Spilyy Sports
Pqge 6 Spilyqy Tyvnoo April 28, 2005
Adams operates in Buffs 1
By Brian Mortcnsen
Spilyay Tymoo
No, Rodney "Parch" Adams
is not a doctor. 1 le doesn't even
play one in the movies.
The right-handed pitcher
third basemanfirst baseman
does have three pitches he can
use to operate on opposing hit
ters. The senior has also had a
solid start at the plate, helping
his Madras White Buffalo team
mates move to an 11-1 .start in
the Tri-Valley League baseball
campaign.
The Buff's (17-3 through
Monday) swept Sherwood in a
rain-postponed doubleheader
Monday and played a single
game at Wilsonvillc Wednesday
and could be in first place in the
league by this weekend.
"We're doing a lot better than
we did last year," the burly
Adams said, referring to last
year's finish that saw the Buffa
los reach the league playoffs.
"We're hitting the ball right from
the start instead of waiting for
like the sixth inning.
"We're playing better defense,
and we're doing a lot better on
pitching."
Adams, who has hit one
home run, that coming against
Wilsonvillc April 2, has seen lim
ited action since he sprained a
knee in the Buffs' game at
Gladstone April 6 but has since
come back.
"Before I got hurt, I was
pitching pretty good," Adams
said. "But since 1 can't push off
my leg any more, I lost a lot of
velocity."
He said he hoped to be able
to start against Wilsonville
Wednesday or in the Buffs'
doubleheader at Gladstone Way
7.
Since he came back to the
team last week against Valley
Catholic, Adams has been able
to play his standard field posi
tion at third base, as well as at
his new one as of this year, first
base.
"I like third base the most,"
he said. "I just like it because
I've played it for a long time,
and I know how to play it."
First base took a lot of work
in fielding drills where he had
to learn to pick up or block
sharply hit balls, but he said he's
figured out the position well
enough.
He said he's had to play all
three of his positions in a game
this season, and that being so
Photo courtny of Rachal Tallmdg.
Curtis Thompson Jr. gets ready for a day of skiing at
Mt. Hood Meadows, which recently hosted a free ski
day for fifth-graders of the reservation.
... .
,
I
versatile can only help in the
future, perhaps if he gets the
opportunity to play college base
ball. Adams, who lives in the
Sunnyside area of the reserva
tion, said he's been playing base
ball since he was 7 or 8 through
Warm Springs' organized Little
League baseball system.
"And , my mom - (Lana
Leonard) arid my dad (Andy
Leonard) come out and hit with
me," he said. "They both help
me out in baseball."
Adams said he throws a
fastball, curve and a circle
changeup, and he's recently been
working on throwing a slider and
a cut fastball, that slightly breaks
inside or outside, that Madras
pitching coach Stan Williams
taught him.
Adams said his mother
started calling him "Patch."
"It's short for Patrick," he
said. "That's what she says."
And, yes, he's seen the 1998
movie starring Robin Williams
as a would-be doctor who
treated patients with good hu
mor. Adams said his biggest mo-
. v .
,r,;, ,
Bran MortaniwiSpilyay
Rodney "Patch" Adams (left),
and at bat (above.)
ment in baseball came in litde
League.
"You'd have to go back to
Junior All-Stars because I had a
grand slam. We didn't really do
good at districts, but it was
pretty fun," he said.
College baseball could be a
possibility, but he said he may
try to play for Central Oregon
Community College's club team
next year.
Adams said his favorite team
is the Atlanta Braves, and his
favorite players are Alex
Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield
of the New York Yankees.
Buff notes: After
Wednesday's game at Sherwood,
Madras travels to Sherwood
Wed., May 4... the Buffs then
close out their home regular-season
schedule witha double
header against third-place
Gladstone Sat., May 7... Madras
beat Gladstone, 6-3, April 6...
behind the pitching of Vaughan
Prow ... the Buffs close the regu
it
HIGH DESERT
ESCAPE SPECIAL
$1M
fortwo$un-Thun
S)0dd-nfor
unlimrted 9!f kx two
hot start
lar season with a pair at LaSalle
Sat., May 14... Wilsonville, also
11-1 prior to its game against
Madras Wednesday, ends its
league season with five single
games, at Sherwood April 29, at
home against Valley Catholic
May 4, at LaSalle May 6, and
then at home against Estacada
and Gladstone, May 11 and 13,
respectively.... the Wildcats also
host Marist May 7... the Tri
Valley League regular season
champion has a first-round bye
in the Class 3A State Tourna
ment and hosts its first game
Wed., May 25 ... the Tri-Valley
runner-up hosts the No. 3 1 earn
from the Far West League
Mon., May 23... the third-place
team engages in the Tri-Valley
League playoffs against the vic
tor between the fourth and fifth
place finishers.
Your Favorite
Furnishings
LE.55
Frw D?lwy to
Most Central
Oregon Areas
r- "' ,--ri
Casino Coif Pool Spa Dining Lode
The sun is out. And so are
Tke In everything IUh-Nee-T hi
two people fl enjoy one rh! in
in the Chinook Room for pretktatl
Ww 5f unlimited 9'! for two on
only J JO more, Thtt'i In addition
of amenHict, ranfinc from a full tervke tpa to a live action
rtlrx Afi In a tertinc unlike anything you can imagine.
Join ui In the Chtnook Hoora for
Seafood liiffel at spm Sunday
Gathering of Nations
tourney is May 6-8
The Gathering of Nations
6-foot Plus 1 (Only) tourna
ment is set for May 6-8 at the
Warm Springs Community
Center.
First place winner receives
championship jackets and
cash; second place,
sweatshirts and cash; third
place, t-shirts and cash. Other
awards: five All Stars, MVP,
high scorer, Mr. I lustlc, most
Little League photos scheduled
Attention parents of Little
League players, the following is
the picture schedule:
Wednesday afternoon, May
11:
T-Birds, 4 o'clock; Rivercats,
4:15; Raptors, 4:30; Braves,
4:45; Warriors, 5; Rattlers, 5:15;
BEDROOM DAYBEDS
SLEEPERS
LtAI HhK
ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS
AND MORE!
HOME FURNISHINGS REDMOND
fkrati $t JfimUd Sum
m SW 6th St At The 1
mini
to offer. With our H($J Drt Ekp
i deluxe Lod room, two entre
or lurxh and two is i4of coupont.
our Kenic, 18 hole coune for
to our vait number
Friday Nlc;ht HMW
ftrunch from 7fn-)pm Kahneeta.com 800 SS4-4SUN
laru
3-pointers.
Entry fee is $280; holding
fee, $80.
For more information call
Rick Minthorn at (541) 553
1578; or Andy U-onard, 553
3243. Minthorn's mailing ad
dress is P.O. Box 955, Warm
Springs, OR 97761.
No checks. Money orders
only. All fees must be paid by
the first game.
Jr. Boys, 5:30; Jr. Girls, 5:45.
Thursday afternoon, May 12:
Scrappers, 4 o'clock; Bulls,
4:15; Stars, 4:30; Angels, 4:45;
Lil Bucks, 5; Papooses, 5:15;
Gamblers, 5:30.
Coaches will hand out pic
ture packets.
DESKS
LIVING
ROOM
DINING ROOM1
TABLES LAMPS
RECLINERS
BUNKBEDS
Open 7 Days
10 $ MoaSat.
11:00-5 Sun,
923-4155
1
the deals.
Special,
A
i
i f(, J
KAHNEtTA
nctnr mtfwr l itmiA
yX ninth 475-7560
;