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Tri-County
League honors champs;
9 enter hall
By Ernie Long
Of The Morning Call
Mike
Merkle is a student of the game of baseball and the Tri-County League is his
testing grounds.
Again this season, Merkle earned straight A's and last night, the East Texas
standout reaped his rewards during the Tri-County League Awards Banquet at
Allentown's West End Youth Center.
Merkle claimed his second consecutive Most Valuable Player Award after
leading the league in home runs (14), RBIs (46) and batting average (.500).
The home run and RBI marks are league records.
"I
love baseball. You can't stop me from playing. And I'm not just playing, but
learning and studying," said Merkle, who played for Kutztown High, Essex
Community College (Md.) and an adult league in Reading before coming to the
Tri-County League four years ago.
Eric
Baran (ICC Pirates) earned the Most Valuable Pitcher honor after leading the
league in wins (9), finishing second in strikeouts (56) and fifth in ERA
(1.71).
Kevin Hutter (South Whitehall) was named Manager of the Year as his team
went 21-11.
John
Buckwalter (Silver Creek) was honored as Rookie of the Year after batting
.396 with 39 RBIs.
The
Milford Pioneers (10-21) and Northern Yankees (11-19) tied as Most Improved
Teams while Easton High School was named as the Facilities Use Award winner.
Jason Young (Easton) was the ERA award winner (1.18) and Tom Laury
(Allentown) was the strikeout leader (65).
The
season ended with Limeport (24-8) defeating Woody's (23-9) in the
championship finals.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame were six players from the Original Era
(1950-1963) and three from the Modern Era (1964-present).
These nine honorees swell Tri-Co's Hall of Fame, begun in 1990, to 57
members:
Lou
"Smelly" Bukvics -- A long-time local umpire who served in the Tri-County
League for more than 25 years.
Tim
Fox -- Hard-throwing right-hander who played seven years at Upper Perk.
Earned a record of 30-7 with an ERA of 2.38 and 261 strikeouts. Hurled
Chiefs to 1986 title.
Harold "John" Furry -- Also played for Bingen (1937-42), served in World War
II, then played for Spring Valley (1946-56). Was one of the premier catchers
in the Lehigh Valley who always hit for a high average and was a leader in
RBIs.
Calvin "Jack" Gaither -- Played for Bingen (1942-45) and Spring Valley
(1946-56). Centerfielder and occasional catcher with one of the strongest
arms in the league. Hit for high average.
Joe
Kilian -- "Mr Reliable" played for Bingen from the mid-'50s until 1962. A
good contact hitter, Kilian played many positions.
Craig Kriebel -- Upper Perk pitcher who played 11 years, amassing a 34-10
record with 102 strikeouts and leading the Chiefs to titles in 1979 and '80.
Steve Michael -- Umpired 1,938 games over 34 years in the Tri-County and
Blue Mountain Leagues. He was Tri-Co president from 1985-88.
Bert
Tarboro -- Manager in Tri-County and Blue Mountain League. A member of Blue
Mountain League Hall of Fame.
Walter "Wally" Slotter -- A speedy infielder who played for Richlandtown
(1959-67), mostly at second base. Sported a lifetime average of .318 and was
one of league's leaders in bunts and stolen bases. Father Stanley inducted
in '90.
League president Dave Hemerly, Hall of Fame committee chairman Chuck
Ciganick and committee member Bob Ravier introduced the award winners. Irene
Bukvics accepted for her husband Lou. Tarboro was not present.
ernie.long@mcall.com
From The Morning Call --
August 25, 1996
Copyright
© 1996,
The Morning Call
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