Fein, Flanigan, LaFrenz tops in Division I-AA

University of Maine quarterback Mickey Fein, Grambling State University defensive back Terroge Flanigan and McNeese State University place-kicker Shonz LaFrenz have been selected as the Sports Network Division I-AA Players of the Week.

Fein set five school records in leading Maine to a 49-47 triple-overtime win against the University of Connecticut and is the Offensive Player of the Week. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior completed 38 of 61 passes for 522 yards and five touchdowns. He also set school marks for total plays with 73 and total offense with 497 yards. The five scoring passes tied a school record for Fein, who was 32-for-46 for 425 yards in the second half alone.

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Flanigan is the Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting three passes, breaking up four other passes and collecting 11 tackles in Grambling State’s 20-13 victory over Mississippi Valley State University. The senior leads the SWAC with four interceptions through the first five games of the season. He had one pickoff for a touchdown nullified by a clipping penalty.

LaFrenz is the Special Team’s Player of the Week, becoming the first player to earn the award twice this season. The sophomore booted five field goals and five extra points in the Cowboys’ 50-7 win over Northwestern State University (La.). LaFrenz set a school single-season record by extending his consecutive streak of field goals made to 12.

Griffey, Walker lead Silver Slugger teams

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker head the list of players selected Monday to the Silver Slugger teams in their respective leagues.

Griffey heads the American League team, having led the league with 56 home runs and 147 runs batted in. He also batted .304 to help the Mariners win the American League West for the second time in three years.

Griffey’s teammate Edgar Martinez was voted to the team as the designated hitter. Martinez led the Mariners with a .330 average and blasted 28 homers with 108 runs batted in.

Tino Martinez of the New York Yankees was selected as the American League first baseman following his 44 homer, 141-RBI performance. Minnesota’s Chuck Knoblauch is the second baseman, with likely Rookie of the Year Nomar Garciaparra of Boston at shortstop. Cleveland’s Matt Williams is at third base, joined by Tribe teammate David Justice in the outfield. Texas Rangers teammates outfielder Juan Gonzalez and catcher Ivan Rodriguez rounded out the squad.

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Walker, one of the top candidates for the National League MVP, heads a National League team that also includes Rockies teammate Vinny Castilla at third, and Houston’s Jeff Bagwell at first and Craig Biggio at second. Atlanta is represented by shortstop Jeff Blauser and pitcher John Smoltz. San Diego’s Tony Gwynn and San Francisco’s Barry Bonds have been selected to the outfield, while Los Angeles’ Mike Piazza is the catcher.

Kansas City may move to National League

After giving up plans for radical realignment, Major League Baseball owners are considering plans that would involve one team switching leagues next season.

Kansas City of the American League is the most likely team to switch to the National League, according to league sources. It is also possible that either Milwaukee or Minnesota would be the team to switch.

With the Oct. 15 deadline looming, the owners of the 28 current and two expansion teams will probably conduct a conference call and either vote on one-team realignment or move back the deadline until after the World Series.

If one of the three teams switches leagues, the Detroit Tigers would be the team most likely to switch from the AL East to AL Central, opening up a spot in the East for the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The National League would place the new team in the Central or switch to four divisions with four teams each.

In the event of the one-team realignment, the owners would use this on an interim basis, stating they would consider additional switches for 1999 and after.