Holding the Summit Hill Polish under the hypnotic spell of a real pitching classic for nine innings, Mike (Puss) Paslawsky piloted his Coaldale Greeks to an impressive victory in the first game of the Panther Valley championship series at Ginter Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The manager of the Coaldale club ascended the hurling peak Saturday in one of the finest performances ever viewed locally. He missed a no-hit, no-run game by the proverbial whisker as his Greek charges, playing like demons after an erratic start, piled up an easy 10-0 victory over the Hillers.
The lone hit that spoiled Paslawsky's perfect game was a scratch single by John Minnick in the 9th inning. The Polish centerfielder topped a high pitch to send a meek little roller down the first base line. Paslowsky fielded the ball and threw to first, but Minnick had the throw beat and the hit went for an infield single. The fact that the first baseman dropped the throw didn't alter the situation since Minnick had the ball beaten by a step.
The Greeks hit hard to boost their run total into the two-figure column, but at least half of their markers were traceable to the Polish team's slipshod fielding. The heads-up baseball that the Hillers played all season was strangely missing and no less than 11 errors were charged against them. "Shelkie" Porambo, the Polish starting pitcher, was treated harshly by the visitors and gave way in the second inning to Stan Benek after the Greeks had taken a 4-0 lead. Bennett coasted along well until the 7th inning, when the Coaldale sluggers nicked him for a quartet of runs.
After Burgess Derby tossed out the first ball to open the series, the Greeks waded into "Shelkie" Porambo's offerings for a pair of runs. Barney Haberchak whose alert work was a feature of the game, started off with a slow chopper to Borkowski at short. The Polish infielder fielded the ball okay, but shot a high throw over first base and Barney took second on the misplay. This was the beginning of the Polish team's miscues.
The lone scratch hit of the Polish team featured the 9th inning. After holding his foes hitless up to that frame, Paslawsky saw his dream of a no-hit performance vanish when Minnick's roller along the base line went for a hit as the centerfielder beat the pitcher's throw to first.
GREEKS
Barney, cf
P. Zulic, lf
N. Zulic, 3b
Polischak, rf
S. Zulic, c
Shubeck, 2b
P. Paslawsky, 1b
Rayda, ss
M. Paslawsky, p
POLISH
Stanek, rf
Kostecki, lf
Minnick, cf
J. Borkowski, ss
P. Borkowski, lf
J. Porambo, p, 1b
H. Porambo, c
Szczecina, 3b
Laskas, 2b
B. Tokask, 1b
Benek, p
NOTES OF THE GAME
Pete Zulic, classy left fielder of the Greek outfit, had his batting toe on and he clipped the old apple with a vim. He broke off four hits and was followed by Sam Zulic, who collected three. Polischak and Rayda had two apiece.
Polischak's catch of Eddie Kostecki's low liner was a flossy bit of fielding in the fifth inning.
The attendance was estimated at approximately 2000. The stands were well filled and the terrace along the south side of the field was loaded with customers.
