Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 89

ffHVWWIHWWHI.I.MHTW Dn SriD'ciDiFtt WaDipflafl Part AUTOMOTIVE FINANCIAL SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 15, 1972 Hjll III.JIJIJII, I JJIl lliyiPUHfflir 1 I1 Triumph, $-2 which is jn the heart of the 1 i With Malice 4 Toward None By BILL LEE Sports Editor Was he a Red fan growing up? "No, I always rooted for the Yankees," Tenace told them. "Why?" I guess I just like pinstripes," Gene ball game that found the heavily favored Redlegs whipped in the opening contest. HE WANTED A STRONG LEFT ARM Why had manager Williams brought Vida Blue into the seventh when Fingers had been doing quite well? 1 "I wanted a strong left arm to pitch to two successive left-handed batters," was Williams' simple explanation! With a man on second, two liams visited the mound for the "I thought you said Blue Had he given thought to bringing in Wayne Simpson to pitch to Kose? fourth game. What changed your mind? "My mind wasn't changed at all. Vida will start next Wednesday's game.

I've already told him that. "JEALOUS OF JOHNNY BENCH? NOT ME" Vida Blue, who has complained persistently about not start (Continued From Page 1) 1 course, but Tenace never let him. He called for a pitch-out on his own and got the swift Conception going into second base. It was a big out, a turning point of the game. ing, and who puts raps almost daily on Manager Williams and Charles 0.

Finley, the owner, was happier after the Athletics had Cincinnati area. out in the Reds ninth, Dick Wil umteenth time. be in mortal fear of swift Bert also erased pinchrunner Allan Dick Williams threatened after "No," Williams replied. "I just wanted to warn them to look for Rose to try to surprise us with a bunt, which he did." Cincinnati is supposed to have the power, but in the second and fourth innings they cuffed two single runs across the plate on infield outs. These were their only scoring efforts.

The famed top of the order did very little. Johnny Bench doubled leading off the sixth, and the big crowd came half alive, but Fingers whiffed Perez and Menke and got Geronimo on a line drive smack into the hands of Joe Rudi in left. CAMPANERIS SPEED TURNED OFF The Athletics didn't live up to their advance notices, either. Tenace certainly wasn't advertised as their power man. won the first World Series game.

"This time I was pitching think I made a big contribution. The Reds seemed dead after that, even though in this same the time. It has to be an important contribution. I'm glad we won. Williams verified what Tenace had called for the pitchout that took Conception out in the It had been a big day for Mr.

posed to be the All-American catcher in this World Series, but Te The Reds were supposed to inning Pete Rose and Joe Morgan worked themselves on base with walks. Rose even got to second on a wild pitch by reliever Vida Blue, but Tolan fouled out to that pesky Tenace fellow, and the Reds had failed to score despite a hit, two bases on balls and a wild pitch. VIDA BLUE EQUAL TO OCCASION Rollie Fingers had relieved left-handed starter Ken Holtzman in the sixth, and a good job he did for an inning and a third. But after Rose had walked in the seventh, Dick Williams rushed Vida Blue to the mound to face Morgan and Tolan, two left-handed batters who had to be dealt with. Blue dealt with them like a tough cop on a hoodlum beat and then put the Reds down the rest of the way.

It took strong pitching to shut Cincinnati off again when Geronimo singled leading off the ninth and was sacrificed to second. Blue got pinch-hitter Julian Javier and Pete Rose, the last, lingering Cincinnati hopes on easy infield ground outs to wind up a Campaneris, restored to eligibility by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Campy singled in the first and died as part of a double play. He singled again in the third and tried to steal, but Johnny Bench got nace had stolen the play from him asked the Oakland catcher if it getting all the publicity and that Gene Tenace. "No," Gene said.

"Bench is the ink he gets." RAISED RIGHT IN HEART OF a him with a great throw. Bench Lewis trying to steal in the ninth. "It won't change our game," ward. "We'll still run." "Does he think Bench the best all catchers? This Oakland story book character was raised in Lucasville, "I did until I saw Gene Tenace homer those first two times Tolan Tagged up," Williams shot back. Tenace may not be another Johnny Bench, but he was a reasonable facsimile in this first game of the 1972 World Series.

