The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 35

Lincoln Journal-Star SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1992 1 -inning win gives Jays title Ay World Series Toronto vs. Atlanta (Toronto win MriM 4-2) Saturday' mull Toronto 4, Atlanta 3. 1 1 1nnings Pnwtoua mauita Gam 1 Atlanta 3, Toronto 1 Gam 2 Toronto Atlanta 4 Gam 3 Toronto 3, Atlanta 2 Gam 4 Toronto 2. Atlanta 1 Gam 5 Atlanta 7. Toronto 2 4-- HARALO OftEIMANISAJNCOtN JOURNAL-STAR from Tommie Frazier during the Huskers' second touchdown drive.

ATLANTA (AP) There's a new flag flying over Canada the World Series pennant The Toronto Blue Jays took baseball's championship outside the United States for the first time ever, beating the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in 11 innings Saturday night in Game 6. After surviving more ninth-inning magic from the Braves, the Blue Jays won it when Dave Winfield's first World Series extra base hit scored two runs with two out Winfield's winner came after another frantic finish by the Braves like their ninth-inning comeback against Pittsburgh in the playoffs. But this time it fell just short, tying the game but not winning it It all ended in the city where it began a few days ago with a flag flap. And, Toronto's big win resulted in an even bigger loss for the Blue Jays finally and forever; they've lost their label as big-game losers. The Braves, meanwhile, became the first team to lose consecutive World Series since the 1977-78 Los Angeles Dodgers, and for the second straight year lost despite outscoring their AL opponent Atlanta lost 1-0 in Game 7 to Minnesota last year and, lost all four games in this Series by one run.

The 11th inning came down to a battle for atonement between Win-field, still hounded by his l-for-22 performance in the 1981 World Series, against Charlie Leibrandt who gave up Kirby Puckett's home run that won Game 6 for Minnesota last year. Devon White was hit by a pitch with one out Roberto Alomar singled and Jor Carter flied out That brought up Winfield, who was 16 for 53 (.302) with four home runs lifetime against Leibrandt. In the Jeff Rear-don, who had given up one hit in 13 lifetime matchups with Winfield, was ready. But Reardon had allowed two game-winning hits already in this Series, so the Braves stuck with Leibrandt With the runners going on a 3-2 pitch, Winfield grounded a double between third baseman Terry Pendleton and the bag to score both runs, his first extra base hit in 44 Series at-bats. Leibrandt took the loss in his first Series appearance, and Jimmy Key won in relief.

Key allowed a run in the 11th on a single by Jeff Blauser, an error by shortstop Alfredo Griffin and an RBI-grounder by pinch-hitter" Brian Hunter. Otis Nixon bunted an 0-1 pitch to the right side of the mound, and reliever Mike Timlin made the play calmly for the final out setting off Toronto's celebration on the field. It was Nixon's two-out single in the ninth that got the Braves to extra innings. His hit broke a record string of 15 Vx scoreless innings by Toronto's Hawkins hauls in a 43-yard reception By Ken Hambleton Uncoln Joumat-Star COLUMBIA, Mo. First the Berlin Wall came down.

Then a Canadian team got in the World Series. And now, a freshman started at quarterback for Nebraska. Tommie Frazier, the first true freshman quarter- -back to start for Nebraska in modern history, scored three touchdowns to lead the No. 8-ranked. Corn-rf huskers to a 34-24 ii i football victory Tommie Frazier over 1-6 Missouri Saturday afternoon at Faurot Field.

