Adauto Gonzalez defeated Justo Vallecillo in an 8-round boxing match to claim the vacant Texas Super Featherweight title. Gonzalez took some time to find his rhythm in the first two rounds but gained control of the fight in round 3 when he nearly knocked down Vallecillo. Gonzalez continued to apply pressure and scored a knockdown in round 4. In the remaining rounds, Gonzalez played more defensively to protect his lead while Vallecillo was unable to mount an effective offense. The victory was Gonzalez's first title in the U.S. after previously winning a championship in Mexico.

1. SportsThe Daily Texan
Interim Sports Editor: David R. Henry
E-mail: sports@dailytexanonline.com
Phone: (512) 232-2210
www.dailytexanonline.com
8Monday, June 23, 2008
MLB
By Scott Bagan
Daily Texan
Columnist
By Colby White
Daily Texan Staff
It took him some time to find his
rhythm, but once Adauto Gonzalez
settled in, it was clear who was the
better fighter.
Gonzalez (9-4-1, 0 KO’s) notched
a decisive eight-round unanimous-
decision victory to claim the va-
cant Texas Super Featherweight title
against Justo Vallecillo (5-5-1, 0 KO’s)
Saturday at the Frank Erwin Center,
despite having moments when he
lacked a dominant offense.
After two slow rounds where nei-
ther fighter showed much aggres-
sion to start the fight, the boos of
the crowd moved Gonzalez to let
his hands go in the third, leading to
a near knockdown of Vallecillo near
the end of the round. With Vallecil-
lo on the ropes and staggering, the
bell rang before Gonzalez could fin-
ish the job.
Gonzalez would keep the pres-
sure on in the fourth, eventual-
ly scoring the knockdown with
a short left hook that caught Val-
lecillo as he was leaping forward,
searching for an opening. Vallecillo
would get up, but Gonzalez, nick-
named “Gallito,” or “Little Roost-
er,” kept clear control throughout
the rest of the bout.
Throughouttheremainingrounds,
Gonzalez played more reservedly,
choosing to show his speed and eva-
sion to avoid losing his clear lead.
Displaying a hit-and-run style, Gon-
zalez kept Vallecillo on his heels with
quick combinations to the body fol-
lowed by footwork that maintained
distance between the two fighters.
Vallecillo would have his moments,
chasing down Gonzalez in order to
land punches, but the Nicaraguan
failed to rattle off many combina-
tions, and his single punches did not
do enough damage to slow the elu-
sive Gonzalez.
The title is a first in the U.S.
for Gonzalez, a former champion
in Mexico.
The undercard for the night
proved to provide more action
than the slow-starting main event
for the fans who arrived early.
Many of the fights turned out to be
unorthodox slugfests.
AustinnativeIgnacioRiveraover-
came a tough four rounds against
Rodrigo Villareal with a split de-
cision. Both fighters capitalized on
each other’s defensive flaws, land-
ing a variety of power punches to
the delight of the crowd.
San Antonio’s Steve Hall lost by
decision to Gabriel Hernandez in
his pro debut, with both fighters
finding moments to release flurries
of combinations. In another pro de-
but, Lee Bagan, a Texas graduate,
put on a show against Ras Thomp-
son. Bagan repeatedly unleashed
damaging combinations on the in-
side but was let down by his de-
fense when Thompson threw wild
overhand rights that found their
target. Bagan and Thompson fought
to a draw.
While the life of a Chicago Cubs fan is heavily
burdened with well-documented woes, solitude is
not one of them.
The term “lovable losers” has been branded
on the Cubs’ franchise like an inverted badge of
honor. While it is a testament to the club’s im-
mense popularity, it is a reminder of the epic
struggle the north-side Chicago team has en-
dured for a century.
One hundred years after their last World Se-
ries victory, the Cubs have collected their
10,000th win.
“It was a tough first 10,000 wins,” second year
shortstop Ryan Theriot told Cubs.com. “I hope the
next 10,000 are easier.”
In October 2006, Chicago acquired veter-
an manager Lou Piniella, who has proven to be
most beneficial to the previously struggling club.
