UO has two strikes... before season starts
BY JOHN HENDERSON
Of The Emerald
Baseball at Oregon is no longer
a matter of balls and strikes,
power and speed, hitting and field
ing. With the cutback in minor
sports becoming greater every
year, Oregon baseball is rapidly
becoming a matter of dollars and
cents.
The Ducks, who were Northern
Division champions in 1974 be
fore falling to third place last year,
had their budget cut this year from
$34,000 to $19,000. With only
$5,000 to recruit with, Oregon
Coach Mel Krause could only give
four recruits partial aid.
We re going to have to get by
on carry-overs,' said Krause, in
his sixth year at the helm "If I'm
not allowed any more aid than
this, we re going to be in bad
shape,"
Throw in the following facts and
it's more understandable why
Krause has to paint a bleak pic
ture:
•Oregon has six starters to re
place. including three-time North
ern Division outfielder Don
Reynolds
•Washington State, last year s
champion, lost only four starters,
and runner-up Oregon State lost
just two
•Oregon s annual spring trip to
California was eliminated and re
placed by a brief seven-game
journey to Idaho
•Washington State will prepare
for conference play by playing in
three prestigious tournaments
while Oregon State will play in
two
•The Cougars' and Beavers'
budgets were barely scratched
and were able to sign five and
seven recruits, respectively.
Trying to scrape by without get
ting squeezed to death by the
economic pinch, is Krause He s
known success, having coached
the Ducks to two Division titles
and coached pro players in
Reynolds. Dave Roberts. Jim Wil
lis and Guy Krause
Despite his success, however,
Krause still feels his hands are
tied
“It's really frustrating to try to
compete with the other teams in
the league, and they don t suffer
the cutbacks that we do," he said.
"Our Spring trip to California was
cut but Oregon State and
Washington will both go on one.
When other teams are allowed
and we re the only one cut back, it
really makes a difference.
Krause, who played baseball
for Oregon from 1949-51. doesn't
want to see the sport fall to the
wayside.
“Oregon has a tradition of hav
ing a solid baseball program,'' he
said. "We haven t had a losing
season in 30 years. It’s consi
dered a big sport, and as a state
institution we have a responsibility
to the players to be representative
in the Pacific-8
“We had an All- American
catcher who wanted to come here.
But we couldn't afford to give him
a full ride so he went to San Diego
State."
Krause knows what baseball's
savior is.
It all depends on the university
administration,'' he said. “Our
primary concern is to get football
off the ground and all the money is
directed there.
I don't see any help coming
from the administration so I'm
prepared to organize an Oregon
Baseball Club to generate funds
for our athletes I’ve had a lot of
reaction from former Oregon
baseball players who are con
cerned, and I have a group all
ready to go."
In the meantime, however,
Krause will have to get by with
what he s got If there's a bright
spot on this year's team, which
lost 14 seniors, it would be on the
pitching staff Despite a disastr
ous year in 1975, four mound vet
erans return, including Eric Gil
more, who was injured all last year
after making the All-Northern Di
vision team in 1974
Gilmore could return to become
the mainstay of the staff if he can
recover from tendonitis in his
shoulder Krause has had him
throw 30 minutes every day in the
winter, and has been happy with
his progress
' So far. so good, said Krause.
Hes looking better every day.
His arm is getting stronger and it's
coming around pretty good
Other leading candidates for
the starting rotation are senior
Brian Shandera (2-4. 6 41), Brian
Peterson (4-3, 4.85) and junior
Craig Fetzer (1-2, 2 54).
Here are the proabable starters
in the infield:
Catcher — letterman Ron Hol
lins ( 300); First base — sopho
more Rob Closs ( 250) or Jeff
Stanton, a power-hitting transfer
from Treasure Valley CC; Second
base — Glenn Gaboury, a JC
transfer from Treasure Valley;
Shortstop—freshman Jeff
Heaton, who hit 426 and was
All-District at South Eugene High;
Third base—returning starter Ray
Smith (.308) backed up by a let
terman Hank Love (.289).
The Outfield will also be green
as Krause lost four-year lettermen
Reynolds and Dean Roberts Re
turning will be senior Dave Ulrich
(.267) in center field. The other
two spots are up for grabs with
Stanton, Paul Kirsch (.333), Mike
Connolly (.288) and JC transfers
Bob Niehaus and Frank Barth
olomew in the running.
“We II be a very inexperienced
team,1' said Krause. "We were
rained out of our two weeks of fall
practice so we couldn't match up
in intrasquad games.
“Basically, we ll have to rely on
good denense, and keeping our
pitchers healthy," he said. "Our
field will be in better shape this
year so I see no reason why we
won t be a good defensive ball
club."
If the Ducks do scrape up
enough wins for the division
crown, they won t have to worry
about facing USC for the confer
ence title. The play-off format has
been altered as the winner of the
Northern and Southern Divisions
must be picked as at-large teams
for the District-8 play-offs.
Here's how the rest of the
Northern Division shapes up:
OREGON STATE—The Beav
ers, who lost last year’s crown to
WSU on the season’s last
weekend, have been tabbed the
favorites by Cougar coach Chuck
Brayton. Top returnees are two
time All Conference pitcher Gale
Meier (5-2) and sophomore Ken
Noble (6-2). Leading OSU offen
sively will be shortstop Bill Mar
tinez (.287), outfielder Rich Dodge
(.333) and first baseman Rob
Drahn (.316)
The Beavers will play in the
Riverside Tournament and the
Best of the West Tournament at
Arizona State over Spring Vaca
tion.
WASHINGTON STATE—The
defending division champions lost
their entire outfield but have plenty
returning Leading the Cougars
will be junior first baseman Phil
Wesendorf. a possible All
American prospect who hit .366,
rammed 10 home runs and col
lected 49 RBI's last year
Pitching could be their strength
however, with Bob Sherwood
(9-3) and Tracy Harris (8-2) return
ing Coach Brayton boasts two
impressive rookies in sophomore
Eric Wilkins, the MVP in last year s
National Senior Babe Ruth Tour
nament, and Dave Elder, the 1975
American Legion Player of the
Year.
WASHINGTON—The Huskies
have 15 returning lettermen trying
to bounce back from a 2-13
Northern Division record and 8-17
overall. Leading the contingent
will be first baseman Ken Kanik
kaberg (.321). Junior Nick
Tsoukalas will start again at short
stop, and Curtis Johnson will re
turn after hitting .625 in a short
stint last year.
Washington’s pitching has hit
hard by graduation, but Ed Cribby
will be returning. Other probable
starters in the rotation will be
senior Brad Heath and sopho
more Steve Holmes.
(Schedule on page 18)
Mel Krause: Trying to make the best of a bad situation
j CONGRATULATIONS
j High School and College Graduates—al
i graduation picture is a lasting momento for]
i both you and your family. Make your ap
i
pointment now!!!
*%€ Scqqe Studio*
on campus
1214 Kincaid Street
Eugene. Oregon — 344-3432
fs:
4 ; : -
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