1962 Varsity Baseball

First row:  D. Bossi, B. Houser, J. Skillen, M. Bowen, D. Lehhmer, A. O’Donovan, T. Reed, M. Faust; 2^nd row: Coach Freed, R. Holderbaum, P. Wentz, H. Jones, G. Miller, S.Sauve, R. O’Donovan, J. Kennedy, B. Ruckle; 3^rd row: S. Seeley, D. Dixon, N. Berlin, H. Wimberly, R. Koch, R. Gipson, Coach Cassell

In the beginning …

Baseball Team Strong In '62

Has Experience in Six Lettermen

            It looks like Mechanicsburg has the "stuff" to go all the way this year.  The team has six of the eight starters back from last year's team, not including the pitchers. 

                The players to watch are outfielders, Al O'Donovan, Mike Bowen, Mike Faust, and Terry Reed.  The infield is composed of Paul Wentz, Dale Lehmer, Glen Miller, Barry Houser, and Steve Sauve.  The pitching staff is a strong and talented one with Jim Skillen, Rob Gibson, Dick O'Donovan, and Rodney Koch.

M-Burg Trounces Dover Team 12-3

As expected, the baseball team has gotten off to a rousing start, by defeating Dover 12-3, on Tuesday, April 3rd.  Dover's 5 errors made the job of the Wildcats much easier.

In the first inning of play Dover was held scoreless, but Mechanicsburg wasn't in the same boat.  Miller scored on Houser's hit, Wentz then got a double, and on a past ball and scored.  In the second inning, after getting into a little trouble with men on second and third, Dick O'Donovan struck out the next man to retire the side.  The Wildcats were held scoreless in that inning.  In the third inning Gibson took over the reins and Dover scored one run.  In the bottom of the third, the Cats scored when Wentz drove Sauve in.  In the fourth inning the Dover boys were retired in order.  Mechanicsburg's Al O'Donovan scored on a double by Lehmer and a single by Gibson.  Lehmer stole home and Gibson advanced to third and scored on a sacrifice by Miller.  Rodney "the Rock" took over on the mound in the top of the fifth, retiring the batters in order.  Reed led off with a double and Wentz did the same, driving in Reed.  Houser followed with a single, placing Wentz on third.  With a rally started Faust got a base hit driving in Wentz.  Faust the stole second and O'Donovan walked.  Lehmer got a single and drove in Faust and Houser, and Miller got a double driving in Lehmer and O'Donovan.

In the following innings Dover scored two runs.  The final statistics were

Mechanicsburg : 12 runs, 8 hits, and 1 error; Dover: 3 runs, 7 hits, and 5 errors

Baseball Team's Third Place Finish Unexpected

After getting off to a bad start, the baseball team has found the light.  Our team has a credible record of five wins and four losses of which the greatest victory was that of defeating the powerful Carlisle team, which was downed only by Mechanicsburg. 

                On April 10, at Cedar Cliff, Mechanicsburg defeated the Colts one to nothing in the second victory of the season.  In Mechanicsburg on April 16, a fine Carlisle team defeated the Wildcats three to one.

                At Camp Hill on April 17, Mechanicsburg was robbed with a score of nine to eight.

                In two games with Cumberland Valley, Mechanicsburg bowed both times on counts of five to one and four to three on April 24th and 25th. 

                In Mechanicsburg on April 27, Rob Gipson turned in a fine one hitter over Cedar Cliff with the Wildcats winning two to nothing.

                In Carlisle, on May 1st, Jim Skillen scattered two hits to guide M-Burg to a one to nothing victory.  Mechanicsburg had hits by Sauve, Houser, Lehmer and Skillen.

                In Mechanicsburg, on May 4th, our team overpowered Camp Hill in a fourth inning rally.  After trailing three to nothing in the early innings, Mechanicsburg scored four runs in a single inning.  The Wildcats won the game with a six to four verdict.

                In late innings of a game with Cumberland Valley on May 11th Mechanicsburg downed the Eagles with a score of six to three.  Dobe O'Donovan pitched the full game giving him the victory.  Kennedy, O'Donavan, Lehmer and Holderbaum all had runs from seven hits.

                Seeing a lot of action are Glen Miller, Steve Sauve, Terry Reed, Paul Wentz, Barry Houser, John Kennedy, Al O'Donavan and Dale Lehmer.  The pitchers are Jim Skillen, Rob Gipson, Rodney Koch and Dobe O'Donovan. 

                We see a few more victories in the last games.  This includes a victory over Carlisle. 

Torch trivia -

Can You Imagine…?

                - Ed Whistler, Gordon Gault, and Barry Houser at 5'2".

                -Dick O'Donovan hitting a home run in the Carlisle baseball game.

          Dale Lehmer                                             Al O’Donovan                                              Jim Skillen

            Shortstop                                              Outfielder                                                Pitcher

Teacher Of The Month:

Baseball Coach Freed

            As spring gets in progress many people turn their eyes to baseball training camps and the opening day games.  We here in Mechanicsburg, however, are interested in our own team and the man who coaches them, Mr. William Freed.

                Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 1937, Mr. Freed has been head coach of the Wildcats for the past three years.  He started his career as a pitcher with the Crimson Tide from Pottsville High School.

                Scholastically, Mr. Freed majored in Math and Social Studies, and became interested in teaching profession by his high school teacher.  He later went to college in Bloomsburg and received his BS degree in education.  This is Mr. Freed's first year at the Wildcat High School, but he previously taught for three and one half years at the Junior High. 

                Mr. Freed also coached the J.V. basketball to a 14-6 record this year.  His interests are primarily in math and sports.  Outside of his school activities he has played baseball for the Mechanicsburg Athletic Association and basketball for St. Mark's Church.

1962 SCORES