In a corner, Gabelsville fights out

Owls rally for 6-5 win over Fleetwings, earn title bout with Coplay.

By Bradley A. Huebner
Special to The Morning Call

 

Woodlawn backed Gabelsville into a dark corner Tuesday night but couldn't keep the Owls contained.

The host Fleetwings took a 5-4 lead after five innings of their Tri-County League playoff game following Jeremy Arner's clutch two-out single. The opposite-field single scored Scott Matejicka with the tying run, then Justin Godusky with the go-ahead run after the right-fielder misplayed the ball.

Darkness approached and threatened to end the game early. The Fleetwings seemed poised to even the best-of-five series at 2. They had the lead and the sky's hue.

As Arner, a player-manager, would say after the game, ''You can never, ever count them out. They're too good. Way too good.''

Gabelsville (27-7-2) proved just how good by forcing Woodlawn into three quick outs on six pitches in the bottom of the sixth, then scoring twice in the top of the seventh for a 6-5 victory. The team overcame the impending darkness and a 27-9-2 rival.

With the victory, the Owls advanced to the Tri-County championship against Coplay. The best-of-five series begins Friday at Limeport Stadium. Their hero Tuesday night surprised many.

On a team comprised mainly of former Boyertown Legion players, Upper Perkiomen's Dan Pierce delivered the two-out, two-run double that saved the game. The left hander slammed an outside fastball over the left-fielder's head to score A.J. Bohn (3-for-3, 2 runs, RBI) and Shawn Betz (2-for-4).

''I just had knee surgery like five months ago,'' said Pierce. ''I could only play every other game early in the season. He just gave me an outside fastball and I went for it. I thought the left fielder was going to catch it when I hit it.''

Pierce had been 2-for-11 with one RBI in the playoffs to that point.

None of that mattered after his hit, though. Teammate Barry Walsh relieved starter Betz in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.

Betz, the No. 3 batter as well, also teamed with former Boyertown teammate A.J. Bohn on two successful hit-and-run plays in the later innings, the last one setting the stage for Pierce's double.

''We have been doing that since we were little,'' said Betz, who twice swung at high fastballs to protect the baserunner and earn a clean hit. ''You have to swing at the pitch on that play. I don't know how I hit those pitches. I just got on top of them.''

Gabelsville amassed 10 hits. Bohn reached base four times and made two equally large plays in center field.

The Owls led 3-0 before Woodlawn tied the score in the third inning. Matt Godusky drilled a two-run double, and Scott Matejicka singled him home for the Fleetwings. Justin Godusky then drilled a line drive to center that would have scored Matejicka and maybe even himself.

Bohn, however, gambled as he came in on a sinking line drive. He dived and caught the ball to keep the score tied. Had Bohn misplayed the shot, it might have rolled to the fence for an inside-the-park home run.

After a walk to Arner, Charlie Torres then hit another sinking line drive that Bohn once again caught in a sprawled-out lunge.

Bohn answered his fielding heroics with some timely offense. He scored the go-ahead run for a 4-3 lead in the fifth on Pierce's sacrifice fly. That set up Pierce's late heroics.

''He really toughed it out for us,'' said Gabelsville manager Matt Danner.

Woodlawn's season ended despite another strong performance. Scott Garger (2-for-4), Matt Godusky (double, 2 RBI), Matejicka (2-for-4, RBI, run) and Justin Godusky (double, run) led an eight-hit attack.

''We knew the game wouldn't be decided by three or four runs,'' said Arner. ''It's always a close game when we play each other. We've had a lot of wars with them.''

Gabelsville will now battle Coplay, the defending league champion which beat the Owls twice in three games this summer. Gabelsville is seeking its 13th title in the past 23 years.


Gabelsville Owls           030 010 2 -- 6 10 2

Woodlawn Fleetwings  003 020 0 -- 5  8  1


Shawn Betz, Barry Walsh (7) and Matt Danner; Jed Hopewell and Jeremy Arner. W: Betz.

Bradley A. Huebner is a freelance writer.

From The Morning Call -- August 8, 2007

Copyright © 2007, The Morning Call