Kings, Rangers to Play Game at Sports Arena

The Kings will take on the New York Rangers at the Sports Arena Thursday, Sept. 24, in a NHL exhibition game.

Tickets for the game go on sale Aug. 24.

The game is sponsored by the Gulls, who will use the exhibition as part of three events designed to draw interest to their third IHL season.

The first event, a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital, takes place Wednesday at the Sports Arena. It will include an appearance by the Kings’ Wayne Gretzky, a laser show and a one-hour stunt performance by a professional in-line skating team. Admission is $1, and parking is free.

The final event is the Gulls’ Oct. 9 home opener against the Salt Lake Golden Eagles. Owner and vice president Bill Hunter has tagged that game “Operation Sellout.”

“We’ll sell the building out,” Hunter said. “And that will set the tone for the season.”

GOLF

John Schroeder of San Diego shot a 64 on the par-71, 6,110-yard Monte Vista course at Rancho San Diego to lead opening round of the professional division of the San Diego County Open.

Mac O’Grady, the tournament’s defending champion, flew in from Philadelphia and arrived at the same time he was scheduled to tee off. He did not finish the first round among the top five.

In the amateur division, John Lovett set the pace with a 64 on the Monte Vista course. Kevin Reilly was second with a 68, and his younger brother, Chris, shot a 69 on the more difficult Ivanhoe course (par-72, 7,011 yards).

Some 314 golfers participated in the opening round of the oen, which was first held in 1929 and is one of the oldest tournaments in the country.

BASEBALL

The San Diego Sox improved to 6-0 at the AAU/USA Junior Olympics with a 12-2 victory over Chicago. The game was called after five innings because of a 10-run mercy rule.

Spike Lundberg of Mira Mesa pitched all five innings, allowing only three hits. David Myers of La Jolla went two for three with two RBIs and Chris Lilly of Mira Mesa went two for four and drove in two runs.

Ray Plummer of Point Loma also got two hits and knocked in one run.

San Diego plays Cleveland today at 3.

The San Diego Rookies, representing California in the Continental Amateur Baseball Assn. World Series for 16 year olds and under, were eliminated when Washington pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 victory.

Washington’s Josh Shelton scored the game-winner on a squeeze bunt by Matt Pettit.

San Diego out-hit Washington, 12-5, but was hurt by three errors. Offensively for San Diego, Brandon Puffer went two for three with an RBI, and Pete Zamora was two for three.

San Diego exited the tournament with a 1-2 record in double-elimination play.