Tennis ace from India escapes hurricane

EDINBURG - Three weeks after Nirvick Mohinta flew from India to attend the University of New Orleans, a Hurricane Katrina struck the city.

He escaped injury during a dangerous evacuation and later returned to UNO. But the tennis team closed down, so he transferred to the University of Texas-Pan American.

"I was ranked 15th in India 18-and-under," he said. "I think I am in good shape now to reach my potential."

Playing in the third spot for UTPA, he scored wins against players from Santa Clara, Oral Roberts and others.

"This weather here is very similar to Calcutta," he said. "It's even hotter there, up to 110 (degrees), 120. Heat waves sometimes kill 50 or 60 people in my city."

Nirvick speaks with a British accent and has played tournaments in Europe and Asia to raise his world ranking to No. 600.

"My tennis ambition is to help our team achieve a national ranking," he said. "We are close to the top 75 now."

Nirvick, who is majoring in marketing, is working toward a masters degree in business administration. His friends here are mainly tennis players.

"New Orleans people are very friendly, laid back and easy going," he said. "Here, if you are not from the Valley, it is harder to make friends. In New Orleans it did not matter where you are from."

Baseball Broncs save split in Colorado

GREELEY, Colo. - Cody Cisper pitched a complete game at an altitude of 4,665 feet Sunday to give the University of Texas-Pan American Broncs an 11-5 win and a doubleheader split with Northern Colorado.

The Bears won the second game 16-6. Five Broncs pitchers gave up 19 hits and seven walks during the second game.

Sisper evened his record at 5-5 by scattering eight hits in nine innings.

Roly Gonzalez stole five bases, putting him near the top of the list nationally with 41. He also was 6-for-9 hitting Sunday.

Andrew Perez and Bonham Hough each hit their sixth home runs of the season, and Joey Mendoza socked his second.