SPORTS FLASHBACK 1983: Sultans swat Pacers in Hanover finals

The Steinbach A&W Pacers wanted to get the Hanover Fastball Association finals out of the way before they left for the nationals in PEI. The Friedensfeld Sultans were more than happy to oblige. The Sultans spotted the junior team a victory in the opening game of the series, then came back with three straight victories to capture the Hanover crown.

The Sultans held the edge in hitting in the four-game set and it was only fitting that the league’s slugging king accounted for the go-ahead run in the final game Sunday.

With one out and Doug Chornoboy on third base after a two-run triple, Randy Penner parked one over the right field fence to give the Sultans a 5-4 lead. John Liska reached base on an error after a Pacers’ pitching change, moved to second base on a single, and before the inning ended, scored to increase the lead to 6-4.

The Sultans held that lead until the top of the sixth, when James Loewen scored after being hit by a pitch and Rick Comeau reached second base on an error in the outfield.

Earl Klassen retired the side in order in the seventh to preserve the 6-5 win for Friedensfeld.

Klassen was the winning pitcher in the deciding game, giving up five hits, hitting two batters and striking out five. Guy Phaneuf, who started for the Pacers and went two and one-third innings, was tagged with the loss. He gave up three hits. Darcy Gryba finished the game in relief and also was tagged for three hits by the Sultans.

The Sultans got the opportunity for a short series, when they rode five hits to a 4-3 win Friday and a 2-1 lead in games in the best-of-five.

Murray Chornoboy pitched the win for Friedensfeld, while Darcy Gryba was tagged with the loss.

Thursday night in Steinbach, the Sultans scored three runs in the top of the first inning and Marv Kornelson pitched a three-hitter to give the team a 3-1 win and the series lead.

Penner led the team in hitting, going two for three at the plate and knocked in two runs.

The Pacers managed their only win in the opening game of the series a week ago, when they outhit the Sultans 5-2. All the runs came in the fourth inning, when Friedensfeld scored twice in the top of the inning and the Pacers came back with three in the bottom. Harry Schlamp did most of the damage for the Pacers, with a two-run homer.

While Sunday’s win gave the Sultans the Hanover championship, the season is far from over for the team. Next week, they will play a home-and-home series against Mitchell as a tuneup for the provincial ‘C’ championships in Steinbach, in September.

Mitchell will host Friedensfeld Tuesday, Aug. 16 and the teams will play in Friedensfeld Thursday, Aug. 18. Both teams will be competing in the ‘C’ championships.