The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 29

D4 THE COURIER-JOURNAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1999 Scorecard Baseball Mets-Braves offers contrast NFL American Conference ANALYSIS EAST 4 1 0 Buffalo Pet Pf PA 800 104 73 .800 110 93 New England 4 Miami 3 Indianapolis ..2 NY. Jets 1 1 0 0 2 0 4 0 .750 109 91 500 117 98 .200 75 103 CENTRAL Jacksonville 4 800 115 1 1 .800 118 49 98 87 90 .400 77 400 100 Tennessee 4 Baltimore 2 Pittsburgh 2 Cmcmnali 1 Cleveland 0 3 3 4 5 73 152 .200 .000 43 123 WEST San Dieoo 3 1 0 -V. .750 94 58 .750 85 72 .600 104 86 400 104 100 .200 70 111 Seattle 3 Kansas City 3 Oakland 2 Denver 1 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 National Conference Pet. PF PA 750 110 62 .750 150 118 .400 72 105 Dallas 3 Washington ..3 Arizona 2 NY Giants 2 Philadelphia 1 .400 .200 71 108 57 96 Volleyball REGION ONE, DISTRICT TWO At Nelson County Last night Fort Knox d. Meade Co.

15-3, 17-15: Nelson Co. North Bullitt 15-11, 10-15, 15-9: Washington Co. d. Bardslown 15-8. 15-2: Bullitt East d.

Bethlehem 15-11, 15-7; Fort Knox d. Bullitt Central 15-7, 15-11; Bethlehem d. Meade Co 15-12, 15-10. Tonight North Bullitt vs. Bardstown, 6 Bullitt Central vs.

Bethlehem, 6 30 Nelson Co. vs. Washington Co 7 p.m.; Fort Knox vs. Bullitt East, 7 p.m REGION TWO, DISTRICT THREE At Holy Crass Last night Holy Rosary d. Doss IS 45-4; Holy Cross Pleasure Ridge Park 15-0, 15-7; Western d.

Iroquois 15-5, 11-15. 15-11; Valley d. Fairdale 15-10. 15-4; Holy Rosary d. Beth Haven 15-1, 15-3; PRP d.

Doss Tonight Loser's bracket games, 5 and 6 pa; Winners bracket games, Holy Cross vs Western, 7 Holy Rosary vs Valley, 8 m. Tomorrow Loser's bracket games. 5, 6 and 7 winner's bracket final, 8 pm. Thursday Loser's bracket final. 6 championship game, 7 p.m.; second game if needed, 8 pm REGION TWO, DISTRICT FOUR At Butler Last night Portland Christian d.

Central 15-2, 15-10; St Francis d. Shawnee 15-5, 15-10; Mercy d. Butler 15-6, 15-9; Presentation Brown 15-2, 15-1; Shawnee d. Central 15-12, 15-11; Butler d. Brown 15-0, 15-4.

Tonight Portland Christian vs. St. Francis, Mercy vs. Presentation, Butler vs. Portland Chnstian-St.

Francis loser, Shawnee vs. Presentation-Mercy loser, 7:30 m. Wednesday Winner's bracket final, Loser's bracket final, 6:30 p.m. Championship game, 7:30 p.m. MHM0N THREE, DISTRICT FIVE At Sacred Heart ToatgM Sacred Heart vs.

Male, 5 p.m.; Assumption vs. Manual, 6 p.m.; Sasntd Heart-Male winner vs. Waggsnar, 7 Assumption-Manual winner vs. AthSfton, 8 p.m. CENTRAL .750 Green Bay 3 Chicago 3 Detroit 2 Minnesota 2 Tampa Bay 2 600 .500 .400 .400 WEST St Louis 4 0 0 1000 142 47 to beat Florida two years ago but didn't, and were supposed to beat Philadelphia in 1993 but didn't.

This is where they needed seven games to get by Pittsburgh twice1 and St. Louis once. The last time the Braves laid eyes upon these Mets, New York had just lost five of six games to Atlanta in late September and was caving in like a sand castle at high tide, Now the Mets are looking blessed and the locals are talking World Series. Even more, a date with' their Yankee cousins from the Nothing seems to enchant New York ers more than the chance to be thq center of the universe of something. "I'm sure there's going to be a lof of talk about Subway Series, da, daf da," Smoltz said.

"It doesn't matter." Well, what does? Atlanta's flotilla-of arms was up to its usual custom during the season against the Mets Meaning smother all the best hitters. Selected New York batting averages against Atlanta tell all: Robin Ventura .140 Edgardo Alfonzo .159 Mike Piazza .211 John Olerud.229. A good reason to expect the Braves in the World Series. But Bobby Cox, who has been around the NLCS block, cautioned: "You throw out the records, always. I guess noi body ever believes the manager when they say that, but it's true." v.

