Tyrone Daily Herald from Tyrone, Pennsylvania • Page 6

Page Four Football Fantasy Fulfilled 49ersBlowOut Giants, 41 -21 Tyrone Daily Herald, Tuesday, October 6,1987 District 6 Grid Ratings By DAVK RAKFO UPI Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (UPI) Mark Stevens fulfilled a football fantasy Monday night that could only come off during an NFL players' strike. Stevens, a 6-foot-l, 190-pound quarterback who spent the past two years in the Canadian Football League, played in the NFL in front of his family and helped beat the New York Giants by running the wishbone. Stevens replaced starter Bob Gagliano in the second half, threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Carl Monroe and ran 9 yards for a TD to spark the 49ers' 41-21 blowout. "My ultimate goal was to play in the NFL since I was little kid playing Little League football," said Stevens, who grew up in nearby Passaic and played in front of his parents and grandmother Monday night.

"I was looking forward to the opportunity to get a good look to get somebody to recognize my skills." Stevens, who played collegiately at Utah, was a Montreal Alouettes' backup the past two seasons. When the NFL players went on strike, the 49ers contacted Stevens. He ran the veer at Utah but never the wishbone before Monday night. "They told me they were looking for a quarterback with running skills," he said. Stevens ran seven times for 36 yards and completed both of his passes for 52 yards.

The 49ers also 'scored on Del Rodgers' 2-yard run, Mike Wells' 1-yard run with a blocked punt, Tony Cherry's 13-yard run and field goals of 39 and 22 yards by Jeff Brockhaus. The Giants scored on Jim Crocicchia's 47-yard pass to Lewis Bennett and Mike Busch fourth-quarter passes of 63 yards to Reggie McGowan and 7 yards to Edwin Lovelady. The crowd of .16,471 was the lowest ever for a Giants game at Giants Stadium and was the first non-sellout in 88 games since the stadium opened in 1976. With the loss, the Giants season continued to go down the drain. The regular players opened with losses to Chicago and Dallas and if the non-union games count as the owners Standings, Results, Schedule American Conference East Pet.

PF PA NY Jets 2 1 0 .667 98 90 Buffalo 1 2 0 .333 68 108 Miami 1 2 0 .333 64 62 New England 1 2 0 .333 62 84 Indianapolis 1 2 0 .333 78 52 Central Cleveland -2 1 0 .667 75 48 Houston 2 1 0 .667 90 60 Pittsburgh 2 1 0 .667 68 63 Cincinnati 1 2 0 .333 58 58 West LA Raiders 3001.000 82 24 San Diego 2 1 0 .667 51 53 Seattle 2 1 0 .667 84 74 Denver 1 .500 67 74 Kansas City 1 2 0 .333 51 91 National Conference East Pet. PF PA Dallas 2 10 .667 67 62 Washington 2 1 0 .667 82 66 Philadelphia 1 2 0 .333 54 86 St. Louis 1 2 0 .333 69 69 NY Giants 030 .000 54 91 Central Chicago 300 1.000 89 25 Minnesota 2 i .667 71 58 Tampa Bay 2 1 0 .667 82 57 Green Bay i 11 .500 40 53 Detroit 030 .000 53 92 West New. Orleans 2 1 0 .667 82 58 San Francisco 2 1 0 .667 85 77 Atlanta 120 .333 43 96 LA Rams 030 .000 42 78 Sunday's Results Chicago 35, Philadelphia 3 Tampa Bay 31, Detroit 27 Indianapolis 47, Buffalo 6 New Orleans 37, LA Rams 10 Pittsburgh 28, Atlanta 12 Washington 28, St. Louis 21 San Diego 10, Cincinnati 9 Cleveland 20, New England 10 Green Bay 23, Minnesota 16 Dallas 38, NY Jets 24 LA Raiders 35, Kansas City 17 Houston 40, Denver 10 Seattle 24, Miami 20 Monday's Results San Francisco 41, NY Giants 21 Sunday, Oct.

