Gabelsville's Betz comes out of 'pen to clinch championship

He shuts down Limeport in fifth game of series, preserving 4-1 win.


By Mickey Brown
Of The Morning Call

 

Gabelsville manager Mike 'Doc' Moyer made the difficult game-time decision to start Lew Chillot over Shawn Betz.

Lifting Chillot for Betz in the sixth was a no-brainer.

Betz, making his first relief appearance of the season for Gabelsville, came in to face Limeport's Steve Unger with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth.

He struck Unger out to extinguish a potential Limeport rally and all-but-secure Gabelsville's 4-1 win in the fifth and deciding game of the Tri-County League Championship Series Saturday.

It was the second straight year Gabelsville (34-6) had beaten Limeport in the finals. In the process, the Owls handed the Bulls their first home loss of the season.

"Shawn's been our man all year," a beaming Moyer said. "In my opinion, he's the MVP of the league. He wanted the ball tonight. I thought it would be better to let Lew start and bring (Shawn ) in in relief if we needed him."

And, boy, did Gabelsville need him.

Chillot was cruising until the sixth. He gave up only one hit, a fourth-inning solo home run to Glenn Bubser, through the first five innings.

He had only one strikeout, but kept Limeport (32-7) on its heels with a mixture of off-speed pitches and well-timed fastballs.

"I didn't think (Chillot ) had much, but he must have had something," Limeport manager Scott Heppenheimer said.

The Limeport lineup was so baffled by Chillot that Heppenheimer had each of his batters take a strike from the fifth inning on, a strategy that didn't work against Betz either.

Betz wasn't at full strength. He said his arm didn't feel fresh because he had pitched a complete-game three-hitter in Game 4 on Thursday.

"I don't know how he came back on a couple days' rest," Heppenheimer said. "He's pretty much owned us."

Though it was his first time coming out of the pen for the Owls, Betz was not out of his element. He was a reliever during his career at Bloomsburg University.

Betz came up big with the bat, too. His sacrifice fly in the third inning plated Neil Fox with the game's first run.

In the fifth, he singled, stole second and scored on Greg Gilbert's two-run double to the gap in right-center.

"Shawn might have been our leading hitter," Moyer said. "He's been doing the job offensively and defensively for us all year."

Limeport starter Chad Arnold has been equally reliable. But he was roughed up for eight hits and gave up all four runs.

"I didn't think we'd lose tonight, especially with Chad pitching," Heppenheimer said.

Heppenheimer began to have his doubts after Gilbert's huge two- bagger.

His doubt turned to dejection after Betz entered the game and ended Limeport's hopes of a title.

"Coming up here, facing Chad, we knew we had to beat their best," Moyer said. "We got some timely hits, and Shawn came in and bailed us out like he's been doing all year."


Gabelsville   001 030 0 -- 4 8 1

Limeport      000 100 0 -- 1 4 1


Chillot, Betz (6) and Fox; Arnold and Vito. W Chillot. HR - L: Bubser (4th, none on).



 

From The Morning Call -- August 20, 2000

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