Pessimism for one; Satisfaction for another

By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call


As of yesterday morning, the Quakertown entry in the Tri-County League was 11-4 and just 1 1/2 games out of first place in the league's South Division standings.

Yet, after his team dropped a 13-5 decision to Upper Perk Saturday night at Quakertown's Community Park Field, Q-town player-manager Chip Friday hardly sounded like a guy whose team was in a pennant race.

"I'm not very optimistic," said a downcast Friday after the Chief scalping that was halted by darkness in the top of the seventh inning.

"Fundamentally, we're just not up in the class of Gilbertsville or Upper Perk yet. We don't execute the basics like they do. We're not covering first base on bunts, we're not hitting the cutoff man on relay throws; we're just lazy at times."

Another thing that had Friday peeved was that Quakertown played the game, a key one in terms of the league standings, without its regular shortstop and catcher.

"We were missing two key guys tonight (Saturday) which hurt us both offensively and defensively. They just didn't show up for some reason. It just seems like some of our guys don't care. We've got a competitive record and we've just about clinched third place in our division because the other three teams have fallen way back.

"I guess the rest of our guys are satisfied with that, and that's where we'll finish. But I'm certainly not satisfied."

Conversely, Upper Perk player-manager Bob Graber was most satisfied with his team's performance on Saturday and in general this season.

The Chief victory put them at 10-2 and a half-game ahead of long- time, backyard rival Gilbertsville. The Rangers are 9-2 after yesterday's game with Delaware Valley was postponed. Upper Perk and Gilbertsville square off tonight in Pennsburg.

"We've been hitting the ball real well most of the season and everyone has been contributing," said Graber, who contributed himself with a two-run home run Saturday night. "We've got basically the same group of guys we've had the past couple of years with a few young additions. We're not really surprised with how we're doing.

"We're not overly confident either. Two years ago, we got off to a fast start and won our first 12 games. But we didn't win the league title that year. But for right now, I'd say we're right at where we should be for the talent we have on this team."

Upper Perk got a big performance from Tom Cichocki Saturday. He went 3- for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI. He also worked on the mound, entering the game in the bottom of the sixth. The righthander got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam without yielding a run.

Second baseman Matt Duka, center fielder Todd Swenk, right fielder Rob McFarland and Graber all had two hits in the 15-hit Chief explosion Saturday. Graber said his team had something to prove Saturday night. Quakertown knocked off Upper Perk 4-2 on May 13 - the opening night of the season.

"That (losing opening night) didn't set too well with us and I think we wanted to show them something tonight," said Graber, whose team is coming off an 18-9 campaign in 1986.

Friday, whose team is showing a remarkable improvement from its 13- 14 mark a year ago, agreed that his team didn't want Saturday's game as much as the Chiefs did.

"I think they (Upper Perk) wanted to prove that they are the better team, and at this point, I think they obviously are," said Friday, whose team gets back into action tonight when they visit North Division-leading Coplay at Sammy Balliet Stadium. "I didn't really think that opening night game proved very much. It was a typical opening night where we both were shorthanded and missing key people."

Despite Friday's skepticism about his team's ability, Graber thinks Quakertown will be a part of a three-team battle for the top spot in the South that will last right until the regular season concludes July 26.

"I think it's going to be a three-team dogfight," the Upper Perk skipper said. "There's kind of a natural rivalry between Quakertown, Gilbertsville and us and all of the teams are doing well. It should be real interesting the rest of the way."

Upper Perk last won the league championship in 1983, under the leadership of Bill Solivan. The Chiefs also were Tri-Co champs in 1979 and '80. Gilbertsville has taken the last three league titles and Quakertown hasn't won the championship since 1975 when the club was managed by Clyde Smoll.



keith.groller@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- June 22, 1987

Copyright © 1987, The Morning Call