II Buffalo at New England, 1 p.m. Detroit at Green Bay, 1 p.m. Houston at Cleveland, 1 p.m. Kansas City at Miami, 1 p.m. Minnesota at Chicago, 1 p.m.

New Orleans at St. Louis, 1 p.m. NY Jets at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Philadelphia at Dallas, 1 p.m. San Diego at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Washington at NY Giants, 4 p.m. San Francisco at Atlanta, 4 p.m. Cincinnati at Seattle, 4 p.m. Pittsburgh at LA Rams, 4 p.m. Monday, Oct.

12 LA Raiders at Denver, 9 p.m. No Student Tickets Available At Central Tyrone Area students planning to attend Friday's Tyrone-Central football game at the Scarlet Dragons' Held are reminded that there will not be any student tickets available there. Only general admission tickets, at $2.50 apiece, will be sold at the gate. TAHS Athlete director Pete Dutrow announced that student tickets can be purchased only at the Athlete Director's office, at $1 each, beginning at noon today. say they do, the defending Super Bowl champions are in trouble.

That was a major concern among Giants' players outside on the picket line Monday night. "If the replacements lose a couple of games and we go 0-6, some guys won't come back because the year will be lost," Pro Bowl running back Joe Morris said. The 49ers had 17 replacement players with NFL experience compared to four for the Giants. Ten regular 49ers, including quarterback Joe Montana, wanted to come back Friday but Coach Bill Walsh talked them out of it. The 49ers had their replacement roster set within hours after the Sept.

22 strike, while the Giants scrambled for players. "I didn't have any control over the situation at all, including the procurement of personnel," New York Coach Bill Parcells said. "I'm not complaining, I'm caught in the middle. I've been saying that all week. "I know these games are going to count.

I hope we can improve." No union members played for either team Monday night. The Giants lost three fumbles, two by Crocicchia, and an interception. "I was excited because it was the first time I was a starter," said Monroe, who spent four seasons with the 49ers but was cut in pre-season this year. "The quality was a little bit different but there was talent out there. -CLASS AAAA- Hollidaysburg, 30; State College, 27; Indiana, 26; Altoona, 22; Jtwn.

Vo-Tech, 21. -CLASS AAA- Philipsburg-Osceola, 33; Central Cambria and Cambria Heights, 27; Tyrone, Huntingdon and Somerset, 26; Lock Haven, 25; Bald Ragle Area, 24; Central, 19, Bellefonte, 18; Lewis town, 15; Penn Cambria, 14. -CLASS AA- Bishop Guilfoyle 32; Moshannon Valley, 29; 27; United, 26; Westmont-Hilltop, B.K.N. and Richland, 25; Blairsville, 24; West Branch and Homer Center, 23; Bellwood-Antis, Ligonier Valley, Mount Union, Bishop McCort and Forest Hills, 22; Penns Valley and Northern Cambria, 20; Portage and Chief Logan, 13; Southern H-don, 12; Purchase Line and Marion Center, 11. -CLASS A- Juniata Valley, 27; Saltsburg, 24; Williamsburg, 22; Bishop Carroll, 19; Laurel Valley, 17; Blacklick Valley, 14; Conemaugh Valley, 12; Glendale, 10; Ferndale, Claysburg and Penns Manor, Bucktail.6.

