The Journal News from White Plains, New York • Page 21

In iwo halves make up the whole ase By JAMES LITRE AP Sports Writer CHICAGO AP) The grand old game will be showing a new wrinkle when play resumes Monday following a 21--3 vote by major league baseball owners to endorse a split season. "Because of the strike, we were dealing with a unique situation. We needed a unique solution," Commissioner Bowie Kuhn said after Thursday's meetings, during which the National League approved the plan by a 9-3 margin and the American League by a 12-0 vote. Two AL teams the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles did not vote. NL teams voting against the plan were the Cincinnati Reds, the Philadelphia Phillies and the St.

Louis Cardinals. "It was close," NL President Chub Feeney said of the National League vote, which needed a three-fourths approval of its 12 members. "We had a long discussion, and it was in doubt. But we only voted once." "The system adopted has the advantage of being clean-cut to me that has some appeal," said Kuhn. "Considering the problems of the last seven weeks, the teams will be starting with a fresh slate.

My instincts tell me that's right." Under the system which was spelled out in the agreement with the players' association teams in first place in their respective divisions when the strike began will meet the winners of the second half of the 1981 season. If a first-half winner also wins the second half, that team will meet the division contender with the second-highest percentage during both halves of the season. Both presidents, Feeney and Lee MacPhail of the American League, insisted the split-season plan is for the 1981 reason only. "Normally, I wouldn't be for it," MacPhail said, "but this is a one-shot deal, and only because of the strike problems and the unbalanced season." Feeney said the National League owners "wouldn't want to see a peculiar result where the team with the best record, winning both halves of the season, somehow didn't win its division title." Kuhn said the league presidents, who will attend the All-Star Game Sunday in Cleveland, would announce during the weekend how the pre-championship playoffs would be structured and which teams would get the home field advantage in the best-of-five series. Kuhn said that should the same team win both halves of the season, its playoff series would be "weighted." Such a team could play the first three of the five games at home, or possibly play the first game on the road and return home for the next four, he added.

However, Kuhn emphasized that a final decision would be made by the league presidents. With the league championship and the World Series pushed back one week as a result of the split-season playoffs plan, Kuhn was asked whether the possibility of playing baseball into November worried him. "I have several sets of longjohns." he deadpanned. "Seriously though, our analysis shows that one week in any of the cities doesn't show a significant change (in Concerning the split-season vote, Ruly Carpenter of the Philadelphia Phillies said: "It was a very simple vote and concurred with the basic agreement. The fact that three of our clubs voted against it shows merely that there was a lot of good, hard discussion." "Obviously, Jerry (Reinsdorf, chairman of the board (Please turn to B9) ball, Ik afottntaHNrtu PORT ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1 981 87 Murphy's lead no accident George will keep Yanks on their toes ByALMARI Staff Writer NEW YORK The subject of incentive was being tossed around the Yankee locker room like sandwiches at an old-fashioned Italian wedding. "I don't worry about incentive," smiled Rich Gos-sage. "George has a way of keeping on us on our toes and a way of keeping us going." George is, of course, the man with the boats and the principal owner of the Yankees: George M. Steinbren-ner. There are reports that the Big Man has already said, "If any of my players lay down, it will be all over the front page." The question of incentive was raised because of the vote by the 26 major league club owners in Chicago, Thursday.

The owners, who almost killed the entire season, have now made the split season a foregone conclusion even before they sat down with their Bloody Mary's a reality, with an added kick in the Tabasco Sauce. That kick is that even if the first half winners win the second half of the season, they will still be forced to play the team with the second-best record in the division in a best three-of-five playoff series. "We got shafted," said Rudy May, who didn't like the idea of winning part one and part two, then bowing out before getting a chance to participate in part three (the League championship series) and part four (the World Series). "It's unfair. What is our incentive to win the second half if we can still get knocked out?" said May.

Other Yankees whispered privately that they didn't like the idea, but for the record, they extolled well known virtues of pride, tradition and glory. "All it means," said Bob Watson, "is that now we have to win two playoff series to get into the World Series instead of one." Reggie Jackson said: "If I had my way, I'd just as soon pick up the season from where it left off and may the best man win. But the strike has scarred the fans, scarred the players, and this format is a benefit for all concerned." Tommy John said, "If we're not good enough to win the first playoffs, then we're not good enough to win the second or the World Series." Barry Foote said, "After the playoffs, who remembers who finished second? If we're not good enough to (Please turn to B9) By TOM TOMASHEK Gannett News Service DULUTH, Ga. Bob Murphy doesn't know how to explain his accident-prone nature, he just knows he's had his share of physical mishaps over the last several years. "I'm what you call an accident looking for a place to happen," said Murphy, who two weeks ago suffered his most recent injury, a battered right thumb that forced him to miss last week's Canadian Open.

