] Hosey's, Camp win playoffs o Title tilt will be rubber match for season Section 2 Wednesday, August 7, 1996 P By SCOTT CRISPELL Post Correspondent PRINCETON, W. VA. - Johnny Oliver's first two months as a pro- fessional baseball player might best be described as a period of adjustment. : After all, the Cincinnati's Reds’ first-round draft choice out of Lake-Lehman High School has had to deal with a number of changes both on and off the field throughout the summer. As the starting center fielder for the Princeton (W.Va.) Reds of the Appalachian League, the most obvious change Oliver has had to deal with is the talent level of his opposition. “This is an advanced rookie league and the caliber of play is very high,” said Oliver, who was recently moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order upon his re- turn to the lineup after missing eight games with a pulled right calf muscle. “The pitching is outstanding,” Oliver said. “Most of the pitchers have a 90-mph fastball or a break- ing ball that drops off the table and some have both.” Despite batting leadoll during his senior season at Lehman, Oliver began his pro career in the number three hole with the Reds and has found the switch back to the top spot in the order very challenging. “At this level, it is really tough to judge the pitcher the first time around,” he ex- plained. “But the Reds would like me to get as many at bats as possible since my injury and I'll do whatever they ask me to do." Another drastic difference at the plate has been the switch to a wooden bat from the aluminum bat used in amateur baseball. “I had practiced with a wooden bat, so it wasn't a totally new experi- ence for me,” said Oliver. “But, there is a difference. I've hit some balls that I thought were through the hole and ended up as outs. I'm starting to feel more com/(ort- able though.” There have been some adjust- ments on defense as well, includ- ing reacting to the crack of the wooden bat and playing under lights for the first time since Little League. “I had trouble picking up the ball at first because I wasn't used to the lighting,” Oliver ex- The Dallas Post orts\Week plained. “I get more accustomed to the lights every game and am learning how to play the hitters and get a good jump on the ball as opposed to just relying on my speed to run the ball down.” While all of these changes have ‘been challenging, don't get the impression that Oliver isn't meet- ing them. Prior to his call injury, he was one of just two Reds’ players hit- ting over .300. Through Sunday's action, which saw the Reds lose their fourth consecutive one-run _ game, he is hitting .240 with four doubles and one home run in 27 games. He has scored 17 runs and driven in seven more. The Reds were 19-27 and in fourth place in the [ive-team Ap- palachian League East Division as they departed Monday for a week-long road trip. In addition to the on-field ob- stacles, Oliver has had to cope with being away from home for the first time while becoming ac- climated to the odd schedule of a professional baseball player. “I'm still learning the ropes,” he explained. “I struggled at the beginning. Iwas a little homesick and I'm learning how to live on my own.” Well, not totally alone. Oliver and teammate Demond Denman both rent rooms in the home of Peggy Lambert, the treasurer of the Princeton Reds Booster Club, and her two teenage children. “The fans have been very supportive,” said Oliver. “They have made me feel at home.” In addition, Oliver has had sev- eral local fans make the 7 1/2 hour trip to Hunnicutt Field, in- cluding Lake-Lehman faculty members John and Gerri Baranowski, Bob Rogers, Flossy Finn, Rodger Bearde and Lehman baseball coach Chip Sorber. “It's always good to see a famil- iar face,” said Oliver. “It is a very good feeling to know that people from my hometown are behind More OLIVER, pg 10 . Oliver growing accustomed to pro ball lite / John Oliver is now on the other side of the fence. He signed autographs before a Princeton Reds game. POST PHOTOAJIM PHILLIPS Mark Millington hauled down a rebound in Monday's game against Camp Orchard Hill. Blowouts were the order of the evening in the playoll semi-finals of the Dallas Rec. Summer Bas- ketball League Monday. Inthe opener Hosey's A.C. used a suffocating defense to whip the Knights 63-35. The viclors jumped out to a 33-13 halftime lead and never looked back. John Duessler led the way with 17 points and Derrick Johnson chipped in with 15 as Hosey's moves to the title game for the third straight year. Jesse Martin had 13 and Rich Davis 11 for the Knights, who reached the semi-finals by losing only one second