Angels

The Angels are the latest team to show an interest in Curt Schilling. Angels scout Jay Hankins watched Schilling's complete-game win over the Expos on Wednesday night. While much speculation has centered on the Angels' going after slugger Mark McGwire, club president Tony Tavares is on record saying the money needed to get McGwire would be better spent on getting a No. 1 starter. Schilling certainly fills that bill. Schilling has expressed a reluctance to play in the Los Angeles area before, but might reconsider with the Angels now making a big charge in the AL West.

PITTSBURGH - A former police officer who retired from the FBI due to post-traumatic stress disorder linked to her role in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has written a book about seeing legions of angels guarding the Pennsylvania site where a hijacked airliner crashed. Lillie Leonardi served as a liaison between law enforcement and the families of the passengers and crew members killed in the United Airlines Flight 93 crash. She arrived on the scene about three hours after the crash.

ANAHEIM - About that PhilliesYankees World Series . . . The Angels led by four runs after five batters, trailed by two runs with nine outs left, scratched out three runs in the bottom of the seventh to retake the lead and eventually won Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, 7-6, at Angel Stadium last night. So, the ALCS will continue tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees' lead now down to 3-2. It took the Angels all of 12 pitches to put up those four runs.

Although he never has been touched by an angel, he does not dispute the possibility that someday he may have a heavenly encounter. Leonard Norman Primiano, assistant professor of religious studies at Cabrini College in Radnor, has an interest in many phenomena, from apparitions of the Virgin Mary to healing miracles to the stigmata. Angels, however, are a passion. "I believe in angels," Primiano said. "Although I don't believe there's ever been one in this office. " No wonder.

The Blazing Angels, an 18-and-under Amateur Softball Association team based in Bristol Township, continues to be the measuring stick for all area teams. The Angels have won 14 Pennsylvania state ASA titles, including nine of the last 11 championships. They left Sunday for the ASA national tournament in Normal, Ill. The tournament features more than 80 teams and will run from today to Sunday. It is the Angels' 11th consecutive trip to the tournament, which coach Ron Shoemaker said was a national record.

Blink or go to the bathroom, and you might miss his time on the mound. Such is life for a relief pitcher whose primary job is to retire lefthanded hitters. That has become the postseason role for Anaheim's Scott Schoeneweis, a 28-year-old lefthander who grew up in Mount Laurel, Burlington County, and pitched at Lenape High School in Medford. It's not the role Schoeneweis hopes to hold in the future for the Angels, but he is more than happy to be part of the playoff ride right now. "This is great," Schoeneweis said before the Angels beat the Minnesota Twins in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series last night at the Metrodome.

Bill Michaelis lost his Canyon Country home to Southern California's voracious wildfires, escaping Sunday night with his wife and two kids in a car loaded with belongings. When he returned to the three-bedroom house the next day, he found only a smoking hulk. "It took my breath away - waves of crying," he said. "Now it's the waves of generosity. Some lady just came up - I've never met her before - and she handed me some money. " In the face of the inferno, Southern Californians have witnessed an outpouring of kindness, good deeds and generosity - acts that are helping hundreds of victims find the strength to rebuild.

Garret Anderson was a 1-year-old the last time Anaheim swept the Red Sox in Boston. Now he's powering the Angels' drive toward the playoffs. Anderson's second homer of the game began a six-run sixth inning as the Angels swept a series in Boston for the first time in 27 years with a 13-4 win last night. "Considering all the good teams they've had here at Fenway [Park], to sweep a team, that's not an easy thing to do," Anderson said. The Red Sox tied the game at 4 in the fifth against Pat Rapp (4-9)

The California Angels, bidding for experience and offense in the stretch, yesterday acquired second baseman Johnny Ray from the Pittsburgh Pirates. And, in another move, the Oakland Athletics acquired veteran lefthanded pitcher Rick Honeycutt from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later. To land the 30-year-old switch-hitting Ray, the Angels dealt infielder Bill Merrifield and a player to be named later. Ray, a .288 career hitter, batted .273 for the Pirates in 123 games this season.

The Anaheim Angels stretched their winning streak to nine games, completed their first four-game sweep in 7 years, and opened up a 2 1/2-game lead in the American League West. Yet, no one was smiling after their 8-4 victory yesterday over the visiting Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The postgame atmosphere in the clubhouse was gloomy because the Angels lost another regular player to injury. Leftfielder Jose Guillen, who homered for the fourth time in six games, had to be carted off the field in the seventh inning due to a sprained left knee and ankle.