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Flyers Weekly, Volume XXV, Issue 29 - October 2, 1972

The Flyers post the best record in CBA history, ending the season with a three-game sweep of the Tomahawks. The Confederate Series begins this week when the club hosts San Antonio on Wednesday and Thursday before travelling to Alamo Field for Saturday and Sunday.


Last Week's Results

Sept 25 - OFF

Sept 26 - vs NOR - L 4-5

Justin Randolph (5 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 3 BB, 4 K) has just one chance remaining to become a twenty-game winner after losing a tight Retro Game Day at State Fair Park today. Both Clark Davidson (3 for 5, 2B, R) and Paul LaFontaine (3 for 4) collect three hits on the night, but Davidson ends the game by being thrown out at second, trying to stretch a single into a double.

L - Randolph (19-6)

Elsewhere, San Antonio edges Memphis, 2-1, while Dallas drops a 5-4 game at Houston, clinching the Western Division title for the Missions.

Sept 27 - vs NOR - W 9-0

Ken Green (9 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K) performs brilliantly in his final start of the season, while four Norfolk errors lead to six unearned runs as the Flyers slaughter the Clippers. Everett Putman (2 for 4, 2B) drives in four; LaFontaine (2 for 3, 2 R, 2 RBI) ties the team record with hit #209, equalling the mark set by Stephen Delisle in 1957.

W - Green (11-8)

Sept 28 - vs NOR - L 6-7

Bill Frazier (4 1/3 IP, 7 R, 9 H, 1 BB, 5 K) is pounded by the Clippers, especially Norfolk CF Dan Townley (4 for 4, HR, 2 R) and his five RBIs. Thomas Wilkins hits 3 of 4 but leaves the game after his second double in the 7th; he is listed as day-to-day with a strained back. Dave Snow (2 for 3, R) and Tom VanWinkle (2 for 4, 2B, HR) both drive in two for the Flyers.

L - Frazier (12-5)
HR - VanWinkle (2)

Sept 29 - vs TAM - W 5-1

Bill Morgan (6 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K) wins his seventh straight decision in style, while both John Swanson (R) and LaFontaine (2B) go 2 for 4 with two RBIs to win Baseball Cap Day in front of 40.953 Carolina faithful.

W - Morgan (15-4)
SV - Bingham (40)

Sept 30 - vs TAM - W 2-1

Keith Becker (6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 4 K) ends his regular season with another tough no-decision, but the Flyers score one in both the 8th and 9th for their 107th win, equalling the CBA record set by Miami in 1963. Dave Snow ties it up with a pinch-hit RBI-double, then Putman hits a walkoff single to center that scores Schaaf with the game winner. Christopher Horan (1 IP, 1 K) picks up his third career win for a perfect 9th.

W - Horan (2-0)

Oct 1 - vs TAM - W 4-3 (10)

A dramatic end to a incredible season, when Swanson hits a walkoff solo shot to left-center with one out in the bottom of the 10th, sweeping the Tomahawks and setting a new league record for wins in a season. Randolph (5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K) loses his bid for twenty wins when Gerald Bonham (2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) gives up a homer to the first batter he faces in the 6th, so Dave Elliot (1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) picks up the win. Schaaf hits 3 of 4 with an RBI; Francis (2 for 4, R, RBI) collects a double and a triple on the night.

W - Elliot (2-2)
HR - Swanson (2), LaFontaine (10)

Last week: 4 - 2
This month: 1 - 0 (20 - 7 in September)
Overall: 108 - 54, 1st, +25 on Jacksonville and Norfolk


Who's Hot

Paul LaFontaine
Last 7 games: 12-24 (.500), 1 HR, 7 RBI

Everett Putman
Last 5 games: 5-13 (.385), 0 HR, 6 RBI

Bill Morgan
Last 6 games: 5-0, 1.50 ERA, 36 IP
Named Eastern Division Pitcher of the Month!

Bill Frazier
Last 5 games: 4-1, 3.06 ERA, 32 1/3 IP

Who's Not

Ron Ayres
Last 6 games: 0-15 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI

John Trull
Last 5 games: 1-12 (.083), 0 HR, 1 RBI

Mike Schaaf
Last 5 games: 4-19 (.211), 0 HR, 1 RBI


A Closer Look - San Antonio Missions

At 101-61, San Antonio won the Western Division by seven games over Dallas. Under the guidance of four-time Manager of the Year Harry Easterday, the Missions are going for their fourth CBA championship in the past six seasons. The Missions won just four of their twelve meetings with the Flyers this season.

San Antonio led the league in scoring (851), walks (809), and steals (232) while just fifth in homers (119) and seventh in batting (.263). 2B Ryan Maynard (.315, 16 HR, 93 RBI, 100 R, 118 BB), 3B Scott "Sabertooth" Hass (.262, 24 HR, 90 RBI, 117 R, 162 BB, 26 SB), SS Dave "Superman" Mikel (.241, 24 HR, 95 RBI, 110 R, 30 2Bs, 7 3Bs, 37 SB) and C Mark Johnson (.300, 10 HR, 96 RBI) provide the pop, while CF Paul Goode (.276, 9 HR, 71 RBI, 92 BB, 43 SB) provides that extra bit of speed.

The Missions' pitchers ranked second in most categories: ERA (3.61), opponent's average (.254), homers (97) and runs allowed (664); but they were second-worst in walks allowed (739). Southpaws Richard Bays (9-8, 3.34, WHIP 1.39) and Johnston Sloan (10-12, 4.84, WHIP 1.61) join with righties Jay Williams (12-2, 3.14, WHIP 1.26) and Martin Wright (15-8, 4.27, WHIP 1.59) to make up the San Antonio rotation, while Tim Lesley (11-2, 36 SV, 8 BS, 1.51 in 107 IP, WHIP 1.28), Raymond Melton (3.04 in 112 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.13) and Dan Fee (2.95 in 94 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.33) lead the solid relief corps.


The View From The Top (The Manager's Column)

Well, we're gonna go with VanWinkle as our starting catcher to begin the playoffs... He had a couple of two-hit games last week...

We're also going to keep Wilkins on the playoff roster, even though he won't be 100% healthy until Game 4...

Still, I think we're ready to win the championship this year... so wish us luck!