He expected Gilbertsville to be tough

Manager Todd Slonaker knew he had talent to be a winner.

By Jack Lapos
Of The Morning Call


The Tri-County Baseball League recently reached the halfway mark in its season and leading the Southern Division was Gilbertsville as expected.

As expected? By whom?

By Gilbertsville's manager, Todd Slonaker, that's who.

"Yes, I am not at all surprised by how well our team has been doing this year because I knew at the start of the summer we had a lot of talent," Slonaker said the other day.

"I just hope we can keep it up," the manager noted in pointing out each team in the league plays 27 games during the regular schedule.

At the time of this interview, Gilbertsville had a gaudy 16-3 mark, and the 25-year-old Slonaker listed a number of reasons for the squad's success.

1. Pitching. Kevin Mackey had a 7-1 record and Craig Hallman was 4- 1 as the team's top starters. The bullpen ace has been Lew Chillot, who had an 2-0 record at mid-season.

2. Hitting. Center fielder Bill Sassaman, first baseman Mike Kline and right fielder Charlie Baer have been the leaders - Kline in fact had the most runs batted in throughout the league at its midway point.

3. Depth. Last year Gilbertsville never had more than 12 players on hand for any game. This year Slonaker has had as many as 17 players available.

4. Defense. "Our defense has been terrific at times," the manager said. "The guys have been turning double plays . . . making great throws from the outfield . . . what more could I expect?"

Slonaker, a former outfielder for Boyertown High School, Boyertown American Legion and Kutztown University, is noting his first year at the helm. However, he has been around the Tri-County League for a number of years so his face is a familiar one to fans in the Gilbertsville area.

Last year Gilbertsville won the playoff championship by winning all six games it played. Gone from that excellent team are catcher Bob Trainer, center fielder-manager Rich Zuber, league MVP-shortstop Rich Rush and right fielder Randy Erb. So Slonaker had some rebuilding to do this year.

The returning players are first baseman Barry Moyer, second baseman Brian Gilbert, shortstop Jim Healy (third baseman last year), Mackey and Kline. Mackey is the only original member of the team . . . the first season was in 1976.

New players are Sassaman, first baseman-outfielder Scott Gilbert, third baseman Todd Seymour, outfielder Jeff Evans, catcher Neil Fox, designated hitter Joe O'Such and pitchers Hallman, Chillot and Tom Hiriak.

Slonaker labels the Tri-County League "a good, competitive one" and feels the Southern Division is a bit stronger overall than the Northern.

"However, I am not taking anything away from any Tri-County team because of the fine balance all the way down the line," the manager said. "There is no such thing as a pushover in this league."



  

From The Morning Call -- July 19, 1984

Copyright © 1984, The Morning Call