Particularly against the Mets; who die hard in October if they can get there. The Mets have been in eight previous postseason series, antf they've won six of them. The twos' they lost went seven games. Know who that sounds like? The-Ya kecs 1 The hot lights of New York put steel in teams that get this far. So the Braves are forewarned of turbulence.

The Mets hitters will tack, their pitchers will work, their fans will heckle and their manager-will talk. c- Who can say where any of that may lead? San Fran 3 Carolina 1 New Orleans 1 Atlanta 1 0 600 99 136 0 .250 93 82 0 250 67 72 0 200 61 112 AHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division RT Pta OF GA Ouebec ...2 2 1 0 5 12 14 2 110 5 13 10 Lowell 0 12 1 3 9 13 St. Johns 0 3 10 1 5 18 New England Division RT Pis GF GA Providence 5 0 1 0 11 25 8 Portland 2 2 1 0 5 16 14 Hartford 1 0 3 0 5 12 9 Worcester 1 1 2 0 4 16 16 Spnngtield 1 1 2 0 4 13 14 WESTERN CONFERENCE Empire Division RT Pit GF GA Rochester. 4 0 0 0 8 17 4 Syracuse 2 3 0 0 4 14 15 Hamilton 1 3 0 0 2 12 18 Albany 0 2 0 0 0 4 11 Wilkes Barre 0 4 0 0 0 5 19 Mid-Atlantic Division RT Pta GF GA Kentucky 4 2 0 0 8 26 18 Hershey 3 0 0 0 6 14 9 Louisville 2 2 0 0 4 15 13 Cincinnati 1 1 0 0 2 4 5 Philadelphia 1 3 0 0 2 6 10 NOTE: Two points are awarded for a victory; one point for ties and overtime losses. Overtime losses are denoted in the RT column only LAST NIGHTS GAMES Saint John 3, Lowed 2, 0T Rochester 6, HamHton 1 Providence 5.

Worcester 3 SUNDAY'S GAMES Portland 4. Hartford 4 Kentucky 8, Wilkes Barre-Scranton 2 Worcester 6, Syracuse 4 Hershey 4, Hamilton 3 TONIGHT'S GAMES Ouebec at Lowell Wrikesarre at St. John's NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division RT PIS GF GA Rangers 3 2 1 0 7 14 10 New Jersey ...2 11 0 5 12 10 Pittsburgh 111 0 3 14 14 Islanders 1 2 0 0 2 8 10 Philadelphia ..021 0 1 16 Northeast Division Ottawa 4 0 1 0 9 15 9 Toronto 3 2 0 0 6 15 10 Montreal 1 3 0 0 2 7 11 Boston 0 3 2 0 2 8 15 Buffalo 0 2 2 0 2 9 12 Southeast Division Florida 2 0 1 0 5 10 7 Carolina 2 1 1 0 5 9 7 Washington 1 1 1 0 3 8 8 Tampa Bay 1 2 0 0 2 6 8 Atlanta 0 2 1 0 1 7 16 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division RT Pis GF GA Detroit '21105136 St Lours 2 2 0 0 4 11 8 Nashville 1 2 1 0 3 9 10 Chicago 0 2 2 0 2 11 18 Northwest Division Vancouver 3 0 0 0 6 11 6 Edmonton 12 114 7 9 Colorado. 1 2 2 0 4 12 14 Calgary 0 3 1 0 1 8 16 Pacific Division Dallas 4 1 0 0 8 14 11 Los Angeles. 3 11 0 7 14 10 San Jose 3 2 0 0 6 20 14 Phoena 2 1 2 0 6 15 8 Tomorrow Winners' bracket final, 7 p.m losers' bracket games at 5 6 m.

and 8 Thursday Losers' bracket final 5 p.m.; championship game, 7 m. (second game, 8 p.m., if necessary). REGION THREE, DISTRICT SIX At Seneca Last night Jeffersontown d. Fern Creek 15-8, 2-15, 15-11; Southern d. Highview Baptist 11-15, 16:14, 18-15; Seneca Evangel 15-2, 16-4; Jeffersontown d.

Moore 15-8, 15-5; Senaca Southern 15-10. 8-15, 16-14. Losers' bracket, Evangel d. Highview Baptist 15-7, 154. Tonight Winner' bracket final, Jeffersontown vs.

Senaca. 7:30 p.m.; losers' bracket games, Moore vs. Evangel, 6 p.m.: Fern Creek vs. Southern, 6 Moore-Evangel winner vs. Fem Creek-Southern winner, 7:30 p.m.

Tomorrow Losers' bracket final. 6 championship game, 7:30 m. REGION FOUR, DISTRICT SEVEN At Ballard Last night Eastern d. Kentucky Country Day 15-0, 15-5; Ballard d. Henry County 15-0, 15-0; Christian Academy Shelby County 15-11, 12-15, 156; South Oldham d.

