Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page 1D

Hv il i Ifc 4 WW Poughkeqjsie Journal SUNDAYSPORTS Local 3 Baseball 4 Without Limits 6 JM SHEAHAN, SPORTS EDITOR 845 437 4845 jsheahanQ pou9hkeepslejournal.com SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2005 Yanks clinch division title MY cruises by Boston for 8th straight championship BasebaH ByJohnDelcos Poughkeepsle Journal BOSTON They took the long route, but the; New York Yankees are where they thought they'd be all along the night they handed Randy John son the ball for his Opening Day start against the Boston Red Sox in the chill of an April night at Yankee Stadium. After a dismal start, a series of injuries and under performing stars, a first half of inconsistency and myriad Of team meetings called by manager Joe Torre, the Yankees are AL East champions for the eighth straight season. After Johnson, behind the strength of homers from Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez, beat the Red Sox, Saturday, and coupled with Chicago beating Cleveland, the obligatory champagne flowed in Fenway Park's crampedclubhousei The Red Sox can still play Cleveland in a one game, playoffhere Monday. The possibility of that, game leaves open the chance for a third straight AL Championship Series against the Red Sox, but that thought is for another day. Owner George Stein brenher reveled in victory.

"Our team played like real warriors Steinbrenner said. "I am proud of them and delighted, for our fans who sfuCk with us through this tough and exciting season. But this is only the first step toward pur goal of a championship." Steinbrenner did not comment on the status of Torre br general manager Brian Cashman. Nq matter, said Torre; because Saturday was for celebrating their hardest journey. "This is the best of them all because of all the questions mat.

were asked," Torre said. This has to be the most special because of all that went on." Torre calls meetings Torre must have called a dozen meetings this summer to shake his team put of its doldrums caused by. a hurting and underperforming $205 million roster. Three of his Opening Day starters Kevin Brown, Carl Payahpahd Jaret Wright Went on the disabled list, as did emergency starter Chien Ming Wang me Yankees used 28 pitchers overall, including 14 starters; Jason piambi got offto a miserable start and his future was in doubt; both Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada showed sighs of breaking down; Sheffield and Matsui played tojured; and through it all came heat from Steinbrenn AL Championship Series loss in which me Red Sox overcame a three game deficit to win. "I don't know if this is the most satisfying they're all satisfying," Derek Jeter "But; this has definitely been the most difficult." Please see Yanks, 4D Indians lose 4D Mets beat Rockies 4D suaafr The Associated.

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ii'riflj iSroitKitt'eiiliiallsM lOybaldnge WM a careet iit': 'couldn't save 1 pa paiuuay wii toborfatMathewQStadiur4J Trw: The loss snappecl a Marsf ges, and drops tbfeteftrri'te; )3 2: on the Yeaiv5 rnxmrnm ljards' tiLluC muuwinwuja jras the UlthxJtWiJx1 im. kxoM rAWn'rik4''asaid his iBHB iseniorvde receriis justi vFrpQiwe Bad bto 'yards shy of VtxeUMimJM' iSt42net bffquar mlSF? FutUttrady saredto Darryi BautUtaPoughkeepsie Journal Red Hook High School's Rich Rossr carries the 1 bail within thd Pine Plains 10 yard line during action in Red Hook on Saturday. Pine Plains' Clinton Savoury; center, assists on the tackleyRed Hook won the game in double overtime, 41 40, Two more Red Raiders improve to 5 0 ortseason By Todd Bonds Poughkeepsie Journal RED "HOOK T. Scoring touchdowns in; pyertime sessions is becoming habit forxhihg for Red Hook High School receiver Jason Clark. junior, scored the game winner in the: Raiders' 20 13 overtime vicr tory against Highland in; Week? of the season.

Saturday, Clark caught the jgarne tying touchdown against rival Pine Plains (4 1) in double overtime. Clark ran past agombers'deferid er On the first play of Red Hook's (5 0) possession in double overtime, dived and hauled in quarterback Ryan King's pass for a 20r yard touchdown, A The extra point gave Red Hook a 41 40 win, and own Hlgh school football ership of the Cider. Jug for the first time since 200L The catch was met with disdain by the Pine Plains sideline. Bombers coaches and players suggested Clark didn't have control of the ball as he hit the ground. Pine Plains head coach Thomas, Giorgio didn't think Clark made the catch.

"It just seems from my angle that it clearly went through his hands and hit the ground," he said. Clark said the official signaled touchdown, not hini. "It was but whatever," Clark said, had it, but whetheror hot I had control before my body hit the ground is (the referee's) call Red Hook was dominant early The Raiders' pushed Pine Plains around the field on their first two offensive possessions, and; forced the Bombers to punt after three plays on their first offensive drive. Red Hook took a 14 0 lead at the end of the first quarter on touchdown runs of one and nine, yards by Rich Ross and John' Krayic, Instead of folding and giving away the Cider' Jug without a fight, Pine Plains got within a touchdown of the; Raiders when sopho moe. Matt Bloodgood scored on an 8 yafid run in the second quarter.

He fin ished with four touchdowns. The Bombers recovered the onsides kick on the ensuing kickofif. Pine Plains' next drive ended with an eight yard touchdown pass from fuiirnyBcryles to running back Kyle OTJell The extra point atteinpt was blocked, arid left the score at 14 13. "Qur kids never quit," Giorgio said. Red Hook led, 20 13, at halftime.

Hook tbuchdpwhs, arid another score; by BlobdgoOd left the score at 34 20. in fayor of the Raiders going into the fourthquarter. Boyles scores A touchdown plunge by Boyles with 8i7 remaining in regulatiph. got Pine Plains within a touchdown again. The Bomber defense forced the Raiders to punt with about two minutes remaining in the; fourth quarter.

