The Daily Item from Sunbury, Pennsylvania • 21

NHL C2 Page C1 IljeDaslyllcin Sunday, October 5, 1997 C7 C9 Outdoors I NFL flirts ws In this week's SPOTLIGHT aunmers ees wne Fassero fires three-hitter to deny Baltimore sweep O'Neill's grand slam powers Bronx Bombers past Cleveland 9 alive; Yank By Ken Berger I he Assoitiiteil Pies 4 5 I1 -f Id Jeremy Merrell Jen Thew Danville Line Mountain By David Ginsburg I he AstuKMirit I'ress BALTIMORE Jeff Fassero did his part. Now Randy Johnson gets another chance to beat the Baltimore Orioles. fassero allowed three hits in eight shutout innings, retiring 18 straight batters in one stretch, to beat Baltimore 4-2 Saturday and keep the Mariners alive in their AL division series. Seattle, bidding to become the first team to win a best-of-5 playoff after losing the first two at home, pulled to 2-1 in the series and will send Johnson to the mound today against Baltimore's Please see FASSERO, C2 CLEVELAND As usual, the Yankees gave Charlcs'Nagyfils, As usual, the Bronx Bombers tjomhed the Cleveland Indians, in Jacobs Field With a 6-1 victory in Game, 3. Saturday New York took a 2-1 leadm the AL division series and pushed the Indians to the brink of elimination.

Fittingly, a Jacobs Field-record crowd of 45,274 Was on hand to watch Cleveland's old nemesis turn the place into "The House That Paul Boomer Built." David Wells pitched a five-hitter to win a duel of contrasting pitching styles and personalities, and Paul O'Neill provided the bombing with the first Yankees postseason grand slam in 33 years. "It's party time," said Wells, known as "The Please see O'NEILL, C2 THE SERIES Baltimore leads best-of-five 2-1 1 Fassero pitches eight shutout innings Today: Baltimore (Mussina 1 6-8) at Seattle (Johnson 20-5) 4:07 p.m.ESPN THE SERIES New York leads best-of-five 2-1 David Wells tosses five-hitter for New York Today: New York (Gooden 9-5) at Cleveland (Hershiser 14-6), 7:30 p.m.29,38, 43 Photo by The Associated Press The Cleveland Indians' Charles Nagy pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning of Game 3 at Cleveland on Saturday. EL 3 Amy Newman Middleburg Grant Walter Selinsgrove PSU pounds Illinois -w 7 1 Lions extend win streak to 9 -J 1 Ml i i By Ray Parrillo Knighi-Ritlder Newspapers CHAMPAIGN, III. About 15 minutes after Curtis Enis jogged up the ramp toward Penn State's dressing room shouting, "The big one's comin' up, baby," the Nittany Lions had their jackets and ties and tongues neatly in place. Second-ranked Penn State's 41-6 victory over Illinois Saturday was just a prelude.

The big one happens next week when Ohio State, which embarrassed Penn State, 38-7, last year in Columbus, goes to Happy Valley in a game of national significance. "Just another Big Ten game," said Enis, looking dapper in round spectacles and a smart, black-and-white checked spqrtscoat that covered his change of heart. "I haven't focused much of my attention on Ohio State," Chafie Fields added, biting his tongue. "Ohio State's just the next team on our list so we can reach our goal the Rose Bowl," Brad Scioli said. All right.

Downplay Ohio State if you must, guys, but you've surely had enough tune-ups for the Buckeyes. Or, as flanker Joe Jurevicius said, "If we're not ready (for Ohio State), then there's something wrong with us." The final dry run was Saturday on a warm, Jjreezy afternoon when the Nittany Lions (4-0 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) ripped punchless Illinois (0-5, 0-2) before 51,523 spectators at Memorial Stadium. On theitvway to the convincing victory, which Please see PENN STATE, C2 JEREMY MERRELL Tailback more effective despite lower numbers By Harold Raker Sports reporter DANVILLE When you glance at the offensive statistics of the Danville High football team, the name of senior Jeremy Merrell will not immediately jump out at you. Last season, Merrell produced the bulk of the Ironmen's offense, as he rushed for 860 yards and seven touchdowns. But don't bq misled into thinking Merrell is having a sub-par season.

