Boyertown routs Keys behind Schwager's bat

by Don Stewart, Reading Eagle

Posted on June 22, 2006

Tuesday night's 0-for-5 showing against Schuylkill Valley left Mike Schwager anxious to get back out on the field.

Fortunately for the Boyertown outfielder, his team had a key Berks Legion League Red Division matchup with Gregg Post the following evening.

A motivated Schwager chased the bitter taste of Tuesday's o-fer with a 4-for-4, four-RBI night as Boyertown ripped the Keys 13-1 at Bear Stadium. The game was halted in the seventh due to the 12-run mercy rule.

“It definitely helped ease last night,” Schwager said. “The team picked me up last night, even though I didn't do so well. I just came out and tried to do what I could for the team tonight.”

He slammed a pair of two-run triples to help Boyertown (12-0, 20-0) pull away in what was a tight game in the early going. Schwager also scored two runs and stole a base.

Too bad he's not available for the office fantasy league.

In the fifth, with Boyertown leading 5-1, Schwager connected for a two-out triple to make it 7-1. He scored when the relay throw sailed past the third baseman for one of eight Gregg Post errors.

Schwager then delivered again in the sixth with another two-run triple that made it 12-1. Not bad for the No. 7 hitter in the lineup.

“Mike seems to hit the best when he's down there,” Bears coach Rick Moatz said. “We've moved him around to a lot of spots. But down at six, seven, he's pretty clutch with guys on base. He can sit on things and rip from that spot. So that's where we leave him.”

Seven certainly seemed to be a lucky number for Schwager against the Keys. The recent high school grad feels pitchers often overlook him when he's deep in the lineup. That can be a painful oversight.

“I'm definitely more comfortable there,” he said. “I've been one, two, four, three. Everywhere. I definitely like hitting seven better. I see better pitches.”

Schwager wasn't the only star for the Bears. Their ace, Matt Kelly, threw a seven-inning two-hitter. He struck out 12 and walked four.

Boyertown catcher Steve Bealer hit a solo homer in the sixth, and center fielder Nole Saylor went 3-for-5.

Entering the week, Gregg Post (8-2, 11-2) appeared to be a threat to crash the Berks Legion penthouse currently occupied by Boyertown and West Lawn. But the Keys lost 17-3 to West Lawn on Monday before falling Wednesday.

Poor fielding was a theme in both losses. The absence of shortstop Jeff Lluberes, who is in the Dominican Republic for his sister's wedding, only exacerbated the problem.

“We did the same thing Monday night when we were over at West Lawn,” Gregg Post coach Brad Reinhart said. “We just had two nights back-to-back where, to be honest, a Little League team could've beat us. We just didn't come to play.

“If you give good teams like West Lawn and Boyertown extra outs, it's just gonna make it harder. We've been playing good defense all year, but for two games we've just been in a funk.”

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