Gilbertsville sweeps to Tri-Co crown

By John Jay Fox
Of The Morning Call


Jeff Evans cracked a solo home run in the seventh last night to close a two-inning, six-run outburst, lifting Gilbertsville to a 6-5 win and its second Tri-County League championship since 1986. The Rangers swept the best-of-three playoff.

The title game, slightly tainted, was played under protest after Coplay skipper Lou Falco claimed that Gilbertsville player/manager Ryan Fox, at third, went to the mound three times in a game. The incident occurred with two out in the seventh and Coplay trailing by a run. Falco insisted that the third mound visit violated Tri-County League rules.

The umpiring staff, unfamiliar with the rule, delivered no verdict.

"I only know about it because it was called on me last year at Limeport," Falco said. "They (Gilbertsville) should have designated someone else as the manager. All I have to do is put up $50 and put it in writing to the league, but I am not going to do that.

"I am not going to make them come back for one out," Falco said.

Fox was mildly amused by the antics. "Let him protest and we'll come back and beat them again," he said. "It's cheap. I have no idea what the rule is about. I don't think it means much.

"This team has worked hard all year and everyone has contributed. No protest can take anything away from that or this championship. Look at a guy like Mike Moyer who has not played a lot this year . . . but he had two hits tonight. We have play 15 guys and everyone has helped."

"I got a fastball and I went after it," Evans, who delivered his 325-foot home run to left with one out, said. "I was waiting on it. The count was 2-0 and I drove the fastball. Hitting out of the four hole, I am counted on to knock in runs," Evans said of his seventh homer of the season.

After trailing 5-0 in the sixth, the Rangers finally got on the scoreboard. Losing hurler Randy Baer struggled, walking Greg Gilbert and Evans to open the inning. The righty helped himself with a handsome move that got Gilbert leaning at second and popped up Fox. But Tom Troutman and Moyer both singled, scoring Evans.

The roof then fell in on two errors.

Jeff Miller lined under the third baseman's legs - that should have been the third out but plated Troutman - and a Brian Musselman single skipped to the left field fence for two runs. Another infield error put Brian Gilbert aboard and scored Musselman and a long fly to deep center ended the uprising with the contest knotted at 5-5.

Jeff Erie smoked a double to left on the fourth pitch of the game and Chuck Mondschein bounced out. Scott Morgan then drew a walk, and the Gilbertsville backstop attempted to catch Erie napping. The throw rolled into center and the leadoff man scooted to third.

On a delayed double steal, Morgan was safe at second and Erie reached home without a return throw.

The Serpents (22-16) again banged Kurtz in the second, but this time for four runs. Jeff Sodl skipped a ball between third and short and Mike Csencsits drew a walk.

A beaut of a sacrifice bunt by Todd Csencsits advanced the runners, and Gary Henry smacked a double 350 feet to left for a 3-0 cushion. Erie then crushed a 3-1 offering 380 feet to the trees beyond the left-center fence as the Serpents were on top 5-0.



  

From The Morning Call -- August 22, 1989

Copyright © 1989, The Morning Call