More Tests Needed in Gerulaitis’ Death

A medical examiner in Southampton, N.Y., said an autopsy on former tennis star Vitas Gerulaitis had not yielded a cause of death and that further toxicological tests were being done.

Gerulaitis’ body was found Sunday in the guest cottage of an oceanfront estate. He was lying on the bed, fully clothed. Police said there were no sign of drugs or crime.

Gerulaitis’ host was developer Martin Raynes, a longtime friend. Both men were fixtures on the Manhattan party circuit in the ‘70s and Gerulaitis was a frequent guest at Raynes’ cottage, police said.

Raynes’ estate covers 4.7 acres, and features a $5.5 million mansion.

Football

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats released former NFL Arizona Cardinal quarterback Timm Rosenbach, taking the cash-strapped CFL club off the hook for $150,000 this year and $1 million in 1995.

Hamilton (3-8) is expected to lose $2 million this year.

Rosenbach spent four years with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring before last season, citing burnout.

Baseball

The players’ union intends to file grievances and default notices for about a dozen players by Wednesday in an effort to force clubs to pay them.

The actions, which will be heard by arbitrator George Nicolau, will cover Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Randy Tomlin, Texas Ranger infielder Jeff Huson and others recalled from the minor leagues after the strike began Aug. 12.

The New York Mets eliminated more than one-third of their administrative staff, getting rid of 28 of 79 full-time employees in a mixture of firings and layoffs. The Houston Astros laid off eight more front-office employees, raising increasing the total to 19 cut since the Major League Baseball Players Association strike began.

Miscellany

Jim Brewer, a former Laker, has been hired as an assistant coach by the Clippers. Barry Hecker, the Clippers’ director of scouting since 1987, will become a bench assistant. Bob Ociepka, hired as an assistant coach last season by former Coach Bob Weiss, has been retained by new Coach Bill Fitch.

Brewer, who played for Fitch at the University of Minnesota and Cleveland, has spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach and executive with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Kings sent four players to their minor-league affiliate in Phoenix--centers Guy Leveque and Yanic Perreault, left wing Barry Potomski and defenseman Sean O’Donnell. O’Donnell was acquired in July from Buffalo for defenseman Doug Houda. Leveque, who has been plagued by riddled with injuries, played in five games with the Kings last season and had one assist. There are 31 players remaining in training camp.

Soccer

The English Football League announced a plan for overtime in soccer games that it hopes will end the penalty shootout.

Under the plan, players from both teams will be removed from the field after five-minute intervals in extra time if the score is tied after 90 minutes.

The rule, subject to approval by the Football Assn., will debut in November in cup competition featuring teams not in the Premier League.

Former Peruvian soccer star Ramon Antonio Mifflin Paez, a fugitive from Spain on cocaine-trafficking charges since 1987, will remain in jail in Miami pending an extradition hearing. Mifflin, 46, was arrested at his Miami Beach home last Thursday. He and three others have been were charged in Madrid with bringing 13 kilograms of cocaine into Spain.

Names in the News

Former Rice distance runner Maureen Stewart died of cardiac arrest following after complications during childbirth. She was 28.

Robert Housen of Brielle, N.J., and Dennis Iden, of Costa Mesa, shot two-under -par 70s to share the first-round lead in qualifying for the 40th USGA Senior Amateur Championship in Nicholasville, Ky.

Guard John Battle of the Cleveland Cavaliers had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remove bone spurs.