'Wings take over Tri-County lead

Tri-City wins error filled battle over Gabelsville, 5-3, to pass Owls and Limeport.


By Ted Meixell
Of The Morning Call

 

As showdowns go, this one was well, a close game. And it did produce a new leader in the Tri-County League standings.

But the Tri-City Fleetwings' 5-3 win over defending Tri-County League champion Gabelsville on Saturday at Lehigh's Goodman Campus wasn't one either team wants to put on an easel.

Want artistry? Ok, we'll give you winning pitcher Josh Gunkle, who threw a three-hitter at the short-handed Owls (12-3), with two of those hits never leaving the infield. We'll give you losing pitcher Justin Konnick who, despite being touched for 11 hits, yielded only three earned runs.

Want offensive artistry? We'll give you young Brendan Witkowski and veteran Dave Toth. And nobody else.

In four plate appearances, Witkowski slapped two singles and a double and was hit by a pitch. And, after both one-baggers, he scampered to third when Konnick threw wildly trying to pick him off, then scored on singles by Matt Marcks and Teague Fatzinger. All this despite respiration problems that had him taking medication until game time.

Toth also had two singles and a double. He scored once, on Jeremy Arner's sacrifice fly.

Want defensive artistry? We'll give you well, let's wait for another game.

The Fleetwings (12-2) committed five errors, including three straight that allowed Gabelsville to score twice and tie the score at 3 in the top of sixth. The Owls booted a half-dozen, including three that allowed Tri-City to score twice in the bottom of the sixth and win the game.

The 'Wings will take it, though. It lifted them into first place, a half-game ahead of both the Owls and idle Limeport (11-2).

"Give Josh (Gunkle) a lot of credit," 'Wings' Manager Bob Fatzinger said. "He's pitched very well so far but, until tonight, he didn't have much to show for it."

Gunkle was asked if he had visions of more bad fortune as his team was gift-wrapping the Owls' sixth-inning runs.

"Nah," he said. "I try to keep my head up no matter what's happening. It was just a tough game all around. But we got the win, and it's a big one."

"It wasn't pretty," Fatzinger said. "That's out of character for both teams. We been making the plays all year. I can't even begin to explain what happened tonight. We had a well-played game with them down there in the beginning of the year. But then we got sloppy at the end and it wound up a tie."

Gabelsville was without four starters. Slugger Jeff Evans is on his honeymoon. Veteran Bob Graber was at a 50th anniversary celebration. No, not his his grandparents'. Dave Pence was at Villanova taking a test for his teaching certificate. And Greg Gilbert arrived late because of personal business.

Gilbert pinch hit with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth with a chance to give the Owls the lead, but bounced into an inning- ending force.

"Being shorthanded is no excuse," said Gabelsville skipper "Doc" Moyer. "In this league, you have to do that from time to time. And there's simply no excuse for playing lousy defense. I don't remember the last time we played defense this badly."

The TCL season is not yet half over. But Moyer sees the regular season and playoffs as a three-way battle.

"It'll go right to the wire between us two and Limeport," he predicted.



ted.meixell@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- June 25, 2000

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