Blue's Contributions Lauded Cincinnati Reds' Bobby Tolan (28) is tagged out as he' goes into second base Saturday during third inning of first game of World Series in Cincinnati. Making the play for the Oakland A's is second baseman Dick Green. Tolan, who had lined a single to left, broke for second and was picked off when Ken Holtzman threw to first baseman Mike Epstein who relayed to Green (AP). was going to start the third or for the Oakland Athletics and I I have that ball in my hands all had said that Tenace himself Tenace. Johnny Bench is sup in a vital turnabout.

Now they annoyed him that Bench has been people scarcely ever mention great catcher. He deserves all REDLAND at the end of the game?" Finley then said there was no way the A's would trade Blue. "He's a good boy and there will be no trouble with Vida Blue," said Finley. "He had one of the greatest seasons in history in 1971 at the tender age of 21 and it was very hard for him." Then, waving his arm around the dressing room at his win ning Athletics, Finley asked, "How come everybody wants to talk about Vida Blue and Charley Finley?" Blue earlier softened his "pitching for Vida Blue" edict. In a post-game interview he said, "This game is a business and pitching is my job.

It (the game) starts when I have the ball. We won this one for Oak land." Series Box Score Hurler Softens Earlier Blast Key Reds Kept Off The Bases CINCINNATI (AP) I should be. Maybe I CINCINNATI ABR BI OAKLAND ABB BI Rose If 4 0 0 0 Campaneris ss 3 0 2 0 Morgan 2b 3 0 0 0 Rudi If 4 0 0 0 Tolan cf 4 0 10 Alou rf 3 0 0 0 Bench 3 2 2 0 Epstein lb 3 0 0 0 Perez lb 4 0 2 0 Lewis pr 0 0 0 0 Menke 3b 3 0 0 1 Hegan lb 0 0 0 0 Geronimo rf 3 0 0 0 Bando 3b 4 0 0 0 McRae ph 10 10 Hendrick cf 2 10 0 Foster pr 0 0 0 0 Tenace 3 2 2 3 Concepcion ss 2 0 11 Green 2b 2 0 0 0 Nolan 2 0 0 0 Marquez ph 10 0 0 Borbon 0 0 0 0 Kubiak 2b 0 0 0 0 Uhlaender ph 1 0 0 0 Holtzman 2 0 0 0 Carroll 0 0 0 0 Fingers 0 0 0 0 Javier ph 1 0 0 0 Blue 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 31 2 7 2 TOTALS 27 3 4 3 OAKLAND 020 010 000-3 010 100 000-2 LOB-Oakland 2, Cincinnati 8. 2B Bench, CINCINNATI DP-Cincinnati 1 HR Tenace 2 Concepcion. IPH RERBBSO Holtzman (W) 5 5 2 Fingers 12-3 10 Blue 21-3 10 Nolan (L) 6 4 3 Borbon 10 0 Carroll 2 0 0 Holtzman pitched to one batter in 6th.

Save Blue. WP Blue. A 52,918. vyjlsi Jf ability of Oakland's pitchers keep the first three men in the Cincinnati batting order off base was the key to the A's 3-2 victory in the World Series opener Saturday, according to the Reds. Cincinnati's Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Bobby Tolan each reached base only once, slowing an offense that depends on those three men to score ahead of power hitters Johnny Bench and Tony Perez.

"We have to get those guys on to win," said pitcner liary Nolan, who took the loss. Bench, who got two hits and scored both Cincinnati runs, agreed. "We have to get the first three 'he said. "Our game is set to them getting on steal a base, run, make your breaks." Led Off 4 Times Rose pointed out Bench was the lead off hitter in four innings Saturday for the Reds. We haven't been winning with Bench coming up with no one on base," he said.

"Bench had two hits and Perez had two hits," he noted. "When they get four hits between them, we usually win." Cincinnati Manager Sparky Anderson said the first game loss didn't particularly concern him. "I'm not worried," he said in the Reds' subdued clubhouse. Unbeaten Delaware Rips UConn by 32-7 3 1 1 2. 0 2 The rout never happened, at least not until the very end when Delaware brushed the Connecticut defense aside for a pair of last-quarter scores.