Since his acquisition, the Cubs’ record improved
from 66-96 in 2006 to 85-77 in 2007 and continues
to strengthen.
Piniella’s club currently boasts the best re-
cord in baseball (47-28), along with the most runs
scored (411) and the league’s best home record: a
remarkable 31-8.
Piniella has made drastic changes to the team’s
batting order, defensive alignment, starting rota-
tion and overall roster. Alfonso Soriano, a pow-
er-hitting speedster who was also acquired in the
2006 off-season, became a permanent fixture in
the leadoff role before breaking his hand June 11.
While placing a power hitter like Soriano in the
leadoff role was unpopular with Cubs fans, Pin-
iella persisted, manufacturing the wins to support
his move.
Piniella’s alterations to the starting rotation
and bullpen were both unconventional and un-
popular. Former closer Ryan Dempster swapped
roles with long-time starter Kerry Wood. Since
the change, both pitchers have re-invented them-
selves. With Wood currently leading the nation-
al league with 19 saves and Dempster possess-
ing the league’s best home record, 8-0, the Cubs’
manager, yet again, proved his genius.
Though Piniella has certainly been credited
for much of the Cubs’ success this season, gener-
al manager Jim Hendry cannot be overlooked. In
the previous off-season, Hendry signed Japanese
MVP Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year $48 mil-
lion contract. Since the signing, the right fielder
has led the majors in pitches taken, and he ranks
seventh in the national league in on-base percent-
age (.405), just ahead of Cubs third baseman Ara-
mis Ramirez (.401).
Hendry additionally inked starting pitcher Car-
los Zambrano to a five-year $91 million deal in
August of last season. Since Zambrano’s exten-
sion, the ace pitcher from Venezuela has played a
pivotal role in the team’s ’08 success, ranking fifth
in the national league in wins (8), sixth in earned
run average (3.13), seventh in strikeouts (177) and
first in batting average among active pitchers, hit-
ting .362 through 47 plate appearances.
Despite a successful record-setting 2008 sea-
son, the Cubs have been forced to place both Sori-
ano and Zambrano on the disabled list after Zam-
brano suffered a minor shoulder strain on June
18 against Piniella’s former team, the Tampa Bay
Rays. The 15-day absence, however, should not
drastically hinder the Cubs, who possess a deep
and talented minor league farm system. Piniella,
however, is cautiously optimistic.
“It’s a big blow to us,” Piniella told Cubs.com.
“We’ve got a real good farm system though, and
that’s what it’s here for. We brought up some
kids, and hopefully they can swing some bats and
help us win.”
The Cubs just finished a three-game series
against cross-town rivals the Chicago White Sox,
and will face the American League Central’s first-
place team again this week, June 27-29.
With both of Chicago’s teams in first place, the
windy city is howling with excitement and antic-
ipation for what very well may be the first ever
“L-Series” in Chicago come October.
Piniella, Hendry
have Cubs fans
believing in team
By David R. Henry &
Austin Talbert
Daily Texan Staff
It’s been quite a summer for Texas
freshman Maston Wallace.
The pole vaulter won the NCAAOut-
door Track and Field Championships
last week and took second place at the
U.S. Junior Track and Field Outdoor
Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
Wallace will compete in the World
Junior Championships in Poland on
July 10 with the qualification round
at 2:30 a.m. Central Standard Time.
Wallace cleared five meters to
open the competition. He then
achieved 5.15 meters on his first offi-
cial attempt and cleared 5.30 meters
to nab the silver on his second try.
Last year, Wallace, who hails from
Clear Brook High School near Hous-
ton, was the nation’s top high school
pole vaulter.
He vaulted 5.35 meters at the
NCAA championship, and his per-
sonal best is 5.50 meters, which he
recorded at the Big 12 outdoor cham-
pionships on May 18.
Teammate Danzell Fortson compet-
ed in the 400-meter at the U.S. Junior
Track and Field Championships.
Fortson finished sixth in his heat
with a time of 47.57 seconds, leaving
him unable to qualify for the world
championships.
However, the rest of the summer
will be busy for some members of
the Longhorn track team.
Coach Bubba Thornton heads off
to the U.S. Olympic Trials where his
team will be decided.
