Lemons leads Alumni past Wildcats

By Sam Spiller
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 12, 1996

It may have started friendly, but it didn't end that way.

In yesterday's Bank One All-Pro Alumni Game at Sancet Field, the Arizona baseball team lost 4-3 to a team of former Wildcats now playing or coaching professional baseball. The game was tied until the seventh and last inning, when the All-Pros showed the upstarts why they get paid to play the game. The Alumni broke the 3-3 tie when Tony Bouie walked and stole second, allowing Rich Lemons to bat him in for the game-winning run.

Guest manager Mike Hargrove of the Cleveland Indians led the All-Pros. Hargrove was made an honorary Wildcat letterman during the game. Each year the guest manager has been made an honorary Wildcat during the Alumni game.

"The program here at the University of Arizona is one of the top programs in the country and it's fun watching good people do good work," Hargrove said. "Tucson's always been a real favorite spot of mine and my family's. We've got a lot of friends in the area and we're thinking a little bit (that) we might end up settling in the area."

The game was highlighted by UA catcher Jeff McCannon's two-run home run and All-Pro and Seattle Mariner John Tejcek's three RBI. The game was pitched by a potpourri of players from both sides starting with the Baltimore Orioles' Scott Erickson for the All-Pros and Jason Hendricks for the Wildcats. The teams substituted many times in order to give everyone a chance to play.

Arizona head coach Jerry Kindall said he was pleased to have the former players in Tucson for the exhibition game.

"To have them come back and show such interest and loyalty and support for the program year after year is just great," he said.

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