Oldham County 150, 154. Tonight Winners' bracket: Chnstian Academy vs. South Oldham, 7 Eastern vs. Ballard, 8 p.m. Losers' bracket: Shelby County vs.

Oldham County, 5 p.m.; KCD vs. Henry County. 6 pm. Tomorrow Winner's bracket final, 7 m. Loser's bracket games, 5, 6 and 8 pm.

Thursday Loser's bracket final, 6 championship game, 7 m. Boys' soccer Collegiate 4, Waggoner Bullitt Central 5 (Nathan HcHiaday 3. David Geary, Ben Ouinton); Spencer County 0. Field hockey Collegiate 7 (Caroline Nugent 2, Eleanor Martin, Kat Wilburn, Ellen Hunter, Nan Cummins, Tierney Simpson), Jeffersontown IX Manual 2 (Anar Mashruwala, Jordan Wenger), St. Francia 1 (Brandy Lunsford).

KCD 3 (Dana Vetter 2, Christirre. Rounsavall), Seneca 0. Eastern 1 (Emily Ellis). MateO. Atherton 1 (Hannah Oyler), Holy Rosary O.

Girls' soccer Fern Creek 2, Seneca 1, SO. Presentation 4 (Kacie Wilkinson 3, Sarah Barton); Bardstown Bethlehem 2 (Ashleigh Ritchie, Mary Beth Hicks). Atherton 5 (Rebecca Metcalf 3, Shannon Shearer 2); Jeffersontown 1 (Enn Roberts). South Oldham (Lauren Wilson 2, Calli Schrei. Knstal Menard, Melissa Hays), Dixie Heights 0.

By MIKE LOPRESTI Gannett News Service Bring in the odd couple. It's time to decide the National League. The Atlanta Braves will be there when the championship series starts tonight in Atlanta, of course. Neat and mannerly. A group of Kiwanians having the annual fall retreat in their posh home, supported by fans of a mixed Southern gentility.

Polite enough to cheer but not rabid enough to buy all the tickets. This is in direct contrast to the clamorous bunch who will be join-ingthem. There is a disturbance at the door. The New York Mets have entered the building. The Mets are the anti-Braves.

Interlopers to October. Often disheveled and occasionally unruly, with a manager who opens his mouth and has incendiary devices come out, and players who are trying to win a pennant before one of them strangles him. Their boisterous customers will have no problem with empty seats in their ragged stadium. The lines will be long to get in and call Chipper Jones names. The Mets went 3-9 this year against Atlanta, and a conspicuous reason was Jones with his seven home runs and 16 RBIs.

He has vexed New York even more than Bobby Valentine's interviews. "we obviously know we can beat them," Jones said Saturday. This brands him the worst kind of good-for-nothing to the patrons in "Queens, who would unhesitatingly curse a nun if she were hitting Al Leiter's fastball too often. What kind of reaction, then, can Jones expect in Shea Stadium? "You don't even want to know," he said. "But no fan I've ever run LAST NIGHT'S RESULT Jacksonville 16.

NY Jets 6 SUNDAY'S GAMES Cleveland at Jacksonville. 1p.m. Indianapolis at New York Jets, 1 p.m. Miami at New England, 1 p.m. Minnesota at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Oakland at Buffalo, 1 m. Philadelphia at Chicago, 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. St. Louis at Atlanta, 1 m.

Tennessee at New Orleans, 1 m. Seattle at San Diego, 4 05 m. Carolina at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m. Green Bay at Denver, 4.15 p.m. Washington at Anzona.

8 20 p.m. OPEN: Baltimore, Kansas City, Bay MON0AVS GAME Dallas at NY Giants. 9 p.m. ASSOCIATED PRESS Pitcher Greg Maddux stretched during batting practice yesterday as the Braves prepared to meet the Mets in the NLCS tonight. across has affected what I do on the field.

The nine guys they run out there every inning affect what I do on the field." This ought to be fun. The Braves once again face their usual manifest destiny. Win the World Series or ex- flain why not. Never mind the re-entless winning to get this far. "It's kind of a warped way of thinking," John Smoltz said.

"But that's the way it is." They survived a stressful time with the Astros and now are squarely the favorites. But this is where the trouble usually starts. This is where the Braves were supposed to beat San Diego last year but didn't, and were supposed 1 NBA Preseason YESTERDAY'S GAME Miami 126, Maccabi Tel Aviv 91: Tim Hardaway had 24 points and nine assists before a raucous crowd of more than 7,000 at the Yad Eliahu sports palace. Heat forward Mark Strickland added 19 points. TONIGHT'S GAMES Milwaukee at Toronto, 7 pm.

Orlando at Detroit, 7:30 m. Philadelphia vs. New York at Union- NOTEBOOK dale, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. Atlanta vs. New Jersey at Albany, Anaheim 2 2 0 0 4 8 9 7:30 m.

