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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1966)
'Not Swinging as Hard' Baldridge Tops Batters DENNIS BALDRIDGE “He’s More Versatile . . By LYNN MUCKEN Sports Writer On March 22 of this year. Ore gon baseball coach Don Kirsch began searching for a new out fielder. On that day the regular Duck centerfielder. Denny Baldridge, attempted a throw to the infield. The ball didn't go anywhere. Kirsch feared Baldridge might be out for the season Today Denny Baldridge is lead ing the Oregon hitters with a 391 average, including four doubles, three triples, and 14 ibis. The supposedly-serious muscle and ligament pull has. if anything, improved Denny Baldridge as a ballplayer. “I’m not swinging as hard." said Baldridge. "At first it was because my arm hurt me. Now its just a habit. But I actually think it's helping me. Last year I was swinging too hard." Last year the husky Baldridge swung too hard for a .333 aver age, including .345 in Northern Division play. List of Honors But the success of the last two years hasn’t brought attention to Denny for the first time. Bald ridge strolled onto the Oregon campus trailing a list of honors T V. RENTALS NEW SETS Donovan's TV Center 225 W. 7th Avenue Call 343-1821 for rates Banana Split SALE Thursday Only DAIRY QUEEN as long as some of his home runs. A three-sport standout at Mc Kenzie High. Denny compiled a 14-0 record and batted 405 while leading his team to the A-2 title. In the championship game he beat Oregon teammate John Conrad, then pitching for Bandon, 1-0. Meanwhile, as a sideline, Bald ridge led A-2 basketball scorers for two seasons, and in his senior year grabbed oil a second team all-state quarterback berth in football. This year Denny is better than ever according to Kirsch. "He's more versatile this year. He's run ning well and putting the pres sure on the defense." Has Weakness Though If Baldridge has a weakness, Kirsch continued, it’s' his ten dency to swing on the first pitch. “He needs to relax and wait for a better pitch. If he learns to wait, he'll be a better hitter." Baldridge agrees. "The trouble is that I figure I can hit any pitch they throw up there. This isn't too good an attitude." But then underconfidence has never been one of Denny's prob lems. “I intend to play pro ball.” he said. "I don't know when or where, but I intend to play. In my own mind. I know I can make it. I've always wanted to play, that's what my whole life has been centered around.” As of now, the professional scouts agree with him. Baldridge was drafted by the New YorK Yankees last June and offered a contract It was enough money," Denny said, "but not enough when you consider how much school I have left.” Haldndge hasn’t closed the door, however, on signing a pro contract before his college eligi bility is finished. "If I get a good enough otter, I'll sign. It's just a matter of money, that's all.” Feels Ducks Strong Meanwhile Denny seems to be thinking only of the Northern Division title race. "If we start playing ball, we can beat Washing ton State," he noted. "We coast a lot. get far enough ahead to win and then just play out the rest of the game." He feels the Ducks can go a long way in the Conference race "but we're going to have to start hit ting the ball. We can't seem to find ourselves. The team's hitting in spurts. Two guys will hit one game, a different two guys the next. We can't seem to get to gether." In addition. Baldridge feels the Webfoots are better than state rival Oregon State, who beat the Ducks two out of three over the weekend. "We have a lot better team than they do," Denny said, -and we should beat them three times the rest of the way—if we hit. But anytime you get 11 hits to the other team’s three, and lose 4-3, you deserve to get beat.” EMERALD SPORTS Baseball Stats 9 17 4 5 Rich Armstrong, of 77 10 24 15 Ted Amato. 