Limeport Tri-Co decision is also controverisal

By Jack Lapos
Of The Morning Call


Second-place Limeport is still very much alive in the battle for the North Division title of the Tri-County Baseball League following a controversial 1-0 win over pacesetter Coplay yesterday in Fegely Stadium.

Action was halted twice because of lightning and thunder in the top of the seventh when Coplay seemingly tied the score at 1-1 and had two runners on base with one out. When play did not resume after the second delay, only the first six innings were declared official.

So when Coplay's run did not count, Coplay tempers flared. Emotions had been running high throughout the contest because it was such a crucial game. Coplay could have wrapped up the division championship with a victory.

The loss meant that Coplay's lead over Limeport in the standings had dwindled to a half-game with the regular schedule nearly over. Coplay has a 19-7 record. Limeport now is 18-7.

Coplay has one game left, a home contest at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday with Salisbury. Limeport has two games to play, at home 8 p.m. tomorrow against North Parkland and at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Township.

As things shape up, there is an excellent chance that Coplay and Limeport will wind up in a tie for the top spot and would then have to meet in a special playoff game next week. Coplay won the North Division title last year. Yesterday's game saw Billy Sandt go against Jim Emerick, neither pitcher needing help. Winner Sandt surrendered five hits while fanning two and walking three. Emerick gave up four hits while striking out three and issuing one base on balls.

Sandt now has a 7-1 record. Emerick is 6-3.

The one run of the official game came in the bottom of the third when Bob Zeky doubled with one out and scored on a Dale Weiss single.

Coplay's run which did not count was scored this way: After play was halted briefly for the first time at 7:03 p.m., John Marushok walked with nobody out. He stole second. Randy Remaly was hit by a pitched ball. Jeff Erie tried to sacrifice both runners up a base but his bunt was fielded quickly by Sandt and a forceout was made at third. Billy Pugh then bounced to first base but Sandt dropped the ball while covering the bag and a run scored.

The sound of thunder was heard again with Lou Falco at bat and the count 3-1. The umps halted play for a second time at 7:18 p.m.

Just when action was about to be resumed at 7:35 p.m., thunder was heard again and that was the end as far as the umpires were concerned. Moments later, rain came tumbling out of the sky.

"It is a shame such an important game had to end this way but we will take the win," Limeport Manager Ishky Fatzinger said.

"Give credit to both pitchers because each threw a heck of a game," Fatzinger added.

Sandt, the 34-year-old righthander who pitched at Allen High and Kutztown University and has been in the Tri-County League since 1977, also was happy to gain the win.

"I was getting tired," Sandt said. "Coplay has a very good team. They never gave up. They kept coming at me but we got the only official run of the game and that's what counted."

The contest's defensive star was the home team's shortstop Weiss, who made two tremendous catches on line drives which looked like sure hits.

After the game, dejected Coplay Manager Bob Bartholomew said he had "no comment."

- Gilbertsville trounced Silver Creek 14-1 yesterday in a Tri-County league baseball game. Gilbertsville (20-4) has now won 15 games in a row.

In its 18-hit attack, Bill Sassaman went 4-for-4 with three doubles and two RBI. Neil Fox went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo homer and three RBI. Jeff Evans went 4-for-4 with one RBI; Keith Endy went 2-for-3; and Scott Gilbert had a solo homer.

Silver Creek fell to 11-14 as Bob Clausen took the loss. Tom Trautman got the win.

- Bethlehem Township came up with four runs in the first inning en route to downing Salisbury 7-3 yesterday, effectively locking up a postseason playoff berth.

Salisbury (6-19) picked up two runs in the second and got another in the sixth to close the Bethlehem edge to 4-3, but Bethlehem (12- 12) iced the win, getting three in the bottom of the sixth.

Dan Olshefski led the 11-hit Bethlehem Twsp. attack, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Dave Shortel went 2-for-3 and scored once. Jeff Knipe contributed two hits and scored a run.

Scott Snyder picked up the win for Bethlehem, tossing a seven- hitter, fanning five and walking two. For Salisbury, Scott Fenstermaker had two hits in three trips, knocking in a run and also scoring one.

- Upper Perk and Delaware Valley drew to a 3-3 tie before the game was called for darkness after the seventh inning. The game will be replayed.



  

From The Morning Call -- July 21, 1986

Copyright © 1986, The Morning Call