"His numbers this year are nftt nearly as high (27-117, three touchdowns rushing; 7-186, 3 TDs receiving), but he's been mote effective for us," Danville Coach Carmen said. "He fills a multitude of roles," DeFrancesco said. Indeed. The 5-11, 171 -pound Merrell runs out of the tailback spot, catches the ball as a flanker, runs and catches out of the wing-back position and returns punts and kicks. He is also a standout defensive back.

"He has been our big play guy this year," DeFrancesco said. "We rely on his outstanding athletic skills and his leadership out there, and it always seemed that when we needed a big play this year, he always seemed to be the guy to step up and make it for us." Merrell, a team captain, had a long touchdown run to spark the Ironmen in the Shikellamy game and helped Danville pull away from Jersey Shore in the second half with a 55-yard TD reception. In the Ironmen's comeback win over Selinsgrove in the season opener, he clinched it with a punt return for a touchdown. Last year, Merrell took over the tailback spot after Jake Reedy was-lost for most of the season with an injury in the season opener. "He plays a lot of roles for DeFrancesco said.

JENTHEW Skill, experience help senior become leader By Charlie Lentz Sports reporter MANDATA Senior forward Jen Thew is one of the reasons the Line Mountain High field hockey team has been a dominant force in the Susquehanna Valley League over her four-year career. Line Mountain Coach Cindy Swanger said Thew led the Eagles in scoring during her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. This year, Thew scored 18 goals and notched 10 assists in the Eagles' first 15 games. i Against Danville High on Oct. 1, Thew broke a scoreless tie with a goal in the first half and the Eagles went on to win 6-1.

Thew scored again in the second half and added an assist against Danville. Swanger said Thew brings a lot of talent to the field. "Her strengths are herstickwork; she moves the ball up the field very well," Swanger said. "She has speed. She passes extremely well." And when Thew shoots, she does Please see SPOTLIGHT, C8 4 I INSIDE No, 7 Ohib State has easy time against No.

11 Iowa; Top 25 roundupPage C3 Photo by The Associated Press Penn State wide receiver Chafie Fields escapes the grasp of Illinois' James Williams as he makes his way toward the end zone for a 60-yard touchdown'' reception at Champaign, on Saturday. For the game, Fields had six receptions for 129 yards. AGONY OF DEFEAT Bucknell beats Harvard, goes 4-0 for' first time since 1954 INSIDE i -U elt I 1 I I I i' Lourdes Regional Coach Bob Chesney reacts to his team's misfortune late in the game as his squad was about to fall to Montgomery Saturday afternoon at Shamokin. Story on Page C4. rim From staff and wire reports BOSTON For the third time in four games, Bucknell came from behind to win Saturday: The Bison topped previously unbeaten Harvard 24-20 in Harvard Stadium.

It is the first time Bucknell has started a season 4-0 since 1954, Sophomore quarterback Don McDowell came off the bench to lead the Bison. Led by Rich Linden's nine completions and 10 passes. Harvard (2-1) scored three touchdowns for a 20-7 first-quarter lead. But Bucknell (4-0) took command in the second quarter after McDowell replaced starter Jim John, who threw a 38-yard scoring pass to Southern Columbia graduate Ardie Kissinger but was sacked four times. McDowell capped a 56-yard drive on his first series by scoring on a 4-yard run.

mov- Patriot League, MAC, PSAC roundups Page C5 ing Bucknell to within 20-14 at halftime. Chris Peer put the Bisons ahead early in the third with a 16-yard run. Ross Coleman added a 31-yard field goal a few minutes later. Bison Coach Tom Gadd said. "At half-time I told the kids I thought we were playing at a good energy level.

We just weren't making plays, we weren't winning the battles. In the second half, we upgraded our effort, we stopped the running game and got them into third and long." Of McDowell's performance, the BU Please see BUCKNELL, C5 i 1 Daily Item photo by Butch Gomegys.