( 3- 1) ROTARY 2 0 0 0 0 4 -- 6 4 3 ( 3- 1) KIWANIS 0 0 0 1 0 0 -- 1 3 4 W - Van Biert (2-1) L - Usher (1-1) HR -- Van Biert (1), 1st inning; Nelson (1), 6th inning
The Rotary nine, masterminded by Dave Chadwick and utilizing the mound abilities of big Gene Van Biert, picked up a game and a half during the past week’s play, and gained the first place tie with Kiwanis by dropping the Kiwanians 6-1 in a tussle Monday that was a tight one-run ball game until the top of the final inning, when Rotary erupted for four big runs.
Pitcher Van Biert was the big man for the Rotary club, as he held Kiwanis to but three safeties and clubbed a first inning home run with a mate aboard that proved to be the Rotary margin of victory.
Rotary got things moving in the first when, with one away on the basis of a sweet covering of the base by Kiwanis second sacker Mort Lefkowitz, Rye Alyea was on via an error by Lefkowitz on a similar play.
Alyea slapped a hot shot down the line that first baseman Burns ran in to grab but let slip through him. Lefkowitz, who looked like a big leaguer a moment before on almost exactly the same play, couldn’t come up with this one, and Alyea was safe at first. Kiwanis hurler Harry Usher whiffed Bill Hands, but his opposing moundsman Van Biert got hold of a pitch and pickled it between left and center for a two run circuit clout.
The Kiwanis threatened in the first as they got two of their three-hit total, but Van Biert was equal to the task and struck out Dave Dorman with two men on to end the inning.
The game went along a 2-0 contest until the fourth, when the Kiwanis pulled back into contention. Ray Reardon led off with a walk, and, after the next two batters struck out, D’Ziadosz walked and Lefkowitz singled, taking second on an error by Alyea on which Reardon scampered home.
Van Biert stopped the trouble by fanning Usher.
Rotary sewed the contest up in the top of the sixth and final frame as four runners crossed the plate. Luke singled, Hansen walked, Cole was on via an error at second, and Nelson homered to bring in four runs and ice the contest.
Dan Luke, Rotary shortstop, and Mort Lefkowitz, second sacker for the Kiwanis club, both hit safely twice in a game featured by very little stick work.