Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • 1

Sports 4 CONTACT US: Charlie Jaworski Executive Sports Editor 607-798-1191 1-800-365-0077 cjaworskipressconnects.com Press Sun-Bulletin pressconnects.com SECTION SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2003 World Series HI B-Sens i win fifth straight Watson's two goals power Binghamton Pierre's clutch hit gives Florida win in Series opener By SCOTT LAUBER Press Sun-Bulletin BINGHAMTON With all this talk of curses, from the goat to the Bambino, you can understand if the Binghamton Senators are feeling a bit skittish about discussing the undefeated run they've been on to open their season. But after stretching it to five games Saturday night with an 8-2 rout of the Worcester IceCats, you simply have to Game 1 A Maruns 3 Yankees 2 Best-of-Seven Series Maruns lead, 1-0 .4 k. ask: How many games can the Senators go without losing? "We don't want to talk too much about it, to tell you the truth," said rookie left wing Greg Watson, the latest hero after scoring his first two professional goals one Senators 8. IceCats 2 Next Game: 7:05 Tonight -at Bridgeport 1 terr '4 Game 2: 8 p.m. Tonight l7' at New York L.

Inside Former B-Mets manager Davis now with Marlins. Red Sox manager talks about decision in ALCS. Pettitte starts on short rest. I Statistics, box score. Series coverage: 3C Starters 1 'I PETTITTE REDMAN Associated Press NEWYORK JuanPierre and the Florida Marlins had the Yankees on the run from the very start, stealing the World Series opener 3-2 Saturday night from a New York team that looked as if it was still recovering from its last game.

True to form, the Yankees showed up in the ninth inning and threatened after drawing a pair of walks. But somehow the Marlins held on, with Ugueth Urbina getting Alfonso Soriano on a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch and then retiring Nick Johnson on a fly ball to the streaking Pierre in center field to end it. Florida led the majors in steals this season, and showed off its speed in a hurry. Pierre began the game with a bunt single and Luis Castillo followed with a hit-and-run single. Pierre later added a two-run single and a stolen base as Florida defeated David Wells and ended New York's record string of 10 straight home Series wins.

Brad Penny, Dontrelle Willis and Urbina made the lead stand up something that San Diego, the New York Mets and Arizona could not do in the late innings of previous Octobers at Yankee Stadium. These Yankees seemed spent, having wrestled Boston to a draining but spectacular Game 7 win that took 11 innings and lasted into Friday's wee hours. The Marlins also needed seven games to beat the Cubs in the league championship series, but had an extra day to rest. NLCS MVP Ivan Rodriguez starred in his Series debut. He hit a sacrifice fly in his first at-bat and the 10-time Gold Glove catcher later picked off Nick Johnson at third base to cut short a rally.

The biggest play, however, might have come when third baseman Aaron Boone whose homer won that Game 7 failed to throw a relay to the plate and allowed a run to score. spun around in disgust. Penny, bumped from the NLCS rotation after a poor start against Chicago, did a nice job in limiting New York to two runs in 5Vi innings. Willis, the 21-year-old All-Star rookie, bounded off the mound after 2Vi scoreless innings and exchanged a chest bump with Urbina after the closer struck out Jorge Posada with runners on first and third to end the eighth. i Associated Press Bernie Williams connects on a home run off Marlins starter Brad in New York.

Williams' homer cut the Marlins' lead to 3-2. The Penny in the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series Saturday Marlins held on for the victory, taking a 1-0 series lead. Willis gves Florida a boost 1 AX. si 1 GAME 2 Andy Pettitte (21-8) will start tonight for the Yankees against the Marlins' Mark Redman (14-9). Pettitte won Game 2 of the division playoffs against Minnesota and Game 2 of the ALCS against Boston, both times following Yankees losses.

He was knocked out after throwing 92 pitches in Wednesday's Game 6 loss in the ALCS, and was the only Yankees starter manager Joe Torre did not use in Game 7. Numbers nightafterbeing a healthy scratch. "Everyone's enjoying the ride we're on right now, but I'm pretty superstitious when it comes to these things." Also, when it comes to scoring his first goal. Watson, 20, looked a step too slow in three games last weekend, and with 16-year NHL veteran Jody Hull joining the team this week, he watched Friday night's game against Hamilton from the stands. But the Senators needed Wat-sonafter winger Alexandre Giroux (concussion) andcenterTonyTuz-zolino (upper body) were injured, andmagically.henolongerlooked like an AHL neophyte when he one-timed Christoph Schubert's pass over goalie Reinhard Divis' glove with 3:44 left in the first period to open a 2-0 lead.

"That lifted the elephant off my back," said Watson, fingers crossed and looking for wood to knock on. "That first goal is what helped me have such a good game. I kind of over-analyzed things (in his first three and I was real impatient with the puck. That allowed me to settle-down and take a breath." Said coach John Paddock; "He's been working pretty hard, but I think he came out with more of a sense of urgency to his game." From calling Watson's name to signing journeyman winger Arpad Mihaly to a 25-game try-out Saturday and getting a first-period goal from him, every move Paddock has made has turned to gold. So it's not foolish to be giddy over the Senators' start, no matter how superstitious you are.

