(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 June 1, 1984).

By John L. Faust

Staff Writer

Winning a championship is always a joyous time. At Pleasant Valley such moments have been rare events to savor. The year 1984 had already become a year to remember at PV when the girls captured the Centennial League track dual meet crown last month.

Yesterday, the Bears took home the gold for only the third time since the formation of the Centennial League in 1975. A 4-1 victory over Salisbury at Coplay was the climax of a virtually perfect drive to their second District XI baseball title since 1982.

Charlie Delp was the man who allowed only one run during the playoffs’ 21 innings. He began with a 4-0 win over Catasauqua last Friday. No rest followed Thursday’s 1-0 shutout of Tri-Valley.

Head coach Jeff Kashner decided Delp was his best bet to stifle Salisbury’s hot bats. The Falcons came into the game after Thursday’s 31-6 victory over Schuylkill Haven. The Bear senior gave him a five-hitter and five strikeouts.

“I had a great wall behind me,” was Delp’s praise of his teammates, who supported him with errorless play in the three outings. He added, “Our three coaches (Kashner, Gary Brach and John Gress) are the greatest. They have really built our confidence.”

His playoff success seems to have also helped Delp make an important personal decision. “Wichita State has accepted me to play baseball. I wasn’t going to go, but now I’m reconsidering. This summer I expect to play for Saylorsburg.”

Tears of joy welled for Kashner after the climax of his eighth year at PV’s helm and the Bears’ third trip to the finals in five years. Seven of the nine seniors he has guided for as much as five seasons played yesterday.

“There has been a real closeness with these seniors. For a lot of them this might be their last chance to gain such success.”

The Bears combined three hits for their first run in the opening inning. After Mark Kelly recorded the first of his seven strikeouts against leadoff hitter Scott Lutz, Rick Ruch beat out a grounder to third. He reached third when Larry Carper stroked one to center field. Rob Anthony recorded the RBI by matching Carper.

Another score came in the second. With one gone Delp found the hole between short and third. After D.J. Mendel was out on a high fly near the plate, Lutz sent a shot to rightfield. Delp scored from first when Mark Maerer dropped the ball as the heavy wind carried it just beyond his fingertips.

Carper began PV’s third with a double. Anthony struck out before Mike Mullane sent a grounder toward Maerer. Carper tagged for home and Mullane went to second on John Konawalik’s sacrifice fly to deep center. Mullane completed the Bears’ scoring when Mike VanHorn followed with the inning’s second two-base hit.

Meanwhile, a third inning walk to Steve Tweedy was all the Falcons had managed during their first three rounds.

VanHorn’s unassisted out at first retired SHS’s first man in the fourth before Brian Chisdak got to Delp for a double. After Delp fanned Todd Lisetski, Chisdak scored when Scott Jacoby sent a grounder to left. Maerer found the same hole before Jim Borneman flied to Mendel.

Although Kelly allowed only two walks during the Bears’ final four innings, PV had to thwart another threat in the fifth.

There was concern when Mullane crashed into the concrete bleachers as he chased leadoff Mike McAloose’s 3-2 foul. Mullane was able to return after being checked, but Delp lost McAloose. Tweedy replaced him on a fielder’s choice before Scott Keshaneck singled. A Kelly fly and Chesdak’s grounder to first put out the fire.

McAloose singled with one gone in the seventh. However, Delp struck out Tweedy before the game ended when Keshanich grounded to third to force Tweedy.

Delp later credited Kashner for restoring his confidence during the later going. Meanwhile, Tony Caracio was superstitiously agonizing about whether he should have bitten his tongue. PV’s AD had asked us whether Delp still had a no-hitter going just before Chisdak’s blast.

The Bears will enter interdistrict action at 4 p.m. Tuesday against either Wallenpaupack or Delaware Valley of District 12 at Reeders.

Pleasant Vy. 112 000 0 - 4 8 0

Salisbury 000 100 0 - 1 5 1

PV - Charlie Delp and Larry Carper. S - Mark Kelly and Todd Lisetski. W - Delp. L - Kelly.