vLER - WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 3, i960 GUNNED DOWN--b Brake Parts shortcenter Dorothy Kupstis as Marcia Fox of St. Regis blocks the plate and puts the tag on the oncoming slider. Kupstis tried to score what would have been the tying run for Brake Parts in this fourth inning play when she tried to stretch a long triple into an inside-the-park homer. Brake parts later did tie the score, 1-1, on doubles by Barb Blanken and Vicky Kopsell, but last inning heroics by St. Regis gave them the playoff championship in the Women's 16" Thursday division, 3-2. STAFF PHOTO-JOEL WAKITSCH Plaindealer Joel Wakitsch I was amazed. Looking out over the field for seven tense innings, I saw diving catches, whirling throws and instinctive baserunning. The crowd was a big one. The beer was flowing in the stands and about three-fourths of them were excited. So was I. Everyone out there is thinking to himself, "oh boy, this guy is gonna waste 30 inches of type talking about the Chicago Cubs." The fact is, I'd love to talk about the Cubs, but I couldn't get myself to do it quite yet...not this year. Nope, This is a salute to someone \**io definately deserves the praise , the girls of the McHenry Women's 16" Softball League. In three short years, the league ha^ built up to two divisions of eight teams each, complete with good umpires, lots of f^tis, a complete playoff series and best of all, good players. The past week, I was hesitant about going to the finals of each division's playoffs. I hadn't seen much of the play during the summer because I was playing softball myself or covering legion or little league. I did go .however, and I'm sure glad I did. In two short nights, I saw one girl who could throw harder than any guy in the men's 16" league. I witnessed one girl make three diving catches in two innings while playing without the assistance of a mitt. My eyes popped out of my head when I saw a perfect throw to home from 150 feet in center field to nip a runner who was kept from the plate Hie vi.lcl.ti !«d blocked it so beautifully. This is competitive, I thought,this is softball. The crowd at these two games, were twice as big as those at the final series of the Men's 16" playoffs and that's a league which has been around forever. And talk about enthusiastic. The players caught fire from the roar of the crowd and performed that much better, which became synergistic. p I don't know if every game played is as exciting as in those two nights, but if they are, I'll be there for the next games. There's one small problem, however, the season is over. ! remember... REAL ESTATE TAXES ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 4th and ! PAYABLE AT i McHenry State Bank Championship For St. Regis BRAKE PARTS VS. OAKS MARATHON The Brake Parts team moved on to the finals after squeaking by Oaks 6-5 in a well played game by both teams. In the first Oaks jumped out to a quick lead with Kath Rogers, Sue Garcia and Carol Wilke all getting on base and scoring one run. For Brake Parts in the first and second Diane Wilson, Dorothy Kupstis and Vicki Kopsell all singled but never reached the plate. Brake Parts broke it open in the third when eleven girls stepped to the plate with six scoring on singles by Wilson, Barb Blanken, Kopsell, Debbie Thornton and Linda Lent; a double by Kupstis and an intentional walk to Mary Mclnerney. Oaks came alive in the top of the sixth with four hits; singles by Mary Sue Parker, Wilke, Eileen Connell and a double by Garcia scoring four runs and cutting Brake Parts lead to one. In the seventh for Oaks, Linda Lossman flew out to Bernie Shaver and Kath Rogers singled, threatening to tie the game. She was doubled off first, however, when Mary Ellen King hit a sharp line drive to Patti Thelen, who threw to first for the final out. ST. REGIS VS. RIVER SHANNON St. Regis came away with a 21-2 defeat over River Shannon to give them a final berth in the play-offs. The game was neck to neck after three innings as each team had two runs, but in the fourth St. Regis combined hitting with smart base running to give them the lead as five batters in a row reached base safely. For Regis, Dar Costello was five for five scoring four runs, Bobbie Martin was two for two, Karen Fischer went four for five, Nancy S. was four for five, and Marcia Fox was three for four. In the sixth, Regis once again pounded the ball sending 14 girls to the plate, with 10 getting hits and 10 runs scoring. For River Shannon, Bobby Hall was two for three, and scored both of River Shannon's runs. 3RD PLACE PLAYOFFS OAKS VS. RIVER SHANNON Oaks