One new team, two new divisions and one big favorite: Limeport

By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call

 

The return to wooden bats produced one of the most exciting seasons in Tri-County Baseball League history in 2006 with thrills right down to a 5-4, eight-inning victory by Coplay in the fifth and deciding game of the title series.

The Tri-Co is hoping to build off last year's momentum as it begins its 55th season this week.
 

The league lost one member, Upper Perk, which folded after 33 years. But it also gained one, the Pennridge Phillies, to remain at 10 teams.

For the first time since 1998, the Tri-Co will use divisions.

Pennridge will be a member of the new South Division along with Cetronia, Gabelsville, Limeport and Quakertown. The North will feature Coplay, Woodlawn, ICC, Jordan Creek and the Northern Yankees.

When the 31-game regular season is complete, six teams will advance to the playoffs with the division winners receiving first-round byes.

While the league said goodbye to long-time Upper Perk and Gabelsville player Bob Graber, both George Horn and Ray Ganser will be playing in their 30th seasons.

The Tri-Co also will have a North/South All-Star game in Limeport on June 29.

And while the best players will be headed to Limeport that night, the best team may be in Limeport all season long.

The Limeport Bulls are rated a decided favorite.

"[First-year manager] Dylan Dando has put together one of the best amateur-league teams the Lehigh Valley has seen in quite some time," said Tri-Co vice president and Coplay manager Steve Smull. "I expect the Bulls to be the team to beat".

Plenty of information about the league is available at www.tricountyleague.com. With info provided by Smull, here's a team-by-team outlook.
 

CETRONIA LONGHORNS

Manager: George Horn (30th year, 421-452).

2006: 14-20-2, seventh.

Home: Cedarbrook Park.

Offensive keys: Randy Redman (.302), Ryan Schmidt (.303).

Pitchers: Jake Feist (4-3), Schmidt (3-2, 3.29 ERA).

Outlook: Veteran Teague Fatzinger joins a young team that just missed playoffs in 2006. With a year of seasoning, the Longhorns could reach .500 and make playoffs.
 

COPLAY REDS

Manager: Steve Smull (ninth year, 139-85).

2006: 33-14-1 overall, 25-10-1, third. Beat ICC 2-0 in first round, Limeport 3-2 in semis and Woodlawn 3-2 in finals.

Home: Scherersville No. 5.

Offensive keys: Mike Bortz (.390, 27 runs), Caleb Calarco (.376, 23 runs, 20 RBI), J.R. Graver (.337, 22 runs, 23 RBI), Brandon Leslie (.364, 22 runs, 27 RBI), Kyle Rhoades (.286, 21 runs).

Pitchers: Calarco (4-0, 2.69 ERA), Paul Giovannoli (3-1, 2.26 ERA), Leslie (4-1, 1.05 ERA), Jose Medina (4-0, 3.04 ERA).

Outlook: The defending champs have enough weapons to compete for another title.
 

GABELSVILLE OWLS

Manager: Matt Danner (third year, 57-11).

2006: 32-7-1 overall, 31-4-1, first. Lost to Woodlawn 3-1 in the semis.

Home: Lee Mecherly Field (Gabelsville A.A).

Offensive keys: Jon Kalejta (.370, 24 runs), Mike Ziemak (.369, 25 runs, 18 RBI), Shawn Betz (.323, 30 runs, 18 RBI), Lyle Loeb (.424).

Pitchers: 2006 Tri-County Pitcher of Year Shawn Betz (7-1, 0.95 ERA), Jeremy Cabot (6-1, 2.42 ERA), Justin Konnick (6-1, 1.65 ERA), Dan Kern (6-1, 1.06 ERA), Todd Stapleton (1-0, 4 saves, 1.22 ERA).

Outlook: With a solid pitching rotation and some new faces, Owls will compete for another league title.
 

ICC PIRATES

Manager: Brian Ruff (second year).

2006: 15-23 overall, 15-21, sixth. Lost to Coplay 2-0 in first round.

Home: Bethlehem Township Park.

Offensive keys: League MVP and batting champ Erik Ruff (.438, 29 runs, 24 RBI); Kyle Ruff (.333, 18 RBI); 2006 Rookie of the Year Jim Young (from Cetronia, .398, 16 runs).

Pitchers: Mike Pogorzelski (2.03 ERA), Mike Denning, Christian VonKiel, Mike Williams, Anthony Badwell, Brandon Hodakowski, Glen Dwyer.

