Sports RU I f t TOG? r n o I Prep Sports Cedar Rapids/Friday, Oct. 10, 1980 Red Peppers Kennedy stuns Wash, 14-

Schrader

. Gazette sports columnist

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Want to sit in on an autopsy? Want to examine the anatomy of a perfect play? The one that enabled the to bury the legend of Yankee late inning lightening in the last two fateful innings Thursday night. You know the plot (Howard Cosell always calls it the story line). The Royals are protecting a 3-2 lead. Yanks at bat in the eighth. Willie Randolph on first, two outs. Batter is Bob Watson, who led the Yankees in hitting this year with .307. Watson drills Dennis Leonard’s pitch to the left- field comer. OK, that’s the setting. Now come with us into the bowels of Royals Stadium as we interview the principals of The Biggest Flay in Kansas City History: , baseball's fast­ est player who plays left field for the Royals — "The ball came off the cement so fast it handcuffed me. I just grabbed it and threw as fast and as hard as I could. I wasn’t throwing to either U.L. Washington (shortstop) or (third baseman) in particular.” George Brett, Royal superman who certainly has a big red "R” on his chest— "I’m the back-up relay man in that situation. Washington is the primary man, but he was way out there and Wilson’s throw was over his head. It’s the way we are taught that play in spring training. If I wasn’t there and the ball rolled all the way to the , I’d be in his Gazette photo by Tom Merry man ( ’s) office right now. No, I didn’t hear anybocy Marc Meyer lies in the end zone after scoring Kennedyfs first touchdown a 14-7 in upset over No. I Washington. yell to throw it home. Hell, you can’t hear yourself think out there By Jack Ogden time.” still had his problems. He completed Washington started off like a The winning touchdown drive at a time like that. I had no idea Senior sportswriter Thursday, Reed couldn’t findonly 12 of 33 pass attempts and hadteam that planned to make Kennedystarted midway in the third after Jay the play was gonna be close. I had Cedar Rapids Kennedy playersenough nice things to say about hisfour intercepted. its sixth straight victim, keeping Fitzharris got one of his two my back to the plate, remember. I were jumping around their locker-club,, particularly its defense, the Greg was emphatic about oneKennedy in the hole for most of theinterceptions, this one at the Ken just wheeled and threw it as hard room shouting "Green Power, Greenpassing of Mark McClintic underthing. "This has to be the biggest first half and scoring with 17 nedy 47. The drive went 53 yards in as I could to Darrell Porter Power” Thursday night at Kingstonheavy pressure and the running offootball victory in Kennedy history.”seconds left in the first quarter. eight plays with Joel Smith racing in (catcher). It’s the biggest play I’ve Stadium. Marc Meyer, who had his biggest McClintic, who had his most That drive started after Eddie from the 12 yard line. ever made, and I didn’t do it with And the green-clad club had night of the season with 60 yards in impressive passing night, with IO ofDavis returned a short punt to the Washington finally got its act my bat. People never give me plenty of reason. 16 carries. 14 for 128 yards despite seven WashKennedy 17. Dale then hit Randy together with just over three min­ credit for my glove.” "I know no one will believe me,”sacks, still gave credit to his line. Luter on a first down pass to the six.utes left in the game, but it was too Darrell Porter, Kansas City The steadily improving Cougars,said Reed, still sweating after his "The line did a great job,” he Dale faded back on the next play,little, too late. The Warriors took catcher — "Brett’s relay was now with five straight victories after Cougars had staved off a last ditch said. "You can credit the line andthen ran left untouched into the endover on their own 17 and marched perfect. Just perfect. He must an opening overtime loss to Regis,bid by Wash on an interception bythe receivers for the passing.” zone. 63 yards in 12 plays to the Kennedy have heaved it IOO miles an hour. had just put on a spectacularGreg Spicher on the Cougar one Wash Wally Sheets pres­ But that was to be the last Wash 20. largely on the passing of Dale. It was a play ITI savor forever. It performance to topple No. I rankedwith just 37 seconds remaining. ided over a quiet Washington locke-threat until the closing minutes of Then, with just 37 seconds left, was the most exciting game I ever Washington, 14-7, before some 8,000 room as the top-ranked Iowa prepthe game. Spicher ended the threat on his third fans. "But we didn’t do anything spe­ down interception at the Kennedy played in in my whole life.” cial tonight. club lost its first game in six starts. Kennedy took the ensuing kickoffone yard line. Willie Randolph, fleet Yankee The win left Kennedy alone atop on its own 34 and marched 66 yards who was cut down by a step— "I the Mississippi Valley Conference "Our defensive coach, Jim Lewis, "We didn’t say much after the Kennedy14, Washington 7 did a great job. We just hit their im eight plays with Meyer scoring slipped as I took off from first standings with a 5-0 league record game,” he explained. "We’ll talk Wash Kennedy base. I had one foot on the turf ends at the line from our basic 5-2about it tomorrow. But you havefrom to thp two First Downs 12 15 heading into next week’s game Yards Rushing 67 64 and one on the dirt. My back footagainst Iowa City City High. defense and then dropped everyonegive Kennedy credit. They played an "Marc did a super job,” said Yards Passing 113 128 excellent game and their defense did Passes 33-12 4 14-10-1 gave away just a little, but I off to cover. We gave up the pass Reed. "We just ran our basic plays, Punts-Avg 5- 3? 