2b Dick Ogan. 2b Dale Ehler, c-of Phil 01rich,3b Bruce Robb, of Wayne Smith, 3b Bob Lindsay, c Jim Moore, 2b Scott Cress, lb To’als Opponents 33 31 63 30 14 52 19 16 4 9 3 8 8 7 9 16 16 4 7 4 2 3 6 11 4 4 4 3 49 11 0 4 3 3 0 3 0 4 2 2 0 1 1 0 0 HR SB 0 0 OREGON BASEBALL STATISTICS (21 Games) Hitting AB R H RBI 2B 3B Dave Heuberger, if 1111 Dennis Baldridge, of 69 21 27 14 Ron Delplanche. ss 81 21 27 18 Steve. Bunker, of-lb 52 Don Pooley, of 16 RB SO 0 0 1 5 1 0 1 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 3 0 2 0 2 1 4 0 0 2 0 1 5 5 13 5 1 6 8 13 0 11 13 4 2 10 9 5 4 6 10 1 2 2 2 14 12 671 124 174 111 24 10 683 110 166 86 28 13 15 24 12 15 100 109 80 126 Pet. 1.000 .391 .333 .327 .313 .312 .273 .258 .254 .233 .214 .212 .211 .188 .143 .259 .243 IP 4 16 10-1 Jim Donnelly Mike Nicksic Larry Hills Jerry Gjesvold 26 Joe Kniser 26-1 Ken Hadden Randy Miller Charles Hopkins 15 Mike Snow 13-1 Steve Bunker 13 John Conrad 10-2 Mike Powers 1-2 32-1 2 AB 13 63 40 108 97 118 8 64 50 58 51 9 Pitching R H ER SO 0 4 6 16 10 16 1 10 12 16 15 3 3 12 5 25 18 23 2 20 12 24 18 3 0 1 3 8 9 12 1 8 9 13 12 3 1 9 9 20 21 23 3 8 8 13 9 2 BB ERA W 2 0 00 0 0.54 2.70 2.79 3.15 3.42 4.50 4.77 6.21 9.00 981 13.50 3 8 7 9 11 1 12 13 5 5 2 2 1 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 L 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 2 0 1 2 0 OREGON baseball captain Ron Delplanche la forced out on an in field play during a recent Oregon State Duck contest at < orvallis. Delplanche, bitting .333 and accounting for 18 rbis. will be on hand at his shortstop position Friday and Saturday when the Web foots host Washington in a three game Northern Division series at Howe Field. J"« Chaskln Photo Duck Baseballers Meet Lewis-Clark Oregon's baseball squad, cur rently standing in a third-place tie in the Northern Division race with a 1-2 won-lost mark, travels to Portland Wednesday for a 3 p.m. game with Lewis and Clark The Ducks own an overall II 10 record and have won nine of J their last 11 games. Lewis and | Clark is currently in second place in the Northwest Conference, J with a 5-3 league mark Want to really get results?— Use Emerald Classified Ads Phone 342 1411, Ext 1818 COBURN'S • CAMERAS • PHOTO SUPPLIES • TAPE RECORDERS Eugene's most complete photographic storesl Now Two Locations 76 W. Broadway 344-2201 698 Willamette 344-8241 Used Books Final Sale SUNDOG BOOKSTORE Selling oof entire stock beginning Wednesday April 20-21 all books 20% off April 22, 23, 24 all books 40% off April 25-? all books 60% off Then all books 80% off Then all remaining for whatever you wish, almost. Then all left for a quarter, then a dime, then free how many you can carry. EVERYTHING GOES FREE BOOKS EVERY DAY ALL SUBJECTS Sundog Bookstore 1249 Alder Open 10-5 and evenings STUDENT GAS DISCOUNT The following program has been established for students of the University of Oregon, sponsored by the ASUO. The discounts listed below are available to all students upon presentation of their student body cards. This is the beginning of a program that we hope to expand into several other area of student purchases. PRIDE OF OREGON (Walt's Gas for Less) Corner of Broadway and Alder 29.9c regular 32.9c premium HANCOCK GAS STATION, 19th and Agate 30.9c premium 25% off on lube and oil changes 28.9c regular 20% off on oil alone Cigarettes 20c a pack—no labor charges on fan belts, etc. when purchased at the station. SIGNAL GAS STATION. 1811 Franklin 32c premium 10off on oil changes, lubes, oil filters, etc. 29c regular AMERICAN GAS STATION. Franklin and Opposite Agate They are now giving 2c discount, but within a few days the station will offer a 50'; discount on any services in their garage (lubes, washes, etc.) It Cannot Be Stressed Enough That in Order for the Program to Work, Students Must Patronize Their Discount Merchants Only!
