7-Game win streak puts Catty in BML driver's seat

By Ted Meixell
Of The Morning Call

 

Two-time defending champion Catasauqua created a little breathing room between itself and second place Banko's last week as the Blue Mountain League approached the midway point of its expanded 40-game schedule.

At the same time, Banko's solidified its hold on the runner-up spot -- and a dandy little three-way battle for third through fifth began taking shape between Bethlehem Township, Martins Creek and Northampton. And Hellertown temporarily took control of the fight for the sixth and final playoff slot.

Catty won all three of its games and stretched its winning streak to seven games overall to move 1-1/2 games ahead of Banko's, which had a 2-1 week. The O's now lead third-place Bethlehem Township by the same margin after the Pirates played only one game -- and lost it (6-5 to Northampton).

The Giants and Martins Creek, which also went 2-1 last week, each trail the Pirates by a half game. Sixth place Hellertown (1-1 for the week) enjoys a 1-1/2 game bulge over Limeport.

* Who's Hot: Catty (3-0).

* Who's Not: Lower Nazareth (0-3).

* Who's been busy: Limeport played five games during the week, going 2-3. Bethleon split four games.

* Who's Treadin' Water: Everyone else.

* This Week's Biggies: Two games Tuesday night were crucial -- Northampton at Banko's and Bethlehem Township at Martins Creek. The Creekers will be involved in the only other attraction matching top five clubs this week. They'll be at Banko's Thursday.

Tri-County League

The league, which is at or near the halfway mark of its 32-game slate, saw the ICC Pirates (.813) inch ahead of the Tri-City Fleetwings (.778) by 25 percentage points in the East-Central Division, Stahley's Mariners' lead over Jordan Creek in the North melted down to a half game and Cetronia opened a 1-1/2-game lead over Gabelsville in the West-South.

ICC won three of four to overtake Tri-City, but missed a golden opportunity to make a big move when it dropped an 8-3 decision to Sports Page at home Sunday. They did rebound with a 13-8 road victory over the same Red Sox Monday. Tri-City split its only two games.

Third place Limeport made the biggest move. The Bulls swept three decisions and now trail ICC and Tri-City by a game and a half.

Cetronia also won three of four to stretch out a bit on Gabelsville, which had a 2-2 week.

Stahley's, on the other hand, experienced some slippage. The Mariners, who enjoyed a 3-1/2-game bulge a few weeks ago, won only one of four and now see Jordan Creek's Gators in their rear view mirror. The Gators had only one game, but won it -- and are now on a four-game winning streak overall.

Tri-Co invites seven teams (the three division winners and four wild cards) to its playoff championship tournament. If those playoffs had begun Tuesday, the four wild cards would have been dealt to Tri- City, Limeport, Gabelsville and Jordan Creek.

* Who's Hot: Limeport (3-0); ICC (3-1); Cetronia (3-1).

* Who's Not: Milford (0-2); Silver Creek (0-2); Stahley's (1-3); Northern (1-3).

* Who's Been Busy: Sports Page played six games last week, winning three and losing three.

* Who's treadin' water: Everyone else.

* This Week's Biggies: Jordan Creek, which has been sneaking up on Stahley's in the North, hosted West-South leader Cetronia Tuesday night. Important contests coming up include Gabelsville at Jordan Creek tonight, Stahley's at Limeport Saturday (7:30) and Stahley's at Gabelsville Monday.

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* Keep us posted -- Report missing games or corrections, as well as any interesting tidbits or story ideas to Ted Meixell (E-mail ted.meixell@mcall.com; voice mail 610-559-2152; fax 610-258-1749).

* Help!! -- Are you a baseball "old timer" with a full memory bank? Were you there when a famous player, or a Major League team, made an appearance in the Lehigh Valley? We know Babe Ruth played here in 1923, for example -- but we're looking for folks who recall similar ballyhooed events throughout the 20th century to include in the baseball portion of our upcoming series of millennium stories.

I'm also looking for historians who might be able to help me trace the formation and history of minor leagues and amateur leagues in the Valley. Can you help me with the old Interstate League? The Allentown Cardinals and Red Sox of the Eastern League? Any other minor league's in which Lehigh Valley teams played? The Blue Mountain League? The Tri-County League? Lehigh Valley Legion? NorCo Legion? The Balliet Legion League? The arrival of Little League in the Valley?

If you can, please contact me at the phone numbers and/or E-mail address listed above within the next three weeks.



ted.meixell@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- June 23, 1999

Copyright © 1999, The Morning Call