University of Arkansas Monticello - Boll Weevil Yearbook (Monticello, AR)

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manage two. The team lost playoff hopes in ear- ly April by dropping a pair of one-run games to UCA. A three-run home run provided the difference for the Bears in winning 6-5. Charlie Gray and Cary Qualls each had home runs, but they weren't enough. Con- way triumphed 2-1 in the second game. UAM won its fourth game by split- ting a doubleheader with Harding. The Bisons rallied for a 5-3 win in the first game and had a 1-0 lead going into the last inning of the second game. The Weevils loaded the bases and scored the tying and winning runs on a walk and a hit by Harper. The Weevils scored enough runs to win against Ozarks, but the Moun- taineers did the same in taking 9-5 and 10-5 victories. UAM blew 5-3 and 5-1 leads in losing both games. Monticello finally closed out the season by falling twice in AIC games to Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech. They also lost a non-confer- ence game to Baptist Christian. Showing his form, Robert Chambers stretches just before his release. Through the fence - the only way a spectator sees the game. Keeping his eye on the ball, Charlie Gray rounds the bases. Athletics 191

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190 Athletics BASEBALL WEEVILS DROP CLOSE DECISIONS UAM opened the spring baseball season by sweeping a doubleheader against Baptist Christian College, but the Boll Weevils managed only two more victories in the remaining 21 games. As a result, the team suf- fered one of its worst years by finish- ing 4-19. The Weevils had trouble early with the bat and dropped some close de- cisions. Of the 23 games, 13 were one-run outcomes and UAM was on the winning end only three times. Eddie Harper, Steve Prestridge, Rick Owens, Chester Ashcraft and Darrell Rhodes were all chosen to play in the all-star game. The five did not get to participate, however, be- cause the contest was rained out. The Weevils nailed down 6-5 and 8-3 victories in the season opener. The first game took extra innings and UAM won it in the eighth as Rhodes and Farrell Knight reached on hits and Steve Strahan followed with the winning hit to score Rhodes. Monticello relied on the three-hit pitching of Robert Cham- bers and a key-bases-loaded double by Mitchell Goldman to take the sec- ond game. The University of Missouri at Rolla visited the campus and carried away 3-1 and 7-2 triumphs. UAM came up with only eight hits in the -two games. UA-Pine Bluff swept a twinbill from the Weevils next by scoring the winning runs in both games in the bottom of the sixth inning. UAM left 17 men stranded on the bases in losing 3-0 and 3-2 to Hen- derson in the opening conference games. The Reddies went on to win the league crown. Pitching was the story against Ouachita. Prestridge held the Tigers to one hit through nine innings, but OBU’s Bosco Selchow was also keeping UAM’s bats at bay. The Ti- gers finally broke the ice in the 10th inning and held on for a 1-0 win. The second contest was scoreless for five innings before the Weevils tallied three times on consecutive hits by Owens, Brown, Knight and Harper. Chambers relieved Ashcraft in the seventh inning to hold off a Ouachita threat as Monticello won 3-2. The Weevils had trouble scoring at Little Rock as they dropped 1-0 and 3-0 decisions to UALR. UAM outhit the Trojans seven to five, but UALR won the contest with a run in the bottom of the ninth. Steve Strahan only allowed four hits in the night- cap, but his teammates could only Cary Qualls slides into third base in a race against a Tech player.

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HARPER PACES WEEVIES enior Eddie Merete paced the Weevils’ hit- ting throughout the season and was often fisted among the top hitters in the AIC. He finished this year with a .307. average and was selected to the all-con- ference first team. Robert Chambers warms up in the bullpen. ‘ Rick Owens prepares for a hit that will take him to Rick Owens errs on a play in center field. SE a ES a — Sitting on the bench gives players a chance to plan stratgey, tally points or watch the game. 192 Athletics