Gilbertsville regains Tri-County League crown 6-4

By Gary R. Blockus
Of The Morning Call


Ryan Fox left no doubt where the Tri-County League championship belonged last night after leading Gilbertsville to a 6-4 win over Limeport and a 3-1 series win.

"This team has played real well the last month of the season and it's nice to get it back, back where it belongs," he said as the Rangers copped their second Tri-County title in three years.

Fox had a leading role last night. The right-hander relieved Bob Drumbore in the fourth and scattered four hits while pitching out of three different jams to earn the win on innings pitched.

Fox took over for Drumbore after driving in a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. When Drumbore took the mound, he pitched eight straight balls and was immediately given the hook.

Dennis Kinney, who pitched in the majors for the San Diego Padres and the Detroit Tigers, took the playoff-ending loss after going the distance.

But it was an evening of celebration for Gilbertsville (31-7), which took a 2-1 lead after the third inning and never looked back despite Limeport (30-11) pouncing on Fox for a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh.

"We made it interesting," Fox admitted of Limeport's late drive to knot the score. The game ended when Joe Fatzinger, representing the tying run at the plate, flew out to deep centerfield.

"I didn't have much left after throwing (5-1/3 innings) here the other night. Those were two huge runs we scored in the seventh. After that, I could afford to throw strikes. Pitching for this team is easy because you know they're going to play good defense."

The Rangers did play good defense. They committed just one error, a third-inning bobble at second. Fox walked his first batter to load the bases, but struck out Glenn Bubser and got Bulls coach Bill Fatzinger to ground into a double play.

"This was a tough one," Fatzinger said, "but our hats are off to their guys. It was a nice series, no yelling, no one riding anybody. Our bats were a little sluggish, but I'm happy for everybody."

Josh Hartline got Gilbertsville off to a super quick start. He blasted the third pitch of the game to right-center, where Bill Fatzinger missed a diving catch. The ball bounced to the fence, where it was called a ground rule double, much to Gilbertsville's consternation.

No matter. Limeport catcher Bob Fatzinger tried to gun down Hartline at third on a hit-and-run, but the throw was wide and Hartline gave the team a 1-0 lead.

The Bulls charged back when Bubser blasted a solo homer in the second.

Hartline had other ideas in the third, however. Dave Pence led off the inning with a single and stole second. Hartline banged a bouncer through short on a hit-and-run and Pence scored easily for a 2-1 lead.

"I like hitting off Kinney," chimed Hartline. "It brings out the best in me knowing he pitched in the majors for four or five years."

Hartline had one heckuva post season. He was 11-for-20 in the playoffs and 9-for-15 in the championship series, going 3-for-4 with one RBI last night.

The Rangers tried to put it away in the fourth. Greg Gilbert singled and advanced to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Mike Moyer walked, then Ryan Fox bashed a line single to left field to score both runners for a 4-1 gap.

The Rangers made it 6-1 in the seventh on a two-out rally as No. 9 hitter Brian Miller started things off with a single. Hartline followed with a bunt single and Jason Brensinger backed that up with a two-run double to the Budweiser sign in center.

The Bulls made it interesting in their last at-bats thanks to a two-run single by Kevin Kirshner after the ball bounced off the glove of Brensinger as he made an incredible dive for the ball.



gary.blockus@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- August 13, 1995

Copyright © 1995, The Morning Call