Connecticut's best march of the season followed the Blue Hen drive in the opening quarter. McLeod's running and two Ray Tellier to Greg Andrews throw-back passes took the See Delaware, Page 6C, Col. 8 for Two slams the ball for a two-run second inning of the World Catcher is Cincinnati Reds' Pelekoudas (AP). team. Delaware slashed 64 yards with the opening kickoff, as quarterback Reihm cleverly mixed the pass and the run.

Roberts went up the middle on pretty 19-yard scoring play and when Larry Washington kicked the point to make it 7-0 with nearly 11 minutes left in the period, prospects of a rout were good. CINCINNATI (AP) Charley Finley said Saturday he isn't concerned with what Vida Blue says, but rather with what he does. "Vida Blue has done one great job in the playoffs and the World Series," said Finley, the volatile owner of the Oakland Athletics. Finley was pressed for his re action to Blue's bitter blast that the pitcher was working only for Vida Blue, not Finley, Man ager Dick Williams or the Oakland Athletics. "Blue has contributed im measurably to this club," said Finley after the A's had de feated Cincinnati 3-2 in the first game of the World Series.

Blue pitched 2 13 scoreless innings, saving the victory for Ken Holtzman. "We couldn't ask for anything more of Blue," said Fin ley, standing in the center of the dressing room in his green Oakland blazer. "Here is a pitcher who has never been anything cut a starter and he becomes a reliever almost overnight," said Finley. "You don't make relievers that way." Someone noted that Finley stood and applauded when catcher Gene Tenace caught a foul close to the screen, thwarting a Cincinnati threat in the seventh, but appeared to sit on his hands when Blue struck out Denis Menke ending the eighth. "There was no significance to that," snapped Finley.

"Did you see me salute him kicked a 40-yard field goal; and Don Shanklin rambled 52 yards on a reverse end-around. In all, the Knights picked up 383 total yards. 239 of which came on the ground as coach Nick Cutro alternated a quartet of running backs. Thompson and Bowens finished as the games' leading rushers with 69 and 48 yards respectively, while Cornell Champion and Bob Miranda added 37 and 33. Shanklin chipped in with his 52-yard scamper.

Sherman completed 11 of 18 pass attempts for 144 yards and increased his league leading touchdowns toss totals to 15. Meanwhile the Knights' defense limited Aston to 166 yards for the game. SCORING Hartford 7 J1 0 1745 Aston 0 0 0 00 I run (Davidson kick). Htfd. -Bowens 17 run (Davidson kick).

51 past from Sherman (Davidson kick). 28 pas from Sherman (Davidson kick). Htfd. Hill 26 past from Sherman (Davidson kick). 40 FG.

52 run (Davidson kick). STATISTICS Hartford 15 23 144 11-18-0 Aston 11 38 10-22-1 5-26 3 10 First downs Rush yards Pass yards Passes Punts Fumbles lost Yards penalized 4-32 tOjWill be "We had opportunities," An derson said. "We just didn't use them." One of those opportunities came in the Cincinnati seventh, when shortstop Dave Con cepcion led off with a single. With Ted Uhlaender hitting, Oakland called a pitch-out and Concepcion was tagged out trying to steal. Throw Off Bag The throw to shortstop Bert Campaneris was off the bag, and Concepcion claimed he was not tagged.

"He never touched me," Concepcion said. "His hand went over me." Campaneris disagreed. 1 brushed him with my glove from head to shoulder," he said. Tinlin Sets Record But Devils Bow By OWEN CANFIELD -Courant Sports Writer I NEW BRITAIN It's not unusual when No. 14 has a big day on the Arute Field gridiron at Central Connecticut State College.

Dennis Schermerhorn, Central's sophomore quarterback, has had many of them. But Saturday's hero, as Mont-dair State upset the Blue Devils, 28-23, was not Schermerhorn, but the Indians' Fourteen, one Rich Tate, a safety. Tate, a 185-pounder, made the incredible total of 18 unassisted tackles, helped out on two others and recovered a fumble to stifle the Central attack and enable underdog Montclair to come from behind a 17-14 first half deficit and annex its third victory in five starts. Devil's Flat Bill Loika's Blue Devils were flat after last week's rugged struggle with Bridgeport, and though they won the statistical battle, were hurt mortally by penalties at key moments, inability to put a damper on Montclair momentum, a bad punt, and Tate. Bill Tinlin, Central's standout senior fullback, became the school's all time leading rusher with 1,639 yards, surpassing the record set by Harold Brown, but the record was about all Central had to cheer about.

