July 4, 1971
Code:
MATHEWSON W L PCT GB
Bethlehem 59 21 .738 --
York 44 36 .550 15.0
Pottsville 37 43 .463 22.0
Reading 37 43 .463 22.0
Lancaster 33 47 .412 26.0
Lewisburg 30 50 .375 29.0
WAGNER W L PCT GB
Gettysburg 45 35 .563 --
Washington 45 35 .563 --
Williamsport 44 36 .550 1.0
Altoona 43 37 .537 2.0
Johnstown 32 48 .400 13.0
State College 31 49 .388 14.0
Keystone League fans are forgiven if they're paying the vast majority of their attention to the Wagner Division this season.
While the
Bethlehem Steelers are rolling over their Mathewson Division rivals and looking more and more like they'll have a chance to defend the Governor's Cup, four Wagner Division clubs are within two games of the lead.
The
Gettysburg Cannons and
Washington Generals currently share the top spot, while the
Altoona Mountaineers--who were atop the standings a month ago--have slid down to fourth. The Williamsport Millionaires have edged past them into the third slot, after spending two days in first last week.
The Millionaires' surge can be largely credited to their consistently productive offense. Four W-port batters hit better than .310 during June:
Jason Canales, Randy Ong, John McCraney, and
John Francis. Canales and Ong drove in 24 and 23 runs respectively. Ace
James Greer was dominant during June as well (6-0, 1.22 ERA, 6 walks in 59 innings).
The return to form of veteran slugger
Fernando Albacete has powered the Cannons back to the top of the standings. Albacete is hitting .329/.382/.612, and leads the Wagner Division with 24 home runs.
Gettysburg made a pair of trades that were designed to bolster the team's offense even further. Hard-hitting
Mark Stier was obtained from Reading for a pair of minor leaguers. Stier can play first base and the outfield corners, and he's taken over the Cannons' left field job.
Then, the Cannons rolled the dice and traded a good pitcher for a good hitter, both of whom are in their prime. Gettysburg sent righthander
Dan Blackstock to the
State College Hillclimbers in exchange for first baseman
Danny Shaw. The Cannons lead the division in ERA at 3.66, with
Bobby Fite (11.6, 2.71) and
Dan Wimmer (11-6, 2.88) leading the way, so they figured Blackstock (8-4, 2.83) was expendable. Shaw and Stier have combined for six homers since changing uniforms, so the deal looks good at this stage. Whether or not it will seem so good in September is yet to be seen.
Pitching might be at a premium this year, as Keystone League sluggers are taking aim at the fences with a regularity not seen in a decade. Seven men have hit at least 20 homers at the season's halfway point, led by Bethlehem duo
Eddie Muth and
Roberto Marquez with 26 apiece.
Andre Privette (21) gives the Steelers a third 20-homer man, while
Eddie Reams is one long fly behind them with 19.
Speaking of the Steelers, they're running away with the Mathewson Division.
Jeff Nimmons (.341, .429 OBP, 30 steals) continues to set the table for the Steelers' big hitters. Pitchers
Mark McKernan (12-6, 3.99, 164 K in 128.2 IP) and
Donovan Wagner (11-5, 3.35) are both having big years, and 20-year-old
Christian Santry has won his first four KL starts.
However, it's
Jack Parker who, once again, is demonstrating why he's the best pitcher in the Keystone League right now. Parker has a gaudy 18-2 record and a 1.84 ERA, and he's already struck out 218 batters. Jack has also thrown 176 innings, but he's demonstrated he can handle a heavy workload without breaking down. "His stuff has never been better," says one opposing hitter.
Attendance is up all over the league, as fans thrill to the exploits of stars like these. They'll undoubtedly have many exciting stories to follow throughout the second half of the season.