PAY-BACK TIME: Arbitrator rules Vick has to give back signing bonus C6

SECTION C HIGH SCHOOLS C3-4 INSIDE BOXING C4 SPORTS SOUTHCOAST IN ACTION C6 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2007 BISHOP STANG 8, R ED S OX VS . I NDIANS ■ A L C S BISHOP CONNOLLY/WESTPORT 0 GAME 1: FRIDAY, 7:10 P.M. ■ FENWAY PARK ■ FOX Co-op still Family ties a work in progress Westport girls give Connolly a boost, but not enough to match EAC foes like Stang By ED COLLINS Standard-Times staff writer DARTMOUTH — Somewhere out there, a job is going unfilled because Westport’s Kristen Vincellette is playing soccer for Bishop Connolly. Westport and Connolly are fielding a co- op team for the first time and five players from Westport are on the Cougars’ varsity roster. “If not for soccer, I’d probably be work- ing, so I’m happy to be getting a chance to play,” said Vincellette, a senior midfielder. “I was on the boys team at Westport last season, but this is better because it “The kids from feels more com- fortable. It’s been Westport have fun and the kids from Connolly been helping us have been great teammates.” tremendously The Cougars (2- 7-1, 0-5-0 Eastern this season. ... Athletic Confer- They like to ence ) dropped Photos by CHARLES KRUPA/The Associated Press an 8-0 decision play the game Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who spent a year in the Indians’ front office, said he sent a congratulatory text message to Indians GM at league-rival Mark Shapiro as soon as Cleveland eliminated the Yankees. Bishop Stang and it’s been on Tuesday, but first-year coach nice working Jill Apicerno said with them.” Red Sox, Indians have shared plenty of personnel everyone on the team has been JILL APICERNO, Red Sox vs. Indians By RYAN TREPANIER them to beat us. I think that’s stat- Chris Antonetti, now the Indians’ playing with a lot Connolly/Westport’s Standard-Times correspondent ing the obvious, but there’s some vice president of player opera- of energy. first-year coach Friday BOSTON — Before the Indians people over there who I’m really tions. “It’s my first year Cleveland (Sabathia 19-7) at even had time to break out the close to.” “When you spoke to Chris, it coaching, so this Boston (Beckett 20-7), 7:10 champagne, Red Sox manager After being fired as manager of was very clear that he was smarter is all pretty new to me, but we have kids Saturday Terry Francona sent his congrat- the Phillies following the 2000 sea- than you,” Francona said, “but he who like to play the game,” said Apicerno. Cleveland (Carmona 19-8) at ulations to Cleveland’s general son, Francona spent 2001 with the never made you feel like it. They’re “It’s been a learning process for everyone, Boston (Schilling 9-8), 8:21 manager. Indians as then general manager very intelligent people who place but we’ve won a couple of games and the Monday “I texted Mark (Shapiro on Mon- John Hart’s special assistant to a high priority on people.” kids are still getting to know each other.” Boston (Matsuzaka 15-12) at day) night right when they won,” baseball operations. He was with Francona’s only season with the The other Westport players on the team Cleveland (Westbrook 6-9), 7:10 Francona said. “I think I got a text the club for just a season before Indians was Hart’s last as G.M. are senior midfielder Dalila Oliveira, soph- back about five minutes later. I returning to the dugout as a bench He resigned after the season and omore midfielder Nellie Fors, sophomore Tuesday, Oct. 16 was really happy for them. Believe coach with the Rangers, but struck like Francona headed off to Texas, forward Kayla Vincellette, Kristen’s sister, Boston at Cleveland, 8:21 me when I say this, I don’t want up friendships with Shapiro and See PERSONNEL C5 and freshman midfielder Olivia Mauk. x-Thursday, Oct. 18 “The kids from Westport have been help- Boston at Cleveland, 8:21 ing us tremendously this season,” said Api- x-Saturday, Oct. 20 cerno. “They’ve given us some depth and Cleveland at Boston, TBD, if Sox move Schilling up to Game 2 they’ve brought some good speed to the necessary team. They like to play the game and it’s been nice working with them.” x-Sunday, Oct. 21 By JIMMY GOLEN the first round, will start Game 3 Associated Press writer against Jake Westbrook. Westport and Connolly have also gone Cleveland at Boston, TBD co-op in field hockey, with Connolly play- x-if necessary BOSTON — Tim Wakefield “We just feel like this is our best way to go forward,” Red Sox man- ers coming to Westport, and football, with tested his balky back from the Westport players going to Connolly. Fenway mound on Tuesday to see ager Terry Francona said. More coverage Schilling pitched seven innings The Cougars have wins over Diman Voke if he’ll be able to start in Game 4 of and Sturgis Charter School, but they were inside the AL championship series. of shutout ball on Sunday to lead Boston to a 9-1 victory over the Curt Schilling