"Everybody always chips in, and that's the greatest part about this team," said left winger Josh Langfeld, who chipped in with two goals, including one after nearly having his teeth chipped when he took a puck to the face in the third period. "There are a lot of positive things going on here right now." wnoil: slouberpressconnects.com Number of times the Yanks have lost the first game of a series in the 2003 postseason. Ivan Rodriguez took advantage of careless baserunning to pick off Nick Johnson at third and end the third inning. Penny took a 3-1 lead in the sixth but departed after giving up a one-out homer to Bernie Williams and a single by Hideki Matsui. McKeon then brought in Willis, a rookie left-hander with an elaborate delivery who won nine of his first 10 decisions when he was called up from the Carolina Mudcats in May.

vv Willis again made a quick impact, getting groundballs from the first two batters he faced to retire the side. McKeon wanted Willis in the bullpen to serve as a hard-throwing reliever to counter New York's left-handed bats. But in the eighth, McKeon left the youngster on the mound to face right-handers Derek Jeter and Williams. Jeter struck out on a 3-2 pitch, but Williams and Matsui singled with twoout Urbina came on to strike out Jorge Posada and retire the side. Associated Press NEW YORK Dontrelle Willis' herky-jerky windup worked in Double-A to start the season.

It fooled hitters when he came to the majors in May. And it stymied the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series. The Florida Marlins relied on patchwork pitching Saturday night to beat the Yankees 3-2, with Willis providing a boost out of the bullpen with 2'3 scoreless innings. Brad Penny pitched 516 innings, and Ugueth Urbina earned the save by getting the final four outs. Seeking the best matchups for his weary staff, Marlins manager Jack McKeon sent Penny to the mound and Willis to thebullpentostart the Series.

And, as has been the case all season with McKeon, he got it right. Penny, bumped from his last turnafterstrugglingduringthe playoffs, limited the Yankees to two runs. He was helped by two double plays, and catcher 18 Postseason home runs by Bernie Williams, tying Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson for first on the career list. 26 Number of World Series championships won by the Yankees, including four in the last seven season. Associated Press Derek Jeter of the Yankees knocks an RBI single past Marlins starter Brad Penny in the third inning of Game 1 Saturday.

STAC Champs Binghamton parlays turnovers into points to pull away from JC Saturday's scores i 1 1 Norwich 10 Susq. Valley 7 Windsor 28 Chenango Val. 14 Horseheads 27 Vestal 20 Union-Endcott 39 Ithaca 7 'A The Vestal boys soccer team shut out Horseheads, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon to claim its first Southern Tier Athletic Conference championship in coach Jim Murphy's seven years directing the program. Freshman Nate Sanzo had a goal and assist for the Golden Bears (16-2). 9C thing they can to win, so we just told the kids, 'We don't know what to "So we played a little soft defense trying to make sure we round them up and make sure we're in the right place at the right time." Griffiths, who spent the majority of his day in shotgun formation and completed 17 of his 39 passing attempts for 203 yards.

The Wildcats' touchdown came on a 16-yard pass from Griffiths to Chris Edmond-son early in the second quarter, helping the hosts to a 7-6 lead. SEE PATRIOTS 9C 'U 6. iji: By KEVIN STEVENS Press Sun-Bulletin JOHNSON CITY Binghamton High turned two turnovers into points S3 seconds apart midway through the fourth quarter Saturday to ease away from Johnson City in a 29-7 non-league foot- Binghamton 29 Johnson City 7 Megwa made a do-it-yourself 13-yard scoring reception with 6:48 remaining, and added a two-point conversion to make it 22-7. Then, with 5:53 to play, Sly Williams ran it in from the 3-yard line and Will Johnson kicked the PAT for the final point. The Patriots picked off pass-happy Johnson City six times, with two of Williams' three interceptions coming in the fourth quarter.

Fullback Bryce Gulley rushed 16 times for 138 yards his sec- THOMAS I.A BAKHKRA Press Sun-Bulletin 4ru II tWMm-1 ft 1 ond-best total this season on a day Binghamton gained 256 yards on the ground and Johnson City responded with all of two rushes by anyone otherthanquarterback Ryan Griffiths. The Patriots improved to a 4-2 record, while JC fell to 1-6 in a disjointed contest slowed by a combined 21 penalties for 162 "We didn't know what was going to happen," Pats coach Doug Stento said, speaking of the difficulty drawing up a defensive game plan. "You assume that they're down, they're going to try every Maine-Endwell's Fiona Cundy and Seton Catholic Central's Dan Busby won the boys and girls individual titles, respectively, at the STAC cross country championships. 9C INSIDE Union-Endicott routs Ithaca. Horseheads edges Vestal in PAGE 8C, 9C THOMAS LA BARBARA Press Sun-Bullelin Binghamton's Bryce Gulley runs for a few of his 1 38 yards in Saturday's game against Johnson City.

Binghamton won, 29-7. i 1 BUSBY CUNDY.