SECTION: NEWS; Page A03

LENGTH: 420 words

HEADLINE: CITY'S CIVIL WAR / NORTHERN YANKEES INVADE METS SOUTHERN SHEA HOME

BYLINE: Jeff Tomko. STAFF WRITER 


BODY:
Mets fans and Yankees fans clashed at Shea Stadium last night, if only with their mouths.

"Mets fans are more civilized," said Linda Schweitzman of Sheepshead Bay. "We're more sociable. If anything gets thrown on the field tonight, you'll know it was a Yankee fan." But Junior Julienne, of Richmond Hill, a bleachers creature who usually sits in Section 39 at Yankee Stadium, said last night's sold-out game, attended by 53,404 people, would not have been the big event it was without the Yankees.

"The only reason this is such a big series is because we Yankees are here," he said.

And then Julienne, who was sitting with 100 friends and fellow Yankee fans, added the expected insult: "This place is a toilet."

Thus began the intense Night One of a three-day Subway Series under brutal humidity and the watchful eyes of a beefed-up security force. Mets' spokesman Jay Horwitz refused to say how many guards were on hand but insisted: "We have enough."

Outside the stadium, the electric atmosphere exceeded even the hype as fans got ready for the match up.

There to greet the Yankees players when they arrived by bus at Shea Stadium were a couple die-hard Mets fans whose only cheer was a Bronx cheer.

The intensity between fans of both teams was at a high before the game, and police joined the security force in surrounding the stadium to assure control.

Fans on both sides were calm, and the game began without incident.

When Mets pitcher Al Leiter threw the first pitch to Chuck Knoblauch, fans were still exiting the No. 7 train making their way into Shea.

A good mix of Yankee and Mets fans were in attendance. But it was one group of Yankees fans who seemed to be making the most noise in the Mets' house, taunting each and every Met fan who would dare walk by.

"We're not obnoxious like Yankees fans," said Kevin Dauwalter of Richmond Hill. "It's going to be a good game, but I still expect to see a couple of fights in the stands."

In the end, it was Yankee fans who got bragging rights, watching as the Bronx bombers came from behind to win 8-4.

Mets fan Kelley Coleman of New Jersey was on the phone for weeks trying to get tickets for the series. She purchased two tickets for all three match ups through a ticket broker. She paid $75 apiece for a pair for last night's and today's game, and $50 each for Sunday's.

"I just hope Hideki floats them over the plate tonight," said Coleman, who was accompanied by her friend Gary Sutton. "I just don't like the Yankees."

GRAPHIC: Newsday Photo by Paul J. Bereswill - SUBWAY SERIES. 1) Above, Yankees pitcher Graeme Lloyd signs autographs for some friendly fans at Shea Stadium. 2) Newsday Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr. Below, Yankees fan Devin Gallagher and Mets fan Johno Gargan, both of Bayside, manage to work together despite their opposite allegiances. 3) Newsday Photo by Ken Sawchuk - Yankee fan Mike Berlin, left, of Flushing, prepared for the game Friday night by donning his hardhat, while Met fan Neil Gahl, of Maspeth, had no need of such protection.

LOAD-DATE: June 27, 1998PRO SPORTS. BASEBALL. YANKEES. METS. STADIUM. FANS. SECURITY..  TICKET SALES (78%);