News Record from North Hills, Pennsylvania • Page 10

Adams, Executive Sports Editor, 1-800-874-9994 North HillB Bmrd Sports SECTION At a glance Thursday's tcow Major National Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 0 Montreal 5, Florida 3 New York 3, St Louis 2 Houston 10, Atlanta San Francisco 3, Los Angeles 1 -American League Minnesota 4, California 1 Toronto 6, Baltimore 2 Detroit 7, Boston 4 Seattle 2, Chicago 1 Texas 6, Oakland 2 Roundups, B5 NL West race Atlanta 101 58 San Fran 101 58 Games remaining Atlanta 3 Home (3)- Oct 2,3, Colorado San Francisco (3) Away (3) Oct 1,2,3, Los Angeles. SAEO HINDASH, staff photoflmphw North Catholic kicker Ryan McLane moves one of the blocking dummies he uses to mark off the width of goal posts. North Cathode does not have goal posts on field. Story, B3 Harness racing American Winner ready for last leg Driver Ron Pierce will take American Winner for a test spin around die mile-length track at die Red Mile in Lexington, today STO lur rnQaj Kentucky Futurity. American Winner, bidding to become trotting's first Triple Crown winner in 20 years, drew the dfree hole for today's $130,000 Bluegrass.

The Kentucky Futurity, me final jewel in trotting's Triple Crown, also wfll be held at the Red Mile. American Winner has won 15 of 18 starts this season, including die July 10 Yonkers Trot and the Aug. 7 Hambletonian. Golf Gallagher proves magazine wrong PINE MOUNTAIN, Jim Gallagher had die last laugh after Golf World magazine skewered him in its analysis of U.S. Ryder Cup team members.

Golf World had dismissed Gallagher with a Guts Index that gave him a heart and a halt putting him between chopped brer and a lamb They can say, no, he doesn't have the experience We don't know how he's going to fare. That's fine. But to pick at my character, that's not fair," said Gallagher, who won two of diree matches and gained diree points for die United States. "So before we went over, I nicknamed myself lamb chop and before the end of die week I was kJDer lamb chop," be said Compiledfrom staffs-no wtrt Coming up High school footbaQ (All games 7 30 m) Shaier at Seneca Valley lnd.ar,a at North Hills North Allegheny al New Castte Rchland at Apollo-Ridge toonessen st Nbrthgate Butter, Bfef Wuofl Burred at Mars North Catho'c at Knoch Highlands at Hampton Freepoi at Deer Lakes Lenny Dykstra is having a career year. He leads the league in runs scored, walks and at-bats, and the Phillies are in the NLCS.

But is Dykstra putting MVP Numbers? By Kevin Roberts Staff writer PITTSBURGH: The Philadelphia Phillies fans at Three Rivers Stadium this week--and thfy outnumbered the Pirates fans cast their vote emphatically. During the Phillies' victory that clinched the National League East title Tuesday, they stood and screamed and waved and bowed every time Lenny Dykstra turned around and spit, which was often. Every time he came off the field, hewas serenaded with chants of "MVP! MVP!" While Dykstra is without question the Most Valuable Phillie him, we might finish last," Mariano Duncan said he probably is a long shot to be named die National League's Most Valuable Player. Dykstra is hitting .310 with 142 runs scored, the most in the National League since 1932 when Chuck Klein scored 152 runs. He- leads the league in walks (127) and at-bats (623) and would be the first player in National League history and only the second in major- league history to accomplish that feat if he maintains ijj 8 position.

Dykstra also leads the league in hits (193) and doubles (44) and is third in total bases (3060 and on- base percentage This year he became only third since 1951 Those are MVP numbers, aren't they? "Oh, I don't know," Dykstra said. 1 have control over mat, but men again, I don't The people who vote for that award are going to vote for whoever they want You can make a case for me, with my numbers, but you can make a case for Barry Bonds, David Justice, Ron Gant, with their numbers. The award can be looked at in so many ways. What is the MVP? Is it the most valuable guy to a team that wins its division? Then, maybe, I've got a chance. But it really doesn'tcrosmy mind, I'm only worried about who we play the next day.

My main thing is to do the job to win that game that Anoctated Prns Lenny Dykstra, celebrating the Phillies' National League East title with teammate Dave Hdlins, has put up some big numbers this year, but it might not be enough to beat out Barry Bonds for the MVP award. Uykstra has been at nis besl down die stretch. He has been a terror in die second half, hitting .333 with 11 homers and 45 runs batted in. He has hit .366 in his past 24 games. Turn to DYKSTRA, Page B6 Steelers quick to plug gap in line By Rick Starr Staff writer PITTSBURGH: The Steelers didn't have to search beyond their cabinet of Cleveland Browns game films to replace right guard Cariton Haselrig.

The Steelers signed nine-year veteran free agent Dan Pike to provide depth while a i remains on the a list after an alcohol treatment center. Teammates Eric Green and Greg Lloyd expressed support for Haselrig, who sought help for alcohol abuse for the second time this year. "I want Cariton to know I'm here for him, and IH help him in anyway I can," said Green, who was suspended for six games last season for substance abuse. "I know what he's going through. If tough.

