Pirates Get To Spend Time In Penthouse

By Ted Meixell
Of The Morning Call

 

It's possible that it's been five years since someone other than Catasauqua, Martins Creek or Banko's has occupied the top spot in the Blue Mountain League standings a month into the season.

And, since Catty beat Bethlehem Township Tuesday night, and Banko's got past Hellertown, the Black Sox and Orioles are still in first place.

But, at least from last Friday through Monday, it was Manager Jason Brown's Bethlehem Township Pirates who were looking down at the rest of the league.

No, they weren't very far ahead. Just a half game, as a matter of fact. On a percentage basis, Catty and Banko's (each 9-3, .750 winning percentage heading into Tuesday) were actually ahead of the Pirates (11-4, .733).

No matter. What is relevant is that there's a new contender on the BML block.

And that's refreshing.

BLUE MOUNTAIN LEAGUE

* Who's hot: The Pirates and Saylorsburg, each of whom went 3-0 last week. The Lakers (6-7) moved into a virtual three-way tie for sixth place with Hellertown (6-7) and Lower Nazareth (5-6). And those Royals won three of four starts.

* Who's not: Bethleon, Martins Creek and Limeport. The Blue Jays (2-12) dropped three straight, Martins Creek (8-4) and Limeport two straight. The Creekers' losing streak now stands at three dating back two weeks. They've fallen from first to fourth.

* Treadin' water: Catty, Banko's, Northampton (6-6), Lower Nazareth and Roseto (3-9).

* This week's biggies: The Black Sox will jump from Tuesday's frying pan into today's fire when they play Banko's at Allentown College.

The Orioles will then battle Bethlehem Township at 1 p.m. Sunday at Egypt.

TRI-COUNTY LEAGUE

* Who's hot: Cetronia (8-2), Tri-City (11-2) and ICC (7-2). The Longhorns had a 2-0 week, lead the West-South Division by a full game over Gabelsville (6-2). The Fleet-

wings and the Pirates, running 1-2 in the East-Central Division, each went 3-1.

* Who's not: Northern Yankees (4-6), Milford (2-9) and Jordan Creek (3-7). The Yanks dropped four straight last week to fall three games in back of Stahley's (6-2) in the North Division. The Pioneers went 1-4, the Gators 1-3.

* Treadin' water: Everyone else.

In the West-South, Gabelsville went 1-1, Upper Perk (3-7) 2-2 and South Whitehall (4-4) 2-1.

In the North, Stahley's won its only game, Lehigh Township (5-6) went 2-1 and the Allentown Senators (1-7) went 1-1.

In the East-Central, Limeport (6-3) split two, Silver Creek (1-7) dropped its only encounter and busy Sports Page (5-6) went 3-2.

Limeport's one win was a big one, though. It handed Tri-City its second defeat.

* This week's biggies: Tri-City played Cetronia Wednesday night in a battle of division leaders. The Fleetwings will then put their East-Central leadership on the line at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, when they visit ICC at Bethlehem Township Municipal Park. The same two teams will play at 6 p.m. Monday at Lehigh University's diamond on its Goodman Campus.

*

We would like to run individual league leaders and the standings in both the Blue Mountain League and Tri-County League each week. League representatives please fax those figures to Ted Meixell at 610-258-1749.



ted.meixell@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- June 10, 1999

Copyright © 1999, The Morning Call