Limeport stuns Tri-City in opener

Ernst's clutch hitting, Toner's pitching help sixth-seed to 3-1 win.

By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call

 

As the son of a longtime player and manager in the Tri-County League, Jim Ernst watched dozens of games in the local amateur baseball league while growing up.

But until Sunday night, Ernst never actually played in a Tri-Co playoff game.

He made his first postseason experience memorable by slugging a home run and adding an RBI single as Limeport stunned Tri-City 3-1 in Game 1 of an opening-round series at Scherersville.

The third-seeded Fleet-wings (25-9) must win at 7 tonight at Limeport Stadium to extend the best-of-three series to the limit.

Ernst's big night, along with a home run by Joe Pochron and superb three-hit pitching by Pat Toner, served notice that the Bulls are dangerous, despite a sixth seed and a 16-16 regular-season record.

Limeport seems to have the right mix of veterans such as Toner and youngsters such as Ernst, who grew up with the Tri-Co while following his father, Dave, to games.

''My dad needs seven hits for 400, and he's talking about coming back,'' Ernst said with a smile. ''Especially if I ever get close to his total.''

Ernst, who spent most of the summer with the Southern Lehigh Legion team and will be a Solehi senior this fall, said he is just happy to help out.

''The guys here have been so supportive,'' Ernst said. ''My first two at-bats tonight were two of the worst I've had. But they boosted me up and said I would have two more at-bats and I just tried to make the most of them.''

Ernst's home run to center in the fifth came just two batters after Pochron opened the scoring with a shot to right-center and made it 2-0.

Tri-City picked up an unearned run in the sixth to trim the deficit in half, but Limeport got it back in the seventh.

After the Bulls' Mike Gill walked and stole second, Tri-City skipper Bob Fatzinger chose to walk Dave Ross intentionally and face Ernst.

The strategy backfired as Ernst ripped a single down the line in right to restore the two-run lead.

''I was a little surprised they did that, but not much, because Dave Ross is a good hitter,'' Ernst said.

Fatzinger was playing the percentages, going lefty against lefty.

''I did everything but tell not to throw him a fastball, because he hit a fastball for the home run,'' Fatzinger said. ''I forgot to tell him that and Ernst made us pay.''

Toner, meanwhile, cruised after settling into the strike zone in the third. He walked three in the first two innings, but he escaped with the bases loaded in the second and then retired 11 straight until Matt Marcks laid down a bunt single to start the sixth.

That hit was followed by a single by league MVP Ben Swatsky in the sixth, but it took an error to get Tri-City on the board.

With runners at the corners, Toner got Justin Godusky on a fly to center to end the sixth and put down Tri-City 1-2-3 in the seventh.

''I had really good control of my split-finger fastball,'' Toner, a Salisbury High and North Carolina Wesleyan grad. ''I was keeping my curveball down and I just had good location. I had some walks early, but I got by that.''

Can Limeport get by Tri-City again?

''We're just starting to jell as a team,'' Toner said. ''And it's a good time to be jelling.''


Limeport 000 020 1 — 3 7 1

Tri-City   000 001 0 — 1 3 0


Toner and Krauss; Rothermel, Hemberger (7) and Arner. HR: L, Pochron (5th, none on), Ernst (5th, none on).



keith.groller@mcall.com

610-820-6740

From The Morning Call -- August 2, 2004

Copyright © 2004, The Morning Call