Osborne hit helps Div. II-III team pound Division I stars

BOSTON – Steve Osborne of Saint Joseph’s College and University of Southern Maine baseball standouts Shaun Richardson and Pat Toomey each stroked a single Friday afternoon, helping the College Division all-stars post an 18-1 victory over the University Division during the New England College All-Star Game at Fenway Park.

The College Division squad, made up of All-New England players from Divisions II and III, outplayed the Division I University team by posting an 18-4 advantage in the hits column.

The University Division team was coached by University of Maine coach Paul Kostacopoulos and included Black Bears Joe Drapeau of Biddeford, Jon Hambelton, Rusty Tucker and Mike Collar of Scarborough.

Osborne, of Millinocket, stroked an RBI single in the College Division’s seven-run sixth inning that broke the game open. He also walked twice. Richardson singled in the second and Toomey singled in the eighth.

Drapeau and Hambelton each went 0-for-2, while Tucker allowed three hits, one run, struck out three and walked two in his two-inning stint. Collar did not play.

University Division 000 001 000 – 1 4 3

College Division 102 007 08x – 18 18 1

Tucker, Clarke (3), Holsten (5), Soteropoulos (7), Kehoe (8), Stern (8) and Drapeau, Derkin (6); Linstad, Cadres (2), Lynch (4), Bernazzani (5), Steinberg (6), Alexander (7), Erby (8) and Sweet, Albrecht (5)

Citrus Bowl increases payout

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Citrus Bowl has locked up its conference tie-ins for another four years and has increased its payout higher than any postseason game outside the Bowl Championship Series.

Under the new terms, the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten will send their runners-up or co-champions to the New Year’s Day game at least through the 2004 season.