Swatsky goes swatting in Fleetwings' victory

The shortstop's 3 hits, 3 RBIs lift Tri-City to 13-2 win in semis.

By Ted Meixell
Of The Morning Call

 

Word was that, leading up to the Tri-County League semifinals, the last team top-seeded Tri-City wanted to face was Lehigh Township.

Before their best-of-five set ends, that may well prove to be prophetic. It did not ring true, however, in the opening game Wednesday night in Scherersville.

The Fleetwings unleashed a 15-hit attack that included three doubles, a triple and a long two-run home run by Josh Perich in cruising to a 13-2 win over the Brewers. The teams will meet for Game 2 at 5:45 p.m. today at Bryfogle Park in Berlinsville.

Despite Wednesday's one-sided outcome, there was solid logic behind Tri-City's lack of enthusiasm for facing the Brewers.

A year ago, Lehigh knocked the Fleetwings out of the playoffs in the semis, three games to one. And the Brewers swept the regular- season meetings.

This year, they split, with a 9-9 tie in between. The Brewers won 5-1 early in the season, after which the Fleetwings went on a 21- game win streak.

Tri-City won 5-3 on the last day of the season to nail down first place, but not before coming from behind to do so.

"Yeah, we've had our problems with them the last couple years," Fleetwings coach Bob Fatzinger said. "We haven't played well against them. Tonight, we finally did what we have to do."

Translation: Knock the cover off the ball.

Slugging shortstop Ben Swatsky, who paced the Fleetwings (28-5) with a single, double, triple, three RBIs and two runs scored, differed with the idea of not wanting to face the Brewers.

But he used diametrically opposite logic.

"They knocked us out last year," Swatsky said, "so we owe them -- bigtime. We want to go out and beat them."

One other concern for the Fleetwings was the 12-day layoff they had by virtue of earning a quarterfinal-round bye.

No problem, they said -- with their bats. No problem, Swatsky said -- verbally.

"I went to a batting cage just about every day," he said, "and so did most of the guys. Plus, we had some good practices and a good round of batting practice before the game."

So, the bye was advantageous?

"It helped our [pitching] arms a lot," Swatsky said. "I know my arm feels a lot better, and I don't even pitch."

Right-hander Ryan Palos worked five innings of four-hit ball, allowing the Brewers' two runs, for an easy win. Steve Rothermel and Dennis Kinney mopped up.

Swatsky was far from alone offensively. Teague Fatzinger (three RBIs), Perich and Jeremy Arner each added two hits.

Coach Shawn Andrews was asked if it might be easier for his Brewers (20-15) to bounce back from a blowout than from a close loss.

"I guess we'll find out [tonight]," Andrews said with a laugh. "It was a tough loss. I hope it doesn't take us out of it mentally, that it doesn't rob us of our focus.

"We'll see what our guys are made of."


Lehigh Township  000 200 0 --   2    7   1

Tri-City                 019 002 x --  13  15  2


Jeff Erschen, Josh Hillman (3), Sean McNamara (3) and Eric Schmitt; Ryan Palos, Steve Rothermel (6), Dennis Kinney (7) and Jeremy Arner. WP: Palos. LP: Erschen. HR: TC: Josh Perich (3rd, one on).

ted.meixell@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- August 7, 2003

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