"After tying for the conference championship last year, Mr. Sassaman has a baseball team coming back this year that he feels could win it this year. Out of 35 boys out for them, 12 lettermen are returning.

The team appears to be exceptionally strong defensively, especially at the mound position. The main weakness of the team is the lack of slugging power.

Individually, Pete Paturzo, Scott Houser, Dave Sauve, Ken Roth, Bob Brechbill, and Jim Paull are the main contenders for the infield positions. Bob Renard, Mike O’Keefe, Steve Lowe, Jim Lowe, and Pete Regis are battling it out positions in the outfield. Vern Beitzel, Scott Houser, Dave Jester, Jim Lowe, and Dick Deardorff will pitch for the Wildcats.

Summing up his opinion of the team, Mr. Sassaman thinks his team is capable of doing better than tying for the first place this year. "We’d like to win them all," says Mr. Sassaman.

Mr. Vargo, who teaches World Cultures in the Senior High, has been appointed assistant coach to Mr. Sassaman. Mr. Vargo is a graduate of Bloomsburg College and is a resident of Mechanicsburg. He played baseball in college. This is his first coaching experience."

(April 7, 1967 Torch)

"Losing only one game, the Wildcat baseball team clinched its second straight West Shore League championship. Mechanicsburg was all by itself at the top; the second place team had four losses. The single loss came late in the season, when at least a tie for the league laurels was assured.

Scott Houser tossed the first no-hitter of the season in the area against Carlisle, in a 1-0 Wildcat victory. Though lacking in control at times, the junior right-hander was able to pitch himself out of trouble twice. The lone tally of the game was scored by Bob Brechbill from a squeeze bunt by Jim Lowe. This home game was played on April 18.

A perfect squeeze bunt and a wild pitch allowed Mechanicsburg to pull out an 8-7 victory over Red Land, April 28, at Mechanicsburg. In the final inning, with Mechanicsburg down 6-7, Bob Renard bunted Pete Paturzo home to tie the game. With a man on first and third, the Patriot pitcher threw a wild pitch, allowing Scott Houser to scurry home. Dave Jester received the win.

Mechanicsburg lost its first game to Cedar Cliff in the second meeting of the two clubs, by the score of 3-1. Fine Cedar Cliff pitching and several Wildcat errors were basic in the loss. The lone run for Mechanicsburg came from a home run by Pete Paturzo in the first inning. Scott Houser was the losing pitcher. Mechanicsburg hosted the game of May 5.

Mechanicsburg downed Carlisle for the second time this year, 8-4, at Carlisle, May 9. Pete Paturzo was the star of the game for the Wildcats, gathering 3 hits in 4 trips to the plate and scoring twice. Altogether, the Wildcats slapped out 11 hits. Vern Beitzel picked up the win for Mechanicsburg."

(May 26, 1967 Torch)