The Pilot/April 18 Page 5 Diamond 'Dogs look to make noise in SAC Tourney by B J. Johnson A bright spot has been the play of catcher GWU has a three-game set at home with Wes Gentry. Gentry, a sophomore from Wingate this weekend. They will then prepare staff writer Tazewell, Va., has already tied the school for the conference tournament, which will be With one week remaining in the regular record for doubles in a season (16) and is just held in Salisbury, N.C. season, the GWU baseball team is hoping to five RBI's short of John Hill's single season gain momentum heading into next week's record of 48. Gentry leads the team in hits, South Atlantic Conference Tournament. This RBI's, home runs, doubles, games played, roller coaster season has left the team with a slugging percentage and is tied with John Hill mark of 19-25 overall and 5-12 in SAC play. for the team lead in at-bats. Last year. Gentry Last weekend, the Bulldogs dropped both hit .276, with two home runs and 17 RBI's. ends of a doubleheader with Catawba. In This year he is batting .326. game one the 'Dogs were led by the strong Other big hitters for the Runnin' Bulldogs pitching performance of junior Brian Rhodes. this season have been William Moss, Wes Rhodes went seven innings, allowing only Barkley and Brad Taylor, the top three in two earned runs and striking out three. batting at .389, .342 and .341 respectively. Gardner-Webb lost 2-1. John Hill is second on the team in home runs In the second game, GWU fell behind 4-1 with seven and RBI's with 28. and added two runs before they fell 4-3. Lee On the mound, GWU has gotten solid Hill surrendered only two earned runs through performances from several players. Daniel seven innings, while striking out four batters. Planck leads the team in ERA at 1.16 and is Brad Cuttino was two for two while scoring 2-0 in nine appearances. Rhodes and Lee Hill twice and stealing a base. Wes Gentry was lead the team with four wins a piece. Michael two for three at the plate, Brandon McKoy English has two wins and leads the team in and Brad Taylor each had a hit and an RBI. saves with three and strikeouts, 81. "It's deep and I don’t think it's playable." G-W's Wes Gentry smashes a home run in a recent (Photo by Karen Brower)

Sports Talk superstars (Olajuwan, Drexler and Barkley) done every other year — choke. Only this time on the court at the same time, they could be it will happen before the World Series. Hello, and welcome to this edition of very dangerous. The Astros have Bagwell but one thing js Sports Talk, the talk show of the printed page. In the East, few teams can challenge missing: a quality pitcher. The Rockies also Carlton, B.J. and I (your host, Randy Capps) Chicago. New York thinks it can, but loses to lack a pitcher or two or three, and even 16 get to say how we feel about issues affecting New Jersey and Dallas on consecutive nights. runs a game can't make up for inefficient sports fans. Lucky you... Detroit is another year or two away. Miami pitching. I think I hear the phone ringing. Carlton, probably has the best shot at knocking off the St. Louis will return to the World Series why don't you take this one? Bulls. and after getting by Florida in the NLCS. The Hi! This is Lonnie from Lake Hollifield. are a nice one-two punch, but so are Michael Cardinals will then lose to the Seattle I iinow the college season is over, Jordan and . So while it's Mariners in the Fall Classic. but NBA playoffs will begin soon. What possible Chicago might go down in the NBA Thanks, B.J., for that instructive bit of teams, if any, have a shot at dethroning the playoffs, it's more likely the Bulls will grab a analysis. Let's look at the AL. In the east, I ? fifth title in seven years. think the Baltimore Orioles will finally break Several teams have shown they can handle Thanks, Carlton. Let's take our next call. through and win a pennant. The defending the Bulls on a given night. But a five-or Hi, this is Chris from Centerville. It's world champion New York Yankees will not seven-game series? I don't think so. Even finally time for baseball, so how about a be able to stop the O's, and they will be lucky without , Chicago has plenty rundown on the upcoming season. to hola off the much improved Toronto Blue of weapons. And remember, Toni Kukoc has All right, B.J. will run down the NL, and Jays for second. been injured most of the year. So when he gets I'll take a look at the AL. In the central, it’s a horse race between the back, look out. Thanks, R.C. I'll start with a team near and Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians The Seattle Supersonics have the talent to dear to rednecks everywhere, the Atlanta for the crown. I'll give the edge to the Indians play with the Bulls, but they need to get Braves. Yeah, they have the pitching just like because of their experience. Out west, it will Shawn Kemp, and his off-the-court problems, every year. But the difference this year is that be another shootout between the straightened out. The Supersonics have someone else does too. The Florida Marlins Rangers and the Seattle Mariners. The experience playing in last year's NBA Finals; will win the east, proving you can buy your Mariners almost had them last year without however, they are not even the best team in way to a pennant. The St. Louis Cardinals will staff ace Randy Johnson. He's back and so are the west right now. win the central. The Cards have five guys that they. That honor goes to the Utah Jazz. Karl can over 30 bases and will produce runs The White Sox will capture the wild card Malone is having an MVP-type season and all the way to the central crown. berth but fall to the Mariners in the playoffs' Utah is playing its best basketball heading Out west the Dodgers will be the team to first round. In a rematch from 1996, the into the playoffs, with the second best record beat. If Hideo Nomo and the boys can put Orioles will once again knock off the Indians. in the league since the all-star break. themselves together they will run away with Baltimore is going all the wa*y this season. I The Lakers should make some noise in the the division. mean past the Indians, then the Mariners, and playoffs. And don't count out the That leaves the wild card. The Braves will through the Atlanta Braves for their first Rockets. If they can ever get their three take the wild card route, then do what they’ve world title in this decade.