Downingtown West High School Baseball

Suburban Advertiser from 1976 - DHS vs Pottsgrove

1976 History Page

Whippet's Wait is Over

Suburban Advertiser - Article by Dennis Daylor

Whippets 13 - Pottsgrove 2

May 18,1976

Downingtown Pummels Pottsgrove for Southern Division Title, 13-2

"We didn't sit around and wait for somebody else to win it for us. These kids went there and go the title themselves." Carl Houp

ALL THE WAY FOR SHANE, Downingtown's Shane McCusker crosses home plate following his two run HR blast in the sixth inning of the Whippets' 13-2 title clinching win over Pottsgrove on Friday.

A few years ago, Carl Houp and the Downingtown Whippet baseball squad played a waiting game.

They were involved in a three way tie for first place in the Ches-Mont League's Southern Division. Houp kept a vigil by the telephone, awaiting results to see if there would be a playoff for first, an outright title or whatever the topsy-turvy world of the Ches-Mont could throw at the Papertown nine.

That time, the Whippets lost the smell of a division title in the wind of Coatesville's swinging bats.

This year they didn't have to wait.

The Whippets captured the coveted title on Friday by pounding a hastily assembled squad of Pottsgrove Falcons, 13-2. The win left Downingtown with a 12-1 league record, 16-1 overall, and plans for the Ches-Mont championship battle on Enterprise Field in Pottstown on May 27.

The sweet smell of the diamond crown was soured by the fact that Pottsgrove sent only its junior varsity unit to Downingtown for the affair. The entire varsity unit was back in north Pottstown on a "disciplinary matter" which was the avoided topic of conversation during the game.

But the Whippets still faced nine opponents while at bat and wound up with a 14 hit attack off sophomore hurler Armund Colatosti. houp used the combined four hit pitching of Chris Watts and Mike Sciaretta for the clincher, which saw the Blue Bombers explode for nine runs in their last two times at the plate.

WHIPPETS OPEN EARLY
A walk to Joel Ashinhurst, an error allowing Jerry Klein to be safe, plus on RBI single by Phil Mackey gave the titlists a 1-0 edge through the first three batters. Bill Dague grounded out to second, plating Klein for a 2-0 margin after one inning.

Watts fired bullets at the Pottsgrove underclassmen through the first four innings.

Chris' bid for a no-hitter evaporated in the fifth on a bloop single over third base Falcon rightfielder Ted Drauschak. Keith Mest sacrificed him to second before Mercer craft singled the speedy junior home for the falcons first run.

Jeff Mulls walk, plus a single and stolen base by Watts ignited a two run burst in the third. Greg Runyen followed with an infield hit before Pat Dougherty laced a center. The ball eluded the Pottsgrove centerfielder as Mull and Watts scored. Scott O'Neill smashed a 2-1 pitch to left but Falcon outfielder Ken Schaeffer caught the liner and fired to home, nailing Runyen attempting to score and ending the inning.

BENCH CREW COMES THROUGH
Houp rested his starting unit after a three run fifth pushed the Whippets ahead by a 7-1 count and the results were unreal.

The splinter crew erupted for six runs on six hits including a two run single by Steve Gotberg, RBI single by Carl Fissel, and a two run homer by Shane McCusker.

Houp just shook his head as he watched the hit parade continue and noted that "many of these kids have been chewing at the bit to get into a ball-game. I guess they're just letting it all out of their system today."

Watts allowed just two hits, both singles, on the afternoon while striking out five. Sciaretta finished with two walks and a whiff, allowing the Falcons' final tally in the sixth by issuing a base on balls to Colatossi with the sacks loaded.

The contest had all the makings of a weekend pick-up game, but Houp was happy with the results.

"We're here to play no matter who they bring down. It was a weird situation but the results were fabulous. Watts did a fine job and I'm Happy that all the kids played."

TITLE SHAKE. Downingtown Coach Carl Houp congratulates relief pitcher Mike Sciaretta for his fine performance in the Whippets' 13-2 romp over Pottsgrove on Friday. The win gave the locals the Southern Division title of the Ches-Mont League and an overall record of 16-1.

After the team's 12th win against league opponents, Houp stated that the Whippets captured the title on their own. "A couple years ago, we sat around waiting to see what was going to happen. But the kids got together and really wanted to take it in a breeze. They're thinking ballclub and they've executed the way they are supposed to since the first day of practice. They made a mental error here or a boot in the field but shook it off. They pick each other up, on and off the field. There's nothing more you can say about a group of kids like that," the affable mentor continued.

"In the beginning, there were a lot of question marks concerning the ballclub," Houp confessed. "The biggest was whether Watts could come through as the second pitcher. But he's pitched as well as Timmy (Hardy) all year."

"The feeling I have now is a very nice one, something you only probably experience once in a great while. But we still have two more games left, some practice time, then the championship at Pottstown. There is still some more celebrating to do in the future, hopefully," Houp laughed.

The Delaware Valley loses a Stanley Cup champion and the people of Downingtown earn a division champion all in the matter of hours.

The world of sports is a never ending circle.

WHIPPET TITLE TALES . . .
Houp sent Hardy to the plate as a pinch hitter in the sixth and the final man on the DHS bench responded with a solid single . . . Hardy laughed all the way t first as he was continually needled by his teammates during the plate appearance . . .

Downingtown travels to O.J. Roberts today, enjoys an off day Friday, before hosting Pottstown in the season finale next Tuesday . . . . Falcons had two girls on their junior varsity squad . . . .

Whippets will now enter District One playoffs on Tuesday, June 1 . . . . The affair is a single elimination tournament . . . . Watts collected three hits on the afternoon and left the game after becoming tired in the humid conditions . . .

Klein added another stolen base to his league leading total . . .. Second unit collected almost half of the Whippets total hits . . . DHS batters complained that the "junk" Colatossi threw was hard to time . . .. Pottsgrove committed nine miscues in the field . . . .