Overtime losses wiH count both is Washington vs. Los Angeles Lakers a loss and a regulation tie. at Little Rock. 8:30 m. Piazza due back; O'Neill may be out LAST NIGHT'S GAMES Denver at Chicago, 8 30 p.m.

Seattle vs. Portland at Corvallis. PGA earnings leaders Tm Money 1 Tiger Woods 18 $4,266,585 2 David Duval 20 $3,538,706 3. Payne Stewart 19 $2,077,950 4 Viiay Singh 25 $1,961,750 5 Hal Sutton 22 $1,912,494 6. Jeff Maggert 21 $1,891,969 7.

Davis Love III 21 $1 ,865,328 8. Justin Leonard 25 $1 ,773,491 9. David Toms 29 $1 ,739.297 10. Carlos Franco 20 $1,732,884 1 1 Chris Perry 27 $1 .639,957 12 Steve Pate 25 $1,597,935 13 Phil Mickelsori 20 $1,588,431 14 TedTryba 28 $1,414,136 15 Mike Weir 26 $1,332,514 16. Jeff Sluman 27 $1,326,509 17.

Fred Funk 31 $1,326,381 18 Ernie Els 15 $1,325,506 19 Nick Price 16 $1,304,736 20. Tim Herron 26 $1 .298.868 21. Tom Lehman 20 $1,285,239 22. Stuart Appleby 27 $1 .238 974 23. John Huston 20 $1,210,887 24.

JimFurvk 22 $1,181,393 25. Bob Esles 25 $1.167 618 26. Dennis Paulson 25 $1,162,639 27. Brent Geiberger 26 $1,149,276 28. Loren Roberts 23 $1,119,912 29.

Notah Begay III 26 $1,111,114 30. Duffy Waldorf 22 $1 .081 .989 31. Jesper Parnevik 19 $1,044,718 32. Stewart Cmk 24 $1,003,975 33. Steve Elkington 19 $999,126 34.

Scott Hoch 25 $986,442 35. Skip Kendall 28 $954,872 36. Scott Gump 28 $940,507 37. flocco Mediate 23 $934,507 38. Gabriel Hjertstedt 28 S916.408 39.

Craig Parry 18 $909,576 40. Glen Day 25 $888,951 Colorado 3. Boston. 3 Carolina 3. Calgary 3 10 pm.

New Jersey 2, Ottawa 2 A Clippers vs Golden State at San Last night's boxscore Red Sox 12, Indians 8 Jose, Calif 1030 Y. Rangers 4. NY Islanders 2 Anaheim 5. San Jose 3 Phoenu 2, Buffalo 2 Nashville 4. Toronto 2 Cleveland AB TONIGHT'S GAMES A Bl Avg 1 0 0 125 Lofton cf 2 Florida al Montreal Boston AB Bl Avg Otterman 2b 4 0 1 0 .389 JrWalentm 3b 4 2 1 2 .31 Daubach dh 5 2 3 0 .250 SWISS INDOORS At Zurich, Switzerland First round Barbara Schett (5) d.

Philadelphia at Washington TOMORROW'S GAMES 1-Sdlrdh Lisa Raymond 6-3, 6-4; Patty Schnyder d. Amy Frazier 4-6, 6-1, 6-4; Conna Moranu d. Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-2; SI Louis at Detroit, 7 Florida at Toronto, 7 30 Anaheim at New Jersey, 7:30 San Jose at Dallas, 8:30 Roberts cf Vizquel ss RAIomat 2b MRamirez rf Thome lb Bames dh Cordero II Fryman 3b SAIomar Grciaprra ss Oleary II Stanley 1b Varitek OLews cf 0 1 0 0 .500 3 3 2 3 417 4 2 2 7 200 4 0 0 0 .500 5 0 0 0 238 4 110 .375 3 10 0 .214 0 0 0 .000 111 .238 1 1 0 .368 1 1 1 .056 2 2 4 353 0 0 0 .357 1 1 0 .556 1 1 2 .267 0 0 0 .143 0 0 0 .000 8 7 8 Tatiana Panova d. Elena Likhovtseva 6- Boston at Colorado, 9 3, 7-5; Magui Serna d. Ruxandra Orago-mir 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Carolina at Edmonton, 9 Calgary at Vancouver, 10 FOOTBALL SEC Named Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin Offensive Player of the Week: named Mississippi State defensive end John Hilliard Defensive Player of the Week. OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE Named Murray State quarterback Justin Fuente Offensive Player of the Week; named Murray State kicker Greg Miller Special Teams Player of the Week; named Tennessee Tech's Branon Vaughn Defensive Player of the Week; named Eastern Kentucky defensive back Yermiah Bell Newcomer of the Week MID-SOUTH CONFERENCE Named Georgetown defensive lineman Justin Morris Defensive Player of the Week: named North Greenville quarterback Corey Fountain Offensive Player of the Week. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Released linebacker Andre Royal. CINCINNATI BENGALS Activated offensive tackle Jamain Stephens; waived linebacker Jimmy Sprotte. WASHINGTON REDSKINS Signed linebacker Kurt Gouveia; placed linebacker Malcolm Hamilton on injured reserve.