The head coach of this summer’s
U.S. Olympic team, Thornton has the
opportunity to coach some of his past
and current Longhorns as NCAA
Champions Leo Manzano and Jacob
Hernandez, and graduating seniors
Darren Brown and Jake Morse head
to the trials June 27-July 6. The trials,
held in Eugene, Ore., will also fea-
ture former Longhorns Trey Hard-
ee (decathlon) and Andra Manson
(high jump) competing for a spot on
Thronton’s team.
Wallace comes in second at championships
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
OLYMPIC TRIALS
Laura Wilkinson performs a dive in the
semifinalsofthewomen’splatformattheU.S.
Olympic diving trials in Indianapolis, Friday.
Darron Cummings | Associated Press
Chicago Cubs fans celebrate after the Cubs beat
the Chicago White Sox 11-7 in an interleague
baseball game Saturday in Chicago.
Nam Y. Huh | Associated Press
DTdailytexanonline.com
See photo gallery of Fight Night.
Rolling with the punches
Gonzalez wins in eight rounds
Above, Aduato“Gallito”Gonzalez, of Mexico, fights Justo Vallecillo, of Nicaragua, in the Texas Super Featherweight Final at the Frank Erwin Center Saturday
night. Below, Lee Bagan, a 2007 UT graduate, gets water from his coach between rounds at Fight Night in the Frank Erwin Center Saturday night.
Photos by Jeffrey McWhorter | Daily Texan Staff
The term ‘lovable losers’ has
been branded on the Cubs’
franchise like an inverted badge
of honor.”
Boxer beats Vallecillo
to claim Texas Super
Featherweight title
Freshman pole vaulter
earns berth in World
Junior Championships
Wilkinson secures bidBy Charles Osborne
DailyTexan Staff
At 30 years old, some questioned
whether alumna Laura Wilkinson was
getting too old to keep competing at
the top of her game. Wilkinson silenced
all questions Sunday afternoon, taking
first place at the U.S. Olympic diving
trials with a 1214.50 score.
Wilkinson joined fellow alumnus
Troy Dumais in the winners’ circle,
and the two will represent the U.S. at
the Olympics in Beijing.
This will be the third Olympic com-
petition for Wilkinson, the gold-medal
winner from The Woodlands.
Members of the Texas men’s and
women’s swimming and diving teams
competed in Indianapolis, Ind. Senior
Mary Yarrison and senior Jessica Liv-
ingston represented the women’s team
while senior Jonathan Wilcox repre-
sented the men’s team.
Wilcox and Dumais participated in
the men’s 3-meter diving quarters and
semifinals to advance to Sunday’s fi-
nals. Wilcox sat in eighth place in the
opening round with a lackluster 396.85
points.Hedroppedtoninthinthesemis,
finishing with just 774.75. Dumais post-
ed a score of 502.75 in the quarters and
rolled into the semis in first place. In the
semis, Dumais dominated and collect-
ed 535.55 points to finish with 1038.30
heading into the finals.
In the finals, Wilcox finished in ninth
with 1182.55 points. However, Dumais
finished in first place, with a score of
1552.90. Dumais received a nomina-
tion to the 2008 Beijing Olympics team,
which will become official July 6 at the
U.S. Olympic Team Selection Camp in
Knoxville, Tenn.
On Wednesday, Wilkinson won the
quarterfinals and Livingston placed
third, scoring 358.40. Both divers ad-
vanced to the semifinals, where they
performed well: Wilkinson head-
ed into the finals with the top score,
813.20 points, while Livingston fell to
fifth place with 672.10 points but was
still able to slip into the finals.
Livingston took fifth in the finals
and has an outside chance to quali-
fy for the Olympics, since finishers in
second through sixth place are eligible
to qualify. However, only three divers
are allowed, so she only has an outside
chance at qualifying.
Yarrison participated in the wom-
en’s 3-meter diving quarterfinals and
semifinals. In the quarterfinals, Yarri-
son posted a 297 score. In the semis,
Yarrison finished with 614.10 points as
she climbed into sixth place on Satur-
day. Yarrison placed seventh in the fi-
nals with a 926.10 score.
Yarrison’s Olympic dream will have
to wait