Limeport nabs ninth Tri-Co win

By Gary R. Blockus
Of The Morning Call


Just over one-third into any season is no time to do any bragging, and Ishky Fatzinger knows that very well. Still, the Limeport skipper could be forgiven the wry smile he was trying to hide after Limeport bombed Gilbertsville 10-3 last night in a Tri-County League game.

Playing in the homey confines of Limeport Stadium, the top of the Limeport order came through again and again, registering 12 of the team's 14 hits. To say Limeport enjoyed Gilbertsville's left-handed pitching is an understatement.

The home team zeroed in on lefties Tom Troutman and Lou Chillot for all the runs and hits before righty Charlie Baer registered the final two outs in the sixth.

"We're going pretty good," Fatzinger said, holding back a smile that was dying to see sunlight. "I don't want to do any bragging now, because it's a long season and I hope we can be steady."

Limeport has been extremely steady over the season's first 10 games, racing to a 9-1 start in the league's North Division. Gilbertsville dropped its second game in two days to fall to 6-4 in the South.

Equally as steady has been Ishky's son, Bill. Bill went 4-for-4 with three RBI yesterday and scored the winning run. He cracked a two- run single in the fourth to welcome Chillot to the pitcher's mound, and took the same hurler for an RBI-triple in the sixth.

Ishky Fatzinger pointed to last Saturday's 11-4 win over Delaware Valley as the breakout point for Limeport. Before that, he explained, the scores were close and the competition very tight.

"I was surprised it was easy," he said of last night's game. "Gilbertsville is a well-drilled ballclub -Boyertown area baseball. The only way to beat 'em is to get the jump on 'em early and keep it."

Limeport right-hander Dave Lutte went the distance, giving up six hits while striking out five and walking four. Lutte put away Gilbertsville in order in the first, then Limeport put together two runs and never looked back. Dale Weiss drew a walk after Bob Sedler struck out to open the frame. Bill Fatzinger singled to right for runners at first and second, but Herb Hemerly hit into a force at third.

Catcher Tom Levy, who plays collegiate ball at Fordham, belted an RBI- double for the game-winner. John Szalachowski singled to left to score Hemerly to make it 2-0 after one complete.

Limeport made it 5-0 in the third. Hemerly pasted a one-hopper off the 345 sign in left-center, and Levy followed with a run-scoring base hit down the right field line. Levy had an impressive game, collecting two hits and driving in three runs.

Sedler and Weiss each had two hits for Limeport. Hemerly injured his left leg on his two-run double in the third and was replaced by Steve Miller.

Gilbertsville was paced by Chris Gross' 3-for-3 while Bill Sassaman went 2-for-3. Sassaman drilled a triple to lead off the fourth as Gilbertsville collected two runs in that inning. Scott Gilbert drove in two runs for the losers.



  

From The Morning Call -- June 6, 1986

Copyright © 1986, The Morning Call