Outlook: Again, the team has lost its two best pitchers, but Brian Ruff has restocked and ICC will be in playoff contention.
 

JORDAN CREEK GATORS

Manager: Fabian Acevedo (third year, 17-49).

2006: 7-27-2, ninth.

Home: Scherersville No. 1.
 

Offensive keys: Candido Garcia (.340), Danny Colon (.394), Juan Lopez (.283).

Pitchers: Julio Lebron (2.83 ERA), Jedi Gonzalez, Tony Marrero, Jeff Scheirer.
 

Outlook: The Gators are organized, confident and look to vets Fabian Acevedo and Lebron to bounce back from dismal 2006.
 

LIMEPORT BULLS

Manager: Dylan Dando (second year).

2006: 28-12-1 overall, 26-9-1 second. Lost to Coplay 3-2 in semis.

Home: Limeport Stadium.

Offensive keys: Pat Hollander (.375, 16 RBI), Matt Geiger (.355), Brendan McGaheran (.385), Jeremy Bartha, Luke Pile (.329, 21 runs), Pat Lane (.297, 27 runs, 21 RBI).

Pitchers: Scott Stewart (3-1, 46 Ks, 1.68 ERA), Jeff Krauss (6-2, 43 Ks, 2.06 ERA), Ryan Walter (2-1, 1.11 ERA).

Outlook: Anything less than a title would a disappointment. Addition of Matt Geiger, Ryan Walter and Brendan McGaheran on full-time basis and addition of many Division I and Division II players make Bulls the favorite.
 

NORTHERN YANKEES

Manager: Brian Polaha (second year).

2006: 19-18-3 overall, 18-16-2, sixth. Lost to Woodlawn Fleetwings 2-1 in first round.

Home: Scherersville No. 5.

Offensive keys: Darrin Lenhart (.316, 8 2Bs, Pete McCaulley (.351, 7 2Bs, 23 runs).

Pitchers: Josh Ziegler (5-2, 46 Ks, 2.26 ERA), Joe Grazer (34 Ks, 3.36 ERA), McCaulley (4-0, 2.59 ERA).

Outlook: The Yanks have all of their key players back and should return to the postseason where they hope to go deeper into the playoffs.
 

PENNRIDGE PHILLIES

Manager: Mike Lindsay.

Home: James Memorial Park.
 

Key players: Alex Wyllie (two-time Southern Lehigh Legion Pitcher of the Year); John Irizarry (Pennridge High MVP), Tanner Lindsay (East Stroudsburg), Morgan Keller (West Chester), Colby Schoeller and Chris Wright.

Outlook: The Phillies have young talent, kids who have been together through high school. The goal is to be competitive.
 

QUAKERTOWN PIONEERS

Manager: Don Rosenberger, Sr. (17th year, 78-431).

2006: 5-28-3, 10th.

Home: Quakertown Connie Mack fields 1 and 2.

Offensive keys: Justin Brown (.278), Evan Kiesel (.320), Alex Osipower (.341).

Pitchers: Jeremy Steigerwalt (2.86 ERA), Kiesel (1-0, 2.52 ERA).

Outlook: The Pioneers, playing at a much better home field, hope for their best season in more than a decade.
 

WOODLAWN FLEETWINGS

Manager: Jeremy Arner (third year, 36-17).

2006: 31-15 overall, 24-12, fourth. Beat Northern Yankees 2-1 in first round; beat Gabelsville 3-1 in semifinals; lost to Coplay 3-2 in finals.

Home: Scherersville No. 1.

Offensive keys: Scott Garger (.306, 28 runs, 29 BBs), Justin Godusky (.318, 30 runs), Ben Swatsky (.330, 9 2Bs, 25 runs, 25 RBI), Jeremy Arner (.366, 21 runs, 25 RBI).

Pitchers: Scott Bolasky (4-2, 40 Ks, 2.45 ERA), Dan Hemberger (3-1, 0.63 ERA) Matt Wiltrout (4-4, 1.88 ERA), Ryan Palos (5-2, 1.63 ERA), Adam Maini (Lackawanna College).

Outlook: The Wings have the same core intact that has made the playoffs all eight years of their existence and the finals the past two years.

keith.groller@mcall.com

610-820-6740

From The Morning Call -- May 12, 2007

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