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Mother Nature ruins BML-Tri-Co
All-Star Game
By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call
The
best amateur baseball players in the Lehigh Valley were in the midst of an
explosive encounter last night in Limeport when Mother Nature interrupted with
an explosion of her own.
The
third annual Blue Mountain/Tri-County League All-Star Game was rained out with
the BML leading 3-2 with two out in the top of the third.
Bob
Schuster and Jack Evans, the presidents of the BML and Tri- Co,
respectively, waited approximately 45 minutes before it became apparent that
the game couldn't be continued.
As a
punctuation point to the postponement, the lights at Fegely Stadium went out
after a sky-illuminating bolt of lightning struck the area. Most of the
folks in the huge crowd of 600 had waited patiently through the delay, but
scurried for their cars when the lights went out.
"It
was a great game while it lasted," said Limeport A.A.'s Ishky Fatzinger, a
coach for the Tri-County squad.
Schuster and Evans said the leagues will attempt to work out another date
for the game to be replayed. But that could be difficult since both leagues
have their schedules filled up with makeup dates.
The
hitters probably would like to see the game played. The pitchers, however,
might have another view since they were not treated kindly in the 2-1/2
innings last night.
The
BML, winners of the previous two All-Star meetings with the Tri-Co, wasted
no time in jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Martins Creek's Joe Ragozino started
the game with a triple to right-center and scored one out later on a bloop
single to center by Bicentennial's Andy Donatelli. Donatelli eventually came
around to score on a single by the Creek's Eric Reiter.
The
Tri-Co got a run back in the bottom of the first on consecutive singles by
Upper Perk's Bob Graber, Gilbertsville's Jeff Evans and Quakertown's Bob
Drumbore.
The
BML got that run back in the second when Jeff Kilpatrick of Bicentennial
singled, stole second and came around to score on a wild pitch.
But
the Tri-Co closed within one again in the last of the second when Emmaus'
Dave Ernst slugged a long home run over the fence in left.
The
BML had two out with the Stars' Dave Hemerly on second in the third when the
skies began a sound and light show. With the storm obviously approaching,
home plate umpire Dick Serfass waved the players off the field.
While the rain spoiled a showcase for the two leagues last night, plans
continue to be firmed up for another one -- the first Lehigh Valley
Championship Series that will pit the champs from the BML and Tri-Co in a
best-of-three series.
Tentatively, the series is slated to start Friday, Aug. 16. The series
starting date could be a week later, pending the completion of the BML title
series. All LVCS games will be played at Fegely Stadium in Limeport.
keith.groller@mcall.com
From The Morning Call --
July 20, 1991
Copyright
© 1991,
The Morning Call
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