The crowd of 53,337, including at least 8,000 NU fans, was the largest MU crowd since Nebraska played at Missouri in 1989, Frazier got the start in place of senior Mike Grant, the regular quarterback who has been bothered by a sore back. Grant was available Satur- 0 )f If-: Nebraska wingback Vincent Scoring, team stats Nebraska 14 10 0 10 34 Missouri 0 14 7 3 24 NU Frazier 3 run (Bennett kick) NU Frazier 7 run (Bennett kick) MU Jackson 1 run (Jacke kick) i mu orotde 13 pass from Hancy (Jacke kick) NU C. Jones 1 run (Bennett kick) NU FG Bennett 28 MU Bailey 39 pass from Handy (Jacke kick) NU FQ Bennett 26 MU FQ Jacke 25 NU Frazier 5 run (Bennett kick) A 53,337. NU MU First downs 29 24 Rushes-yards 64-335 22-22 Passing yards 157 424 Total yards 492 446 Return yards -49 21 Passing 9-204 29-44-2 Punts Fumbles4ost 3-1 2-1 Penalties-yards 6-48 6-54 Time of possession 35:50 24:10 Third-down conversions 7-15 6-12 Fourth-down conversions 2-2 1-1 I Color photo page. Page ioe.

ushers' COLUMBIA, Mo. How good is Tommie Frazier? Well, he has the physical qualifications of a major college football quarterback. Just about everyone knew that already. Frazier stands 6 feet talL He weighs 190 pounds. He runs fast And he has a strong right arm, with which be throws accurate passes.

Though necessary, those qualifications don't ensure success, however, which is why Frazier wasnt given an opportunity to start for Nebraska until Saturday. Frazier is talented, but he's also a freshman. A year ago, he was running the option at Manatee High in Bradenton, Fla. "Tommie was definitely ready, physically," Turner Gill said after Frazier started and played every series but one during the Cornhuskers' 34-24 victory against Missouri. But emotionally? Gill and, more importantly, Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne weren't certain about that Gill is Nebraska's quarterbacks coach.

He is also the standard by which Nebraska's quarterbacks are measured, since leading the Cornhuskers to three consecutive Big Eight championships from 1981 IP 111 next Turner last three years, when Nebraska averaged more than 500 yards and a 55-point margin over the Tigers. Handy's 39-yard touchdown pass to Victor Bailey with 7:17 left in the third quarter closed the gap to 24-21 in Nebraska's favor. "We had people run by us on occasion at 25 and 40 yards a chunk, and we didn't stop it," Osborne said. The two teams traded field goals in the next 12 minutes to change the score to 27-24 with 10: 13 left "It was tense, and there was some pressure," NU center Jim Scott said. 'Tommie was a little nervous and made a few wrong calls.

But he settled down and got right to it to get us on top." Missouri trailed by three points with 7:54 left in the game when Handy threw a pass to Mike Jadlot about 20 yards upfield. Nebraska safety Steve Carmer batted the ball up in the air, and teammate John Reece slid underneath it before it hit the ground at the Tiger See NU on page 6E Perhaps the Cornhuskers in the final minutes to the only touchdown in a 6-0 victory. Gill was a sophomore and had started two games, both easy victories. He was blitzed mercilessly by Missouri that afternoon. But he had the composure, the resilience, to win.

Frazier's initiation as Nebraska's first true freshman starter at quarterback in the modern era began as if it would offer him little challenge. But there was plenty of pressure by the second quarter. And Frazier responded the way Osborne and Gill hoped he would respond. Just about everyone associated with the Nebraska football team was asked to comment on Frazier's performance. The next Turner Gill? "At his age? Tommie Frazier is in Turner Gill's category, it looks like to me," McBride said.

"He's got 'winner' after that last name." And in that the two might be identical. But Gill didn't play, much less start, for the Nebraska varsity until his sophomore year. Frazier is a freshman, which makes him unique, and proves that maturity isn't entirely, or necessarily, a function of age. Series might do better without McCarver. Page 5E.

ESPN declines to pick up television option. Page 5E. bullpen in the Series. Catcher Pat Borders, 9 for 20 for a .450 average, was voted most valuable player of the series. Jeff Blauser led off the Atlanta ninth; against Tom Henke, who already had two saves, with a single.

Blauser was sacrificed to second, and Lonnie Smith walked on a 3-2 pitch. Francisco Cabrera, batting for the first time since his winning hit in the playoffs, followed with a low liner that fooled left fielder Candy Maldo-nado, who was forced to leap at the last second to make the catch. Nixon, who had faced Henke briefly in the AL, fell behind 0-2 before slapping a single to left and Blauser scored standing up when Maldonado's throw home hit the' backstop on a fly. Maldonado's throw put runners at second and third. A few seconds after the clock had struck midnight Ron Gant flied out to put it into extra innings.