BASEBALL NL Suspended New York Mets third-base coach Cookie Rojas for five games for shoving umpire Charlie Williams on Oct 9. DETROIT TIGERS Sent infielder TNixon rt Totalt 36121012 a-EWilsonph 1 Totals 34 CA TROPHY At Vienna, Austria First round Roger Federer d. Boston 205 100 30112 10 0 Cleveland 323 000 000 8 7 1 a-grounded out for Alomar Jr. in the 9th. 1-ran for Daubach in the 9th.

E-SAIomar (1). LOB-Boston 4, Cleveland 3. 28 Daubach 2 (2). Garciaparra (2), DLewis (1) Vizquel (1). RAIomar (4).

MRamirez (1). HR-O'Leary 2 (2) off Shuey, Nagy; Fryman (1) off Saberhagen: Thome 2 (4) off DLowe, Saberhagen: Garciaparra (2) off Nagy. SB-Lofton (2). SF JnValentm. Runners lett in scoring posi Vince Spadea 6-4, 6-2; Greg Rusedski (5) d.

Thomas Johansson 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3); Jan Siemennk d. Arnaud Clement 5-7, 7-6 (7-5I. 7-6 (8-6); Juergen Melzer d. Lars Burgsmueller 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-3; Yevgeny Kafelnikow (1) d. Thomas Enqvist 6-3, 6-4.

HEINEKEN OPEN At Singapore Final Magnus Norman (2) d. Mar-celo Rios (f) 2-6, 6-3. 7-5 Doubles: Final Sebastien Lareau-Daniel Nestor d. Todd Woodbridge-Mark Wood-forde 7-5. 6-3 tion Boston i (vante).

Boston ER BB SO NP ERA 5 5 1 0 27 2700 3 3 0 2 32 4 32 0 0 3 8 97 000 ER BB SO NP ERA 8 7 2 2 61 7 20 0 0 2 2 47 1 80 3 3 1 2 27 11 25 IP 1 2 6 IP 3 3 2 Saberhagen DLowe Cleveland Nagy DePaula Shuey 1-1 Jason Wood, infielder Jose Macias and Jackson 1 1 1 1 1 21 450 pitcher Beiker Graterol outright to Toledo of the International League. CINCINNATI REDS Added pitcher Pat Flury, pitcher John Riedlinq and Saberhagen pitched to 2 batters in the 2nd, Nagy first baseman O.T. Cromer, to the 40- man roster; promoted Terrv Abbott to area scouting supervisor; named Butch Baccala special assignment scout. MILWAUKEE BREWERS Named Gary Hansen minor league pitching BASKETBALL SACRAMENTO KINGS Waived Associated Press The soft blue cast on Mike Piazza's left thumb was replaced with a fray wrap. The New York Mets' All-tar catcher was smoking line drives in batting practice yesterday.

On the eve of their National League Championship Series showdown with the Atlanta Braves, the Mets got the best news possible: Their best hitter would likely be back in the lineup. "The pain has definitely subsided a lot," Piazza said yesterday after missing the last two games against Arizona because of his injured left thumb. "The swelling has gone down a lot. I don't want to say anything definite right now, but it is feeling good. I do expect to play (today)." Piazza took batting practice, played catch and ran sprints during a workout.

He said he felt about 90 percent, and manager Bobby Valentine was encouraged by what he saw. "He's a tough cookie, hard to read sometimes," Valentine said. "When we talk to him, we will know where we are. It's probably not perfect, but it's better." The Mets were going to wait until this morning to decide whether to add Mike Kinkade to the roster as a third catcher. General manager Steve Phillips said the team could drop one of its 11 pitchers or a position player most likely Bobby Bonilla to create a roster spot.

Piazza originally injured the thumb when he was nit in the thumb of his glove hand by a foul tip on Sept. 17. He aggravated the injury last Wednesday against Arizona and took a cortisone shot to reduce the swelling. But he had a bad reaction, and the swelling increased. If Piazza can't play, the Mets once again will turn to Todd Pratt, who hit the game-winning home run in the 10th inning Saturday off Matt Mantei to put the Mets in the NLCS.

