The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 53

8E INTOWN EXTRA, SEPTEMBER 15, 1983 Yankees win championship Atlanta's amateur baseball stars show they are the nation's best By Steve Lasky Stall Writer During its 45 years, the Stan Musial Amateur World Series has seen some illustrious faces come and go. There was Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who played in the very first championship in 1935. Others, like Harvey Kuenn, Jim Bouton, Ron Cey and Thurman Munson all went on to bigger and better baseball rewards. Kuenn won the American League batting title with the Detriot Tigers. While Cey and Munson -all collected World Series rings of another sort in their major league careers.

'Even Tom McMillan of the Buckhead Yankees figured he had experienced bigger thrills than a trip to Battle Creek, Michigan for the Stan Musial title game. There was his successful college baseball career, seven years of minor league ball and a brief stint in the -big leagues with the Seattle Mariners to back him up. McMillan found he was wrong. With him leading ihe offensive explosion, McMillan -and his Buckhead Yankees bruised their way into the record books, as they completed a doubleheader sweep "of host the Michigan team to win the annual Stan Mu-, C-sial Amateur World Series last week. For McMillan, it was the World Series he never A made as a major leaguer.

It was the ultimate baseball experieiice. "Without a doubt, this beats anything! ever did or hoped to do in professional said the 31-year-, old McMillan, a former star shortstop at Jacksonville University and North Springs High School. "Baseball is supposed to be fun that's the way it ought to be. And today I feel like a little kid. I just wish my wife and baby had been here to see this." McMillan's wife was forced tQ leave on the Sunday to be back at the office Monday morning.

After McMillan finished his rampage in the championship series, Battle Creek no doubt wished it had also caught the late night flight back to Atlanta. It was McMillan's, three home runs and six RBI which propelled the Yankees to a 19-9 win in the first game of the championship finals a week ago Monday. That set up the eventual Buckhead cruised to a 12-9 romp in the series finale. did it beating the best team in the tournament," said player-manager Bobby Elliott. In the first game of the championship double-header against Battle Creek, Elliott didn't appear as confident after four innings of play.

The opposition, a decided underdog, had just clawed its way back to tie things at four apiece heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. That's when Buckhead exploded, scoring seven times. The fireworks reached a thundering crescendo in the inning when second baseman Dick Prindle ripped a grand slam homer to put the Yankees up 8-4. McMillan then capped the rally with a two-run shot his second of the game. McMillan proceeded to crush his third homer of the game in the seventh inning, leading the way to another four-run uprising.

His third home run tied a record, held oddly enough, by teammate Prindle, who had accomplished the feat with the Atlanta contingent in 1973. "Yeh, if I have to share the record with someone, I'm glad it's Tommy," said Prindle, a veteran, who probably played his last amateur baseball game. "I don't know if I'll ever get back, but this was a nice way to go 1 Former Florida State pitcher Doug Treadway was the second of four Yankee hurlers in the first game, and picked up the win. Chris Mauldin prqyed to be the 'herd in the nightcap. After Elliott opened the game with a two-run home run, Mauldin followed with a solo blast to stake the Yankees to a three run lead.

They added three more in the second and never trailed from there, although Battle Creek did creep to within one run (10-9) in the seventh. But Mauldin made sure of the title with five RBL while McMillan helped out scoring four runs. Four innings of brilliant relief work from ex-Dodger prospect Bill Felt nailed down the world championship. He came in to shut Battle Creek down on just three hits, while striking out eight. Phil Welch, who won two tournament games, got credit for the save.

"We knew Welch could come in and go. 3 or 4 innings if he had to," said ElliottThat was a key for us." Y7J A Tom McMillan, Most Valuable Player McMillan's hitting frenzy earned him the tournament's Most Valuable Player trophy, as he finished the five-game series going 1427 for a .519 average. His teammates were just as impressive. The Yankees hit a record 16 home runs in the series, eight better than the 1978 Atlanta team which owned the previous They also hit for a staggering .12 slugging percentage, which was 40 points higher than the old mark; "I felt coming in that we could win. put ourselves in a hole losing Sunday.

But we won it And we Towing the line Wesminster is looking for improved line play against Roswell By Pete Scott 1 Staff Writ i-. There was only one way Westminster head football coach Wayman Creel figured his club would wind up 1-2 three games into the season. Success or failure'hinged on his young offensive and defensive lines. Last week in a disappointing 22-14 loss to Darlington, it was the inexperience of the lines which caught up with the Wildcats. Creel realizes a repeat performance against Roswell this week could spell disaster.

"Darlington had a good ballclub. They were balanced and played much better than the film we had indicated," said Creel. "We had things better much under control, but crucial mistakes on the line hurt us." "We're not doing a good job of tackling. We were bad against Woodward and even worse this week against Darlington," he said. In other important area games this week, Mays will take on George in the first region game for Class AAA.

Mays (1-2) will face an undefeated George team (2-0) that has begun to look as strong as the unit which lost only one region game and finished as runner-up in Region 6-AAA to Fulton last season: Senior quarterback Robert "Tank" Cantrell, 6-1, 198, continues to show the strong leadership that made him one of the best signal callers in the state last year. Cantrell is threat to run or pass and he is good at both. Despite the graduation of most of the members of George's line from last year, running lanes have been opened for him by a young offensive unit that includes Leonard Gartrell, 5-9, 226, Herman Gamble, Rickie Franklin, 6-3, 200, Carlos Bentlcy, 6-0, 225. When Cantrell passes, he has two sure handed receivers in tight end Danny Smith and flanker Andre Forsythe. George's defense has been as much of a surprise as its offense.

The Falcons enter the Mays game with a record of not being scored upon in two games. Last weekend, Mays put together a 22-6 win over an undermanned Bass, team behind two touchdown runs by Stephen Home. IS Intown Westminster head coach Wayman Creel takes a 1-2 club into Friday's game against Roswell. (Staff Photo Cheryl Bray).