(ED. NOTE: The two highest-ranking teams in Class AAAA and the top Tour teams in each of the other classes will qualify for the District 6 Playoffs. Point totals arc awarded on a basis or Tour for each win, two Tor each tic, plus four for playing an AAAA opponent, three Tor playing a AAA opponent, two for an AA and one for an A). SPORTSCARD -WEDNESDAY- Cross-Country Huntingdon at Tyrone (Boys Girls) Scholastic Golf Central-Pa. Golf Assn.

championship and Best Golfer playoffs, at Sinking Valley Cross-Country Tyrone at Chief Logan Invitational (Boys Girls) Unbeatens Secure Top 4 Spots In UPI Ratings By CHARUK MCCARTHY UPI Sports Writer NEW YORK (UPI) Four teams with unblemished records secured the top spots today in the United' Press International Board of Coaches' ratings, gaining the early stronghold in the race for the national championship. Oklahoma, 4-0, remained atop the rankings, while thirdranked Miami narrowed its deficit behind No. 2 Nebraska. The Sooners, who Saturday smashed Iowa State 56-3, received 45 of 50 first-place votes and 743 of a possible 750 total points. The Cornhuskers, 4-0, received one first-place vote and 682 total points after a 30-21 come-from-behind victory over South Carolina.

The 3-0 Hurricanes, who rallied to defeat Florida State 26-25, the remaining four first-place votes and trailed Nebraska by 27 points. Idle Notre Dame, 3-0, moved up one spot to No. 4 with 538 points. Rounding off the Top 10 were Auburn, Louisiana State, Clemson, Florida State, Ohio State and Tennessee. UCLA finished at No.

11, followed by Michigan, Arizona State, Penn State and Georgia. Syracuse, 5-0 for the first time since its national championship campaign in J959, jumped one spot to No. 16, followed by Alabama, Oklahoma State, Florida and Southern California. Dropping out of. the ratings were Washington and Texas "It's good to be No.

1," said Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer, whose team has been first since the pre-season rankings. "But there are a lot of good teams there it's kind of wide open." The Sooners' Nov. 21 date with Nebraska in Lincoln could determine not only the Big Eight title but a bowl berth with national championship ramifications. "If both teams go undefeated that's a good chance," Switzer said. "But there are a lot of ifs." No.

5 Auburn, 3-0-1, jumped one spot after Saturday's 20-10 victory over North Carolina. Louisiana State Three More Shutouts Recorded in Tyrone YFL Three more shutout performances went into the books Saturday in the Tyrone Youth Football League, with the Wolfpack and Eagles both maintaining division leads and the Lions adding the third whitewash. The Lions crushed the Panthers and Wolfpack the Rams by identicle 36-0 counts while the Eagles dumped the Cougars 14-0. Brian Moyer (37 yd. run), Jeremy Jackson (27), Todd Snyder (16), Chad Garber (7-yd.

pass from Snyder) and Scott Mull (fumble recovery) all scored toudhdowns for the Lions. Snyder added a pair of 2-point PATs and Jackson one to round out the scoring. The Wolfpack remained perfect at 5-0 as they scored on a safety, a 44-yard run by Tony Sharer, a 31-yard TD pass from Sharer to Mark Mitchell, Jake Hampton's 40-yard interception return, Eric Hoover's 19-yard run and a 44-yard run by Sharer to rip the Rams. Sharer also passed to Mitchell and Steve Focht for 2-point conversions and Jimmy Kilmartin rushed for another 2-pointer. Danny Maney's 4-yard run and a 3-yard pass from J.R.

Riggleman to David McElwain rang up the Eagles' TDs as they moved their record to 3-1-1. Maney also added a 2-point PAT rush for the other points. EAST STANDINGS 5-0; Rams 3-2; 1-4. WEST STANDINGS Eagles, 3-1-1; Lions, 2-2-1; 0-5 MAKEUP GAMES TODAY 5 p.m. at Gray Field: Eagles vs Rams, Panthers vs Wolfpack and Lions vs Cougars.

leaped two spots to sixth after a 13-10 thriller over Florida in Baton Rouge. Idle Clemson, at 4-0 in the national title hunt, finished seventh, ahead of Florida State, 4-1. The Seminoles, who couldn't hold a first-half lead against Miami, dropped four spots to No. 8. Ohio State, 3-0-1, Tennessee, 4-0-1, and UCLA, 4-1, remained ninth, 10th and I'lth respectively.