The Mets did it without Piazza against the Diamondbacks, but making up for his 40 home runs and 124 RBIs will be a tougher task against the Braves. "His presence in the lineup is different than anybody else because of his power and average and everything he brings to the lineup," Robin Ventura said. "Obviously it's important that we have him. He makes our lineup a lot stronger." probably would activate Shane! Spencer, who wasn't on the roster for the first-round sweep of Texas. open a spot if O'Neill is questionable, New York probably would cut either Clay Bellinger, used mostly as a pinch runner, or Hideki Irabu, who.

didn't pitch against the Rangers. Mets coach Rojas gets, five-game suspension Mets third-base coach Cookie Rojas was suspended for five games a penalty to begin with Game 1 of, the NLCS for shoving umpire Charlie Williams in the chest during Saturday's playoff game. NL president Len Coleman issued the suspension and also fined Rojas $500. Bench coach Bruce Benedict will take over Rojas' spot. Roias declined comment until he could meet with, Coleman, most likely today.

-n The altercation took place after. Rojas was ejected in the eighth inning of the Mets' clinching 4-3 win over Arizona in the division series.1 Rojas became enraged after Williams, the left-field umpire, ruled Darryl Hamilton's drive down the line was foul. Replays showed Wik Hams made the correct call. Rojas was quickly ejected and the' argument heated up. After there was contact between him and Williams it was unclear who initiated that; brush he pushed the umpire with two hands in the chest.

After the game, Rojas claimed1 Williams had called him a name and, added, "He bumped me first." Williams did not comment. Fans aren't snatching up playoff tickets in Atlanta The Braves once again are having' a tough time selling tickets to the NLCS. Even with a nasty rivalry; brewing against the Mets, more than 8,000 tickets were available yester day for Game 1 at the ballpark. Nearly 10,000 tickets remain for tomorrow's Game 2. "If the fans are taking for granted; that we're going to make it to the World Series, the Mets may have something to say about that," third baseman Chipper Jones said.

The Braves drew only 39,119 fans to the first game of the division series against Houston nearly 11,000 short of capacity and the smallest crowd ever in Atlanta's 44! game postseason history. The second game wasn't much better, with only 41,913 in the seats. center Malcolm Mackey, guard Keith Veney and forward Tywan Santord. HOCKEY NHL Suspended Phoenix Coyotes center Jeremy Roenick for five games for slashing Chicago Blackhawks nght wing Tony Amonte in a game Oct. 8.

hi i isbuhijh ptNuuiNS He- Longest winning streaks Streak Years Oklahoma 47 1953-57 Mount Union 47 1996-99 Washington 39 1908-14 Augustana, III 37 1983-85 Yale 37 1890-93 Yale 37 1887-89 Toledo 35 1 969-71 Hillsdale 34 1954-57 Pennsylvania 34 1894-96 Wilkes 32 1965-69 Missouri Valley 31 1 946-48 Morgan St 31 1965-68 Oklahoma 31 1 948-50 Pittsburgh 3t 1914-18 Pennsylvania 31 1896-98 Benlley ........30 1993-95 Texas 30 1968-70 Division I AA poll School Red Pts Pvs 1 Ga Southern (57) 5-1 1 .661 1 2. Troy State (8) 5-0 1,637 2 3. Hofstra(2 6-0 1,647 4 4. Tennessee St. (2) 5-0 1,491 5 5.

Southern 6-0 1,385 6 6. Illinois State 5-1 1,345 7 7. Montana 4-1 1,228 8 8 Northern Iowa 5-1 1,152 9 9 Lehigh 5-0 1,008 10 10 Youngstown State 1,003 11 11. Appalachian State 972 3 12 Delaware 4-1 936 12 13 James Madison 4-1 891 14 14. Flonda 4-2 751 15 15 Eastern Kentucky 5-1 745 16 16.

Tennessee St 4-1 673 17 17 Jackson State 4-1 610 18 18 Furman 4-1 534 19 South Flonda 4-2 506 21 20. Western Illinois 4-2 395 24 21 Northern Arizona 3-2 374 23 22 Hampton 4-2 317 13 23 Cal St -S'crmento 4-2 189 24 Eton 5-1 166 22 25 Massachusetts 2-3 147 NCAA Division II poll Rk School Red Pts 1 Carson-Newman, Tenn. 6-0 80 2 Northern Colorado 6-0 76 3. Central Oklahoma 5-0 72 4. Slippery Rock, Pa.

5-1 68 5. Nebraska-Omaha 5-1 62 Tuskeqee, Aia. 5-0 62 7. Northwest Missouri St. 5-1 56 8 UC Davis 5-1 52 9 Fort Valley State.

