Limeport and ICC settle for tie

Tri-County League regular season is far from being finished.


By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call


"This is just what the doctor didn't order," Billy Fatzinger said in summing up the feelings of both his Limeport Bulls and the ICC Pirates last night.

Mother Nature prevailed over both Tri-County League clubs as darkness forced a halt to the game at Bethlehem Township Park after six innings with the score deadlocked 5-5.

Knowing there was little chance a full inning could be completed in daylight, home plate umpire Larry Landino stopped play, meaning the game will be replayed in its entirety. So, an already hectic end-of-the-season schedule is even busier for both playoff-bound clubs.

The original Tri-Co schedule was supposed to end for Fatzinger's Bulls last night. But thanks to rainouts and other unforeseen developments, Limeport still has six games to play before the league playoffs begin a week from Saturday (Aug. 3).

"This definitely hurts because we're really backed up and we're short on pitching," Fatzinger said. "We're fighting for the best record in the league and the first-round bye in the playoffs. After the schedule we have to play to end the season, we'll need a rest."

The Bulls' magic number for clinching the top spot is two. They own a 22-4 mark with defending Tri-Co champ Gabelsville, an upset loser to Easton last night, the closest contender at 20-8.

"We definitely want the best record," Fatzinger said. "We want the bye, but more importantly, we want to go into the playoffs on a roll. We don't want to coast in. We've had a very good season so far and we can't let up now."

The Bulls, winners in 19 of 21 games after a 3-2 start, let up after taking a 5-2 lead last night. Limeport struck for four runs in the fourth when an error and a controversial "safe" call at second on an attempted steal opened the door.

Chuck Frantz (2-for-2) singled in the go-ahead run. Josh Williams followed with an RBI hit to right and Jeff LaPorta capped it with his third double of the game, this one accounting for his second RBI.

But the Pirates (18-9) struck back for three runs in the bottom of the fifth when Rich Gaugler (3-for-4) got things started with a broken-bat hit.

Garen Danyi (2 hits, 2 runs) singled in a run and Eric Steckel tied it with a two-run single through the middle. It was the third hit of the night for Steckel, the Pirates' designated hitter.

But with the bases loaded, Limeport reliever Rob Schultz got out of the fifth-inning mess with a pair of strikeouts and then stranded a pair of runners in the sixth.

"It would have been nice to win this one, but I'm proud the way the guys bounced back because we had a tough call go against us and were down by three," said ICC skipper Jim Marouchoc. "At least this showed we can play with them.

"At this point, we know we're in the playoffs and are just trying to get a better seed. I'm really not afraid of anybody in the playoffs. But I'd like to avoid playing Gabelsville in the first round if we can help it."

ICC, which failed to qualify for the postseason last year by one game, has five games remaining -- two against Limeport.



keith.groller@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- July 25, 1996

Copyright © 1996, The Morning Call