The Blue Jays had hoped to wrap it up Thursday night in Toronto the parade route was all planned but winning on the road was plenty satisfying. Particularly because winning any big game was never easy for Toronto. Despite being the only team in the majors to run off 10 straight winning seasons, the Blue Jays have been better known as being a club that blows it. Toronto lost its previous AL playoffs in 1985, 1989 and 1991, and dropped its last seven games to lose the AL East title in 1987. But this year, the Blue Jays survived a stretch duel with Baltimore and Milwaukee to win the division and ousted Oakland in five games in the playoffs.

They kept going by winning three of the first four games against Atlanta before losing 7-2 Thursday night in Toronto. The last five teams that trailed 3-2 in the World Series had all gone home to win the final two games and the trophy, with Minnesota doing it last season. Had they lost this time, Tom Glavine would have started Game 7.. See JAYS on page 5E i volleyball and two setting. In the third game, Colorado battled Nebraska nip and tuck, but the Corn-'.

huskers prevailed, winning their 53rd straight regular-season league match. Strieker, a 5-foot-10 junior out of Lincoln East, said Nebraska's "on the money" passing made it easier for her to set the ball to a variety of people. One of those players was a former prep teammate 5-11 sophomore Kim Tonniges, who came off the bench to pound 10 kills for a .667 hitting mark. Nebraska Coach Terry Pettit said Tonniges played well. "I thought Tonniges was very quick tonight particularly on broken plays," Pettit said.

"That's Kim's game she has to rely on her quickness." Luther added nine kills.and Eileen Shannon and Allison Weston recorded seven apiece for the Cornhuskers, who hit .322 compared to Colorado's .044 mark. The Cornhuskers also had 16 block assists and two solo blocks compared to the Buffs' two block assists. Mike Babcock Columnist 'J day and played one series. "We put the ball in his hands and told him to make the play," NU head coach Tom Osborne said of Frazier. Frazier made many plays, but none more important than his fourth-down, 5-yard high dive over two Missouri defenders to give Nebraska a safe lead with 2:09 left Nebraska had to have the touchdown, Frazier said, "We had to have something work then, because we knew they could move the ball and that was scary," he said.

Missouri quarterback Jeff Handy and the Tiger receivers proved to be a real threat, as Missouri threw for an all-time NU opponent record of 424 yards. The Tigers rolled up 446 yards of total offense compared to 492 for Nebraska. "We adjusted, and they passed. We adjusted some more, and they passed. We tried to change the pass rush, and they passed," NU defensive backs coach George Darlington said.

"We were in trouble." That was a different view from the on Saturday. Otherwise, his statistics weren't exceptional. But his performance was. If it hadn't been, Nebraska might not have woa Two plays, in particular, illustrate what makes Frazier unique. Both were late in the game, with the Cornhuskers clinging to a 27-24 lead.

The first came on a third-and-7 from the Missouri 32-yard line, when Frazier passed to Trumane Bell for 10 yards and the first down. The second came on fourth-and-goal at the Missouri 5. Frazier hesitated as if looking to pass, then ran to his right At about the 3-yard line, he lunged high and into the end zone for a touchdown that allowed the Cornhusker sideline to relax. Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride was among those who breathed sighs of relief when he looked up and saw the touchdown signal That play, more than any other, defined Frazier's performance Saturday. "He had to get it in, and he got it in," McBride said.

Appropriately enough, it was on this same field in 1981 that Gill first showed the same quality, directing Huskcr men's bowling team excites coach Pago 4E Kansas find" defeats Socnere Pago 3E Hih cchocl runners Psso7E ASSOCIATED PRESS Toronto's Devon White (25) steals second base in the first inning as Atlanta shortstop Jeff Blauser takes the throw. White eventually scored the game's first run. Spark returns to NU Fun-day game helps NWU handle game-day pressure through 1983. Gill had the necessary physical attributes, to. What set him apart was an indefinable quality, a mindset for which there is no measure.

