The Elevator

By Ron Kantowski

Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Who’s going to the penthouse in local sports — and who’s getting the shaft:

GOING UP

UNLV Sports Information guys

Five media guides (soccer, men’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s basketball and volleyball) produced by the UNLV sports information department have received national and regional honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America. A Lady Rebels basketball poster also received an award, although this elevator operator is still going for the one showing Farrah Fawcett in a red bathing suit.

Ludwick van Hithoven

After a poor May and June, the hits just keep on coming for ex-UNLV and Durango High star Ryan Ludwick of the St. Louis Cardinals. Since the All-Star Game, Ludwick went on a 21-for-52 tear to improve his average to .273 and RBI total to 66, putting him back on pace for his second consecutive 100-RBI season — much to the chagrin of Chicago Cubs fans everywhere.

Monday, Monday at Cashman Field

The 51s will play a rare doubleheader when they square off against the dreaded Salt Lake Bees at 6:05 p.m. and then again after they drag the infield following the first game. In addition, hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, Cracker Jack and soft pretzels will be $1 each. As far as baseball Mondays go, this one is better than Rick.

And they all fell down

Colombia’s Maria Jose Rodriguez rolled the first perfect game of the World Women’s Bowling Championships at Cashman Center on Tuesday. No word on whether she thanked DeWayne Wise for making it happen.

GOING DOWN

Kyle wall banger

Kyle Busch hit a big wall, Kyle Busch had a big fall ... all the way out of the chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. But at least the mercurial and sometimes petulant Las Vegas leadfoot didn’t blame his pit crew for overinflating his tires at the Brickyard 400, or whatever it was that caused him to crash. “When you have a bad race, you think about it the whole way home,” said young Kyle, who has been thinking way too much recently.

Loco nicknames

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the four franchises in the startup United Football League will be called the New York Sentinels, Orlando Tuskers, San Francisco Rockfish and ... Las Vegas Locomotives. Locomotives? Owing to what, our proud locomotive past? Amtrak doesn’t even stop here anymore. I think the Las Vegas team should be called the Monorails, for when the wheels fall off this league. The UFL says that although it has applied to trademark those names, they are not yet official. Neither is the bullet train from here to Victorville.