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Sports

Monday, July 26, 1999

Clark wins cutting event at  4-H  Show

PECOS, July 26, 1999 -- Pecos High School student Courtney Clark took first place over the weekend in the cutting competition at the Texas 4-H Horse Show, which began in Abilene over the weekend.

Today's Abilene Reporter-News said Clark, a member of the Pecos High School Rodeo Team, scored 142 points in both the first and second go-rounds to beat out defending champion Heather Gholson of Iowa Park, who tied Clark for first in the opening go-round before scoring 138 points in the second go.

Clark, who was one of two PHS students to compete in the Texas High School Rodeo Finals in Abilene last month, was matched against both boys and girls from around the state in this weekend's 4-H event. A total of 18 riders were entered in the cutting competition.

Clark placed second earlier this year in cutting competition in Region II, earning her a trip to the State High School Rodeo Finals, though she failed to earn a place on the Texas squad.

Pecos SLers hope Moffet luck improves

PECOS, July 26, 1999 -- Moffett Field was where the Pecos Eagles' run through the Class 4A playoffs ended in late May. Starting tonight, the Pecos Senior League All-Stars will try not to let their season end at Moffett, when they travel to Snyder for the Region I sectional finals.

Pecos will face Southeast Arlington in the sectional finals, which will be a best-of-three series. Game 1 will start at about 8 p.m., following the Junior League sectional finals game between Abilene and Midland, which was to begin at 5 p.m. Game 2 will also be in Snyder on Tuesday, with the starting time to depend on the outcome of the Junior League tournament.

Southeast Arlington defeated Allen and Abilene in Abilene over the weekend to claim the Region I's eastern subsectional title, while Pecos has been idle for the past six days, since beating Perryton in Lubbock, 13-3, to claim the western subsectional crown.

Pifi Montoya, who got credit for the victory, is one of two Senior League players who were members of the Eagles' varsity baseball team which lost to Weatherford in the Region I-4A semifinals in late May. Mason Abila was the other Pecos player, though he's moved into catch for the Senior Leaguers, after playing left field for the varsity this season.

Capi Magana pitched two innings of scoreless relief in place of Montoya, and has not allowed a run in 12 innings of work so far this summer. Magana also had a chance to pitch this season in Snyder, going one inning back in March in a loss to Lubbock Cooper in his only varsity appearance. Magana and Abila were also among several Senior League members who lost in the subsectional finals at Snyder to Big Spring two years ago.
 

Ryan calm, Brett emotional, entering Hall

By BEN WALKER

AP Baseball Writer

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y., July 26, 1999 — George Brett was completely blown away. And it was not by one of Nolan Ryan's fastballs.

Following an unassuming speech by baseball's greatest power pitcher ever, one of the game's best clutch hitters felt the pressure on the Hall of Fame podium Sunday.

His eyes welled up with tears. His voice cracked. And he was so overwhelmed, he cut his induction speech short.

"I've broken down. I've had every emotion I could. It's time to get out of here," Brett said later, recalling the moment.

"It was pretty stressful," he said. "I felt like I was up there for an eternity."

Actually, it was only 17 minutes. But to Brett, that was plenty long enough.

Brett spoke last, after Robin Yount, Orlando Cepeda and Ryan, on an afternoon when a record crowd estimated at 50,000 honored seven new members.

Late umpire Nestor Chylak, Negro leagues pitcher Smokey Joe Williams and turn-of-the-century manager Frank Selee also were inducted.

It was the largest Hall of Fame class since Sandy Koufax led a parade of eight in 1972.

Ryan spent most of his 16-minute speech thanking those who had made his career possible. Along with family members and friends, the man whose Hall plaque praised him as a "Texas legend" paid tribute to former players' union chief Marvin Miller and all fans.

"I appreciate y'all being here," he said.

"I always thought there was going to be life after baseball," Ryan said. "I didn't realize the grip baseball had on me. It took me two full years to get over the fact that I was no longer a baseball player."

Ryan, 52, played a record 27 seasons and holds major league marks of seven no-hitters and 5,714 strikeouts. He finished 324-292, yet never won a Cy Young Award.

"A fierce competitor and one of baseball's most intimidating figures on the pitching mound," read his bronze plaque, which bears a "T" for the Texas Rangers.

Brett and Yount each topped 3,000 hits and Cepeda hit 379 home runs. All three were Ryan strikeout victims.

Thirty-four Hall inductees — 15 of them struck out by the Ryan Express — turned out for the 60th anniversary festivities.

Ted Williams, the oldest at 80, stayed more than a hour in the sweltering heat before leaving in a wheelchair.

Williams, the hero of the recent All-Star Game at Fenway Park, and Willie Mays, who made a rare return to see former teammate Cepeda, got some of the biggest ovations.

Also receiving a huge cheer was Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the former owner of the Texas Rangers. New York Gov. George Pataki, mentioned as a possible running mate on a presidential ticket with Bush, implored, "Let's have another great New York welcome for Governor Bush!"

The only boos of the afternoon came for commissioner Bud Selig. He was met with calls of "Where's Pete Rose?" and "How about Charlie Hustle?"

Rose, as has become his custom, was on Main Street, signing autographs just blocks from the Hall. Banned from baseball, he's ineligible for Hall election.

"I've expressed my opinion to Mr. Selig. My thoughts are Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame," Ryan said later. "Pete Rose should be judged on his merits as a player."

This year's inductees increased the Hall membership to 244 — with space for only 240 plaques in the main gallery, extra room was found in an adjacent rotunda.

Next year, first-time candidates include Jack Morris, Goose Gossage and Kent Hrbek. Tony Perez and Carlton Fisk will again appear on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot.

Brett had 3,154 hits and batted .305 in a 21-year career with Kansas City. "Played each game with ceaseless intensity and unbridled passion," his plaque rea' read his plaque, which also denoted his "stoic demeanor." Yount, 43, was afraid his emotions might get the best of him. So he called Hall officials about three weeks ago and asked to speak first. "I never dreamed of being in the Hall of Fame," he said. "And with all due respect, Mr. Gehrig, today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." Cepeda, 61, was the second player from Puerto Rico to be elected, following Roberto Clemente. "His ability to drive the ball with authority was respected and feared," his plaque read. Cepeda rose to stardom with the San Francisco Giants, and entered the Hall wearing their cap. His final season was 1974, when he played two months with Brett for the Royals. "This kid is never going to make it," Cepeda recalled himself thinking, drawing a laugh from Brett. "Sometimes, you make mistakes." Chylak, who worked in the AL from 1954-78, was only the eighth umpire elected. Accepting on his behalf was his son, Bob — Chylak was working when Bob was born, learning of the birth on the Yankee Stadium scoreboard. Williams played in the Negro leagues from 1910-32. In a 1952 poll by the Pittsburgh Courier, he beat out Satchel Paige as black baseball's best pitcher. Selee managed the Boston Beaneaters and Chicago Cubs from 1890-1905. He is credited with turning catcher Frank Chance into a first baseman, creating the Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance infield. Also honored were Bob Stevens of the San Francisco Chronicle and late announcer Arch McDonald. Stevens won the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for writing and McDonald got the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting.
 



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