But Thursday, there were no mishaps for Murphy at the Atlanta Athletic Club, where he spliced four birdies to 14 pars for a 4-under-par 66 and the first-round lead in the 63rd PGA championship. There was one hitch to Murphy's lead with 18 players left to finish their rounds. Play was suspended for 55 minutes because of an electrical storm midway through the hot and humid afternoon, and finally was called for the day for similar reasons at 7:45 p.m. Those left on the course will complete their rounds this morning, beginning at 9 a.m., while the regular second-round schedule will begin at 7 a.m. Members of Thursday's last group left on the course were playing the 15th.

There was no serious threat to Murphy's first-round lead left on the course, however, with Keith Fergus the closest at 1-under. As it stood, Murphy's effort over the AAC Highlands Course one of only nine sub-par rounds of the day gave him a one-shot advantage over Mark Lye and Bob Eastwood, not to mention a welcome cushion over Jack Nicklaus (71), Bill Rogers (72), David Graham (75) and Tom Watson (75). Keith Fergus is the closest contender. No not a bad situation for someone who feared having to miss this major event. "I had the hand taped and I was on medication last week," said Murphy, discussing the most recent of three hand injuries in the last six years, this one suffered a week ago Monday in a New York airport.

"I chipped and putted a little on Friday and after full practices Saturday and Sunday I saw that I was going to be able to play. "Today wasn't an outstanding round I can't say I hit my iron shots as crisply as I'd have liked tc, but I didn't use many irons." Murphy shot a 66 because he kept the ball in the fairway off the tee, avoiding the treacherous AAC rough. He missed only two fairways and each time was only in the rough's shortest cut. But for Murphy, who was one shot off the lead in last year's PGA opener at Oak Hill CC, the trek over the course was a struggle from beginning to end. He didn't hit an iron club until his 2-iron shot into the 210-yard No.

4. "I'm not as long of a hitter as a lotta guys out here," said Murphy, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, but winless since the 1975 Inverrary Classic, "and this course played 9,000 yards today. "Today I hit a 5-wood on my second shot on each of the first three holes. Each time I had good drives, but I was 221 yards from the hole on the first, 220 on the second and 222 on the third. "A guy like Tom Watson flies it 30 yard past me, but he has to hit the fairways.

That's the key this week." In addition to hitting fairways, Murphy did an excellent job of scrambling, especially from the sand. He saved par from a bunker once on the front and twice on the back, where he one-putted five times for a 33. Finishing shortly ahead of Murphy was Lye, a 28-(Please turn to B12) Trevino takes all blame for big mistake By TOM SALADINO AP Sports Writer DULUTH, Ga. (AP) Lee Trevino refused to blame anyone but himself after he was disqualified Thursday from the the 63rd PGA Championship for failing to sign his scorecard. Trevino was sipping a cool drink in the clubhouse shortly after firing a 74.

four over par over the tough Atlanta Country Club layout when he was notified of the disqualification. "It was nobody's fault but mine," said Trevino, one of golf's superstars who has won more than $2.5 million and 25 tournaments. "It was my fault. No bid deal but I gave you guys a hell of a story. "I don't mind not signing my card but my wife is going to give me a whipping I'm not going to forget," quipped Trevino.

The mistake was noticed, according to Bill Clarke, chairman of the PGA Rules Committee, after Tom Weiskopf also a member of the threesome along with (Please turn toB12) It tAj.b&W him1 mmmmwmm. AP Photo Lee Trevino grimaces after a missed putt on the third hole during PGA championship play in Duluth, Ga. Later, Trevino had even more reason to grimace, when it was disclosed he had neglected to sign his score-card and was ousted from the tournament. Spring Valley knows the ropes TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS By BILL MADDEN Staff Writer The Spring Valley Yankees enter the 21st Journal-News Little League Tournament of Champions with confidence. The Yankees (12-1) have eight starters back from last season when they dropped a first-round decision to Haverstraw, the eventual tournament runner-up.

"The team knew from the very first game of this season that they were good and they got better and better and better. The kids have been to the tournament before and know that this is their chance," said manager Ken Ronson. "On paper, we have a chance to go a long way." Ronson's troops will play the Congers Yankees (18-2) Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Susan Mastro-marino Memorial Field in Haverstraw.

The tourney is played for the benefit of Camp Jawonio, the Rockland County Center for the Physically Handicapped in New City. The annual event has raised more than $29,000 in its 20-year history. Much of the Yankee hopes depend on the hitting and pitching of Bob Watton (6-0). Watton, who possesses a live fastball, was the team's leading hitter in nearly every hitting category. The 12-year old batted .645, stroked 20 hits and slugged a league-leading seven homers.