1 The Buckeyes beat Illinois 10-6 in their Big Ten opener, the Volunteers romped over California 38-12 and the Bruins stomped Stanford 49-0. Michigan, 3-1, leaped two spots to No. 12 after thrashing Wisconsin 49-0. Arizona State, 3-1, stayed at No. 13 after downing previously unbeaten.

Texas-El Paso 35-16 and Georgia, 4-1; remained at No. 15 after beating Mississippi 31-14. Penn State dropped two spots to No. 14 after beating Temple 27-13. Syracuse continued its rise in the rankings with its 24-13 road victory over Missouri.

Alabama, 4-1, bombed Southwestern Louisiana 38-10 and gained two spots to No. 17. Idle Oklahoma State, which plays Colorado this week in an important Big Eight game, moved up one spot to No. 18. Florida dropped one spot to No.

19, while Southern California re-entered the rankings at No. 20 after beating Oregon State 48-14. Note: By agreement with the American Football Coaches Association, teams on NCAA or conference probation and forbidden to compete in a bowl are ineligible for the Top 20 and national championship consideration by the UPI Board of Coaches. Those teams are Mississippi and Texas Christian. Copyright 1987 by UPI NKW YORK (UPI) The United Press International Board of Coaches' Top 20 college, football rating, with fireplace votes and record in parentheses, total poinls (based on 15 points for first place.

14 for second, elc.l, and last week's ranking: 1. Oklahoma (45) (4-0) 2. Nebraska (4-0) 3. Miami (4) (3-0) 4. Notre Dame (3-0) 5.

Auburq (3-0-1) 6. Louisiana St. (4-0-1) 7. Clemson (4-0) 8. Florida State (4-1) B.

Ohio State (3-0-1) 10. Tennessee (4-0-1) 11. UCLA (4-1) 12. Michigan (3-1) 13. Arizona State (3-1) 14.

Penn State (4-1) 15. Georgia (4-1) 16. Syracuse (5-0) 17. Alabama (4-1) 18. Oklahoma State (4-0) 19.

Florida (3-2) 20. So. California (3-D z-unranked Others receiving votes: Colorado, Minnesota. The 1988 national champion will receive a WZ.OOO non-alhlellc scholarship from the Gerrlls Foundation and Untied Press International. i- By a the American Football Coaches Association, teams on MHH -Probation forbidden to compete in a bowl are Ineligible for the Top 20 and national championship consideration by the UPI Board of Coaches.

Those teams are Mississippi and Texas Christian. 743 1 682 2 655 3 538 5 481 6 470 8 45!) 7 381 4 370 355 10 242 11 146 14 143 13 133 12 57 15 51 17 49 19 32 19 5 IS 4 Arkansas, Meeting Set To Reorganize Local Adult Baseball Team All persons interested in fielding an adult men's city league baseball team here again are urged to attend a reorganization meeting on Oct. 8, at 7-30 p.m. atlhe Bullpen Restaurant. Depending on the response at this meeting, it is hoped that the Tyrone area will enter a team in the Central Mountain-Valley Baseball League if expansion plans for the Centre County League are completed.

Anyone Interested in playing or helping out with such a team are asked Fo be present Thursday. NFLPA Considers Dropping Free Agency In New Bargain By KKNT McDII-I, UPI Sports Writer ROSEMONT, 111. (UPI) NFL Players Association leaders met to form a new negotiating stance with league owners today and considered dropping free agency as their key demand in a new collective bargaining agreement. The player representatives from all 28 NFL teams, as well as several other players, met with Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA, to discuss the union's position in the 2-week-old players' strike. The meeting, which began late Monday night, was still in progress at 3 a.m.

today. Before leaving Monday for Chicago from Houston, where he was attending his grandmother's funeral, Upshaw told a television station of "secret discussion with management the past three days." The two sides were believed not to have held contract talks since Sept. 25, when a three-day bargaining session in Philadelphia stalemated over free agency. "There are some things going on behind the scenes that no one even knows about, not even my players, not the owners, not even the public," Upshaw told KPRC-TV in Houston. The executive committee of the owner's Management Council met Monday in New York as the television networks released ratings, which showed that viewers across the nation watched Sunday's non-union games for a while but soon ran out of tolerance and switched off in droves.