I know." This happens to a lot of people, but it gets in the newspapers and. television because Cariton is in die limelight as a pro athlete," Lloyd Fike, who will wear No. 71, reported to the practice at Three Rivers Stadium on a chilly Thursday. "It's like I never took off the pads," Fike said. "It just feels right to get back on the field knocking -around again hitting Twice a year for die past eight seasons, Fike suited up for Cteve- land in the AFC Central Turnpike Series" rivalry.

"Biggest thing about the series is die games have always been hard- fought with high intensity. When 1 first came in with Cleveland, the Browns had lost 16 straight games in Pittsburgh. I didn't understand when I first got there, but I do now. If a big thing," he said. Fike, 285 pounds, started 71 games at right guard for Cleveland from 1985-92.

He started every game die past two seasons, mostiy at right tackle. "Tike is witMoag arms," said Tom Donahoe, director of football operations. "He's an experienced guy who's played ition but center." die Browns but was traded Aug. 5 to die Green Bay Packers. He was released Aug.

16. Steelers Inside No 3 draft choice not discouraged by inactivity B4 Rookies lead Penguins past Leafs TORONTO: Rookies Leonid Toropchenko and Markus Naslund scored goals as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat die Toronto Maple Leafs, 21, in an NHL i i i game Thursday night. Penguins 2 1 dressed six rookies, and Pittsburgh had four in its lineup as both teams tuned up for die opening of die season Tuesday The Penguins open the season at Philadelphia. Veteran Mark Osborne, one of six Maple Leafs forwards 30 years or older, scored Toronto's goal Toronto rookie Damian Rhodes was steady in goal over the he worked, stopping 19 shots. He gave an ample showing why me Maple Leafs have penciled Him in as die backup to Felix Potvin.

Naslund was behind die Maple Leafs' net when he put a head fake on goalie Bruce Racine, who came in at 9:19 of die second period. Naslund moved out and tucked die puck in on die shprt side Osborne scored at 9:19 of die second period from dose range. Defenseman Greg Brown signed with die Penguins, one day after his brother Doug signed with me club. Greg Brown, 25, has played in 49 career games in me NHL, recording one goal, diree assists and four points. Last season, he played 10 games for die Buffalo Sabres and 61 games for Rochester of the American Hockey League.

He has spent die past three seasons in the Sabres organization. Brown was a two-time Hockey East Player of me Year while playing for Boston CoDege, winning in 1989 and 1990, and played for the U.S. Olympic teams in 1988 and 1992 Doug Brown came to Penguins training camp as a tryout and signed a contract Wednesday. Joe Mullen hooks Toronto Maple Leafs center Doug Gilmour trie first penod Thursday The Penguins edged the Maple Leafs, 2-1 America's pastime misses prime time with playoffs encils ready It is quiz time once again. Another affpm.pt to challenge, confuse and get by in die modem, fast-paced play-for- pay-world we five in.

Time for a postseason baseball quiz for cities without a postseason baseball team No cheating, no Dussiog signs, no swinging uwuy on a 3-0 count and no standing in the aisles. Give yourself 10 points for each wfrett attjiWci i 1 What is tke best way to teatck too baseball teams that bear HO On Sports Jeff garage C) On the way by. toward any other show, excluding poblrc teJevh sion selections involving larvae. D) By being interested only in die innings (basically 1-6) that start before die local news is over. 2.

Hew can you help yoitr children greeting for an B) By adding aootbei vegetable to meals every time mey say diey Kke the designated Hitter By telling diem the chop so anywhere btrt Florida State, D) By taping all me gapes 90 you can watch together (during normal family-type hours) die five innings thai took place after their bedtime 3 What can yn say vken your children ask to aO of At prone- tone poeason game? A) That you cant stay up that late either, B) To go ahead and play don't care what time anything else is on. D) That network TV executives are driven to wrap and never have to lift anythinfsjeavier than their waDeta, so they SrXiever tired the nextday 4 If you kve not seen an entire postseason game and people ask you about it tke next day at work, you should say A) fantasy league team is done, and I don't watch players I can't trade. B) "Leno doesn't step out of die batter's box between jritches. so I 5. What a good reason for postseason baseball to crawl on deep into A) Baseball really Monday Night Football and wants to grow up to te just Hke iL B) Rds don't rent skybcxes, who cares rf they we it anvway Why ask why D) All part of the new motto Baseball, it's the national past-your.

bedtime Answer to all of die questions and you have a perfect sleepless in Pittsburgh score So, puD up a chair. diree-toppmg B) With one eye only, die other concentrating on vacuuming or assembling extra shelves for die baseball vkfa vatcktng tkt postseason together'' A) By telhng them DO matter what they see, die S-word is not a proper the Wono Chatnpwo, tbco get sleep C) Try to explain network TV executives only watch golf, so diey D) "Bet tijose bags under your eyes won't fit beneadi die seat front of you or in the overhead then talcp a nap JeffLegiDotd At Sens Record sports columnist. '-3.