7-3-2004 82 degrees, at Valparaiso

CROWN POINT (7-2-2004) - I keep trying to pump up this American Legion rivalry between Lowell and Crown Point. But Lowell's going to have to do better than they did last Friday night. There isn't that big a gap in pure talent between the two neighbor squads. But Post 20's 19-and-under team pulled away from Lowell 11-2 Friday after the 17-and-under, or 'B' team, bombed Post 101 by a 16-7 count.

"I really though they'd be better than that," said CP manager Tony Samano, after Crown Point's Mike Schultz held the visitors to just three base hits. "We've got a good lineup. When we catch the ball, we're a pretty good team."

Post 20 (8-6) had no problems, despite entering the game with five road losses in six games. After Danny Kozlowski's RBI double and Jon Radosevich's sacrifice flyball put Lowell ahead 2-0, CP scored the final 11 runs of the game on 10 base hits. Unlike the 16-7 win for Post 20's 'B' team, the second Crown Point win turned on one play. With runners at first and third and nobody out in the fifth inning, CP's Ryne Pishkur batted with his team ahead 3-2. Pishkur hit a sinking line drive that sliced to the left of Post 101's speedy centerfielder Scott Denton. Denton, a Hebron graduate, who had made a diving catch on a second inning line drive by Post 20's Tommy Finn, attempted the same play on Pishkur. But the ball hit the ground and was kicked by Denton to the center field fence for an inside-the-park home run, allowing three runs to score. 

Pishkur, who batted just .269 at Andrean this spring, has surprised everyone with his bat in the first 10 games for Post 20.

"He's batting over .500 for us," said manager Tony Samano, who has been batting the 59er senior fourth and fifth in the order. "He was on base four times. I don't know what he did for Andrean. Until he stops hitting, that's where he's going to bat."

The other impact player Friday was Boone Grove graduate Steve Georgian, who was also on base four times. Georgian, a left-handed hitting third baseman, had two singles and a double.

"He's the best hitter we have" said Samano, who noted that Georgian had first-pitch line drive singles twice. "He doesn't have to wait. He's the guy I want batting cleanup."

Lowell was coming off a sloppy 16-10 victory over Remington Post 280 on Thursday night and they actually played better baseball against Crown Point. But Schultz, the 6-3 senior, had his best game of the summer, throwing 117 pitches and allowing only one hit after the second inning.

"I feel great," said Schultz, who is counted on to anchor the pitching staff. "My arm's fine. I could go back out there tomorrow. We've had some defensive problems but we were pretty good tonight."

Post 20 lost to Plymouth 19-11 last week after an 8-7 victory over Hammond Post 168. Both could be regional foes next month. But the next big matchup for Post 20 (other than a game against the Post 20 B team Monday) was a Sunday match with Bristol Post 143 in the Post 20 tournament next week.

POST 20 NOTES:  The Post 20 tournament got smaller last week when Whiting Post 80 dropped out, reportedly to attend another tournament. The event will now be a round-robin, four teams playoff with just one game Friday (CP vs. Lowell) and no games Sunday night. Admission is $3.

Sectional pairings came out for the Crown Point Sectional on July 22 and CP drew Lowell in the first round. Hobart will meet Valparaiso in the other first round game.

Valparaiso Post 54, had to postpone two games with Lowell last week when they could not get a home field. The Valpo team uses the Valparaiso University diamond just north of Route 30 and east of the campus. But a youth league game prevented the double-header between Lowell and Valpo on June 26.

Post 20's David Dickerson will join Lake Central star Brett Summers and Portage outfielder Milton Rivera at a select baseball camp in Jasper, Indiana on July 9. They were the only three Class-of-2005 players picked for the event. Dickerson will miss Friday's game with Lowell Post 101.

Bristol Post 143 (14-4), Crown Point's opponent Sunday afternoon, split two games last Thursday at Anderson, beating Seymour 7-0 before losing 11-6 to Muncie Post 19 (11-4). Winning pitcher Eric Van Matre of Post 19 was 15-1 at Wapahani high school, losing only 2-0 to Bishop Noll in the 2A state championship game last month. Bristol is led by left-hander Mike McGregor (2-1) of Bethel College, who struck out 11 in a 5-0 win over Lafayette Post 11 on June 13.

Crown Point Post 20 (7-5)

19-and-under American Legion

Manager Tony Samano

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Revised: July 10, 2004.