The Times Leader from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 28

8C The Times Leader, Wilkes Barre, PA, Saturday, September 19, 1992 Barons fans will have a chance to honor a few good men season finale, not really sure how much a game like that proves." One thing it proved is that under late-season pressure. Brink had what it takes to get the Job done. And it proved a lot about his strength and stamina. "It proves I am strong enough to last a full season." Brink said. Veteran WYOU-TV 22 cameraman Jack Juka was Impressed with the first-class operation of Cooper Stadium.

"The conditions for both shooting and everything else have been good," Juka said. Juka and his counterparts from WBRE-TV Channel 28 did their shooting from a catwalk out-, side one of the luxury boxes at Cooper his right pitching shoulder dislocated and tore muscles on two separate occasions, both of which required surgery to repair. The last injury came in 1989, while he was pitching for the Red Barons, when Brink tore a rotator cuff muscle and faced the prospect that his pitching career might be over. But the former No. 1 draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies out of USC undertook a grueling rehabilitation program after that operation, knowing full well it could have been meaningless.

Three seasons later, though. Brink was mowing down one of the International League's most powerful offenses at Lackawanna County Stadium. "I really don't know if it's 100 percent or not," Brink said. Tm ByPAULSOKOlOSKl Times Leader Staff Writer COLUMBUS, Ohio When the Red Barons return to the area today, those who come back will be honored with a celebration at 4 p.m. at the Ampitheatre at Montage Mountain.

About 10 players, as well as Red Barons Manager Lee Ella and Coach Al LeBouef, are expected to be on hand. The rest of the Red Barons will either fly or drive to their respective homes today. "We've had a great season," Red Barons General Manager Bill Terlecky said. "I think everybody would like one more opportunity to thank the Red Barons." All Red Barons fans are invited to attend the ceremony, at no charge. Columbus 4, Red Darons 3 Knoblauh's performance left In any case, the Phillies' sea- son ends on Oct 4, two weeks from Sunday.

During the scheduled batting practice before the fifth and deciding game of the Governor's Cup Championship Series, LeBouef was sporting a new look. The Red Barons third base coach was sporting a new, black Pearl Jam T-shirt instead of the tattered King Kong Bundy T-shirt he had worn for most of the season. "King Kong Bundy got us all the way to the dance," LeBouef said. "Pearl Jam Is an alternative music." Just before gametime, however, LeBouef slipped the King Kong Bundy shirt back on, and wore it underneath his uniform for the Barons with ing a series defeat, Knoblauh singled in Hensley Meulens with the winning run as Columbus evened the series again, 2-2. with a 10-9 11-inning victory.

And his big hit Friday again sent home Meulens. this time with the tying run. as the Clip-pers miracle three-run ninth-inning rally gave them a 4-3 victory and their second consecutive Governor's Cup championship. "Knoblauh was great for us In the playoffs." Meulens said. For a guy who wasn't supposed to be on the field In the first place, Knoblauh was spectacular.

On Tuesday, Columbus' regular right fielder Gerald Williams was summoned to the parent New York Yankees to take the place of the. injured Mel Hall. Knoblauh then replaced Williams In the Columbus lineup, a in Capra. "Jimmy and I looked at each other after we scored another run and we said, 'Let's go for he said. Ella, the IL's Manager of the Year, said he could hardly believe that the Red Barons' magical 1992 season, the first winning season in their history, was over.

It's like, all of a sudden, it's over," he said. "Sometimes you feel like you've been here 100 years, then all of a sudden, it's like a blur since you The Clippers lost one of then- FyPAULSOKOLOSKI Times Leader Sports Writer 7 COLUMBUS, Ohio It was a series Jay Knoblauh could only dream about, and before Tuesday, it appeared that dream would be all he'd do. But three crucial hits and four big RBI later. Knoblauh was the 1992 Governor's Cup Championship Series most valuable player. And he had almost single-handedly led Columbus to the Governor's Cup title.

"It's a great feeling." Knoblauh said. "That's what people live for. People play the game for that reason. That's what these games are about." The part-time outfielder who played In Just 34 games with Columbus came through again Friday. He tied the game in the ninth Inning with an RBI single that set the stage for the Clippers' dra Barons (Continued from Page 1C) hits off Wally." said Ella.