Gill handled pressure as if there were no pressure. He was tough mentally as well as physically. And he won. That's why the description "the next Turner Gill" has been such a burden to most of the quarterbacks who have followed him at Nebraska. Based on Frazier's play Saturday, it appears the Cornhuskers might have found a quarterback on whom they can properly place that label.

Frazier doesnt resemble Gill so much in his style of play as in his presence on the field, his confidence and grace under pressure. Frazier scored three touchdowns Doane took the lead with 9:15 left in the fourth quarter. Scott Rutten scored on a 51-yard pass from quarterback Brad McClatchey to give the Tigers a 14-10 lead. Rutten caught the pass at the Wesleyan 40-yard line and raced untouched into the end zone when Plainsmen cornerback Travis Eloe went for the interception. But the Plainsmen offense responded, and went 72 yards in seven plays to retake the lead.

Wesleyan quarterback Jeff Lindquist hit Bryce Williby on two big pass plays during the drive, including one for 29 yards that gave Wesleyan a first down at the Doane 7. Two plays later, Casey Head scored from two yards out But Doane'i Mark Brahmer blocked Roger Coffey's extra-point attempt to give Wesleyan a 16-14 lead with 6:17 remaining. "We couldnt get much going today, but we came up with a couple of big drives," Wesleyan Coach Jim By Steve Slpple Lincoln Journal-Star Exactly one week later, the Nebraska volleyball team got another record crowd. This time, however, the fifth-ranked Cornhuskers were a lot happier with their showing. Facing the only other Big Eight team without a league loss, the Cornhuskers used a quick start and a balanced attack to bury Colorado 15-5, 15-9, 15-12 Saturday nieht to im- ers weren't pleased with their effort against the Sooners.

The spark wasn't there. It returned against Colorado. "We weren't pleased (after the Oklahoma said Nebraska setter Nikki Strieker. "So we all sat down Monday as a team and decided to really take charge of ourselves and do it for each other. We figured we're the only ones who can take charge." Strieker said the team meeting, which involved only players, led to a strong week of practice.

It also might have led to Nebraska's quick start against Colorado. The Cornhuskers, who won their 11th straight match, pulled to a 4-4 tie in the first game on an ace block by Stephanie Thater and Laura Luther. Nebraska went up 6-4 on a Colorado hitting error and a kill by Thater, last season's Big Eight player of the year who led the Cornhuskers Saturday night with 12 kills. Nebraska stretched its lead to 10-4 on a kill by Luther, and the Cornhuskers were in command. Colorado started slow in the second game, helping Nebraska take a 7-1 lead with five errors three hitting By Mark Derowitsch Uncoln Journal-Star CRETE The Nebraska Wesleyan football team relaxed Friday by playing Frisbee golf instead of going through its normal practice.

Saturday turned out to be the day of worry for the Plainsmen. But worry turned to joy when Dbane kicker Ryan Specht missed a 37-yard field goal attempt with 1 minute, 39 seconds left in the game to preserve the Plainsmen's 16-14 upset at Simon Field. Despite the pressure, Wesleyan had fun during the game, defensive lineman Jason Licht said. He said the golf outing, which was Wesleyan defensive coordinator Steve Stanard's idea, helped the Plainsmen put things in perspective. "It was Just a chance for us to pull together and have some fun," Licht said.

"That's what it's all about I dont know if the coaches were trying to get us to relax, but it worked" Wesleyan was anything but calm when NAIA Division 15th-ranked The Buffs, ranked 13th in the coaches' poll and 16th by Volleyball Monthly, dropped to 15-4 and 6-1. An NU Coliseum crowd of 4,538 watched five Nebraska players smack at least seven kills. The crowd total shattered the Coliseum record of 473, established last Saturday night in a three-game win against Big Eight foe Oklahoma. The win was fine, but the Cornhusk- See NWU on page 3 in a.