Ga 6-0 48 10 Pittsburg State, Kan 5-1 44 1 1 North Dakota 5-0 40 12. Southern Arkansas 4-1 36 1 3 North Dakota State 5-1 31 14 New Haven, Conn 4-2 29 15 Millersville, Pa 23 16. Chadron State, Neb 4-1 18 Delia State. Miss 4-1 18 18 Anqelo State, Texas 4-2 10 19 Indiana, Pa. 3-2 9 20 West Georgia 4-2 3 called goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin from ScrantonWilkes-Barre of tha AHL; signed nght wing Tom Kostopoulos.

ntHontY btAHS Heieaseo lett wing Lome Toews. HocntsitH Americans Re pitched to 1 batter in the 4th. Inherited runners-scored DePaula 1-1. IBB off MJackson (Oleary) 1, off Shuey (Garciaparra) 1, off Nagy (Garciaparra) 1. Umpires Home, Shulock; First, Merrill; Second, Joyce: Third, Meriwether; Left.

Welke, Tim; Right, McKean. 3:12. O'Neill has fractured rib, may be out for ALCS The New York Yankees learned that right fielder Paul O'Neill has a fractured rib and might not play in the American League Championship Series, which starts tomorrow. O'Neill was injured Oct. 2 when he crashed into a low fence chasing a foul ball at Tampa Bay.

He then went 1 for 4 in each of the first two games of the AL playoffs against Texas. Manager Joe Torre benched him for the clincher, convinced the injury was hampering O'Neill. X-rays and a magnetic resonance imaging yesterday showed a small fracture of the 10th rib on his right side. "Sometimes, I guess, it shows up later," the 36-year-old outfielder said. Rosters for the championship series must be set by 10 a.m.

EDT tomorrow, and the Yankees won't make any decisions until then, general manager Brian Cashman said. O'Neill intended to take batting practice today, along with running and outfield drills. "I'll go out and see if it's possible to play," he said. O'Neill hit .285 this season with 19 homers and 110 RBIs. In 1996 he hobbled on a torn hamstring for much of the season.

If O'Neill can't play, the Yankees Lotteries KENTUCKY For 101199 For 101199 CASH FIVE 3-11-14-17-23 Pick Three Midday -4-9-9 Evening 4-2-6 Pick Four Midday -7-4-4-2 Evening 6-7-3-4 INDIANA 101199 Dally Three -2-7-7 Dally Four 5-7-4-5 Lucky 5 -13-24-30-34-35 CASH 4 LIFE For 101199 60-74-79-91 ILLINOIS For 101199 Pick Three Midday 4-0-5 Pick Three Evening 9-8-7 Pick Four Midday -0-1-8-0 Pick Four Evening -1-0-5-5 Little Lotto 2-6-14-16-19 OHIO For 101199 Pick Three Morning -8-1-2 Pick Three Evening 3-3-4 Pick Four Morning 8-4-8-2 Pick Four Evening -1-9-9-1 For Buckeye Five 1-12-16-27-32 Lottery numbers any time (two phone numbers are toll-free): Kentucky: (502) 583-2000. Indiana: (800) 955-6886. Illinois: (217)524-5155. Ohio. (800) 589-6446.

ceived defenseman Cory Sanch on assignment from the Buffalo Sabres. WORCESTER ICECATS Recalled defenseman Tyler Harlton from Peoria of the ECHL; announced that defense-man Bryan Helmer has been recalled by the St. Louis Blues. COLLEGES WESTERN KENTUCKY Duncan Shangase was named men's cross country Performer of the Week: Valeria Lynch was named women's Performer oi the Week. NIGH SCHOOLS VALLEY Boys' basketball team is seeking a tournament to play in Dec 20-23.

EIGHTH REGION Seeking an assigning secretary for baseball. Call Gran Metford at Owen County. College football THURSDAY'S GAMES (Horn learn In CAPS) FAVORITE POINTS UNDERDOG Fresno St 14'! SMU MARSHALL 22 'h Toledo SATURDAYS GAMES Louisville 3 MEMPHIS KENTUCKY 3 LSU WISCONSIN 14'A Indiana PENNST 11 'i Ohm St. STATE even Virginia MISSOURI 9 Iowa St. Pittsburgh 3M BOSTON COL RICE TH San Jose St.

Minnesota 2 ILLINOIS Georgia Tech 17V DUKE WESTERN Vh Iowa AIR FORCE nl Utah W. VIRGINIA 18', Rutgers Clemson 1 MARYLAN0 C. MICHIGAN even Minors CAROLINA Th Houston AKRON Bowling Green TEXAS 32 Kansas Georgia 9 Miami-Ohio 24'j KENT KANSAS ST 30 Utah St. NOTRE DAME Tt So. California COLORADO ST 7 San Diego St.

SO. MISS 23 Army Flonda 17 AUBURN UCLA 13 California Mich. St 2 PURDUE Alabama 3'A MISSISSIPPI TULANE 27 U-Latayette CINCINNATI 5 Boise St N.TEXAS MIAMI-FLA 35 Temple LA. TECH 26ft Mid Tenn. St.

STANFORD 9 Oregon St. Idaho 9'! ARKANSAS ST. E. MICHIGAN 1 OhoU. MICHIGAN 33 Buffalo Colorado nl TEXAS TECH WASHINGTON nl Arizona St FLORIDA ST 32ft W.