The game ended near midnight, thanks to a one hour, 46 minute rain delay. Mike Williams was the Red Barons' starting pitcher, while Mark Hutton started for Columbus. After the rain delay, they were replaced by Steve Parrts and Andy Cook, respectively. Columbus got a first-inning run when Williams loaded the bases to the first three Clippers batters. But he gave up only one run, that coming on" a Meulens KID IAR0NS brhbl Capra If 4 100 Doitilef 4000 Schu 3D 401 AlaxandaMb 4 111 VRodnguaidh 4 0 0 0 Lagg 2b 3 110 COLUMBUS brhbl Humphrayaef 4 1 1 0 snow id 3 0 0 0 3120 4111 4110 3 0 0 0 4011 4010 402 1 Silvaitrlaa Maulani 3b Lovullo dh MaaaaH Knoblauh rf DaJardin 2b Auimuae Brady rf 3 0 0 0 Batiita aa Undaaye Total Totals 3011 3 0 0 0 32 4 I M4II Rod Barona Columbus 010 010 001 100 000 003-4 Two out whan winning run acorad.

Meulana. LOB Bad Barons 2, Columbua 3. DP Bad Barona 1. 2B Silvaatri. 3B Batista.

Humphrsya. HR-Alaxandar (3). SB-Snow (2), Knoblauh (2). IP RER BB 80 Had Barons Williams Parria Chapm Columbus Hutton 4 3 1 213 423 Cook, (2-0) 413 RHchla pltchadto ttiraa battara In ninth. umpirat-eaii, pumom, uiwra.

Long. How They Scored COLUMBUS FIRST: Mike Humphreys' tripled and J.T. Snow walked. Snow stole second and Dave Sllvestrl walked, Humphreys scored on a double play. Columbus 1, Red Barons 0.

RED BARONS SECOND: Gary Alexander led off with a home run to left field. Red Barons 1, Columbus 1. RED BARONS FIFTH: Greg Legg singled. After a long rain delay, Kim Batiste tripled him In. Red Barons 2, Columbus 1.

RED BARONS NINTH: Nick Capra reached second on an error. He went to third on a ground-out and scored on Rick Schu's single. Rsd Barons 3, Columbus 1. COLUMBUS NINTH: Dave Sllvestrl doubled and Hensley Meulens singled him In. Torey Lovullo singled, Jay Knoblauh sin Thriller (Continued from Page 1C) who's been here through it all delivers the big hit," Red Baron Manager Lee Ella said.

There were plenty left, in the bats of both teams. GAME 2: Columbus 2, Red Barons 0 For 10 innings they pitched masterpieces, Brad Brink for the Red Barons and Jeff Johnson for Columbus. They were artists painting pictures of perfection, and painting both corners of the plate. Brink allowed two hits through 10 innings, Johnson surrendered only four, and neither allowed a "When you're going like that, all you want to do is get back out there," Brink said. But both were lifted from the game after going 10 innings.

Finally, In the 13 th, Jay Knoblauh ripped a two-run homer off reliever Tim Mauser, and Columbus tied the series 1-1 with a 2-0 GAME 3: Red Barons 4, Columbus 3 The series shifted from Lackawanna County Stadium to Cooper Stadium in Columbus, and Kim Batiste was ready to be a hero. Batiste's two-run double In the eighth inning gave the Red Barons the tying and winning runs, and helped the shortstop to forget the four previous runners he had stranded. "This is a real big lift," Batiste "We're all proud of what we accomplished," -Terlecky said. "Whoever loses shouldn't have to hang their heads." Ed Wade, a Carbondale native who is the Phillies director of player personnel, informed Ella Friday that no Red Barons would be promoted to the Phillies after ScrantonWllkes-Barre's season ended. That means the group of Red Barons who played for Friday's Governor's Cup Championship will have to wait until next year to put on their baseball uniforms again.

matic 4-3 victory over the Red Barons in the fifth and deciding game of the Governor's Cup Championship Series. "I was saying, "Here we, go Knoblauh said of his final at-bat. It wasn't the first time Knoblauh faced that pressure situation. In all three of Columbus wins during this series, he was there with a clutch hit That, simply, is why he was awarded the series MVP. Overall.

