CONTACT: Adam Thompson [email protected] SPORTS 920-453-5156 B1 Tuesday, June 17, 2014 www.sheboyganpress.com LOCAL BASEBALL NBA FINALS Post 83 Spurs still the model pro franchise sweeps By Brian Mahoney Painfully denied 12 10 rebounds for the Spurs, Associated Press months ago by the Heat, who added this title to the this victory party was ones they won in 1999, SAN ANTONIO — Tim worth the wait. 2003, ‘05 and ‘07 by shoot- foes Duncan and Tony Parker “We got to this spot and ing a finals-record 52.8 won titles in their second we didn’t let it go,” Ginobi- percent in the series. Sheboygan Press Media seasons. Manu Ginobili li said. “They played exquisite was a champion as an NBA San Antonio erased an basketball this series and Sheboygan’s Post 83 rookie. early 16-point deficit and in particular these last Legion baseball team al- Success came so quick- routed Miami for the three games and they are lowed just two runs in a ly and frequently for the fourth time in the series, the better team. There’s doubleheader sweep of Big Three, but San Anto- denying the Heat’s quest no other way to say it,” opponents on Sunday. nio couldn’t keep it up af- for a third straight cham- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra Sheboygan edged ter winning its last title in pionship. A year after the said. Marshfield 3-1 before run- 2007. And just when the Spurs suffered their only A decade and a half af- ruling Kenosha 11-1 in five Spurs were on the verge of loss in six finals appear- ter winning their first ti- innings. being back on top again Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after ances — a heartbreaking tle, the Spurs remain the In the opener, Weston last year, the Miami Heat defeating the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. seven-game defeat — they NBA’s model organiza- Nelson allowed just one practically snatched the GETTY IMAGES turned the rematch into no tion, a small-market team unearned run on four hits rings right off their fin- match at all. that simply wins big and over 6.2 innings for the win; gers. where to rank this title. can be beautiful like to- “We had a great first hardly ever does it with a Andy Seymour got the final So when they finally “That’s why I say it’s day.” quarter, but from that high draft pick. Instead, out with the bases loaded celebrated again Sunday, the sweetest one,” Parker The Spurs finished off point on they were the bet- they found players over- for the save. players wrapping them- said, “because it’s just un- a dominant run to their ter team, and that’s why seas or in other organiza- Cody Weis went 3-for-3 selves in flags from believable to win seven fifth NBA championship, they’re the champions in tions who would fit the with a single, double and around the world in a re- years ago, and to be so ending the Heat’s two- 2014,” said LeBron James, Spurs’ way of doing things triple, and Robert Hoffman minder that the Spurs look close last year, it was very year title reign with a 104- who led the Heat with 31 and mesh with Duncan, and John Raff each added far beyond the border to cruel. But that’s the beau- 87 victory that wrapped points and 10 rebounds. Parker and Ginobili, who two hits. build champions, Parker ty of sport. Sometimes it’s up the series in five Finals MVP Kawhi Against Kenosha, Post had no trouble deciding tough. And sometimes it games. Leonard had 22 points and See SPURS, Page B2 83 pounded out 14 hits. Hoffman was 3-for-3 and Seymour was 3-for-4 with three RBI to lead the WORLD CUP charge. Alex Feudner, Nelson and Carter Amundsen each added two hits, Nelson and Fuedner had two RBI apiece. Raff, in his first work on the mound since last July, got the win in four innings of work, Aaron Krueger threw a scoreless fifth. WIN WITH A PRICE "We beat two teams that will win a lot of U.S. edges Ghana, loses key forward to injury games,” said Post 83 coach Steve Goes. “We have hit the ball well in all of our games thus far.” Sheboygan (5-0) is at Appleton Post 38 for a doubleheader on Tuesday, then are in a tournament in Waupun over the weekend. MLB Gwynn, ‘Mr. Padre,’ dies at 54 Associated Press SAN DIEGO — Tony Gwynn, the Hall of Famer with a sweet left-handed swing who spent his entire 20-year career with the Pa- U.S. forward Clint Dempsey celebrates after scoring against Ghana in an