Failure to capitalize results in tie

Gabelsville, Woodlawn battle to 3-3 deadlock, will replay game.

 

	Photo by Cesar L. Laure, The Morning Call
	WOODLAWN'S MATT NUHFER (right) throws to first to complete a double play after forcing Gabelville's Jon Kalejta at second base. The Fleetwings live to play another day after playing the Owls to a 3-3 tie.

By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call

 

Scherersville became the Land of Missed Opportunities on Monday night.

Gabelsville missed its chance to end the Tri-County League semifinal series, squandering a 3-0 lead and several late scoring threats.

Host Woodlawn, meanwhile, failed to convert a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the last of the ninth.

So the only winners were those who enjoy games at Scherersville because that's where the two teams are returning to replay the game at 5:45 tonight after a 3-3, nine-inning tie called by darkness accomplished nothing.

Gabelsville still holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and can still clinch a spot in the Tri-Co finals opposite Coplay with a win tonight. The Owls (26-7) may also have the momentum considering how things concluded.

The Fleetwings (27-8) used a single by Scott Matejicka, a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk to load the bases in the ninth.

But Charlie Torres hit into a forceout at home for the first out and Matt Nuhfer hit a liner that shortstop Jon Kaletja snared before diving to the second base bag for a double play.

Home plate umpire Joe LaBella wisely called the game at that point and left teams shaking their heads and gearing up for a do-over.

''We were fortunate to come back and tie the game after being down 3-0, but you're still disappointed anytime you have the bases loaded with no outs and don't score,'' said Fleetwings player-manager Jeremy Arner, who was the runner doubled off at second to end it.

''We just made too many mistakes. For some reason, we came out flat and it took us awhile to get going. Ryan Palos and Scott Bolasky did a good job to keep us in it.''

Gabelsville slapped together three hits to score three times in the second with Gary Hessler, Mike Ziemak and Kaletja (10-for-17 in the series) knocking in the runs.

The Owls then went into snooze mode for a stretch offensively, relying on ace Jeremy Cabot to close it out.

Cabot, the Tri-Co's pitcher of the year, had a one-hit shutout through four innings, but a walk and a hit batter set the stage for a three-run Fleetwings rally in the fifth.

Scott Garger doubled in one and Matt Marcks singled in a pair to knot it at three.

Marcks' proved to be the night's last clutch hit.

The Owls had two runners on in the seventh, eighth and ninth and didn't score.

Kalejta took the blame in the ninth when the Owls put the first two runners on base and he couldn't get a bunt down to advance the runners.

''First and second and no one out, you bunt -- that's what we do -- and we were taught how to bunt in Boyertown when we were little kids,'' Kalejta said. ''In that situation, you have to get it down. I have confidence in my ability to do that. I just didn't get it down, but fortunately, we got another shot.''

Kalejta made sure of the return trip to Scherersville when he snared Nuhfer's liner and beat Arner to the bag.

''It was hit right at me,'' he said. ''Since I was moving toward the bag, it was set up for me. Now, we've just got to come back, move runners, and end this series.''


Gabelsville   030 000 000 -- 3 10 2

Fleetwings   000 030 000 -- 3  4  0


Cabot, Stapleton (6) and Danner; Palos, Bolasky (6) and Arner. NOTES: Owls Kalejta 3-5, Hessler 2 hits.



keith.groller@mcall.com

610-820-6740

From The Morning Call -- August 7, 2007

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