Knoblauh hit Just .211 during the final four games of the series. But he made Just about every hit count. On Tuesday, Knoblauh delivered a two-run homer in the 13th Inning to beat the Red Barons, 2-0, and even the series at a game Thursday night, after the Clippers blew a 9-1 lead and were fac double play. Gary Alexander who hit .350 in the playoffs homered in the second Inning for Scranton Wilkes-Barre's first run. When play resumed after the rain, Greg Legg was on first base with two outs, having singled against Hutton.

Cook replaced Hutton after the delay and Kim Batiste hit his sec-; ond pitch to deep center field. Mike Humphreys got a glove on it, but he couldn't pull it in and Batiste's triple scored Legg to give the Red Barons a 2-1 lead. He discussed ordering champagne with Columbus General Manager Ken Schnacke, and used Schnacke's office at Cooper Stadium to discuss the possibility of holding a parade if the Red Barons won. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Clippers got word of Terlecky's phone calls and responded by defeating the Red Barons 10-9 in 11 innings Thursday. That set up a deciding fifth game for the title.

Then the Clippers lashed out at the Red Barons after the game. "Some of the guys took offense to it," Down said of Terlecky's hasty celebration plans. "It could have been an added incentive for some of the players here." Columbus third baseman Hensley Meulens agreed, saying, "We thought it was a little premature. We thought it was a little unprofessional." opinion can teach the older horses In the field a lesson as five of the last twenty Woodward winners have been 3-year-olds. But Devil His Due faded badly at one mile In his next race (the Jerome Handicap on Sept 7) and Thunder Rumble seemed to only become a superhorse after he arrived at Saratoga.

Outside of that strip, he is only a good 3-year-old. I can't see either of them hitting the board, although Thunder Rumble might end up as the betting choice. Lost Mountain and Chief Hon-cho are only a race or two from becoming millionaires themselves, but Lost Mountain hasn't won a race in 14 months and Chief Honcho has only narrowly scored In allowance company in June. As the 1992 season began. Brad Brink couldn't be sure Just where his comeback from double shoulder surgery would take him.

By Tuesday night, the 27-year-old righthander had a pretty good idea how far he had come: He never looked better than when he pitched 10 innings of two-hit. shutout baseball In a pressure-packed Governor's Cup Championship Series game against the Columbus Clippers. It has certainly been a remarkable season for Brink, who began 1992 In Class AA Reading, went 8-2 for the Class AAA Red Barons and also pitched for the parent Philadelphia Phillies. "I'm a long ways." Brink said. Over his career.

Brink has had only dreams move Clipper Manager Rick Down admitted he wouldn't have made had Williams still been available to Columbus. Remember. Knoblauh had Just two homers and 18 RBI over the past two months with the Clippers. But In his first game of the postseason. Knoblauh drilled his dramatic second-game homer, and started a final series show that belonged to him.

'It's funny Columbus first baseman J.T. Snow said. "The day Gerald (Williams) went up, I said we were going to miss Gerald, because he's an exciting player. But I said. Don't be surprised If Jay Knoblauh has a good Try great "It's a great feeling when you do it." Knoblauh said.

key players, outfielder Gerald Williams, to a call-up by the New York Yankees after the first game of the finals. But Williams' re- I placement was Knoblauh. Cook got the win and Ritchie the loss. Schu's single made it 3-1 and put the Red Barons on the verge of the title. "I feel for Wally, he's done it so many times," said Ella.

"He got us to the dance." According to Ella, he and pitching coach Jim Wright felt pretty good when Schu knocked go all out here but there's that respect thing for your teammates." The Flyers held training camp this year at O'Leary, Prince Edward Island, before returning this weekend for the preseason opener. Today, the Flyers, their fans and the league will get their first look at what Lindros can do In an NHL game. If coming against the team he spurned. Drafted a year ago by Quebec, he refused the Nordiques offer of $50 million over 10 years, then became the focus of a trade dispute that wound up in arbitration. The Flyers won the arbitration and gave up five players, a first-round draft pick, future considerations and $15 million to get Lindros.