was in command the entire game allowing only two runs to score; one unearned, and the other on a homerun by River Shannon's Julie.Oeffling. Oaks accumulated 22 hits and scored 18 runs, walking away with the 18-2 victory.'For Oaks Eileen Connell was three for four including a homerun, Carol Wilke went two for four, Sue Garcia went two for three, Mary Ellen King went three for four, Joyce Henning and Linda Lossmann were two for four and Kath Rogers went two for two with two homeruns. Mary Ellen King was the winning pitcher giving up five hits and only one walk. River Shannon's leftfielder Julie Oeffling made a nice grab on a sinking line drive. CHAMIONSHIP GAME ST. REGIS VS. BRAKE PARTS With both teams playing excellent defense it seemed a shame that one had to loose. Throughout the entire game Regis and Brake Parts turned in many fine plays, but the tension broke in the second when Barb Blanken singled, and later scored on a single by Cis Morner. St. Regis came right back in the third evening the game at one apiece when Teri singled and scored on a double by Marcia Fox. Once again Brake Parts came right back with a run in the fourth as Barb Blanken once again scored on a single by Vicki Kopselly after she had doubled. . Defense remained tight for both teams until in the sixth inning, Regis' Dar Costello after singling, scored on a single by Karen Fischer tying th£ gftme, 2-2. Brake Parts took their bats in the seventh but came up empty handed which really boosted St. Regis moral. Regis' fired up team came to bat. Meigan led off with a single, and Mozell walked and Terri hit to second but was thrown out at first on a close play giving Regis one out with runners on second and third. Brake Parts decided to pitch to Nancy S. rather than walk her and it proved fatal as she smashed a hard hit grounder to Diane Wilson at second, who was playing deep, and the runner on third scored before the ball even reached the plate giving Regis the 3-2 victory. Roni Rogers CLEVELAND INDIANS ROOKIE OUTFIELDER 3510 W. Elm Street Lillian Street & Crystal Lake Road Richmond Rd. & Pearl St. Hi THE RIGHT CALL-was made by the first base umpire in Thursday nights final playoff game between St. Regis and Brake Parts at Petersen Park. The long stretch by Brake Part first' baseman Mary Mclnerney wasn't enough to nip hard-running Dar Costello of St. Regis. The bang-bang play came in the bottom of the sixth inning when third baseman Patty Thelen dove toward the line to snare a hot grounder and threw a bullet to first. A grounder to first moved Costello to second, before she scored on a single by St. Regis pitcher Karen Fischer to tie the score at two. STAFF PHOTO-JOEL WAKITSCH EARl WALSH' So I Hear • You'll flip for this healthy sug gestion from the United States Twirling Association. For bet ter over-all circulation, thicker hair and smoother skin, try standing on your head once a day for 30-60 seconds. Place a pillow on the floor to protect your head, then slowly bring legs up while maintaining your balance. The first few-times you might prefer to lean your legs against the wall, or have a friend hold you steady, before you try balancing unattended. 1HARBONEAU SMACKED A HOMER IN HIS FIRST TIME AT BAT IN THE BIG LEAGUES, AND WENT ON IV CAPTURE THE ADULATION OF MANY MUNICIPAL STADIUM FANS WITH OTHER I PRODIGIOUS WHOLLOPS' HE WAS DUBBED "SUPER JOE'.' /N THE PAST 2 YEARS HE WON BATTING 'TITLES IN THE MINORS. JOE, WHO GREW UP IN BEU/IDEREJLL., HAS DONE SOME ODD THINGS IN HIS YOUTH. HE LET HIMSELF GET D/T BY AN ALLIGATOR. HE ONCE PULLED ONE OF HIS OLYN TEETH. HE TRIED TO SWALLOW AN EGG WITHOUT CRACKING IT. HE USED A VISE GRIP TO STRAIGHTEN HIS BROKEN NOSE HE ATE 6 LIGHTED CIGARETTES. BUT, SINCE HE GCTT MARRIED, HE HAS SETTLED DOWN QUITE ABIT. • ° An early holiday deadline faces us once more. Time and space permitting, we could write a long story about a short man. Our subject is Odilon "Shorty" Long who followed the late Frank Hughes servicing AT&T long lines in our area for some twenty years. Always energetic and a perfectionist, Long was long on talent so decided not to rust out after this retirement. He saw a chance to help others by joining the Peace Corps and going to West Africa where he has spent the last ten years. A news report tells that Odilon Long is the only "foreigner" to receive the high award called "office of the Council Division of the Order of the Rokel". This was presented at an honors banquet attended by dignitaries. y Secretary of State Vance sent congratulations "for sustained, exemplary performance in the Sierra Leone Comitment to the Peace