Schultz, Kinney team up for 2-hit shutout

Limeport squares Tri-Co series with ICC; third game is slated tomorrow night.


By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call


Who says quality pitching no longer exists in baseball?

Last night, for the second time in less than 24 hours, Limeport and ICC in the Tri-County League staged an old fashioned pitcher's duel with the Bulls getting the shutout this time in an exciting 1-0 victory at Bethlehem Township Park.

Rob Schultz and rubber-armed Dennis Kinney combined on a two-hitter that extends the best-of-three semifinal series to a third and deciding game 7:30 tomorrow night at Limeport Stadium.

Don't get there real late or you could miss it. And don't blink or you may miss the only scoring.

Thursday's 7:30 p.m. series opener -- a 2-0 ICC win in eight innings -- lasted about an hour and 40 minutes. Last night's game, though slowed by a steady rain for several innings, was still completed by 7:30, just an hour and 45 minutes after the first pitch.

"These are quick, quality games," said Limeport player-manager Bill Fatzinger. "We're just glad we got this one. A loss and we were done. For awhile, it didn't seem as though we were going to touch home plate against these guys."

Limeport, the Tri-Co's best team during the regular season with a mark of 24-8, went 13 innings without a run against ICC before breaking through with a sixth-inning tally last night. Kevin Kershner singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Fatzinger and scored on Glenn Bubser's single to left.

Scott Heppenheimer followed with a double and Joe Fatzinger was walked intentionally to load the bases, but a botched squeeze play ruined the Bulls' chance to score more.

Then with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh, Billy Fatzinger hit into a double play to keep it 1-0.

"To say we're struggling offensively would take too much away from two of the best pitchers in the league," Fatzinger said. "We were shut down by Eric Baran last night and Daryl Evans tonight and they're good pitchers. We have to scratch and claw for everything. Fortunately, one run was enough for us."

It was enough because Schultz worked 4-1/3 scoreless innings before two walks put him in a bind in the fifth. Fatzinger summoned Kinney, the 44-year-old former major leaguer, who continues to be one of local amateur baseball's best hurlers.

Despite going all eight innings Thursday, the grizzled lefthander had enough zip to retire seven of the eight batters he faced. The first was the most important. With runners at first and second and one out, he got left-swinging Josh Mohlmann to bounce into a double play.

"I just liked the way Kinney handled Mohlmann (Thursday) and he felt he could come in and get him out," Fatzinger said. "Most of the time, you make a move like that and it won't work. This time it did."

Kinney allowed a one-out single to Chris Medei in the sixth before getting the next five batters to end it.

"I have a very loose arm and when you get into the playoffs, you've gotta do what you can do," Kinney said. "Sure, the arm hurts like a toothache. But I told (Fatzinger) not to hesitate to use me if he needed me.

"It's still fun to do this. I'm doing things I haven't done, ever. People ask me how my arm is and really, every day's an adventure. At my age, there's nothing to save it for."

What about tomorrow?

"We'll see," he said. "After throwing 10 innings in two days to come back after one day's rest will be tough."

ICC skipper Jim Marouchoc, whose 20-14 team already upset defending champ Gabelsville in these playoffs, expects to see Kinney again.

"This has been just a great series and I expect one more great game," Marouchoc said. "I'm proud of our guys. This is what baseball is all about."

Woody's 5, Center Valley 3 -- Steve Wippel's RBI single in the eighth decided the contest last night as Woody's tied the best-of-3 series at a game apiece in the Tri-County League playoff semifinals.

Dave Lutte had an RBI in the sixth to tie the game and an RBI single in the eighth to add an insurance run. He was 3-for-3.

The third game will be played at 5 p.m. tomorrow at Scherersville.



keith.groller@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- August 10, 1996

Copyright © 1996, The Morning Call