Quakertown has 5th Tri-Co tie

By Mark Wogenrich
Of The Morning Call


Quakertown's Arky Colon summed it up best.

"It's tough to come all the way up here from Quakertown and know you have to come back again," he said following his squad's nine-inning 4-4 stalemate with Gilbertsville last night in Tri-County action at Boyertown Junior High School.

Quakertown is making a hobby out of tying ballgames, considering yesterday's was its fifth of the year. The season was supposed to end this Sunday, but it will continue well into next week since Quakertown (13-8) has plenty of games to replay.

Victories have also been elusive for Gilbertsville (13-10).

"We've been having problems getting wins lately," Rangers pitcher Lew Chillot said. "I've been trying hard to break the superstitions. I'm wearing different socks, different shoes, but nothing seems to help.

"It was a really well played game on both sides, but it's still a tough one to lose."

Both teams had chances to pick up the win, but neither pitcher would allow the opportunities to produce runs. The Rangers got to Quakertown starting pitcher Bob Drumbore early, tagging him for three runs on four hits in the first inning. But Drumbore settled down and allowed just a run and four hits the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, Chillot was also tossing a gem. He ran into trouble in the fifth and sixth - when he gave up all four runs - but scattered just four hits in the remaining seven innings he pitched.

The action heated up in the seventh. After Drumbore retired Gilbertsville in the top of the inning, Brian Gilbert led off the Rangers' half with a single to left. Jeff Evans then delivered a blow to center, but Quakertown's Rod Rush made a nifty running catch to rob Evans of a hit.

Pete Kurtz followed with a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher, and Gilbert exploited Drumbore's hesitation by going to third. Dave Baradgie then drilled a shot to left-center which looked to be the game-winner, but Colon raced over from left and made a spectacular diving catch to send the game into extra frames.

"With the game on the line, you've got to go for everything," said Colon, who went 2-for-5 at the plate with a two-run single in the fifth. "The ball took off and started to carry, but when I got under it I knew I had a play." Quakertown retaliated by loading the bases in the ninth, but didn't score due to a controversial call. Rush lifted a one-out flyball to center that was deep enough to score Scott Davis from third. But Gilbertsville appealed at third base, saying Davis left the bag too early, and it got the call.

"That call was really tough," Colon said. "It cost us the game."

Brian Mussleman led Gilbertsville with two hits and scored the first run of the game, while Baradgie, Pete Kurtz and Bill Krall each rapped RBI singles.

For Quakertown, Glenn Dally went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Don Shaw had the other two RBI, drilling a two-run single in the fifth.



  

From The Morning Call -- July 15, 1988

Copyright © 1988, The Morning Call