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Coplay snaps jinx, tops
Gilbertsville
By Jack Lapos
Of The Morning Call
The
jinx is dead. Coplay finally has beaten Gilbertsville in the Tri-County
League. It took a three-run homer by Bill Pugh in the bottom of the seventh
last night to give the home team a thrilling 9-6 win and force a third game
in their best-of-three final playoff series.
They
will meet for the post-season championship at 1 p.m. today at the Boyertown
Junior High School East Field. Gilbertsville is looking for its third
straight playoff crown.
The
victory marked Coplay's first win over Gilbertsville in the two years Coplay
has been in the league. Gilbertsville had whipped Coplay nine times in a
row, five this season. The loss also put an end to seasonal titlist
Gilbertsville's 18-game winning streak.
"Well, it looks like the monkey is finally off our back," jubilant manager
Bob Bartholomew exclaimed. "I knew we had the talent to beat them," the
Coplay skipper continued. "After nine straight losses things were getting
monotonous. I am very, very pleased."
Bartholomew said he will start Rich Fenstermaker on the mound this afternoon
and Gilbertsville manager Todd Slonaker said he will go with Kevin Mackey.
Fenstermaker was the winning pitcher last night after coming on with two out
in the top of the seventh to replace Steve Weidner. Weidner pitched
extremely well during his six and two-third innings, surrendering only six
hits while fanning 13 and walking five.
Weidner departed after right fielder Jeff Snyder dropped a bases- loaded fly
ball which enabled Gilbertsville to score three runs and deadlock the
contest at 6-all. Weidner was only one pitch away from a win. The count was
3-2 when Keith Endy skied the ball to right.
Fenstermaker was hustled into the game and got Barry Moyer to pop up to
third baseman Chuck Mondschein.
When
Coplay came to bat the fans were still stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Bill Erie led off with a single to center. Lew Falco walked. Starting
pitcher Lew Chillot was taken out in favor of Roland Green. Eric Csencsits
popped out to first baseman Tom Murphy. Pugh then socked an 0-1 pitch over
the 345-foot sign in center field. It was Coplay's 11th hit of the game.
A
wild celebration broke out at home plate as the deliriously happy Coplay
players embraced Pugh. You'd have thought Coplay had just won the World
Series.
Pugh
was all smiles as expected. "I was not looking for any particular pitch," he
said. "Then I saw the fast ball come down the middle and when I made contact
I knew it was going a long way but I was surprised when the ball sailed over
the fence."
This
was Pugh's fourth home run of the year.
"Hey," Pugh said, "give a lot of credit to Stevey (Weidner) because he
pitched one heck of a game.
"I
think now we can beat Gilbertsville in the final game," Pugh declared.
Coplay will take a 24-10 record and Gilbertsville a 28-5 mark into this
afternoon's showdown.
Manager Slonaker took Gilbertsville's loss in stride. "It had to happen
sooner or later," he said philosophically. "Remember they still have to beat
us in the final game coming up."
Gilbertsville gained a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a single
by Derrick Acker, triple by Jeff Evans and single by Endy. Coplay countered
with a quick run when Chuck Mondschein doubled and eventually scored on an
error.
Then
Coplay erupted for five runs in the third. Randy Remaley doubled. Chuck
Mondschein walked. Erie, who had three hits in the contest, singled to load
the bases. Falco singled across one run. Csencsits doubled across two more.
After two strikeouts, Matt Mondschein came through with a two-run double and
suddenly it was a 6- 1 contest.
The
visitors battled back with a run in the sixth on a Weidner wild pitch with
the bases loaded.
Came
the top of the seventh. After a strikeout and groundout, Billy Sassaman beat
out an infield chopper. Acker and Evans walked to load the bases. Endy's
high fly was dropped and it was a 6-6 contest.
The game then belonged to Bill Pugh.
From The Morning Call --
August 11, 1985
Copyright
© 1985,
The Morning Call
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