Fick Provides Stadium Kiss Goodbye

Robert Fick helped give Tiger Stadium a proper send-off, belting a grand slam in the eighth inning of an 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday in the last game at the 87-year-old stadium.

Fick, a former All-American catcher at Cal State Northridge who also played at Ventura College and Newbury Park High, homered off the right-field roof against reliever Jeff Montgomery.

The sellout crowd of 43,356 chanted Fick’s name and he walked to the top of the dugout steps and doffed his cap as thousands of flash bulbs popped.

Almost all of the fans remained for a postgame ceremony featuring many past Tigers stars. Fick, who also had a sacrifice fly, was chosen most valuable player of the game as part of the ceremony.

Tigers starters wore jerseys with the numbers of players from the franchise’s all-time team. Fick, the designated hitter, wore No. 25 in honor of Norm Cash. Center fielder Gabe Kapler (Moorpark College, Taft High) did not wear a number since Ty Cobb played at a time when uniforms did not include uniform numbers.

Next season, the Tigers will move into Comerica Park in downtown Detroit.

* Chris Vasquez, an outfielder from Hart High, was chosen to an all-star team of players from Independent leagues selected by Baseball America magazine.

Vasquez batted .346 with 16 home runs for Madison, Wis., of the Northern League.

Chad Thornhill, a shortstop from Northridge, was chosen to the second team. Thornhill batted .316 for Winnipeg of the Northern League.

* John Voita, an infielder and catcher at El Camino Real, has committed to Northridge.

Voita missed most of last season because of a shoulder injury.

* Kelly Finnigan, 18, of Encino was selected to attend the Griffey International All-American Baseball Talent Showcase from Oct. 8-10 at the University of Connecticut.

Finnigan attends Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vt.

FOOTBALL

* Dallas Enoch, a freshman lineman at Valley College, broke a leg against Santa Barbara on Saturday and will miss the rest of the season.

TENNIS

* Second-seeded Dave Austin of Camarillo defeated top-seeded Dave Belliveau of Tarzana, 6-1, 6-2, to win the championship of the men’s 40 division Sunday at the 20th annual Senior Championships at Westlake Tennis and Swim Club.

Andrew Stanley of Camarillo beat Robert Etoll of Culver City, 6-1, 6-4, to win the men’s 45 division.

Top-seeded Rob Baker of Thousand Oaks defeated Larry Rundle of Westlake Village, 6-7 (7-4), 6-4, 6-2, in the men’s 50 final. Paul Rogers of Ojai beat Alfred Ruess of Los Angeles for the men’s 65 title.