For one fan, season has a grand finish

If, by any chance, you were down near the shore yesterday and were watching the Phillies clinch the NL East, here's hoping you were at your favorite watering hole and Orvis R. Leopardi was buying.

Leopardi, of Marmora, N.J., won $1,000 Saturday when Aaron Rowand hit his 27th home run of the season in the seventh inning of the Phils' 4-2 loss to the Nationals.

Orvis became the 17th and final winner this season, during which the Daily News gave out $25,000. Rob Boyle was the only $10,000 winner, on a Ryan Howard grand slam Sept. 17.

There were 12 other winners in the Daily News Home Run Payoff contest over the weekend.

Each winning a Phillies Gift Pack in the third inning of yesterday's game were:

Tony DiMaio, Brookhaven

Rick Brill, Elizabethtown

Joyce Monsees,

Princeton Junction, N.J.

Anthony J. Laurito, Philadelphia

Mickey Losch, Drexel Hill

Jean M. Eshelman, Drexel Hill

Andrew Kovatch, Downingtown

Each winning a Phillies Gift Pack in the seventh inning of Saturday's game were:

Debbie Anthony, Philadelphia

Mike Pilla, West Chester

Mike Panetta, Exton

Joy Orzer, Philadelphia

Samuel Rios, Philadelphia

The Daily News pays $1,000 for a home run hit in the Payoff inning and $10,000 for a grand slam. Contestants whose batter fails to hit a home run receive a gift pack, which includes a variety of Phillies-related items.

The end of the regular season marks the end of Home Run Payoff for 2007. *