By Ted Waddell
MOUNTAINDALE — June 20, 2003 – Baxter Stadium, home of the defunct Mountain Lions turned Catskill Cougars, saw a bit of its former glory Tuesday as the Sullivan Spartans (1-3) squared off against the Goshen Giants (1-3) for a Collegiate Baseball League (CBL) game.
Gone were all the hot dogs – souvenirs and legions of summer camp kids screaming at anyone within earshot, "Hey, mister, gimmie a ball."
But on Tuesday night, the crack of the bat was back at Baxter, as were the sounds from dugouts as players cheered on their teammates and razzed the opposition.
In the bottom of the first frame, Mike Vichaello and Tim Gilmore walked for the Spartans. With two outs, Jeff O'Neill got hit with a pitch. A two RBI double by Gil Suarez made it a 2-0 ballgame.
In the top of the second, the Giants closed the gap.
Joe Papasiixro reached on a base hit and legged it to second on a wild pitch. He scored on a single by Brian Williams.
In the fourth frame, the Spartans made up the Giants run.
Suarez walked, stole second and advanced to the hot corner on a wild pitch. He crossed the plate on a single by Bill Reichmann.
But the Giants tied it up in the sixth.
Ban Cass singled. Papasiixro walked. Williams singled to score Cass. Ben Carcis hit into a fielder's choice to send Papasiixro home to make it a 3-3 ballgame.
The seventh was a big inning for the Spartans, as they sent four runners across the plate to slay the Giants 7-3.
Reichmann was walked to first, and Andy Peterson singled to put runners at first and third. Travis Steffans bunted to stack the deck. Jesus Pintado smacked a two RBI double. Vichaello got hit by a pitch that shaved the corner to load the bases.
With one out, Gilmore swatted a 2 RBI double to end the scoring as dusk decended over the stadium.
With the Tuesday night win, the Sullivan Spartans have won four of their last five games. Over the weekend, they went 3-1 at a tourney in Reading, Pa., but the victories don't count in the CBL standings.