5-30 should have beaten the throw "I guess we are in front and the rush, although our line did get a a good job against our passing. Fumbles lost 0-0 l l but he did an excellent job of Yords Penalized other teams will have to catch us,” couple of sacks.” IS 15 even with the slip. They had to reading the Washington defense and Washington 7 0 0 0 — 7 admitted Reed. "But we aren’t "Maybe this will take a little Kennedy 0 7 7 0 — 14 handle it perfectly to beat me. I’m he turned that into extra yards.” on my own out there. You have tolooking any further ahead than Iowa The strategy obviously worked.pressure off us. Now we’U just have Washington TD Pot Dale (3 run). XP City. That’s what we have been Wash was held to just 67 net yards to get back together and get ready Rim s Roof (kick) go on a play like that. Sure, I Kennedy dominated right from Kennedy Marc Mever (2 run), Joel Smith started my slide high because I doing all year, taking one game at arushing, but ‘ quarterback Pat Dalefor the rest of the season.” the start in the second half. (12 run) XP — Kevin Mote 2 (kicks). could see the catcher blocking the plate, and I tried to knock him over. You don’t have time to think of all those things when you’re running.” Spotlight on LaSalle-Prairie game Saturday Reggie Jackson, Yankee star who was in the on-deck circle — The Hawks finished with their best Prairie s defense has been vulner­ can boast of that statistic. Meanwhile, Prairie has fumbled "I was telling Willie to slide. Yes, By Mark Dukes running performance of the season,able to the run, though, allowing 225 "That is what we have talked 12 times and had six passes inter­ he was out easy, but it took great Gazette sportswriter 185 yards. ______yards each game. execution by them to get him. Coaches from Cedar Rapids La­ about here every year, because a lotcepted. The Hawks’ passing attack Willie is one of the fastest guys Salle and Cedar Rapids Prairie may of times you beat yourself,” Kopa­will get a stiff test, because LaSalle on our club, and he had to thinkbe using the same source for tich said. "It’s about 70 percent of has intercepted IO passes, including we hadn’t been generating a different types of motivation whenthe time that the other team will five by Kary Schulte. score after your turnover. We’re still Prairie rediscovered its rushing heatilator helluva lot of offense, and I knowthe two football teams collide Satur­ AMERICAS LEADING FIREPLACE SVSTEMS he felt he should go.” day afternoon. fumbling too much (IO times), but game in the first half of a 34-18 loss , Yankee manager Tom Kopatich of LaSalle and we’re fortunate to have lost onlyto Dyersville Beckman last Friday. — "I don’t think it was a mistake John Oertel of Prairie undoubtedlytwo." ______FIREPLACE SPECIALS to send Randolph home. When I remember their 1977 meeting. That saw Wilson’s throw going a little game and Saturday’s Kingston Sta­ high, I thought we had a chance. dium contest at 1:30 p.m. have HELP YOURSELF TO THE WARM ENVIRONMENT With two outs, we had to hope similarities. OF AMERICA’S LEADING FIREPLACE SYSTEMS they would misplay it, because it Three years ago, Kopatich di­ took a perfect play by threerected LaSalle to a 5-0 start while WITH THESE SPECIAL FALL PRICES: guys.” Prairie had lost three of its first five We Jim Frey, Royals manager • games. In the sixth game of the MODEL 3038 OA MODEL 3138 EP "You won’t see a better relay than season, Prairie stunned visiting La­ Keep that in watching 20 years of Salle, 14-11. 0 OUTSIDE AIR KIT 0 OUTSIDE AIR KIT baseball. We use a trailer on that Now it is the sixth game of the You TO SUPPORT TO SUPPORT play The shortstop goes out deep1980 season, and the coaches proba­ COMBUSTION and we tell the fielder to throw bly have been reminded of the ’77 In COMBUSTION the ball high, where both the game. LaSalle enters with a 4-1 G LASS DOOR shortstop and the third baseman mark, losing only to unbeaten Ben­ The 0 GLASS DOORS 0 %O' cfO have a chance at it. You don’t ton Community, while Prairie stands SCREEN ASSEMBLY want a low throw there. Brett was 1-4 with four consecutive losses. Know ,N '» o'' 0 SCREEN 0 in the right position and com In tonight’s games involving With ASSEMBLY ZERO CLEARANCE pleted the play perfectly." Metro schools, undefeated Marion 0 Now that you’ve digested all hosts Monticello, Jefferson enter­ Our 0 ZERO CLEARANCE 0 CIRCULATING FAN KIT that, how about the two plays tains Dubuque Senior and Linn Mar City John Wathan made on Yankeetravels to unbeaten Benton Commu­ 0 FREE DELIVERY 0 FREE DELIVERY extra-base hits in the fifth inning? nity. "I didn’t think John could have Kopatich may have had the ’77 Haii An'-'! Yv'*' SS played the ball any better on game in the back of his mind when And Graig Nettles’ drive (that went for he was asked to assess Prairie. $ 43500 * 630 ° ° an inside-the-park homer). He "Prairie is a pretty dangerous Court i V * C lost the second one (Randolph’sfootball team,” Kopatich said. double) in the lights and there "We’re worried about them because Beats wasn’t anything he could do they’re big and their record is V about it.” deceiving.” OGDEN & ADAMS LUMBER "Those were tough plays for One of the most remarkable 123 32nd St. Dr. SE Cedar Rapids 363-8125 anyone,” said Wathan, a catcher aspects about LaSalle is that it has by trade who occasionally playscommitted only two turnovers (two (One Block OH I st Ave. SE) fumbles, no interceptions) in five Blended Scotch Whisky 80 Proof imported by and Bottled rn the I first base or the outfield. United States for James B Beam import Corp Ne* York N Y games. Few teams across the state