The punt was the break Pine Plains needed to get back into the game. A bad snap sent the ball over the Red Hook punter's head. Tfie ball was recovered inside the Pine Plains, 30 yard line. Bloodgood scored his third touchdown of th game on an 8 yard run with 1:04 remaining in regulation. Bloodgood crossed the goal line carrying four defenders; with him.

Red Hook and Pine Plains each failed to score on its first possession in overtime. Bloodgood scored his fourth, touchdown Of this game in the second overtime, to give Pine: Plains a 40 34 leacLThe extra point attempt was blocked. The blocked kick was followed by Clark's catcE Red HOpk; made its extra point, and earned the one point "Raiders Fay was more than pleased to win the Cider Jug in his first year back with the program after a 10 year hiatus. This feels good," he isaid This one here; I thought we. at the end of the gatne, and somehow we got it done." Bonds can be reached at4bondspough keepsiejoiirndlcprn Pawling triumphs 3Dj t.

"it feels ghMMMmmPm: about "We had ctncenttatmgMIwi 6ses," he acfcompUsrmienritmesja lot, if means Tnaa opdi carepr but rii wiS PH bur chances," he said. "We had four opportur ties in the red zone, we just couldn't put points up on the board." Af ike Ben isctiek UIOIHl crushes Army Th Associated Press WEST POINT Darius Butler said it was easy. He made it look that way. CoHego football Butler, a redshirt jiad the first three interceptions of his career," returning one for a score, and Mart Bonislaws ki threw for 180 yards and two. touchdowns to lead.UConn past Army 47 13 onSatunday.

It was tEl ninth loss in a row oyer two seasons and fifth straight at home for Army (0 4), which was coming off a disheartening 28 21 loss to Na 23 Iowa State, For the Huskies' (3 1), it was their third straight win overjAnriy. the Huskies holding 6 lead early in the Second; quarter, Butler's first pig play sparked a 17 ppint surge before halftime. He tookadvantage of mistake prone Army quarterback Dahman, who lost 2byarpbacktoh5s6wn5after TTie AMOclated Press Connecticut's. Terry Caul ley runs unchallenged into Army's end for a touchdown on Saturday. fumbling while backpedal mg to throw then was intercepted along the right side on the next play by Butler.

"They did the.same things they did on film," said Butler, who returned the ball yards to the Army 4. They like slants a Jot, so I was; playing more on the inside. I just sat on it and the quarterback threw it right to wanted to get in the end zone." OVERTIME Report events: (800) 933 7267 AMERICAN HAGUE 1.4D COlifGE FOOTBALL so No. 1 USC 38 No. 14 Ariz.

St. 28 No. 2 Texas 51 Missouri 20 YANKEES 8 Boston 4 No.3Va.Tech34 W. Virqinia 17 Miss: St. 7 No.

15 Alabama31 No. 5 Fla. 3 Chio. White Sox 4 Cleveland 3 No. 6 Fla.

State 38 Syracuse 1 4 Kansas City 7 Toronto 6 aiuiiamiini Oakland 4 Seattle 3. Baltimore 4 Tampa Bay 3 Minnesota 3 Detroit 0 LA. Angels at Texas (n) NATIONAL HAGUE 4D METS 3 Colorado 1 Houston 3 Chicago Cubs 1 Arizona 2 San Francisco 1 Philadelphia 8 Washington 4 St. Louis 9 Cincinnati 6 S. Florida at No.

9 Miami (n) No. 10 Tenn. 27 Mississippi 10 Michigan 34 No: 11 Mich. St 31 No. 12 California 28 Arizona 0 No; 1 3 NDame at No.

22 Pur, (n) Kansas at No. 1 6 Texas Tech (n) No. 17 Wisconsin 41 Indiana iZ4 ,1 1 mm 1 1 1 Penn State 44 No. 1 8 Minn. 1 4 Maryland 45 No.

19 Virginia 33 Washington at No. 20 UCLA (n) Pittsburgh 5 Milwaukee 1 No. 21 BC.38 Ball State 0 Atlanta at Florida (r) LA. Dodgers at San Diego (n) Nebraska 27 No. 23 Iowa St.

2Q No. 24 Louisville 61Fla. Atlantic 10. Bruins 5, Rangers 2 Glen Murray scored twice and Joe Thornton and Sergei Samspnbv added, their first goals of the preseason to lead the Bruins past the New York Rangers on Saturday night in Boston's final exhibition game. The Bruins (4 31) jumped to a 3 0 lead midway thrqugh the first period.

Thornton opened the scoring 5:44 into the game with a power play goal on a putback from just outside the goalie box. The Bruins' power play struck again, 831 into the first, on rookie Brad Boyes' fourth goal in six exhibition games. Murray extended the lead to 12:44 into the first period, then put the Bruins up; 4 0 6:46 into the second with a breakaway, goal Michigan wins overtime thriller Michigan Stare running back Jason Teague pushes Michigan linebacker Dave. Harris during a run in the first quarter on Saturday. Michigan won in overtime, 34 31 For rnore details, please see page 3D, Th Associated Prsss 1 QUOTE TIME 'Ouiteam played like real warriors.

George Steinbrenner New York Yankees owner after his team won the American League East We TODAYS TRIVIA How many New York Yankee managers were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as managers? Please See answer in Scoreboard, 2D. COMING Mondays Coverage of the final game of the series between the New Ybrk Yankees and Boston Red Sox, Thursday Players recreation section 4 Th Associated Press Federer wins Roger Federer is in the final of the Thailand Open after beating Jarkko Nleminen on Saturday, 2D.