Sports Briefs: Rebels softball team in WAC debut

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

The UNLV softball team will open its inaugural season in the Western Athletic Conference Wednesday at noon with a doubleheader against New Mexico at Rebel Diamond.

UNLV is 2-4 after opening the season last weekend at the Arizona State Classic in Phoenix. The Rebels opened with a 6-2 win against Texas, then lost four straight before concluding the tournament with a 9-3 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

New Mexico comes into the WAC opener with a 4-2 record.

UNLV was led offensively by senior shortstop Kim Rondina, who hit .368 with three home runs and nine RBIs. Rondina tied Cyndi Parus' school career record for RBIs (136) during the tournament. Senior Heather Siegel (.381) and junior Julie Crandall (.364, two home runs, six RBIs) helped carry the offensive load for the Rebels in Arizona.

Senior right-hander Teresa Branch was 1-2 with a 2.02 ERA in the season-opening tournament. Sophomore right-hander Tanya Edwards was 1-0 with a 5.25 ERA and junior right-hander Brandi Isgar was 0-2 with a 3.50 ERA.

After opening the conference season Wednesday, the Rebels will host the 16-team UNLV Softball Classic Friday through Sunday at Sunset Park.

In other UNLV sports news:

* Bill Lunde of the Rebels golf team was named the WAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Week, the first in school history. He has three top-10 finishes and a 73.34 stroke average for the Rebels.

* UNLV's Luke Smith has been named the WAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week. Smith went 2-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles to help the Rebels win their second straight UNLV Men's Invitational title at the Fertitta Tennis Complex over the weekend.

Maddux not talking free agency

Las Vegan Greg Maddux spent his first day back with the Atlanta Braves focusing on spring training rather than his pending status as a free agent. "Free agency's something I haven't given a whole lot of thought. Right now, I'll throw on the side, get a fishing license, maybe teach my little girl how to fish," Maddux said Sunday. Maddux, a four-time NL Cy Young winner, reported for camp a day late -- but with the club's blessing. He attended his sister's wedding in Las Vegas before arriving in Florida. Maddux will not say if he plans to re-sign with the Braves. Neither will his agent, Scott Boras. "All I know is I've got a year left with the Braves, I like playing here and I haven't thought a whole lot about it," Maddux said. "I'm thinking about getting back to the post-season and doing a little better than last year." Maddux was 15-11 with a 2.72 ERA last season and will make $6 million this year. Last October, he shut out the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series but was the loser in the decisive 3-2 defeat in Game 6.

Bonds arrives at camp

After sparring publicly with the San Francisco Giants about a contract extension, Barry Bonds arrived at spring training three days early and reiterated his desire to finish his career with the team. "I want to stay in San Francisco. Ever since 1968, when I was a kid, I went in the locker room with Willie (Mays)," Bonds said Monday. "My kids are there. Everything I love is there. San Francisco is my home, I love playing there and I love being there." During the last few weeks, Bonds complained of not being loved in his hometown and accused the Giants of lying to him by promising to make him the highest-paid player in baseball. Bonds, signed through 1998 and entering the fifth year of a six-year deal worth $43.75 million, apologized for those accusations last week. Negotiations on a contract extension continue between the Giants and Bonds' agent. "I'm just trying to put that behind me and move on. I should have kept my mouth shut, but I didn't. I say too much. I speak the truth too often," Bonds said of the recent controversy. "I don't want to leave San Francisco. I don't know what I'd do."

Orioles owner wants ump apology

Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos said he wants umpire John Hirschbeck to apologize to Roberto Alomar for swearing at the second baseman and prompting Alomar to spit at the umpire. But The (Baltimore) Sun today reported Hirschbeck saying he won't apologize because he is not to blame. "Do I think I did anything wrong? In my opinion, I do not," Hirschbeck reportedly said Monday from his Ohio home. "Do I think I owe anyone an apology for anything I did? Absolutely, positively not." The American League suspended Alomar for five games at the beginning of the upcoming season for spitting in Hirschbeck's face Sept. 27 in Toronto. Alomar's marketing agent, John Boggs, also said Monday that an apology would help bring closure to an issue that continues to simmer.

Irish swimmer under scrutiny

Irish swimmer Michelle Smith, who received almost as much attention at the Olympics for allegations of drug use than for her three gold medals, is under scrutiny again. Smith, whose Olympic performances raised eyebrows because she had never produced outstanding times previously, was absent when drug testers turned up at her home in Ireland four months ago, the sport's world governing body confirmed Monday. While stressing that Smith was not yet in violation of its rules, the international swimming federation (FINA) said a second "no-show" could result in sanctions, including a possible four-year ban. "The rules state that two no-shows is considered a violation and you may be sanctioned," FINA director Cornel Marculescu said. "We are not yet at this stage. To date, Michelle Smith does not violate FINA rules." In the case of a second no-show, FINA's independent drug panel would look into the case and decide whether to punish her.

Ken Norton Jr. to box

Ken Norton Jr., San Francisco 49ers linebacker and son of the former heavyweight champion, is to compete this week in a regional Golden Gloves tournament. Norton, who has never boxed before, is 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds and will fight in the novice super heavyweight division of the Dallas Golden Gloves. A potential problem with Norton's entry: USA Boxing, the sport's national governing body, prohibits professional athletes from competing in amateur events.