half game. Camp Orchard Hill vaulted into the finals by dumping Woychick Acc. 75-59. Jay McGovern's nine first half points jump started the winners to a 36-21 halftime lead. The "Hill" placed five players in double figures with McGovern scoring 15, Dan Nichol and Brian Gridiron Club slates "Meet the Team Night" The Dallas Gridiron Club is pleased to announce their annual “Meet the Team Night" will be held on Thursday, Aug. 15 at the Dallas Mountaineer football field. Photo sessions will be held at 6 p.m. with introductions at 7. At this time the 1996 Mountaineer football team and coaching staff will be introduced for the first time. Anyone interested in Mountaineer football is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. General Hospital golf tournament Aug. 19 The Wilkes-Barre General Hospital campus of Wyoming Valley Health Care System will hold its 18th annual Golf Tournament and Dinner on Monday, Aug. 19 at the Irem Temple Country Club, Dallas. The tournament will once again feature a “Captain and Crew" format with morning tee-off at 7:30 a.m. and afternoon tee-olfs at 1 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Jane Danish at 552-3000. watched for the rebound. Brade 14 each, Dennis Perlis 13 and Steve Smith 11. B. Siminovich had 17 for the accountants. Wednesday's title game will be the rubber match between Hosey's A.C. and Camp Orchard Hill. Hosey's won the first half game while “The Hill" took the second hall game’in overtime. This game tipping off at 5:30 Wednesday promises to be a barnburner. Camp Orchard Hill - 75 By @ Im ee} ° oD, S. Smith” 4 2 11 Perlis™* 5 1 13 Michalek* 2 0 5 Nichol 7 0 14 Brady 6 2 14 J.J. Smith” 1 1 3 McGovern 5 5 15 30 10 75 Hosey's A.C.- 63 EG FE Total Hage 3 0 6 Johnson” 7 0 15 Duessler 7 3 17 Jaster™” 4 0 10 Debona* 2 0 5 Pincofski 2 0 4 Hosey 0 0 0 Hoover 0 2 2 17 5 63 POST PHOTOMIM PHILLIPS Jay McGovern of Camp Orchard Hill went high for a layup as Dan Nichol, left, and Steve Smith Woycnick Acc. - 59 FG F Total expected. Wilson 5 0 10 The top men's and women's Millington+ 2 : 6 finishers will receive $2,500 each. Woychick 2 1 5 The total prize purse is $15,000. sutliffs 4 0 9 Individual competitors will Races: ” 0 4 compete for prizes awarded by Siminovich 8 0 17 age group and sex. Team awards 7 swalski 3 0 6 are given in all male, all female, 26 2 59 mixed and corporate divisions. A Health and Sports Expo will Knights - 35 be held on Sat., Aug. 17 from Fe FE Total noon to 5 p.m. and Sun. from 9 Vigoritto 1 0 2 am. to 1 p.m. The Expo will R.Davis S 1 1 feature Health, Nutrition and Fit- Martin 4 4 13 ness presentations, sales and Panuzka 1 0 2 demonstrations of athletic prod- R. Wilson 1 1 3 ucts and equipment and appear- D. Wilson 0 2 2 ances by world ranked proles- M. Davis 0 0 0 sional triathletes, at the Penn State 12 8 35 Campus, Lehman, Saturday, 12- * 3 point goal + 4 point goal Triathlon returns to Back Mt. August 18 The 15th annual Wilkes-Barre Triathlon will take place on Au- gust 18. More than 600 profes- sional and amateur athletes will compete in what has become one of the top races in the world. The Triathlon is one of the largest and best known athletic competitions in the area. The swim begins at the Harveys Lake Beach Clubat8:15a.m. The bike race follows Rt. 415 North from Harveys Lake, along Rt. 29 through Noxen, back to Harveys Lake and then through Kunkle past Lake Catalpa to Demunds Road, along Overbrook Road to Huntsville Reservoir to the finish area at the Penn State Campus in Lehman. The run course is a loop through Hayfield Farm and along Mountain View Drive. The run- ners return to Penn State for the finish and awards ceremony. More than 600 individuals and team competitors, ages 14 to over 60, from the U.S. and abroad are 5 p.m. and Sunday, 9a.m.-1 p.m. DeRojas makes all-star basketball team J.C. DeRojas, an eighth grade student at Gate of Heaven School, was selected to the All-Star Basketball Team at the Pocono Invitational Basketball Camp. He was selected among 400 participants and was the winner of the One-on-One championship and the winner in the foul shooting con- test. : J.C. is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Juan DeRojas of Dallas. LCCC golf tourney set for Oct. 7 The Luzerne County Community College Foundation will hold its annual Scholarship Golf Tournament - Medico Family Invitational on Monday, Oct. 7, at Fox Hill Country Club. ; For more information about participant registration, hole sponsor- ship and/or dinner reservations. call the LCCC Foundation Office at 740-0360 or 740-0325. i ie ho AAS SS ed dort
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