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Giant killerLittle Laurel High rose to occasion against New CastleBy Bob VosburgNew Castle NewsThis is one of those David vs. Goliath stories that crop up every once in a while in sports. It happened on May 16,1966, when little Laurel High School was the new kid on the block and New Castle was the powerful giant.And, again, David won.Laurel had only existed for a few years, and was the smallest high school in Lawrence County. New Castle was one of the largest schools in the WPIAL, and already had a long winning tradition in all sports. The two were locked in a struggle with Ellwood City for the Section 6 baseball championship.New Castle had romped over the Spartans, 7-0, in their first meeting earlier in the season, and was expected to do the same this time around. In most people’s minds, this was the hicks from the haystacks against the city slickers.But, it didn’t exactly turn out that way.What transpired that afternoon was the biggest win of any kind in Laurel’s brief sports history, showcasing Carl Drespling and Gary Roth, two of the earliest big stars for the Spartans.Here’s how I reported it the next day:•There’s nothing like that “farmer” label to rile up the boys from the country when they go against the lads from town.Just ask the folks out around Laurel High where today they are celebrating the biggest sports victory in that school’s young history.Gary RothOr check with the New Castle High baseball team which was shocked, 5-4, yesterday at Flaherty Field, victims of a seventh-inning, two-out uprising by the spunky Spartans from the smallest school in Lawrence County.It was a WPIAL Section 6 encounter, and suddenly little Laurel stands in the best position to flag down Ellwood City’s runaway toward the league title.Laurel (6-3) is a game and a half behind Ellwood City (7-1) and still a half game back of New Castle (7-3), but the Spartans have a game with the league-leading Wolverines tomorrow and there’s still a protest of a previous Ellwood-Laurel game hanging fire with the WPIAL.New Castle, who had breathed hot on Ellwood’s neck through most of the league chase, appeared to have another victory in the bag when it held a one-run lead with two out in the last inning yesterday.Hurricane hurler Bob Williamshad walked Keith Moser, ninth batter in the Laurel order, with one away, and Ron Fennick had forced Moser at second base.Dave Wellman blooped a soft single behind first base to advance Fennick to second and New Castle still looked fairly safe.But Carl Drespling, the All-Section catcher, who enjoyed one of his best days of the season, laced a hard grounder wide of third base that was a hit all the way. Still, it might not have scored a run had New Castle shortstop Anthony Aven been able to keep it in the infield.The ball hopped past Aven, however, sending Fennick home with the tying run, then the New Castle defense collapsed completely.Leftfielder Rick DiMuccio let Drespling’s hit get by him, then he slipped as he turned to chase it.Hurricane first baseman Anthony Testa moved over to cut off the throw from the outfield as Wellman by this time was heading for home. Testa too slipped as he prepared to throw to the plate and the ball sailed high over the head of catcher Mike Humphrey.This enabled Drespling to come all the way around, evading a tag by pitcher Williams as he slid across with the run that put Laurel ahead, 5-3.New Castle got one run back in the bottom of the seventh when John Christofer reached second on a double error by Laurel second sacker Ron Fennick and scored on a single by Testa. But Ken Aven, running for Testa, was stranded on first as DiMuccio lined out to center field.The loss was New Castle’s third of the season, all in league play, all charged to Williams and all by the slim margin of one run.The victory went to Gary Roth who went all the way to record his fourth win against no losses. Roth helped his own cause immeasurably with three hits.•Laurel jumped on Williams after two were out in the first inning when Drespling laced a double to deep left field, his first of three hits. Roth singled him home.The one-run margin looked mighty big as the innings flew by while Roth and Williams waged a fierce mound duel in one of the most exciting games of the season.New Castle finally scored and took a 3-1 lead in the fifth frame when Williams reached base on an error, and New Castle began to bunt. Christofer bunted for a hit and Aven drew a throwing error on his bunt, allowing Christofer to score.Lou Santangelo plated another run with a sacrifice fly and Testa singled home the third tally.Laurel got one of the runs back in the sixth when Drespling singled in the infield and Roth followed with a hit. Drespling scored on Mike Sharek’s grounder to third.John McAnany popped up to open the seventh and New Castle appeared home free when the explosion came.AFTER THOUGHTS — The whole Laurel dugout emptied to greet Drespling after his wild dash around the bases while the ’Canes handled the ball like a hot Please see LAUREL, page 19
Newspaper Details
New Castle News Weekend
New Castle, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, Jul 16, 1994
Page 16
Full Page
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USA 06 Dec 2023
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