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Erie, Pugh HRs power Coplay
19-2
By Jeff Cory
Of The Morning Call
Chalk up Coplay's 19-2 Tri-County League victory over host Quakertown
yesterday as one for the critics.
Despite a 13-4 record, good enough for first in its division, Coplay has not
gotten the respect usually accorded a team sitting atop the standings. That,
coupled with a streak in which they lost 3 of 4, created dissension within
the team that threatened to pull it apart, according to right fielder Bill
Erie.
But
like the New York Yankees of the late 1970s, this team might just thrive on
dissension. And a pair of decisive victories (Coplay beat Silver Creek 14-1
on Sunday) could be just what the team needed to regain its winning
attitude, Erie said.
"All
these other teams like (second place) Limeport have been getting these kind
of games," Erie said. "This really helps us. Everybody feels good right
now."
Coplay wasted no time jumping on Quakertown starter and loser Ryan Funk, who
was making only his second appearance on the mound in three years. Coplay
scored two runs when Funk threw a sacrifice bunt attempt into left field,
then added three more for a 5-0 first inning lead which they never
relinquished.
"I
felt pretty good out there," Funk said. "It's just these guys can hit. They
have a lot of big guys, and their record shows it."
After Quakertown picked up a run in the bottom of the first on an error by
Erie, Coplay scored one in the second and five in the third, three on a home
run by Erie, to put the game out of reach.
But
Coplay still wasn't through. First baseman Bill Pugh's two- run homer off
reliever Bill Sigman capped a five-run fourth, making the score 16-1.
Coplay closed its scoring in the seventh with back-to-back homers by Rick
Fenstermaker, a two-run shot, and Lou Falco.
Both
of Quakertown's runs were unearned, as Chris Nickischer, Keith Merkel, and
Bill Hobson combined on a five-hitter. The Orioles, recently hit by a rash
of injuries, had only nine players available for the game.
* Jeff Evans' two-run homer in the third provided the edge for Gilbertsville
(14-4) as it defeated Salisbury 3-1 last night. Lew Chillot earned the
win, going the distance, giving up one run on three hits.
From The Morning Call --
July 3, 1985
Copyright
© 1985,
The Morning Call
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