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ICC eliminates Limeport, 8-4
#5 seed Pirates rip 13 hits and Dan
Smith gets the win to advance to Semis.
LIMEPORT --
The late July
sun must be having an effect on the ICC Pirates. Playing in 90 degree heat for
the second straight day, they stayed hot and beat the Limeport Bulls 8-4 to win
their best-of-three playoff series 2-1. It was ICC's first playoff series win
against Limeport, and second straight win against the Bulls after six
consecutive losses, dating back to last year.
The Pirates started
the scoring right away, with Chad Stecker dropping a leadoff single into right.
He swiped second and took third after Jon Michael Vito's throw got away, then
scored on Josh Mohlmann's RBI single. Mohlmann moved to third when A.J.
Peracchia laid down a bunt single for ICC's third straight hit, then scored on
a wild pitch.
The Bulls answered
back with a run in the bottom of the first. Joe Pochron led off with a single,
but was erased at second on a fielder's choice by Kevin Kershner. Glenn Kushma
and Rich Fenstermaker followed with singles. Kershner scored on Fenstermaker's
hit, while Kushma was thrown out at third base.
Starting pitchers Dan
Smith (ICC) and Pat Toner (Limeport) settled down after the first inning and
matched scoreless frames until the fifth inning. Mohlmann hit a one-out single
up the middle, then Peracchia blooped one into right-center. Eric Ruff reached
base on a fielder's choice, the second out at second base in the inning. Ruff
stole second, then both runners scored when Series MVP Chad Waelchli poked a
two-out, two-run single into right field, putting the Pirates ahead 4-1.
Smith showed some
signs of fatigue, walking P.J. Yoder to start the sixth inning. Nick Remaly hit
into a fielder's choice, wiping out Yoder, then scored on Christian Bensing's
second triple of the game. Smith left the game and was relieved by Ruff, who
got Vito to pop up to shortstop for the final out of the inning.
The Pirates opened up
a little breathing room in the top of the seventh inning. Reliever Jeff Krauss
hit Ruff to start the inning. Todd Brosious sacrificed his way on base with a
fielder's choice, and then Cory Schneck laid down a perfect bunt to advance the
runners to second and third. Kyle Ruff slapped a two-run single into center
field to put ICC up 6-2. A walk to Dave Stauffer and an infield single by
Stecker loaded the bases with Pirates. Mohlmann's third hit of the evening was
a two-run single into left field. Leading 8-2, ICC was seemingly going to coast
to victory.
But Limeport wasn't
about to roll over. Pochron doubled to deep left-center field to lead off the
bottom of the seventh. He held at second on a ground ball to shortstop, but
Stecker couldn't hold it and Kershner was aboard at first. After throwing a
wild pitch, Ruff surrendered a two-run single to Kushma. Kushma was out at
second on Mike Pychinka's fielder's choice, and then Yoder and Remaly walked to
load the bases. Ruff left the mound in favor of veteran pitcher Marty Rowan,
who set a record with seven saves in 1996. Rowan got Dan Borden and Jim
Schaffer to fly out for the final two outs and preserve the win for Smith.
Limeport got three
hits and two RBI from Kushma. Bensing added two hits, both triples, and Pochron
also had two hits. Kushma hit .500 for the series. Pochron hit .455 and Bensing
finished at .444.
ICC's big bats were
Mohlmann with three hits and three RBI and Peracchia, Kyle Ruff (two RBI),
Stauffer, and Stecker all had two hits each. Schneck and Series MVP Chad
Waelchli each hit .556 in the three game series. Mohlmann hit .417 and Stauffer
hit .400.
The Pirates next
opponent for the best-of-five semifinals will be determined Tuesday evening at
Scherersville, where the Banko Athletics will be facing the Tri-City
Fleetwings. If the A's win, the Pirates will open up at Lehigh Township on
Thursday. If the Fleetwings win, then ICC travels to Gabelsville. Game time will
be 5:45.
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