Blue Mountain, Tri-County near end of seasons

However, both leagues are just heating up their races for playoff spots.


By Ted Meixell
Of The Morning Call

 

The Great Drought of 1999 shows no sign of nearing an end.

The area's two adult amateur baseball leagues' regular season races are both nearing the finish line, though. And, while the lack of rain means neither the Blue Mountain nor Tri-County Leagues has as much of a backlog of makeup games (the BML has six, the TCL 14) as they might in "normal" summers, it also means the games are being played on dusty, brown fields that are as hard as concrete.

In any event, the TCL will reach the finish line a week ahead of the BML. Its final regular season game is slated for Monday, with its unique, seven-team playoffs set to begin Saturday, July 31.

The BML, on the other hand, will play its final slate Tuesday, Aug. 3 and begin its six-team championship series shortly thereafter.

The following is based on games played through Sunday, July 18. Because of deadlines and other assignments, we were unable to include Monday as in past notebooks.

The most interesting fight in Tri-County figures to be the one for best overall record and the one playoff bye that goes with it.

The contenders: East-Central Division leader ICC and West-South champ Gabelsville. Both are 24-4. The Pirates have won 12 of their last 13 games. The Owls are even hotter: they're on a 15-game winning tear.

The outcome may not be decided until Sunday, when ICC visits Gabelsville for both teams' regular season finale.

Because ICC is in the league's toughest division, it has not yet clinched the division crown. Tri-City and Limeport are still in the hunt, although one more ICC win or a Limeport loss would eliminate the Bulls. Gabelsville, on the other hand, has clinched the West- South; it holds a 7-1/2-game lead on Cetronia with only four to play.

The Owls, Pirates and Fleetwings have all solidified playoff berths, while Limeport needs either one win or one loss by either Jordan Creek or Lehigh Township to join the party.

By contrast, Stahley's must still fight off the Brewers and the Gators (each is 1-1/2 games back) for the North Division crown to be certain of a playoff slot. It's very possible none of the four wild cards will come out of the North.

With ICC, Gabelsville and Tri-City already in and Limeport an almost mortal lock, the final three spots are up for grabs among Stahley's, Jordan Creek, Lehigh Township, Cetronia and defending champion South Whitehall -- with the understanding that one, and the No. 3 seed that will go with it, is reserved for the eventual North champion.

Although only Milford, Allentown and Silver Creek have been mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture, Upper Perk, Northern and Sports Page are on life support.

Had the season ended Sunday, ICC would have been the No. 1 seed and received the bye. Best two of three first round series would have begun with No. 7 South Whitehall at No. 2 Gabelsville, No. 6 Cetronia at No. 3 Stahley's and No. 5 Limeport at No. 4 Tri-City.

Over in Blue Mountain, five of the six playoff berths seem to be pretty much in the bag --although only two-time defending champion Catasauqua has clinched one. But 1996 titlist Martins Creek and Banko's each need just one win (or losses by Limeport and Lower Nazareth) to clinch, and Northampton's playoff magic number is two (and may have dropped to one Monday night).

Bethlehem Township won't clinch a spot for a while, but the Pirates seem to have a firm grip on fifth place.

But a dandy three-way street fight has developed for that sixth and final berth -- between Limeport (14-18), Lower Nazareth (13-18) and Hellertown (13-19). There's no such thing as a sure bet, but, assuming its pitching staff holds up, the money being wagered from this corner is on second-year manager Paul Engelhart's Phillies.

The Phils, Engelhart was quick to point out via voice mail last week, are no longer BML doormats. In fact, they've reached double figures in wins for the first time in franchise history.

The other interesting race is at the top: with only a game and a half separating first place from fourth, all four BML heavyweights have good shots at the playoff byes that go to the teams finishing first and second.

Although no one has been mathematically eliminated from the playoff chase, Roseto, Bethleon and Saylorsburg have little or no realistic chance.

If the season had ended Sunday, Catty and Martins Creek (who've met in the finals the last three years) would have gotten the byes. Best two of three playoff series would have commenced with No. 6 Limeport at No. 3 Northampton and No. 5 Bethlehem Township at No. 4 Banko's. (The Giants and Orioles were tied in the standings, 1-1/2 games behind Catty, but Northampton's winning percentage was .010 better than Banko's.)

* BML Standings: (as of July 18) 1. Catasauqua Black Sox (23-9); 2. Martins Creek Creekers (22-9); 3. Northampton Giants (21-10); 4. Banko's Orioles (22-11); 5. Bethlehem Township Pirates (18-14); 6. Limeport Dodgers (14-18); 7. Lower Nazareth Phillies (13-18); 8. Hellertown Royals (13-19); 9. Roseto Bandits (9-21); 10. Bethleon Blue Jays (10-23); 11. Saylorsburg Lakers (9-22).

* Who's hot: Martins Creek (3-1, won 8 of last 9); Bethlehem Township (3-1); Limeport (3-1). Note: Northampton was 2-1 for the week ending Sunday, had game at Lower Nazareth Monday.

* Who's not: Roseto (1-4); Bethleon (1-4).

* This week's biggies: Thursday: Limeport at Banko's; Bethlehem Township at Hellertown; Saturday: Hellertown at Banko's; Catty at Bethlehem Township; Martins Creek at Northampton; Sunday: Catty at Banko's; Northampton at Lower Nazareth.

* TCL Standings: (as of July 18) West-South: 1. Gabelsville Owls (24-4); 2. Cetronia Longhorns (16-11); 3. South Whitehall Serpents (15-11); 4. Upper Perk Chiefs (11-17); 5. Milford Pioneers (6-22); North: 1. Stahley's Mariners (15-10); 2. (tie) Lehigh Township Brewers (15-13); Jordan Creek Gators (15-13); 4. Northern Yankees (10-18); 5. Allentown Senators (3-25); East-Central: 1. ICC Pirates (24-4); 2. Tri-City Fleetwings (21-6); 3. Limeport Bulls (19-8); 4. Sports Page Red Sox (11-17); 5. Silver Creek Orioles (1-27).

* Who's hot: Gabelsville (5-0, 15 wins in row); ICC (3-0, won 12 of last 13); South Whitehall (3-1).

* Who's not: Silver Creek (0-3, lost 20 in row); Sports Page (0-3, lost 7 in row); Upper Perk (1-3); Milford (1-3).

* This week's biggies: Tonight: Cetronia at South Whitehall; Stahley's at Jordan Creek; ICC at Limeport; Friday: ICC at Stahley's; Gabelsville at Limeport; Saturday: Cetronia at Limeport; Sunday: ICC at Gabelsville; Stahley's at Cetronia; Jordan Creek at Limeport; Monday (End regular season); South Whitehall at Tri-City.



ted.meixell@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- July 21, 1999

Copyright © 1999, The Morning Call