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By DAVE EGBERT Staff Writer Findlay's Marlesta Nursing Home and the Findlay Amvets, according to a poll of competing managers, will be playing in the Ohio Open fast-pitch state tournament next month. The coleaders in Findlay’s Major League—both sporting 8-1 records—were the pick of a 12-team District 2 field to advance to the state’s biggest softball spectacle. However, the local powers must first meet a strong challenge from the Moulton Merchants, a member of the Ohio Fast- Pitch League. District action begins at 7 p.m. today with Jack Do’s facing the Leipsic Merchants in the first of a possible 23 games spread out over 11 days. The Mill tangles with Molly’s Bar Grill at 3:30 p.m. in today’s other contest. Third and fourth place finishers qualify for the Class A state tourney in Hamilton. . Based on a 4-3-2-1 point scale for finishing first through fourth, defending champion Marilesta polled 40 points followed by Findlay, Amvets 35, Moulton Merchants 32, Jack Co's and Findlay Merchants 5, and Leipsic Merchants 3. Mariesta registered six firsts, the Amvets four and Moulton two. Marlesta, with seven batters hitting over .335 after at least 85 trips to the plate, got an apparent break in the drawing which placed the Amvets, Moulton, Jack Co’s and the Leipsic Merchants in the other half bracket. Catcher Pat Kennedy leads the Marlesta squad with a .420 batting average followed by Terry Marohn .417, Mark Ammons .398, Jim Ramsey .374, Dave Danhoff .348, Jim Millen 341 and Randy McCormick .337. Ammons has pro vided the power with 15 homers, 11 triples and 15 doubles. Ron Pehrson, 11-2 (2.81 ERA); Randy Rosendale. 11-3 (3.78 ERA); and Ray Ramsey, 15-5 (3.74) are the vital cogs in the pitching staff. The Findlay Amvets, who swept a doubleheader from Mariesta last weekend, will have veterans Carl Maag, Art Chamberlin and Ron Myers tossing the ball. Ken Kern has batted .348 while Gary Franks is sacking the pill at a .345 clip, Jim Gangle .340, Marty Davis .320, Dick Heldman .298, Denny Maag .287, Dick Apple .278 and Larry Fisher .275. Moulton’s Merchants, despite only a 21-27 record, have played the best teams in Ohio and figure to make a strong showing. Ned Hobler tops the hit ters at 380 followed by Terry Haas .315, Bob Morgan .300 and Craig Ambos .270. Ron Bowers, Willie Vetters and Hobler will handle the pitching. Jack Do’s, 23-26, won the House of Awards Invitational and is expected to get about as far as Larry McCauley’s arm can carry it. McCauley, with a 19- 12 record, won four straight games in the invitational while Most Valuable Player Greg Burton leads the batters with a .432 mark. Paul Inbody is swat ting .364 and Brad Hards .287. Burton has 11 roundtrippers and Inbody seven. The Findlay Merchants, 27-15, will send Jerry Ammons, Louie Rettig and Dick Wohlgamuth to the mound while depending upon Randy Heldman .408 Dean Butler .370, Reggie Clark .367, Ray Thomas .333, Bruce McCartney .29, and Tom Haggerty .286 to hit the ball, Clark has 10 homers. Jerry Schroeder, who manager Bob Siebeneck says is pitching well enough now to beat any team in Findlay, will pitch the opener for the Leipsic Merchants with Siebeneck and Dan Niese in reserve. Steve Coble has been the top batter with a 403 average while Bob Glant is listed at .392, Jim Wagner .292 and Don Bryan.292. Coble has belted seven home runs. Miller’s Luncheonette will start either Bob Burrell or Mike Burke on the hill with Jim Warren in relief. Mike Dukes leads the team in hitting with a .340 mark followed by Warren .320, Rudy Elford .320 and Greg Miller .300. Eddie’s Motor Sales, one of five Findlay Minor League teams entered in the tournament, captured its league title behind the hitting of Dan Powell (.945), Roger Hurt (.523), Gary Bender (.500), Rick Monday (.476), Randy Greene (.320) and Mark Schaffner (.307) and the pitching of Willie Rettig (6- 2) and Hurt (3-2). Smith Wood Specialists, tied for second with Putt Putt, will showcase hit ters Terry Bosworth .425, Gary Smith .375, Walt May .370, Don Beardsley .350 and Larry Wymer .325 with Jerry Smith, Bill Miller and May scheduled to handle pitching duties. Putt Putt will send Bob Lewis (5-2) to the mound in its opener with Ed Green (1-1) in reserve. Top hitters include Larry Beisner .425, Lewis .375, Brad Girdler .299 and Mike Lampman .267. The team has six starters 15 years old. Terry Bowers and Jim Diller will handle hurling chores for The Mill with Dwight Wanland .440, Dave Leonard .400, Chris Tursky .390 and Diller .390 expected to provide the bulk of the offensive punch. Bob Doxsey Jr. will get the starting call for Molly's Bar Grill with Dave Ammons ready in relief. Bob Basinger leads the team with a .360 average followed by Jeff Crawford 333, Kevin Ammons .312, Doxsey .310 and Ron Ammons .295. LARRY FISHER MARTY DAVIS PAT KENNEDY ond JIM RAMSEY
Newspaper Details
Findlay Courier
Findlay, Ohio, US
Fri, Jul 22, 1977
Page 21
Full Page
Clipped by
Alex A.
USA 10 May 2026
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