opening match at the World Cup in Brazil on Monday. AFP/GETTY IMAGES dres and was one of the game’s greatest hitters, died of cancer Monday. He By Ronald Blum Clint Dempsey scored a shocking was unable to move even after team- was 54. Associated Press goal a half-minute in, but the U.S. mates climbed off the dog pile. He had Gwynn, a craftsman at couldn’t make it stand up. Andre Ayew made his national team debut only last the plate and winner of ATAL, Brazil — After 90 brutal tied the score in the 82nd minute after a August, and Brooks hadn’t scored in eight batting titles, was minutes of end-to-end action, the brilliant back-heel pass from Asamoah four appearances. nicknamed “Mr. Padre” Americans emerged with a Gyan, who had eliminated the U.S. four U.S. players ran onto the field to cele- and was one of the most thrilling 2-1 win over Ghana. years ago. brate at the final whistle, jumping as beloved athletes in San “It was a grind, but it was a And then, just four minutes later, 21- supporters chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” Diego. Nwonderful win at the end of the day,” year-old John Brooks rose to head in Now they’re in good position in Group G, He attributed his oral coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. Graham Zusi’s corner kick from 8 yards where Germany opened with a 4-0 rout cancer to years of chewing U.S. fans were screaming for re- — the first substitute to ever score for of Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. tobacco. He had been on a venge Monday after the Black Stars the United States in 30 World Cup games After the game, Vice President Joe medical leave since late eliminated the Americans from the last over 84 years. The defender, an unex- Biden visited the victorious Americans March from his job as base- two Cups. pected addition to the American roster, ball coach at San Diego They got it. At a price. was so overcome he fell to the field and See SOCCER, Page B2 State, his alma mater. In a rarity in pro sports, Gwynn played his whole career with the Padres, choosing to stay rather than leaving for bigger paychecks elsewhere. His Germany makes short work of Portugal terrific hand-eye coordina- tion made him one of the Associated Press in the 86th as the U.S. Two seeded teams — game’s greatest contact defeated Ghana 2-1 in defending champion hitters. He had 3,141 hits, a RIO DE JANEIRO — Ger- Natal, with Vice Presi- Spain and Uruguay — career .338 average and many was supposed to dent Joe Biden watch- were upset earlier. That won eight NL batting titles. be a team that would ing and giving the team fate would not befall Gwynn’s wife, Alicia, melt in Brazil’s tropics, a postgame pep talk. Germany on Monday. and other family members and the United States Ghana had eliminat- It was Germans’ were at his side when he was supposed to be a ed the Americans from 100th World Cup match, died. Gwynn’s son, Tony Jr., team that can’t beat the last two World Cups. and they had it wrapped was in Philadelphia, where Ghana. The two games up by halftime. he plays for the Phillies. Both teams flipped helped the World Cup Mueller, who led the “Today I lost my Dad, the scripts on Monday continue to deliver lots 2010 World Cup with my best friend and my and find themselves of goals — 44 in the first five goals, scored on ei- mentor,” Gwynn Jr. tweet- tied atop Group G. 14 games. ther side of Mats Hum- ed. “I’m gonna miss u so In Salvador, Thomas Nigeria played Iran mels’ headed goal as much pops. I’m gonna do Mueller scored a hat in the day’s other Germany took a 3-0 lead Portugal's Pepe headbutts Germany's Thomas Mueller (L), everything in my power to trick and Germany match, and neither at the break. He added receiving him a red card, during their World Cup Group G continue to … Make u dominated Portugal — team added to that tally. his third goal in the 81st. soccer match at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador. REUTERS proud!” which played with 10 The teams played the “To score three goals Gwynn played in the Pa- men after a red card in first draw of this World in the World Cup opener er award, he faded after The defending Cup of dres’ only two World Series the 37th minute — 4-0, Cup, finishing score- against such an oppo- threatening early in the Africa Nations champi- and was a 15-time All-Star.