Tri-County's objective is to stop Gilbertsville

By Jeff Schuler
Of The Morning Call


Stop Gilbertsville.

That's the objective of the other 12 Tri-County League teams this year as the two-time defending champions chase their sixth crown in eight years.

Quakertown showed it will be among the challengers to the Ranger reign Wednesday night with an 11-2 win over Gilbertsville, but past history indicates the road to the Tri-Co title will once again run through that Berks County community. Since joining the league in 1981, Gilbertsville has won 81 percent of its games (219-60), and posted the league's best record a year ago at 22-5, finishing two games ahead of Quakertown.

"They're at least as strong as they were in previous years," said Chip Friday, who is continuing his long-time Tri-Co association as the league's statistician. "They've got most of the same guys back, so there's no reason why they shouldn't be there again."

This year the Tri-Co champ not only earns bragging rights within the league, but also a chance to claim area-wide honors in what's dubbed the Lehigh Valley Amateur Baseball championship, which pits the Tri-Co champ against the Blue Mountain League kingpins.

"It's been talked about in previous years, but it never fit into the schedule," Friday said. "Now, I think everyone associated with both league's are looking forward to it."

In the North, Coplay, which is 137-57 (.706) in its seven years in the league, hopes to rebound from a subpar 16-11 campaign and be among the contenders looking to dethrone the Allentown Angels (21- 6).

"I'm sure Coplay will be stronger than they were last year," Friday said. "But the Angels are going to be hard to catch."

Observers will find two new names in the standings this year, including the Upper Milford Pioneers, an expansion team that joins the rugged Southern Division. The other new moniker is merely a name change -- last year's Salisbury team became this year's Scherersville Mudcats, and will share a field with the Angels.

A brief look at the teams:

SOUTHERN DIVISION

Gilbertsville, which beat the Angels in last year's seasonal and post-season title series, features the potent bats of Most Valuable Player Jeff Evans (.427-4-26), manager Ryan Fox (.373-3-18) and Greg Gilbert (.324-6-20). Chris Ludy (6-2, 3.09) and Scott Mutter (6-1, 1.55), who shared the league's Most Valuable Pitcher award with Quakertown's Tom Hartman, head the mound staff.

Quakertown's lineup includes features two-way threat Bob Drumbore (.352-6-21 at the plate; 7-1, 2.00 and a league-leading 66 Ks on the mound), Brian Hoehn (.390-7-20) and Mike Kotkoski (.353-6-25), the league's all-time home run leader with 55. Hartman (6-2 with a league- leading 1.54 ERA) and Drumbore give the Orioles two of the league's top four pitchers a year ago, with Joel Filling (4-0, 1.09) chipping in.

Usually, Upper Perk can be counted upon to make the South race a three-team dogfight, but the Chiefs slipped to 14-13 a year ago and barely edged both Silver Creek and Emmaus for the final playoff berth. Bob Graber (.400-4-21) returns as player-manager, supported by Joe Ricapito (.352-1-17) and Ray Steinman (.320-1-17). Steinman (3-5, 3.69), Scott Sites (4-1, 2.97) and Rich Rossiter (5-4, 3.57) handle the bulk of the mound chores.

Improving Silver Creek (13-14) is led by the Smull brothers, Steve (.359-6-15) and Matt (.404, 22 RBI and a league-leading 8 HR and 71 total bases), supported by Keith DeReinzi (.368-4-13). Also, Steve Pearlstein (.318-6-12) jumps over from Quakertown to provide some extra sock. The Raiders look to Bob Carr (3-2, 4.39) and Kirk Einfalt (2-3, 4.86) to handle the pitching chores.

Not even the league's top hitter, Ted Steiner, could lift Emmaus (13-14) into the playoffs. Steiner (.432-2-25) joins Dave Ernst (.425-0-24), last year's Manager of the Year, in the heart of the lineup, while Todd Balliet (4-2, 4.33) and Jeff Merlet (4-3, 3.57) do the bulk of the pitching.

Cetronia (4-23) is paced by Joe Sedler (.305-6-18) and Todd Greb (.329-2-13), while Dale Lakatosh (2-2, 2.31) heads the mound corps.

Upper Milford features Chuck Ciganick, Andy Pengelly (18 RBI last year with Limeport) and Don Rosenberger (2-5, 4.55 with Cetronia), the league's all-time leader in innings pitched.

NORTHERN DIVISION

The Angels lineup includes Dave Lutte (.382-5-22) and Jeff Snyder (.372-3-21), while veteran Ray Ganser (6-3, 1.83) joins Ed Jones (6- 1, 2.64) and Tim Brader (3-2, 2.09) on the hill.

Perennial challenger Limeport slipped to 12-15 last year, and has Bill Fatzinger (.323-4-27, a league-leading 10 doubles) and the ageless Ishky Fatzinger (.371-0-13 in 62 at-bats). Bruce Alpaugh (3- 3, 3.42) and Jack Undercuffler (4-2) head the pitching staff.

Bill Pugh (.353-0-20) and Chuck Mondschein (.376-0-12) pace Coplay, which features Jim Emerick (4-2, 3.44) and Randy Baer (4-3, 4.17) on the mound.

Rich Guman (.386-4-10) provides much of the sock for the ICC Pirates (8-19), while Keigh Reinlich (3-2, 2.16) and Chris Medei (3- 1, 4.59) pace the pitching staff.

George Horn (.400-4-23) returns along with Andy Simock (.383-2- 15) for East Texas (11-16), and Mike Ettinger (3-2, 2.84) and Stu Link (6-4, 3.06) hope to help the Longhorns make up that one game by which they missed the playoffs.

Finally, Scherersville (8-19), which shares a field with Allentown, hopes some of the Angel success rubs off on the Mudcats. Sean Berosh, who batted .462 in 26 at-bats last year, and Chip DeLorenzo (.362-0-6) hope to provide enough punch to support workhorse Tom Golden, who was 4-4 in a league-high 84-2/3 innings.



jeff.schuler@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- May 18, 1991

Copyright © 1991, The Morning Call