European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday october 28, 1994 sports the stars and stripes Page 35 rising stars May eclipse returnees by Christopher Allbright staff writer Mere seconds separate the top High school boy Cross country runners who head into the Central Europe championship race tomorrow at Tompkins bar Racks in Schwet Zingen Germany. While Pitburg senior Shannon Baird is be Cross country 6n course to repeat As the girls Central european Champion Frankfurt International school s girls will put up a Strong fight to repeat As team Champion. The girls race will begin at 1 ., Fol Lowed by the boys race at 2  On the 5-Kilometer course. The top 15 individual finishers from three Gerr Hany Bene rior divisions and the top 10 from the United kingdom advanced to Heidelberg following last weekend s regional. The top three teams boys and girls and the . Champions also qualified for the Central europeans. Last year s top three boy runners re turn but face serious challenges from newcomers. Central regional Champion Clay Cole of Kaiserslautern undefeated in six races is the top contender. The soph ombre sensation has broken four course records and tied another. He turned in a record breaking 17 minutes 50 seconds at reginals taking 38 seconds off his own record on his Home course. Cole has the Best shot at Robbie Pierce s 1992 record 16 15 at the . Championships according to his coach Marty Oilar. Cole who had a poor showing last year said his goal is to be under the 16 minute Mark. I remember last year i was wishing i was up there and now i am and it s Awe some Cole said. I thank the lord for giving me the legs to  Cole will be aided As usual by team mate Jasph Watt a 1,500-meter Ace who has taken up Cross country for the first time this season. His times keep improving Pilar said. Shannon Baird Kitia Reynolds Tim Faircloth Chris Hauer Fate photos 4 the Cole Watt combination could be lethal for other runners. We push each other every race Cole said in the Eastern regional Hanau s Chris Hauer edged out teammate Tim Faircloth the 1993 Champion in a re Cord breaking 17 08 win. Hauer broke Faircloth s 1993 record of 17 18. Faircloth has come up Short twice in Competition against Cole this year Hauer was edged put at the tape to Fin ish third in the 1993 be meet but has been running Strong in what is his last season of racing due to congenital hip problems according to Wagner. Shape s Nathan King the Western regional Champion 16 49 and 1993 . Runner up has had a record break ing year. His times have improved Over All and he should be a Factor to finish in the top three. V although shape will try to repeat its team Victory Heidelberg Hahnau and Frankfurt International school All have the team depth that shape lacks to Challenge for the top spot each school will have to have its Best race of the season to win it Kollar said. The finals will come Down to which five runners have the Best  the unknown Factor is the United kingdom runners. American school of London s undefeated Julian Kinai comes to the . As the u.1c. Boys Champion 17 38and should place in the top five. Other . Runners who could place in the top 20 Are Lakenheath s Brian Henry arid Crough ton s John Clements underclassmen dominate the girls Field. However Baird a senior has Bro Ken three records this season is unbeaten in seven races and seeks to Complete her second undefeated season. The fast est runner of the season. Baird topped regional winners at 18 52. Hanau s Sophomore Kitia Reynolds Eastern regional champs a was a fourth place finisher in 93, and should make a serious run for second possibly first earlier this season however Baird easily outdistanced Reynolds. It la be hard but i never count Kitia out. She s a Strong competitor Wagner said. Someone is going to have to stick with Baird for 2v Miles and make it a foot race at the  Pitburg and f1s will be locked into a Battle for the team title. In Competition this year the teams have split 1-2 finishes. Each team has six victories this sea son. The be will be the showdown. Six Strong teammates All of whom finished in the top 10 As Pitburg posted the lowest team score in the regional give Baird solid support. The Barons squad is paced by Marianna Vogt who has finished second behind Baird in four races including the Region als. Pitburg also pulled off a seven place sweep at bad Kruez Nach. Fis the Western division Champion looks to repeat based on its own top regional performers placing six in the top 15 and led by Sarah gush s second place. Alconbury s Melissa Farringer who won the . Title in 20 23, and London s Amy Grant Are the strongest contenders from across the Channel. Local notes Frankfurt sets last big event compiled by sue Harper staff writer Frankfurt Germany the Frankfurt Community s last major sports event three on three basketball tournaments for men and women is scheduled for the upcoming veterans Day weekend. Entry fee is $50 per team for the nov. 11-13 event. First through third place Cash prizes will be Given in each division. All participants will receive commemorative t shirts. -.v, -. " for details Call Dan 320-5533/5816 or 325 6157. / 10-k run on Agenda bad Kreuz Nach Germany a 10-kilo meter Turkey Trot is set for nov. 19 at 11 . At Ruhberg Community Park Here. Registration for the run starts at 9 . Race Day and closes 15 minutes before the race begins at the Park Pavillion. Entry is $10 or 15 German Marks. Fee includes a to shirt. Individual winners in each youth male and female division receive awards and a Turkey. For information Call Dan 490-6177 or civilian 0671-609-6177. J Bomarc Topkins. Petersburg times v Tampa fla. Tony armas does t recall the specifics. Teenage boys can be that Way. But the Day that changed his life occurred this Spring a few months after he accepted an invitation to the new York Yan Kees baseball Academy in Maracay on the other end of his native Venezuela. Just shy of his 16th birthday a Lithe boy trying to Fol Low in the footsteps of a famous father he was playing Centerfield against a team of Baltimore prospects. We had no pitchers left armas says now laughter building As he tells the Story. We had an outfielder left on the Bench so they called me to pitch. I threw 84 Miles per hour and i was 15. They said hey what Are you doing As an outfielder " armas does t hear that question anymore. He has been exclusively a Pitcher virtually since that Day. The Yankees have been bringing him along slowly with their instructional league team. He did t pitch in a game until this week but they Are impressed with what they be seen of the 6-4,175-Pound right hander. He s a Talent added general manager Gene Michael. I know his father was a Good one and that s a Good  a baseball Pedigree can work two ways. Having a father who played 14 seasons in the majors and hit 251 Home runs can create certain advantages in opening conversations and doors. But it can also create unfair expectations. Armas played in youth leagues As an outfielder but did t think he fad the quickness or batting stroke to succeed As a hitter. The father says he is glad his son is working off the Mound. To me it s great armas said from his Home in Venezuela. He does t want that kind of pressure from fans. They d want to see him hit the Long  armas born in Venezuela in 1978, came to the United states when he was two months old. He  re member lots of details of his father s career. There were plenty of High Points in 1981, armas hit 22 homers and drove in 76 run for Oakland in a strike shortened season and was named player of the year in 1984, he hit a major league High 43 Home runs and drove in 123 in 1986, he helped the red sox reach the world series. While dad was doing All that Young Tony attended . Schools through fifth Grade and returned to Venezu Ela about the same taste his father retired from baseball. Because of what he Learned while his dad was play ing Young Tony said he is not having any trouble adjusting to professional baseball Evert though he is 16 and in a strange City a continent away from Home. No problem he  knows what it s like so it s easy for him his a the said father and son were a Little surprised when the invitation came to join the Academy and even More sur prised when the Yankees offered a contract. A simple family discussion focused on the High school freshman. My father told me that if you re going to leave school you be got to be serious armas said. So that is Why he is Here working with pitching instructors trying to add a Little More Speed to a fastball that is up to 90. He is learning to have better control of his curve Ball and change up. Hell be Back next Spring hoping for an assignment to one of the Yankees minor league clubs. His in tended destination of course is Yankee stadium. He was there once As a six year old watching his dad in 1984. He wants to go Back on his own ticket and his own Merit. I Hope so he said