One-time laughingstock in playoffs

By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call


When the Tri-County League playoffs began last weekend, plenty of familiar faces were around. The Gilbertsville Rangers, Silver Creek Raiders and Upper Perk Chiefs are 1994 playoff teams that have all played into August before.

But there was at least one new kid on the post-season block -- the ICC Pirates.

Should the Pirates go on to win the Tri-Co championship, it would complete one of the most remarkable turnarounds in local amateur baseball history. It will be about the same kind of stunner as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl or the Florida Marlins taking the World Series.

Just a few years ago, the Pirates, who began in the league about a decade ago as the Bethlehem Township Pirates, were a Tri-Co laughingstock.

From 1989-92, the team was a combined 31-86. The Pirates never posted more than eight wins in a season. Suddenly, last year, they gained respectabili ty and nearly got to .500, finishing 13-15.

But this season, ICC became one of the league's elite, completing the regular season 18-11 and securing the second playoff spot out of the Tri-Co's North Division.

"This is our first time ever in the playoffs and we're excited about it," manager Jim Marouchoc said after a recent game. "We've gradually improved each year. We've had a core of guys together for about the last five years. They're good guys and we've added new pieces to the puzzle around them each season."

The guys who have been Pirates long enough to fully appreciate the team's resurgence are Rich Guman, Chris and Dave Medei, Tucker Shive, Garen Danyi and Mike Brosious.

Many other players would have been tempted to move on to other, better teams; but the nucleus of the club remained intact, determined to turn things around.

"Basically, these guys are friends," Marouchoc said. "They started together in Legion ball, either with Freemansburg or the Wanderers, in most cases. They stick together. They give everything they have every time out there. You couldn't ask for a better bunch of guys.

Marouchoc admits the team's enjoyment level has increased along with the victories.

"It's a lot of fun now," he said. "Years ago, it wasn't so much fun. You'd show up at a game knowing you were probably going to get beat. Now, we have a chance to win every night."

Half-season stats indicate the Pirates' offense is paced by Guman (.491, 3 HR), Jeff Reybitz (10 RBI), Shive (.350, four doubles) and Rich Ballek (.407, four extra-base hits).

But the pitching has been even more impressive, with Brosious, Eric Baran, Greg Blizard, Marty Rowan and Dave Baab carrying the load and keeping the team close in most games.

"It's a team effort," said outfielder Chris Medei. "We've had six guys who have been together for about six years now and remember the doormat days.

"I think when we first came into this league, we were a little cocky coming off Legion teams and had to go through an adjustment period where we mostly got our butts kicked.

"It was a matter of the nucleus maturing," Medei added. "I think we got fed up with losing. We took our lumps and learned from them. Now, we come to the field with a lot of confidence. We know we can play. It's just a matter of getting a few breaks."

Now that they have arrived, expect the Pirates to stay in the league's penthouse for some time to come.

"We're one of the youngest teams in the league," Brosious said. "Marty Rowan is the oldest guy and he's only 28."

Despite their youth, the Pirates should not be expected to act like babes in the woods during the playoffs.

"We're hungry," Brosious said. "Most of the teams in the playoffs have been in them for years. We'll be playing either Limeport or Stahley's in the first round and they both have playoff experience. This is our first shot and we're anxious to win. We won't back down from anybody."

ICC plays its home games at Bethlehem Township and the roster features products from Bethlehem Catholic, Saucon Valley, Freedom, Whitehall and Central Catholic. Rowan is from Pottsville and Blizard played his high school ball at Council Rock, but pitched at Lehigh.

Besides those players mentioned, the Pirates include Ron Reybitz, Tom Bambu, Jim Marouchoc (the manager's son), Dave Kern, Greg Dobrowski and Steve Unger.



keith.groller@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- August 4, 1994

Copyright © 1994, The Morning Call