Corps philosphy and dedication to improving the quality of life for many West Africians". Recognition has been given in the field of con struction. One of Long's school designs has been adopted for all primary schools in the area. Years before the Peace Corps idea came along, our subject saw the need to improve world conditions by teaching foreign languages. He started the Bell i Telephone Club of Foreign Languages with the idea of breaking down the language barrier. This could go on and on, but let us sum it up. We are proud to recognize a McHenryrite who retired from his occupation, then felt too young to sit around. Not for money, not for honor and glory he launched out to help people who needed help, but had only kind thoughts and appreciation to return. "1 _ At the age of 76 years, Odilon "Shorty" Long has no thoughts of leaving his commendable efforts. McHenry knew him as "Shorty". He is in fact a BIG man. "Just call me Rip", the man said as Pete Ehron introduced us at the Rich- mond-McHenry Rotary party at the Lazy "K" Camping grounds north of Spring Grove. Rip says he is a former neighbor of the Ford Han- fords near Spring Grove and now resides in McHenry. What he wanted us to know as that he is a Plaindealer reader -- and a White Sox fan. Those things are nice to hear. Can't get away with a> thing. Now, hear this to see how our dear readers check us: 8-35-80 "Dear Earl: "Met Harvey Nye this A.M. We agreed that he is NOT a native of McHenry as he was born in Johnsburg and came to McHenry while the unwritten law? "To be a native of McHenry you must be born here or lived here for 99 years", was in effect. "The shape that Harvey is in I think that he will make it. "I think that the law still holds. "Regards, "Leo Heimer" Racquet Sports Bad For Eyes? As the nation's boom in racquet sports participation grows, so does the threat of eye damage among players. Tennis, squash and racquetball enthusiasts suffered over 4,200 eye in juries last year - almost 20 percent more than the previous year - according to the National Society to Prevent Blindness. "Unguarded eyes are open to injury and possible vision impairment, from flying racquets, elbows and balls that can traveMOO miles per hour. Give your eyes a .sporting chance," urged Virginia S. Boyce, executive -NOTICE- The Montgomery Ward circular In today's paper contains an Item for DUCT TAPE 2"x 20 yd. roll for $1.00 This item is incorrect and should read: DUCT TAPE 2"x 10 yd. roll $1.00 We regret any inconvenience. /V\<)rVT(.0/V\f uv ZA iJ Crystal Lake McHENRY HEARING AID CENTER 3937 MAIN STREET 385-7661 SERVICE CENTER Wednesday 10-5:00 PM BATTERIES Vi Price 'FREE HEARING TESTS 'FREE HEARING AID CHECK ft CLEAN CUSTOM EAR Robert Stensland-Manager 25 Years Experience Robert Decker "M.A. Audiologist WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS director of the society. "Protect them while you play. Nine out of ten eye injuries can be prevented by protective eyewear." Eye protection is available for everyone - for those who don't normally wear glasses, as well as for those who wear prescription glass or contact lenses. Sports eye protectors and industrial-quality safety glasses can be obtained from many eye doctors and op ticians as well as sporting goods stores. Players of all ages suffer eye damage from racquet sports they are the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries among adults. Tennis, squash and racquetball are responsible for nearly one-fourth of the ocular injuries incurred in sports by those age 25 and over, the society reports "Selecting the type of eye protector depends on in dividual needs and tastes," Mrs. Boyce said, "But the potential for eye injury and the need for safety eyewear should be realized by everyone - those who've taken up racquet sports for casual fun and fitness as well as players in organized competition." For more information about eye safety in sports write National Society to Prevent Blindness, 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY. 11016. the National society, established in 1908, is the oldest voluntary health agency nationally engaged in preventing blindness through community service programs, public and professional education and research. - More Comfo r t w i t h Less Ene rgy LENNOX Save Energy - Save Money Replace your old questionable furnace with a new gas Lennox Conservator H forced air system. Electronic ignition, Heatsaver™vent damper, quality construction gives you more comfort for less. J52 &vtt70*enKvi HEATING AND COOLING 35111 MOTH. A Certified LENNOX Dealer SMCE 1931 iLENNOXk (SI 5)459-2300