Quebec also made a deal with the New York Rangers, but an arbitrator ruled the Flyers deal was made first The episode has left some bad feelings in Quebec, and the Flyers have hinted Lindros won't make the trip to Quebec Sunday when the Flyers and Nordiques play again. esetters but hasn't been able to get a victory since November in Louisville when he scored In the Clark Handicap. With new whip Chris Antley taking over for Herb McCauley, who stayed with Thunder Rumble, expect Out Of Place to be the show horse. This leaves only Sultry Song and Pleasant Tap. Sultry Song eeked out a nose victory 1n the Whitney Handicap on August 29th and was also convincing in the Hollywood Gold Cup in June.

He looks to be very tough this afternoon and must only survive a furious charge by Pleasant Tap to win it Pleasant Tap, rested since an outstanding victory in the Suburban Handicap, comes in as the top vote-getter in the weekly Thoroughbred Racing Communication Poll and he looks ready to pop another big effort He has been first or second in his last six outings and his last three graces have all been over the Lindros gets first shot at Quebec today Terlecky reaches out, touches off Clippers gled in Meulens. Brad Ausmus singled In Lovullo. Columbus 4, Rsd Barons 3. Baron Banter GIVEN THE BOOT: Capital University of Columbus was to have played a Division III football game against John Carroll at -Cooper Stadium at 1 p.m. today.

1 However, that would have required the crew at the stadium to work virtually overnight to get the facility ready for football after Friday night's baseball game. As such, the game was moved to another field. International League Playoff Glance Boat-of-S Monday, aWpt. 14 Scranton Wilkaa-Barra 4, Columbua 3 Tuesday, Sept. 18 Columbua 2, Scranton Wilkea-Barra 0, 13 inningi Wednesday, Sat.ie Scranton Wilkaa-Barra 4, Columbua 3 Thursday, Sapt.

1 7 CoKimbua 10, Scranton Wilkea-Barra 9, 11 inning Friday, Sapt. 18 Columbua 4, Scranton Wilkaa-Barra 3, Cokimbua aha ampionhip3-2 International League Champions 1959- Havana 1960 Toronto 1981-Butfalo 1962- Allanta 1963- Indianapola 1964- Aocheatar 1965- Toronto 1966- Tolado 1967-Toledo 1968- Jacaaonvllla 1969- Syracuae 1970- Syracuaa 1971- Rocheater 1972- Tidewatar 1973- Pawtuckat 1974- flocheatar 1975- Tldewalar 1976 Syracuaa 1977 Charlaaton 1976 flichmond 1979 Columbua 1980 Columbus 1981 Cohimbua 1882-flichmond 1963- Tidewatar 1964- Pawtuckat 1985 Tidewatar 1986 Richmond 1987 Columbua 1986 Rocheater 1989 Richmond 1990 Rocheater 1991 Columbua 1992 Cohimbut said! "A real big one for me The Red Barons grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the series, and headed into Thursday night full of confidence. GAME 4: Columbus 10, Red Barons 9 The Red Barons ran into a Columbus explosion. Then they set one of their own off. The Clippers grabbed an early 9-1 lead, but the Red Barons rallied to tie the game.

9-9 in the eighth inning. But in the 11th inning, Hensley Meulens was called safe on a controversial call, and later scored the winning run in the 11th inning on a Jay Knoblauh single. GAME 5: Columbus 4, Red Barons 3 Incredible! With the Red Barons holding a 3-1 lead In the ninth inning, the Clippers rallied one last time. And it was enough to break the hearts of Red Baron fans. Brad Ausmus singled home Torey Lovullo with the winning run with two outs in the ninth in- rung, asthe Clippers unbelievable rally produced a Columbus victory and its second straight Governor's Cup championship.

It also gave Columbus, which won 101 games this year, its best iM inn years baseball has been played In Columbus baseball. And it left the Red Barons feeling a little empty. Paulson stable. Is coming off a brilliant performance in the Sword Dancer Handicap and has the speed to hold off the Arlington Million champion. Well see both of these outstanding turf specialists at the Breeder's Cup.

Finally, the 13th race Arlington-Washington Lassie for 2-year-old fillies also belongs to a Paulson color bearer. Eliza, a California shipper comlntf In under Patrick Valenzu- ela, will fly off and leave her five rivals. She's lost only to Zoon-aqua, the best 2-year-old filly In the country, she picks up Lasix for the first time, and her works are blistering. Bashful Charmer and Tourney will be closest to her at the finish. Make Eliza your best bet today.