Dan Rooney, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers and also a member of Management Council's executive committee, said a settlement could come rapidly if the players removed free agency from the table. "Basically we could come to an agreement quicker than most everyone thinks," he said. "Some of the other issues are tough, like the pension and things like that. But if everyone goes to the table and negotiates, we can work this thing out." The players primary concern involved finding a way to get owners back to the negotiating table, and giving up their demand for free agency appeared to be the easiest way to accomplish that goal. "I would think that our position (on free agency) would change," Ron Rivera of the Chicago Bears said.

"It's a process that involves tradeoffs tradeoffs from us and tradeoffs from them," the Los Angeles Rams' Carl Ekern said. "And we can't do that until we get to the negotiating table." Several members of the NFLPA met for an impromptu discussion that lasted more than two hours before all placer representatives and Tyrone Jayvees Tripped Up At Beliefonte, 20-14 Tyrone High's Jr. Varsity football team slipped to 2-2 here yesterday as visiting Bellefonte carved out a 20-14 win over the Baby Eagles. Coach Mat Ray's Orangemen led 8-0 and 14-12, but the Raiders bounced back both times, delivering the winning strike in the fourth quarter and then tacking on a 2-point PAT as they erased Tyrone's 14-12 edge. "Our kids didn't quit," observed Ray.

"They had a real good team effort. Playing as well as a team maybe as they have all year in this one I was happy with the effort, even though we lost." Tyrone scores came on a Brian Christine-to-Joe Steinbugl pass for 26 yards in the 1st quarter and a 25- yarder via the same route and combination in the third, while a Steinbugl-to-Chris Morgan pass tacked on 2-point PAT conversion. Tyrpne visits Central next Monday. GKID MENU -TUESDAY- EaglesvsRams Falcons vs Wolfpack Lions vs Cougars -FRIDAY- Tyrone at Central Bellwood-Antis at Mo Valley (7:30 p.m.) Erie McDowell at Altoona Bishop Guilfoyle at Bishop Carroll (7:30) State College at Hollidaysburg Bellefonte at Chief Logan B.E.A. at Huntingdon B.E.N.atCurwensville Everett at Bedford Bishop McCort at Forest Hills (7-30) Backlick Valley at Shade Philipsburg-Osceola at Clearfield Tussey at Chestnut Ridge Windber at Conemaugh Twp.

St. Marys at DuBois Blairsville at Homer Center (7:30) West Branch at BuckJail (7:30) Ligonier Valley at Cambria Hts. (7:30) Marion Center at Glendale (7:30) Punxsutawney at Indiana Jersey Shore at Shikellamy (7:30) Jtwn. Vo-Tech at Northern Cambria (7:30) Juniata at Newport MillersburgatKish. Lewlstown at Mount nion Loyalsock at Lock Haven North Star at Meyersdale Penn Cambria at Portage (7:30) Penns Manor at Saltsburg Penns Valley at Southern H-don Richland atSomerset (7:30) -SATURDAY(Varsity Games) Northern Bedford at Claysburg (8:00) Williamsburg at Juniata Valley (1:30) Central Cambria at Westmont-Hilltop (1:00) Laurel Valley at Ferndale (1:30) Johnstown at Yough (1:30) Purchase Line at United (1:30) (Tyrone Youth Football) Cougars vs Rams Falcons vs Eagles Lions vs Wolfpack (Bellwood-Antis YFL) Southside vs West-Antls Northside vs East-Antis additional players convened Monday night.

