Reading Phils win

By Jack Lapos
Of The Morning Call


The Reading Phillies of the Eastern League shut out the host Limeport All- Stars 3-0 last night, and Manager Tony Taylor of the winning team said he was not surprised by the closeness of the contest played before a shivering, capacity crowd of 1,300.

"I told my guys going into the game to play as hard as they could because no opponent should ever be taken for granted," Taylor pointed out. "I never figure on an easy win . . . you cannot do that in       baseball . . . the home team played very well."

Ishky Fatzinger, who shared the managerial duties with Al Crist, agreed with Taylor that the Limeport All-Stars did indeed play well. The squad was made up of players from Limeport A.A. of the Tri-County League and the Southern Lehigh Indians of the Blue Mountain League.

"I am proud of everybody on the roster," Fatzinger exclaimed. "The close score speaks highly of the brand of ball around here . . . it was a darn good show . . . a super night . . . the fans were enthusiastic."

Incidentally, the attendance was the largest at the historic, picturesque park since "Howard (Lefty) Fegely Day" was observed back in 1959. Last night's event opened the 52nd season for the stadium.

Four Reading Phillies pitchers combined to hold the Limeport All- Stars to four hits. The Limeport All-Stars used six hurlers who gave up a total of seven hits over the seven-inning distance. Jim Olson, the visitors' second pitcher, w as the winner. The loser was Dennis Thomas, the home team's starter.

Thomas, who at one time pitched for the Reading Phillies, got off to a marvelous start, striking out the side in the first inning. However, he gave up a run in the second - and that proved to be all the Reading Phillies needed.

Randy Day opened the inning with a single to center. Greg Jelks then doubled to left. Kevin Ward walked to load the bases. After Tony Brown fanned, Keith Miller bounced into a forceout at second as Day was racing home.

The Reading Phillies' final two runs came in the seventh at the expense of Ken Schaffer.

Brown led off with walk and Brian Hoppie singled to left. After Wilfredo Tejada grounded into a forceout at third, Ken Kinnard was safe on an infield error as Hoppie scored. Jose Escobar then singled behind second base allowing Tejada to score.

Steve Ramer, Andy Cichocki, Dale Weiss and Bill Fatzinger each had one hit for the Limeport All-Stars. Jelks led the Reading Phillies with two hits.

"Quite a night . . . really terrific," was the way one of the Limeport committeemen, Al Klan, summed up the evening. And nobody was disagreeing with him.



  

From The Morning Call -- April 11, 1985

Copyright © 1985, The Morning Call