Along with Watton, the Yankees have the luxury of another fine pitcher in lefthander Rob Gross (6-1). Gross used sharp control and varying speeds to register a number of big wins for the Yankees. He also hit .471 with a team-leading 21 hits. He will start at first base. Russell Ronson (.451, 14 hits) gives the Yankees a sound defensive receiver.

John Navarro (shortstop), Pat Bacquisal (second base) and Woody Mamouzette (third base) round out the starting infield alignment. Navarro hit .424 with a pair of homers while Bacquisal and Mamouzette added steady hitting. Leadoff hitter Scott Popkin will start in rightfield while Jeff Edelstein and Adam Reiss will start at center and leftfield, respectively. Reiss hit two homers. Jim Borowski, Scott Cash and John Buffa are other relied upon players.

Ron Gross is the team's assistant coach. Staff photo Warren I nglese Participants in the 13-14-year-old girls' 100-meter freestyle hit the water with precision in the Rockland County Summer Swim League Championship meet Thursday. West Nyack does it again Pitching, power help Congers SWIMMING By ANDREW BYER Special Correspondent "We were serious about this meet, and we wanted to win. The whole team had a winning attitude," said Scott Lukasiewicz, the rookie coach of the West Nyack swim team. Lukasiewicz is a master of the understatement.

It became quite apparent Thursday at the Rockland County Summer Swim League Championship meet, held at the West Nyack Swim Club, that his team was not going to let up in the meet until it won its eighth straight regular season title. West Nyack's winning attitude was transformed into that championship when it scored 611 points, 199 more than the second-place total of 412 by Ramapo. Clarks-town was third with 389 points and the Dolfins took fourth after placing second in the regular season. After the more than 750 swimmers and spectators had gone home, and Lukasiewicz had dried off from the traditional dunking of the winning coach, he spread some of the credit for West Nyack's triumph to others. "The other coaches around the league have been really helpful in letting me know what to expect from my swimmers and their swimmers.

John Culhane (the West Nyack coach the last five years) started the foundation of the team, and I built on it some this season." big guns. Casey hit .556, rapping 35 hits and slugging a team-leading seven homers. Sullivan, the starting catcher, slapped 32 hits from his leadoff spot. He batted .451. Other highly productive offensive players were in-fielders Mark Bruno (.444, 16 hits), Gigi Zecchin (.449, three Al Olivieri (.377, 23 hits) and Matt Mulrooney (.410, 25 hits).

Olivieri gives the Yankees a sure-handed shortstop while Mulrooney is a slick fielding first baseman. Line-drive hitting V.J. Geronimo (.381) will play center field. Teammates John Tasaro, Mark Miller, Ron Crosby and Mike Lewis are the other outfielders. "We're good defensively, have good pitching and have good power," commented manager Mike Tasaro.

"We have eight starters back from last year's championship team. I'm confident." The Yankees will be without the services of Nick Meredith and Mike Costa in the tournament. Both were key players during the season. Pete Zecchin and Ed Goeller are Tasaro's By BILL MADDEN Staff Writer The Congers Yankees make their second consecutive trip to the 21st Journal-News Little League Tournament of Champions boosting a pair of undefeated pitchers and a lineup which has cracked 15 homers. The Yankees bring their pitching and long-ball attack to the 14-team, single-elimination event which begins Monday, Aug.

10. The tourney is played for the benefit of Camp Jawonio, the Rockland County Center for the Physically Handicapped in New City. Congers will meet the Spring Valley Yankees (12-1) Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. All games are played at the Susan Mastromarino Memorial Field in Haverstraw.

Danny Casey (8-0) and Bill Sullivan (5-0), a pair of righthanders, both finished with perfect marks. Casey displayed a effective fastball and curveball to strike out 101 batters in 49 innings. Sullivan relied on sharp control, still managing to fan 59 batters in 44 innings. Offensively, the Casey-Sullivan tandem were the Lukasiewicz also complimented his team coach, Gail Hackett, for producing some swimmers from her team. Only 14 records were set in the meet, a small number in comparison to recent championships.

The majority of them were set by the older swimmers those who competed in the 13-14, 15-18 and open divisions. Ramapo's Genny Mulderig and Palisades' Robert Neuendorf each set three records, when they won the girls' and boys' Open High Point trophies. Both were shaved and tapered, having recently come from the Region 1 championships at Harvard. Mulderig captured the 400-meter individual medley (IM), and the 200-meter back and breaststrokes, with minimal competition. The meet held special importance to Mulderig, who explained, "This is my last hurrah.

I'm going to college this fall (to Villanova on a swimming scholarship) and I don't know if I'll be coming back." Neuendorf's wins were in the 50-meter and 200-meter freestyles, and in the 200-meter backstroke. All were (Please turn to Bll).