(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from April 17, 1995).

By Joe Plasko

TIMES NEWS Staff

It took one clout for Joe Tout to take Marian out.

The slugging senior first baseman’s fourth inning grand slam proved to be the decisive blow in Panther Valley’s 7-6 Schuylkill League Division III triumph at Marian.

The Panthers, now 4-1 (2-0 in Schuylkill III), had been on a hitting tear to start the season, banging out 20 hits in two of their three prior wins.

At Marian, the Panthers made the most of nine safeties, with Tout’s grand slam their only extra base knock.

“We were a little rusty with the bats, because we haven’t played in a week,” noted PV coach John Schreiner. “We got a player on here and there, and Joe Tout came up with the big swing.

“We have 4-5 guys who can hit the ball out of the ballpark this year. We also have some arms, and we’re going to need them over a short time,” he added, noting the Panthers are embarking on a four-game week.

The first of those arms, junior Mike Turrano, made his initial start of the season and settled down after some early wildness. Turrano gave up three runs and five hits while fanning eight and walking six through 5 2/3 innings before giving way to relievers Mike Davis and Lenny Oriel.

The Panthers gave Turrano some early cushion. Turrano led off the first with a single up the middle, with Martin Hine reaching on an infield single and Davis laying a bunt down the third baseline for another hit, filling the sacks.

Greg Kosciolek and Tout followed with sacrifice flies to put the Panthers in front 2-0.

The Colts (2-4 overall, 1-1 league) got one back in the home first on four walks, with Jim Hearity’s coming with the bases loaded.

Turrano once again helped his own cause in the second when his infield single scored Oriel, who had reached on an error. Fred Vito’s bloop single had moved Turrano to third.

Turrano started another PV uprising in the fourth with a one-out walk. He was erased at second on Hine’s grounder, but Davis followed with a single and Kosciolek had the discipline not to swing at a close 3-2 pitch, drawing a pass to load the bases.

On the next pitch Tout, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, took Colt hurler Chad Lauver deep for his second homer of the season and a 7-1 lead.

“We made one mistake on that grand slam,” said Marian coach Jeff Nietz. “Panther Valley is a fantastic hitting team, and they’re very aggressive at the plate. They were aggressive from the beginning, while we weren’t.”

The Colts, the defending Schuylkill III kingpins, snuck back within sight. Hearity belted a solo roundtripper in the bottom of the fourth, and Bob Ruggeri singled home Steve Gelatko, who had walked, in the sixth, chopping it to 7-3.

Turrano, taken out after 125 pitches as the evening turned cool, gave way to Davis.

The Colts struck for three runs in the seventh to further tighten things. Dirzulaitis beat out an infield hit and came around on three wild pitches. Nick Perhonitch and Hearity drew walks, with Perhonitch scoring on a passed ball and pinch runner Mike Barilla crossing on an ensuing throwing error, whittling the PV lead to one.

After Adam Yelito walked, Oriel came on with one out and pinch runner Rick Balliet on second. Oriel fanned the final two batters to record the save.

Turrano and Davis each had a pair of hits for the Panthers while Tout finished with five RBIs. Dirzulaitis had two of the Colts’ six hits.

While the Panthers’ win gives them a leg up in the division, it’s going to be a busy week in the circuit.

“Panther Valley is a team to be reckoned with in the division,” said Nietz. “There’s a lot of parity, bit if any team has an edge, it’s them. Still, we’re by no means out of it.”

Panther Vy. 210 400 0 - 7 9 1

Marian 100 101 3 - 6 6 3

M. Turrano, Davis (6), Oriel (7) and Kosciolek; Lauver and Hearity. WP - M. Turrano. LP - Lauver. HR: PV - Tout (fourth inning, three on); Marian - Hearity (fourth inning, solo).