By Frank Rizzo
NARROWSBURG — July 3, 2001 – Overall record: 6–9
League Record: 3–3 OCIAA Division V
Sectionals: Lost to S.S. Seward 5-2 in the Class D quarterfinals as the Spartans started their defense of the Class D championship, eventually winning their third straight.
Top Hitters: Rob Taylor batted .440 with two doubles. Bruce Nober hit .418 with three doubles and one triple. Matt Pomes batted .500 with two doubles. Mike Cookingham hit .418 with three doubles.
Top Pitcher: Mike Cookingham did the bulk of the mound work, fashioning a 5–4 record with a 3.12 ERA. He was the only Class D pitcher to beat Seward in the regular season. He also fanned 14 Seward batters in a 5-0 loss late in the season.
Season Highlights: “Beating Seaward (8-3 on April 27,” said coach Scott Haberli. “We were the only Class D team to do so.
Haberli also cited a 5-0 loss to Seward on May 16.
“That game was for the [Division V] championship,” said Haberli. “We lost, but got to play for the championship, which is good.”
The Indians got a chance to play a league game in Cooperstown, “which is always a thrill,” Haberli noted.
Down 5-3 to Chapel Field, the Indians scored runs in the fifth and sixth to tie it, then won 6-5 on Matt Pomes’ seventh-inning single.
Disappointments: “Losing to Manor (10-7 in the regular season finale) after being ahead (7-1),” said Haberli. “Also, that first round sectional loss to Seward. They were tough losses.”
Awards: Cookingham was the team’s MVP. Most Improved went to Rob Taylor. Receiving the Coach’s Award was Logan Cole, “a great kid, he didn’t get to play much but was a lot of fun to have around,” said Haberli.