"I think at this point, the players want to see some movement," Bears player representative Mike Singletary said. "Whether that means taking free agency off the table or not remains to be seen." Television rating points are percentages of the total number of television sets while a share is a measure of televisions actually switched on. 'One ratings point equals about 886,000 households. In ratings from 15 markets, Sunday's NBC game between Cleveland and New England drew an 11.7 rating for a 26 share, a 9 percent drop from two weeks ago when the network's game drew a 12.9 rating and a 29 share. CBS's first game drew 15.0 and a 39 share, an 18 percent drop from two weeks ago when the game drew 18.5 and a 39 share.

In CBS's second game, there was an even steeper decline. The game drew 10.8 and a 24 share, down 49 percent from two weeks ago when the second game attracted 21.3 and 43. The decline in television ratings reflected attendance figures across the league in which crowds averaged less than 17,000 in Sunday's 13 games, leaving almost 700,000 seats empty. Giants, Cards Open NL Playoffs Tonight By RICHARD KUNA UPI Sports Writer ST. LOUIS (UPI) Quickness comes in various shapes and sizes in the National League playoffs.

San Francisco veteran Rick Reuschel, who starts tonight's opener against St. Louis, is rather large and soft around the middle, yet his quick delivery to home plate makes him a threat St. Louis stolen base king Vince Coleman. Coleman and his cohorts will pit their speed against Reuschel's to gain the upper hand in the best-of-seven series. "He doesn't have a good move to first, but he is quick to the plate," said Coleman, who had 109 of St.

Louis' 248 stolen bases this season. "Getting a jump is one of the most important things in basestealing, but with his ability to get the ball home and to (catcher Bob) Brenly, the trip could be over at second." Danny Cox, 11-9, goes for the Cardinals, who are carrying only eight pitchers. A blowout could present pitching problems, but injuries to Jack Clark, Willie McGee and outfielder Jim Lindeman have forced the Cardinals to stock their 24-man roster with position players. "If (infielder) Jose Oquendo comes in to pitch in the sixth inning, I'll sure wish 1 had gone with nine pitchers," St. Louis Manager Whitey Herzog said.

The Giants have thrown out 10 of 24 potential St. Louis basestealers this season, far better than most teams in the league. "When I see Vince Coleman coming up to the plate, I don't start shivering," Brenly said. "I've got too much'to worry about. All he has to do is run.

I've got to catch a ball coming 95 miles an hour with a guy swinging a bat over my head, and then I've got to make a perfect throw to get him. "You also have to worry about Ozzie (Smith) and Tom Herr can run. There's never any time to relax with those guys." Reuschel, a 38-year-old righthander, went 13-9 on the regular season, but struggled in his last four appearances, three of them starts. He faces a Cardinals lineup struggling to overcome the absence of Clark, ack The league MVP candidate sprained an ankle Sept. 9 against Montreal and has made only three plate appearances since, one in which he aggravated the injury.

"We can't count on Jack Clark not playing," Brenly said. Clark may pinch hit early in the series, and perhaps start a game later. "It's going to be a little awkward sitting," Clark said. looking forward to being in the championship series and sitting on the bench." The other Clark, Will of San said defense, not pitching or speed, will make the difference. "Everyone is talking about speed and offense being a big part of the ballgame, but there's not enough emphasis being placed on defense," he been playing good defense all year.

We made all kinds of double plays (183) and we're very solid up the middle. With the addition of Kevin Mitchell, we'll be solid on the corners." Part of the infield's success comes from the pitching staff. Reuschel's forte is forcing batters to hit ground balls. "His thinking is 'why throw nine pitches to retire the side when you can throw Brenly said. "He wants you to hit the ball and, with our defense, that's what we're looking for." Coleman, the Cardinals' leadoff hitter, and Reuschel may establish whp wins the battle between Giants' arms and Cardinals' legs early on, but whether it determines the outcome is another question.

