(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 May 9, 1980).

By Times News Staff

Kory Bates powered two home runs and Andy Sherkness pitched a two-hitter as the Marian Colts upped their Hughie McGeehan League record to 8-1 with a 4-1 win over Lourdes Regional of Shamokin.

Bates’ first home run was a solo shot in the first after two were down. The drive cleared the left field fence.

In the third, Bates hit his second round tripper with a mate aboard. With two down, Bryan Osifat was safe on an error with Bates following with a tremendous shot over the right center field fence.

The two home runs gave the Colts a 3-0 lead through three innings of play.

Coach Tom Andregic remarked after the game that “Bates has been hitting the ball well all year but he hasn’t been putting it in the air.”

Bates has been hitting the ball hard but mostly ground balls. Against Cardinal Brennan, the Colt outfielder has been lifting the ball going 3-for-3 with a triple and a double. Yesterday, Bates almost had a third home run, flying out to deep center field.

Another consistent hitter for the Colts, Jeff Butala, started the Colts’ fourth frame with a double. After moving to third on a ground out, Butala gave the Colts a 4-0 lead when he came home on a single by Caszy Kosciolek.

A walk and a triple gave Lourdes its lone run in the fourth to break the shutout attempt by Sherkness. Dennis Madigan walked and scored on the triple by losing pitcher Bill Rozinski.

Sherkness, who ran his record to 5-0 on the season, threw 94 pitches in his 7 innings of work. The tall left-hander struck out 13 and walked only three. Of the two hits, one was Rozinski’s triple to right center field and an infield hit to deep short.

“Andy’s been overpowering all year,” stated coach Chink Connely. “Yesterday, he had an overpowering fastball and really mixed well.”

Sherkness opened the game by striking out the first three Red Raiders to face him and ended the game in the seventh the same way.

Marian 102 100 0 - 4 7 0

Lourdes 000 100 0 - 1 2 3

Sherkness and Cusinelli; Rozinski and Wasilewski. HR: Marian - Bates 2 (1st, none on; 3rd, one on).