Emerick saves 5-4 Tri-Co win for Coplay

By Chris Lindsley
Of The Morning Call


Coplay's Jim Emerick played just one inning in last night's Tri-County League matchup with Quakertown, but everybody in Quakertown's Memorial Park knew who he was after he scored the winning run and retired the Orioles in the seventh to save a 5-4 win.

Emerick, Coplay's bullpen ace, usually doesn't get a chance to bat much, but he led off the top of the seventh with a double, but wound up on third after Quakertown left fielder Terry Keller misplayed the ball for an error. And one out later, Randy Remaly hit a deep fly to left, easily scoring Emerick with the winning run.

"I haven't been to the plate that much this year," Emerick said, "and I just wanted to hit the ball somewhere."

For most of the game, it looked as if Emerick wouldn't even leave the bench, as Coplay had a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

But Quakertown promptly loaded the bases as Steve Bauder and Bob Kile singled, and Scott Davis drew a walk off Coplay starter Denny Mihalopoulos, and the home fans suddenly came to life.

After third baseman Mike Schaeffer lined out to third, Rod Rush hit a shot off Mihalopoulos' left leg, scoring Bauder. Coplay first baseman Lou Falco thought he could still force Davis at second, and threw the ball into left as Keller crossed the plate to make it 4-3. Center fielder Arky Colon closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly to deep center, as Davis came in with the tying run.

And after Emerick retired the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh, Quakertown had a chance to tie it again as Bauder singled and Kile walked. Emerick, however, had other ideas as he struck out Scott Davis with a blazing fastball to give Coplay its 16th win against only five losses.

"I just wanted to get this game over with, so I stuck with my fastball," Emerick said. "It was really hot out there, so I didn't want to fool around with my junk. I just wanted to get the ball over and let our fielders do the job."

Coplay skipper Bob Bartholomew said he knew his fastball would be good enough - as usual.

"He's the Goose Gossage of Coplay," Bartholomew said. "He's figured in 75 percent of our wins, and when I call on him he always does a really good job."

For Quakertown pitcher Bob Kile, it was a tough loss to take. All five of the runs he allowed were unearned, as his teammates committed four costly errors, which were definitely the difference in the game, which saw Quakertown outhit the visitors 8-6.

At one point Kile retired 12 in a row, but the run he gave up in the top of the seventh seemed to break Quakertown's spirit.

"We've won a lot of one run games, and that's the mark of a good team," Bartholomew said. "Tonight we had to come back, but we got the run when we needed it, and that's all there is to say."

* Upper Perk scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning, effectively shutting down Salisbury en route to a 9-1 win at home.

Leading the 13-hit Upper Perk attack were Pete Hoff (2-for-3 with two RBI) and Glen Mensch (2-for-2 with three RBI). Keith Leamer contributed two hits and scored twice.

Tim Fox went the distance for Upper Perk, which, at 14-8, has won 10 straight. Fox tossed a nine-hitter with five strikeouts and three walks. For Salisbury (4-16), Dave Unger and Joe Ernst each had two hits in three trips.

* Silver Creek scored two runs in the second inning and added an insurance run in the fourth to take a 3-1 victory over the Allentown Angels.

In the second inning, John Ference (2-for-3) led off with a single, Tom Boice walked and John Flynn          (2-for-3) stroked an RBI single. Don Heptner (1- for-3, two RBI) then hit into an RBI groundout. Silver Creek (10-8) added a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Mike Hanna.

Bob Carr pitched a four-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks. Keith Myers allowed seven hits and five walks and struck out three in the 6-14 Angels' loss.

* Bethlehem Township registered an 8-6 victory over host North Parkland. Bethlehem scored four runs in the first inning, added a single run in the second and eventually won it with three runs in the seventh. Johnny King's two-run single and Joe Bubba's RBI single were the key blows in the final frame.

Jeff Knipe went 3-for-4 and scored two runs for Bethlehem Township (9-11). Glenn Snyder went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Dave Toth poked a three-run homer in the first inning. Dan Olshefski got the win in relief, stopping North Parkland from going ahead in the third inning.

For North Parkland (7-14), Brett Simock went 2-for-3 including a solo home run in the fourth inning. Dave Chandler went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Rick Correll took the loss on the mound.



  

From The Morning Call -- July 8, 1986

Copyright © 1986, The Morning Call