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Tuesday, April 22, 1997

Eagles, Steers fight to stay in playoff chase


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PECOS, Apr. 22 -- The Pecos Eagles find themselves in the exact opposite
situation they faced two weeks ago, when they met the Big Spring Steers,
and in almost the exact same situation as two years ago when they faced
the Steers.

Both those games went Big Spring's way. But Eagles' coach Bubba Williams
is hoping some extra rest given to pitcher Jason Abila helps him produce
the same results he got a year ago, when the Eagles host the Steers
tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Pecos' playoff fate may rest on tonight's game. A win would eliminate
the Steers in the three-way race for the final District 4-4A playoff
berth, while a loss could eliminate Pecos from the playoff race before
they play their final game of the season, at Fort Stockton on Friday.

Two years ago, the Eagles had a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a
home win over the Steers, but wound up losing, 7-2, as Big Spring moved
on to the fifth of their current six straight post-season appearances.

The Eagles come into tonight's game in a major hitting slump, having
gotten only three hits in two shutout losses to Andrews and San Angelo
Lake View last week. They dropped Pecos to 3-5 in district, 12-9
overall.

Big Spring, meanwhile, comes in off a 2-1 loss to Sweetwater a week ago
and are 2-5 in district, 6-16 on the season. They need wins in each of
their final three games to again advance to the playoffs.

On April 9, it was the Steers who faced the Eagles after back-to-back
shutout losses in which they collected just three hits. But Danny Hull
blanked Pecos for 6 2-3 innings, and Big Spring went on to a 5-1 victory.

Hull will start again tonight for the Steers, while Williams will go
with Abila, 5-2, who defeated Big Spring twice last season.

However, the junior has been feeling tired as of late, and Williams kept
him off the mound for all but 1 2-3 innings of relief work against Andrews
last week.
"He said he's feeling better and is ready to throw. We just need to get
our sticks going tonight and Friday," Williams said.

Abila got a break when Eric Abila was able to go five-plus innings
before tiring in Saturday's 4-0 loss at Lake View. It was his first
mound appearance in over a year and tonight, Williams said Abila would
make his varsity debut at third base, where the Eagles are without
leading hitter Richard Gutierrez for the rest of the season.

Big Spring closes with a Thursday make-up game against Fort Stockton,
then goes to Andrews on Friday. A Pecos loss tonight and wins by the
Panthers tonight and Thursday would give Fort Stockton its first playoff
berth in eight years, while an Eagle win and losses by the Panthers
tonight and Thursday would assure Pecos of no worse than a two- or
three-way tie for third going into Friday's contest.

New Pecos SL players assigned to teams


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PECOS, Apr. 22 -- Here are the teams assignments for new Pecos Senior
League players for the 1997 season, following Friday's tryouts and
Senior League draft. Players ages 14 ad 15 who participated in Senior
League last year will return to their teams for the new season. Regular
season play will begin in two weeks.

ROCKIES


Practice Field: Field #1 Lincoln Street
6 p.m.
Manager: Bobby Herrera 445-9884
Coaches: Tony Truj~illo, Abel Dominguez
Mason Abila; Jamie Herrera; Tony Trujillo; Joe Angel Hernandez; Joel
Valdez.

GIANTS


Practice Field: Field #2 Lincoln Street
6 p.m.
Manager: Benny Juarez 445-7462
Coach: Orlando Lara
Copi Magana; Cris Lara; Paul Juarez; Felix Hernandez; Juan Gonzales.

PIRATES:


Practice Field: Crockett Field
6 p.m.
Manager: Frank Rodriguez 445-7341
Coaches: Joe Sotello, Ricky Martinez
Eddy Mata; Bobby Sotello; Richard Rodriguez; Jo~e Sotello, Jr.

A's:


Practice Field: Maxey Park (by Longhorn)
6 p.m.
Manager: Isaac Hinojos 445-5694
Coach: Peter Dominguez
Martin Vasquez; Omar Muniz; Michael Chavez; Jose Garcia.

TWINS:


Practice Field: Civic Center Area
6 p.m.
Manager: Alex Garcia 445-4145
Coaches: Johnny Terrazas; Richard Gutierrez
Roger Gutierrez; Tony Cerna; Jesse Rodriguez; Pete Rodriguez.

RANGERS:


Practice Field: Field #3 Lincoln Street
6 p.m.
Manager: Danny Reyes 445-3012
Coaches: Vaughn Garnto; Alvin Rodriguez
Sammuel Gonzales; Cris Machan; Jeffery Saenz; Cris Gill

METS:


Practice Field: Martinez Field
5 p.m.
Manager: Jaime Herrera 445-9616
Coach: George Salgado
Abel Lopez; Felipe Mata; Kendric Evans; Isaac Granado.

WHITE SOX:


Practice Field: Lincoln Street Field #4
5:30 p.m.
Manager: Marcos Barrera 445-2671
Coaches: Esteban Barrera, Jason Chabarria
Adrien Mendoza; Ricky Plummer; David Meline; Mathew Montanez

Yanks swap two players, $3 million for Irabu


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By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK, Apr. 22 -- Ending a four-month saga, the New York Yankees
today acquired the rights to Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu from the San
Diego Padres for $3 million.

As part of the deal, which is subject to approval from the ruling
executive council, the Yankees will send injured outfielder Ruben
Rivera, minor league pitcher Rafael Medina to San Diego and will receive
three players: second baseman Homer Bush and outfielders Gordon Amerson
and Vernon Maxwell.

The deal was not announced, but a source familiar with the negotiations
said it had been completed.

Irabu's team in Japan, the Chiba Lotte Marines, agreed in January to
give San Diego exclusive rights to sign him, but the 27-year-old
right-hander refused to deal with the Padres, saying he would only sign
with the Yankees.

He was 12-6 with a 2.40 ERA last season, leading the Pacific League in
ERA for the second straight season. Irabu, who was two seasons short of
the amount needed for free agency in Japan, had threatened to sit out
the 1997 unless he was allowed to sign with the Yankees.

The Yankees and Irabu still have to work out a contract, although the
Padres and Marines have informally accused New York of tampering and
discussing parameters of a contract with Irabu before the trade.

Irabu, who has been working out on his own in California, is expected to
command a multimillion signing bonus.

The New York Mets were the other finalist for his rights. The Mets,
according to a source, had offered about $1.5 million, the choice of
pitchers Dave Mlicki or Mark Clark and a minor-leaguer. The Mets' offer
was conditioned on their signing Irabu.

Irabu would become the third Japanese pitcher on an active roster,
joining Hideo Nomo of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shigetoshi Hasegawa of
the Anaheim Angels.

In addition, several others are in the minor leagues, including Mac
Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners.

(Copyright 1997 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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State and Regional Sports Pages--San Angelo Standard-Times


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324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
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