitched
perfectly into the fifth inning. He gave up three hits in
seven innings, striking out eight and walking none.
Texas' run came in the fifth on a double by Juan Gonzalez
and a single by Ivan Rodriguez.
``What really feels good is that the critics were there,
but my manager stuck with me,'' Pettitte said.
Jeff Nelson got two outs in the eighth and Mariano Rivera
closed for his second save of the series.
Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, 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 1998 by Pecos Enterprise
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Pecos Enterprise