The Devils began as though they would mop up the field with the New Jersey team. Schermerhorn capped a 96-yard march in the first period with a touchdown pass to Bui Hayes and Bob Chalmers booted the point for a 7-0 lead. A little over See Montclair, Page 3C, CoL 4 Hammer Aston 5 fx VT ifc fl By BILL NEWELL Courant Sports Writer STORRS Big, talent-laden Delaware put together crunching touchdown drives of 64, 72, 62, 49 and 53 yards Saturday afternoon in carving out a convincing 32-7 football victory over Connecticut. A Band Day throng of 13,141 saw the homestanding Huskies put up a valiant fight for one half and then fade before the power and precision of the Blue Hens, the nation's 1 college division team. Left half Vern Roberts, right half Blair Caviness and quarterback Scott Reihm were the offensive giants in Delaware's four-back offense, with Roberts rushing for 132 yards in 20 carries while scoring the first two touchdowns for his team and Caviness ripping off an additional 56 and also tallying twice, once on a pass.

McLeod Breaks One Connecticut matched Delaware in the first period by coming back to tie the score at 7-7 on a fine 80-yard surge capped by. Morris McLeod's eye-filling 32-yard tackle cutback sprint for the touchdown. Thereafter, Delaware held the Huskies to two first downs in the second quarter, two in the third and three in the fourth as it won going away for Its fifth straight triumph this fall and its ninth in a row. "Delaware is a fine football team. good as Yale," commented Connecticut Coach Bob Casciola after the game.

"We had a chance to do things early in the game but mistakes cost us when the op-portunties came," he said. The undefeated Blue Hens dominated the statistics, running for 322 yards and passing for 92 more. Delaware piled up 25 first downs to 10 for the home Tenace Oakland A's Gene Tenace homer Saturday during the Series opener in Cincinnati. Johnny Bench. Umpire is Chris Knights By BRUCE BERLET Courant Sports Writer MEDIA, Pa.

The Hartford Knights turned three first half fumble recoveries into touchdowns and were never seriously threatened in registering a 45-0 victory over the Aston Knights, clinching the Seaboard Professional Pootba? League Northern Division title. It was the Knights' 11th successive win and came much easier than their past three victories, all four wins of which have been collected on the road. The champs return home for a meeting with Reading next Saturday night. Again it was tenacious defensive play and a potent offense which earmarked the Knights win. Defensive linemen John Skladany, Harry Gooden and Roland Rogers each pounced on Aston fumbles in the opening helping to build a 21-0 lead.

The offense capitalized on each occasion, as Alan Thompson slanted off left tackje with a one-yard run for Hartford's first score. Cecil Bowens rambled 17 yards around the right side, and Tom Sherman found non ueaxe behind a fallen Joe Austin on a 51-yard scoring play as the Knights exploded for the big ad vantage. 60-Yard Drive The offense did it on its own late in the opening half, going 60-yards in just three plays, the score coming on a 28-yard screen pass to Bowens. Rout Concluded After a scoreless third period, the Knights concluded the rout as Sherman tossed his third touchdown aerial of the night, this one covering 16 yards to Levell Hill; Norm Davidson live Sports On The Air BASEBALL: World Series Oakland vs. Cincinnati 12:30 p.m.

Ch. 4, 10, 20, 22, 30 FOOTBALL: Bears vs. Browns 12:30 p.m. Ch. 3, Giants vs.

49ers 3:30 p.m. Ch. 3, Bengals vs. Chiefs 4:00 p.m. Ch.

4, 20.22, 12 12 10. in'12 30 Follow the Leader Delaware players found themselves in a train-like formation when University of Connecticut fumbled the ball near the end of the first quarter of Saturday's games at Storrs. The ball was recovered by UConn (Courant Photo By Al Ferreira). Art..