showed every- See CO-OP C3 ■ The Red Sox will be a Angels and complete the three- thing he needed to show on Sun- well-rested team when the game sweep. With four days off ALCS starts. C4 day. before the start of the second Two days after helping the Red ■ The Indians have had Tim Wakefield throws during round — and a couple of days off plenty of Erie (as in Lake) Sox finish off the Los Angeles Tuesday’s practice at Fenway in the middle of it, too — the Red things happen this season. C5 Angels in the first round, Schilling Park. His status for the ALCS Sox have the luxury of setting up was tabbed to start the second their rotation however they want. ■ remains up in the air. A primer course on the game of the best-of-seven series Beckett, who pitched his sec- Indians. C5 against Cleveland’s Fausto Car- opener on Friday night against ond consecutive playoff shutout ■ A look at how this year’s mona. C.C. Sabathia. Daisuke Matsuzaka, in Game 1 against the Angels, was Sox-Indians matchups. C5 Josh Beckett will start the who pitched the second game in See ROTATION C5 Torre remains the Yankees’ best choice By RONALD BLUM against Detroit before issuing a Associated Press writer ANALYSIS PLENTY OF SUPPORT stay. He may not be able to restrain NEW YORK — The rat-a-tat-tat of his bloodlust this year. owner’s insatiable appetite for As the clock ticks on the Joe drills echoed from the new ballpark Torre Watch, players, coaches, That said, Steinbrenner would be being built across the street from championship No. 27. politicians say they want him a fool to let Torre go. Yankee Stadium, site of so many In the bowels of the old stadium, back. Page C4 A long time ago, Steinbrenner triumphs. There was no evidence scheduled for extinction a year said the biggest mistake he ever — not just yet — that they were hence, the detritus of another made was to let Reggie Jackson digging a grave for the current season gone sour was being cleared genius when he led the pinstripes depart for the golden sunshine of occupant of the manager’s chair. Tuesday, a day after Torre’s 12th to four World Series titles in his the California Angels. This would MIKE VALERI/The Standard-Times Listening to George season ended in a first-round first five seasons, but a less-sacred top that faux pas. Kristen Vincellette, going aginst Bishop Steinbrenner’s threat last weekend, loss to Cleveland. The unwanted sorcerer these days. The guess here is if Torre departs, Stang’s Molly Wakefield, right, is one of Joe Torre had committed his memory, however, could not be Last year, Steinbrenner left open other key components of the five Westport High girls playing varsity seventh deadly sin in a row, purged. the possibility of an execution for Yankees leave, too. soccer for Bishop Connolly in the first failing yet again to fulfill the So now the clock ticks on Torre, a 2½ days following the final out See BLUM C4 year of a co-op progam. Boy, oh ’Boys: Pats follow dramatic win Dallas takes deep breath Monday night, despite plenty of make a last-minute push, then be a bonding moment, the kind forehead-slapping moments — had to keep hanging on when of plucky comeback that makes before turning attention from Tony Romo throwing five Nick Folk’s 53-yard field goal players, coaches and fans think to battle of unbeatens interceptions to Romo losing to win it was called off because this team might have more a fumble, from Terrell Owens the Buffalo Bills sneaked in a magical moments in store. By JAIME ARON dropping a tying 2-point con- timeout just before the snap. “Our guys never gave up,” Associated Press writer version pass to Owens dropping Forced to do it again, the Phillips said Tuesday after- IRVING, Texas — Wade Phil- a long pass that might’ve set up rookie did, giving Dallas a stun- noon, looking relaxed despite lips already thought the Dallas a short field goal for the win, ning 25-24 victory and a 5-0 the team plane arriving at 4 Cowboys had the kind of play- from the special teams allow- record for the first time since a.m. and him being back at ers that supported each other ing a kickoff return for a touch- 1983, setting up a rare matchup work around four hours later. in bad times as well as the good down to blazing-but-injured of 5-0 teams when the New “They believed they could DON HEUPEL/The Associated Press ones they enjoyed the first cornerback Terence Newman England Patriots come calling win and went out and did it. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was intercepted five times month of the season. getting caught from behind on on Sunday. Stats and all that mean certain and lost a fumble in Monday night’s thriller against the Bills, but Now he has proof. an interception return. Perhaps just as importantly, things, but really it’s the heart- led Dallas to two scores in the final minute to get the win. His Cowboys didn’t crack They hung close enough to the whole experience proved to See COWBOYS C6