"All I'm asking Rick is to give me a chance," Brenly said. "Some guys' will get on base and I don't want to concede them any more. If the rest of our game is good, they could steal eight or nine bases and it won't make a difference." AL Series Opens Wednesday: Twins, Tigers Finished Season On Opposite Paths By IRA KAUFMAN UPI Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (UPI) The Minnesota Twins can't afford to start the playoffs the way they finished the regular season. While the Detroit Tigers rallied from a deficit in the final week to overtake Toronto in the American League East, Minnesota ended the regular season with a fivegame losing streak. Manager Tom Kelly, who signed a one-year contract for 1988 on Monday, will go with his only two reliable starters Wednesday and Thursday when the Twins play host to the Tigers in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

The Twins posted the best home record (56-25) in baseball and Frank Viola, 17-10, will be opposed in Game 1 by Doyle Alexander, who is 9-0 for Detroit since his acquisition from Atlanta in August. Bert Blyleven, a 15-game winner who was a rookie in 1970 when the Twins captured their last Western Division title, faces Jack Morris, 18-11, on Thursday before the series switches to Detroit. Unless the Twins maintain their homefield advantage by taking the first two games, they face the unpleasant prospect of heading into Tiger Stadium needing to win at least one game on the road. "If we can win all our games at home from here, we'll be world champions," said Minnesota's Jeff Reardon, who saved 31 games after being obtained from Montreal. The Tigers, who swept Kansas City in three playoff games en route to the championship in 1984, will have a significant edge in Game 3 with Walt Terrell, 13-2 at home this season, facing Minnesota rookie Les Straker, 8-10.

Detroit beat Minnesota eight times in 12 meetings this year, including a 4-2 mark at the Metrodome. The Twins enter the post-season 9-25 on the road since the Ail-Star break. "Minnesota's a very emotional club," says Detroit center fielder Chet Lemon, who batted .455 and clubbed three homers against the Twins in 33 at-bats. "Earlier this year, when we played them, they'd score some runs and get real hyper If they ever got ahead on us, they'd be extremely tough to beat. I really believe from my heart that the nation got to see the two best ballclubs in baseball this weekend.

It's unfortunate they're both in the AL East." The Twins boast formidable power in first baseman Kent Hrbek (34 homers, 90 RBI), third baseman Gary Gaetti (31, right fielder Tom Brunansky (32, 85) and superb center fielder Kirby Puckett, who batted .332 with 28 homers and 99 RBI. Leadoff batter Dan Gladden is a hustling left fielder who accounted for 25 of Minnesota's 113 stolen bases. Kelly has stressed the fundamentals since spring training and solid defense helped turn a 71-91 club into an 85-77 division champion. "The difference in this year's team and last year's team is before, we didn't know how to win," says Puckett, who tied Kansas City rookie Kevin Seitzer for the most hits (207) in the league. "Two years ago, we waited to see how we could lose.

With us opening at home, I'm not worried. Losing our last five games isn't going to mean anything Wednesday. If you can't get youself up to play before 54,000 screaming fans, you don't belong." Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson fields a veteran club that led the major leagues in runs scored and homers. The Tigers, who lost perennial All-Star catcher Lance Parrish to free agency, found themselves 11 games out of first place by May, but Anderson never panicked. Now Detroit is favored against a franchise that is 0-6 in the postseason since divisional playoffs began in 1969.

"The people who are saying we're favorites are the same people who said before the season that we were a fifthplace team," says first baseman Darrell Evans, who hit 34 home runs at the age of 40. "People in Minnesota will be fired up. The Twins deserve to be where they're at and we do, too." Shortstop Alan Trammell, the Most Valuable Player of the 1984 ALCS, led the Tiger attack by batting .343, with 28 home runs and 105 RBI. Catcher Matt Nokes, who hit 32 homers in 461 at-bats, will probably yield to right-handed hitting Mike Heath against Viola. Bill Madlock, a four-time batting champion in the National League, could play a key role in Game 1..