A four home parlay this afternoon fcnturlng Great, Navigator, Fralse, I'lenNunt Tap, and Eliza just mlLjht moke your whole weckcndl PHILADELPHIA (AP) Eric Lindros was an off-the-ice headache for Quebec for more than a year. He gets his first chance to deal the Nordiques an on-lce headache today in his NHL exhibition debut for the Philadelphia Flyers. In training camp, the 19-year-old Lindros has made a head-banging impression with strong bodychecks even though he says he has held back a little against some veteran teammates. -Oh, boy," Coach Bill Dineen said. 1 think Eric's going to be given a lot of room on the ice.

He's so big, I don't think there'll be too many guys who'll want to get too close to him." Wing Claude Boivin, one of the Flyers leveled in practice by the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder. said he's a "strong guy." Linemate Mark Recchi said Lindros' aggressive style is more comparable to Mark Messier than Mario Lemleux. "If a reckless abandon," Recchi said. "I enjoy that part of it," Lindros said about checking. "You want to ByPAULSOKOLOSKl Times Leader Sports Writer COLUMBUS.

Ohio When he placed a few phone calls to make some championship arrangements Thursday night. Bill Terlecky had no Idea that word of his activities would wind up in Columbus' locker room. But the Red Barons' general manager believes he was simply the victim of a Columbus motivational scheme. 1 think Rick Down was looking for anything he could get to fire up his baUdub," Terlecky said of the Columbus manager. The last time I checked, the game is played between the lines and not in the clubhouse." With the Red Barons leading the best-of-flve Governor's Cup Championship Series 2-1 going into Thursday night's game, Terlecky decided to prepare for a possible victory celebration.

Pleasant Tap, Sultry Song should decide Woodward Stakes By JEFF FRAZER Times Leader Staff Writer This afternoon's simulcast from Philadelphia Park at Pocono Downs presents four outstanding races in the 10th, 1 1th, 12 th, and 13th. ''t, All will be hotly contested but the featured 12th race, the 39th Running of the Grade I.Woodward Stakes from Belmont, is the one attracting the most attention. The eight entrants have banked a combined total of $9,988,511 and considering the oldest entry is but 5-years-old, that Is a phenomenal number. Thunder Rumble and Devil His Due, the two representatives from the 3-year-old ranks, will attract a great deal of attention at the windows at Belmont as they have become the darlings of the New York media. After finishing 1-2 in a track-record-equalling time at Saratoga's Travers, many feel that they Before that, he hasn't won since before Lost Mountain did.

They'd both need tremendous efforts to be factors In this field. Strike The Gold, the 1991 Kentucky Derby winner and strong favorite in each of his last three races, will be coming late but as In these last three efforts, his bid will probably flatten out In the stretch and he won't be able to threaten the leaders. His come-from-behlnd style is a joy to watch and the script for Hollywood movies when he's at the top of his game but right now, he's not. For the moment, perhaps he should be renamed Strike The Tin or Strike The Aluminum. At any rate, It is always entertaining to listen to Nick Zlto's soliloquies on the countless excuses ofhls star's latest defeat.

Out Of Place, the consistent Shug McGaughey-trained speed-ball, won't be a wink behind the leaders. He loves to press the pac- Belmont surface. His Jockey, Eddie Delahoussaye, Is still smarting from media barbs over bis race on A. P. Indy at the Molson Million last Sunday and would love to avenge that performance with an impressive score here.

If Delahoussaye and Pleasant Tap can get the win today, and go on to capture the Breeder's Cup Classic on Oct. 3 1 it should wrap up Eclipse honors for both of them and put Pleasant Tap In position to win Horse-of-the Year. In the other three races, look to Great Navigator to capture the 10th race Belmont Futurity, a showcase of potential 1993 Kentucky Derby candidates. He must hold off Strolling Along and Zimmerman to preserve the win. Today's 1 1th race Man O' War Stakes on the turf should find Dear Doctor moving up late, at-tempting to run down Fralse (nice ring to that name) but coming up just short at the wire.

Fralse, from the powerful Allen.