Forest ARKANSAS 23 S.Carolina TCU 17 Tulsa VA. TECH 11ft Syracuse Wyoming 23ft LA -MONROE BYU 17 NEW MEXICO ARIZONA 22 UTEP NFL SUNDAYS GAMES Minnesota 3 DETROIT NEW ENGLAND 2ft Miami BUFFALO 3ft Oakland NY. JETS nl Indianapolis ATLANTA nl SI Lows JACKSONVILLE nl Cleveland NEW ORLEANS in Tennessee Pittsburgh 4ft CINCINNATI CHICAGO 7 Philadelphia Seattle 1ft SAN DIEGO Green Bay 3ft DENVER SAN FRAN nl Carolina Washington 3 ARIZONA MONDAY'S GAME Dallas 3 N.Y. GIANTS NL nohne. Odds by National Sports Services, Inc.

,1 unm mi Final MLS Standings (All Times EOT) EASTERN CONFERENCE SOW Pts GF GA y-OC 23 9 6 57 65 43 x-Cokimbus 19 13 6 45 48 40 x-TampaBay 14 18 5 32 51 50 x-Mami 13 19 5 29 42 59 New England 12 20 5 26 38 53 NY-NJ 7 25 3 15 32 64 WESTERN CONFERENCE SOW Pts GF GA y-Los Angeles ....20 12 3 54 49 29 x-DaUas 19 13 3 51 54 35 xCbicago 18 14 3 48 51 36 X-Cotorado 20 12 6 48 38 39 San Jose 19 13 10 37 48 49 Kansas City 8 24 2 20 33 53 y-clinched conference title x-cimched playoff berth. NOTE: Three points for victory, one pant for shootout win and zero points for loss. Shootout (SOW) rs a subset of wins. SUNDAY'S GAMES Chicago 3. Columbus 2, SO Dallas 2, Tampa Bay 1 End Regular Season AROUND KENTUCKIANA CFL (All Times EOT) EAST DIVISION PTS PF PA Montreal 10 4 0 20 361 289 Hamilton 8 6 0 16 491 300 Toronto 7 7 0 14 319 300 Winnipeg 4 10 0 8 280 482 WEST DIVISION PTS PF PA BC 10 4 0 20 352 307 Calgary 9 5 0 18 396 306 Edmonton 5 9 0 10 364 394 Ssktchwn 3 11 0 6 288 463 Note: Two points for a regulation or overtime win and one point for a tie.

YESTERDAY'S GAMES Montreal 43. Saskatchewan 7 Edmonton 26. BC. 10 Wildcats soccer player again earns SEC honor GIL THORP by Jerry Jenkins and Ray Burns MAC! SON IS rVIKKCSJOIVC SURE BACKS ABE FAST CAN THIS TIP jMlUPORP' PAUL? BUT THEY'RE THPOW ISN'T A FAN ANC CCCM fcSU I VOU CAN A HOW? rt SMALL. SO IF OVER CONFLICT ALWAYS II j4 WHITE IS THEM? OF HAVE SEAT THEM From Special Dispatches The University of Kentucky women's soccer team is reaping the rewards of a nine-game winning streak.

Yesterday sophomore Annie Gage was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, giving UK the honor an unprecedented three consecutive weeks, and the Wildcats (10-2-1, 4-1 SEC) moved up five spots in the national rankings to No. 19. Gage scored three goals, including the game-winners in both of UK's victories last week. The forward from Westerville, Ohio, leads UK with 10 goals and 25 points. She also was named SEC Player of the Week on Sept.

27, and teammate Keri Boyce got the honor last week. Room of the Adron Doran University Center. Reservations can be made-by calling (606) 783-2080. Robert Miller of Louisville, will be inducted into the University of Cincinnati Jim Kelly Athletic Hall of; Fame on Saturday. After leading the Central High School basketball team to the 1974 state championship, he helped the-Bearcats to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a 90-27 rec-.

ord in four seasons. He was the team's MVP twice and became the fourth Bearcat to top 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. 'J- Miller ranks 10th on the Cincin- nati all-time scoring list, fourth in rebounding, third in field-goal per-! centage and fourth in blocked shots. The Wildcats' ranking in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll is the highest in the program's eight-year history. Halls of fame ESPN college football analyst and former college coach Mike Gottfried is among five people who will be inducted into the Morehead State University Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday night.

Gottfried was the Eagles' starting quarterback for four years, passing for 1,585 yards as a senior in 1964. Also to be inducted are Paul "Mouse" Combs (basketballfootball), Tom Scott (football), Kelly Stamper (women's basketball) and Jarrell Vinson (footballbasketball). The hall of fame banquet will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Crager rfMk. I I ACXUWATb A It.