Flashback Friday: Two hits; Two wins (1982)

One of the events in Appleton baseball history that has always fascinated me is this one from 1982:

Despite managing just one hit in each game‚ the Appleton Foxes (Midwest League) sweep a doubleheader from the Wisconsin Rapids 2-1 and 1-0.

I first discovered that in an entry about June 26 at BaseballLibrary.com.  I always intended to find out more about it that just the minimalist entry provided.  Finally, intent was followed by action.

The Foxes were hosting the Wisconsin Rapids Twins in a doubleheader on June 26 because their June 25 game at Witter Field in Wisconsin Rapids had been rained out.

Unfortunately, the story in the Post-Crescent is short on details.  I guess that is because June 26, 1982 was a Saturday and there was an early deadline for the Sunday paper.  There is no byline and no quotes.  There was also no follow-up on the unusual doubleheader sweep in later editions of the PC...that I could find.  Maybe at a future date...  But, there is enough for a Flashback Friday.

Foxes sweep 2 on 2 hits

The Appleton Foxes made a little go a long way in a doubleheader against Wisconsin Rapids Saturday night.  Although they got just one hit in each of the two games they managed to sweep the Twins before 2,557 fans.

The Foxes didn't get their first hit until the eighth inning of the second game as Twins' pitcher Kiel Higgins fired seven innings of no-hit ball.  But that hit, by leadoff hitter Chuck Epperson, proved to be decisive as it led to the winning run.

The following hitter Curt Reed sacrificed Epperson to second against relief pitcher Frank Eufemia.  Eufemia then walked Pat Adams and John Taylor to load the bases.  Mike Buggs ran for Epperson at this point and scored the game's only run when Leo Garcia lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center.

Art Niemann went the distance for Appleton and allowed just two hits.  The only scoring threat by Wisconsin Rapids in this game came in the seventh when Erez Borowsky reached on an error and moved to third after a single by Steve Aragon.  Foxes' third baseman Wade Rowdon saved the game when he made a diving catch of a line drive off the bat of Bob DeCosta to end the inning.

Wisconsin Rapids took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning of the first game when Aragon doubled to left center and scored on Dave Hoyt's single.  The Foxes scored the tying and winning runs in the third inning without benefit of a base hit.  Scott Meier and Garcia walked, were sacrificed to second by Ramon Ramero and scored on two wild pitches by losing pitcher Mike Wiermiller.

GAME ONE

Twins - 1     AB     R      H      BI
Aragon, 2b    4      1      2      0
Hoyt, lf      4      0      1      0
Rupe, rf      2      0      0      0
Stewart, dh   3      0      1      1
Salery, cf    2      0      0      0
Scheetz, 1b   3      0      0      0
Tryon, c      1      0      0      0
VanKrvn, ph   1      0      0      0
Borowsky, c   0      0      0      0
Pilla, ss     2      0      0      0
Davidson, ph  1      0      0      0
Espinoza, 3b  3      0      2      0
Totals        26     1      6      1

Foxes - 2     AB     R      H      BI
Garcia, rf    2      1      0      0
Romero, ss    0      0      0      0
Nix, 2b       3      0      0      0
Rowdon, 3b    3      0      1      0
Boston, cf    3      0      0      0
Koch, dh      3      0      0      0
Adams, 1b     2      0      0      0
Buggs, lf     2      0      0      0
Meier, c      1      1      0      0
Totals        19     2      1      0

                     R      H      E
WRT:   100 000 0 -   1      6      1
APL:   002 000 x -   2      1      1

E: Garcia, Weiermiller. LOB: WR - 7, A - 4.
SB: Aragon, Nix. 2B: Aragon. S: Salery, Ramero

TWINS                IP     H      R      ER     BB     SO
Weiermiller L (6-3)  6.0    1      2      2      4      3

FOXES
Anderson W (6-3)     5.0    4      1      1      2      3
Pastrovich S (6)     2.0    2      0      0      0      2

WP: Weiermiller 2. T: 2:00

GAME TWO

Twins - 0     AB     R      H      BI
Aragon, 2b    4      0      1      0
DeCosta, ss   4      0      0      0
Howe, lf      2      0      0      0
Davidson, cf  3      0      0      0
Stewart, dh   3      0      0      0
VanKrvn, rf   3      0      0      0
Perkins, 1b   3      0      0      0
Espinoza, 3b  3      0      1      0
Borowsky, c   2      0      0      0
Totals        26     0      2      0

Foxes - 1     AB     R      H      BI
Garcia, rf    2      0      0      1
Romero, ss    3      0      0      0
Nix, 2b       3      0      0      0
Rowdon, 3b    2      0      0      0
Boston, cf    3      0      0      0
Epperson, dh  2      0      1      0
Buggs, pr     0      1      0      0
Reed, lf      2      0      0      0
Adams, 1b     2      0      0      0
Taylor, c     1      0      0      0
Totals        20     1      1      1

                     R      H      E
WRT:   000 000 00 -  0      2      2
APL:   000 000 01 -  1      1      2

E: DeCosta, Espinoza, Rowdon, Niemann. LOB: WR - 5, A - 4.
DP: WR -3, A - 1. S: Reed, Taylor. SF: Garcia.

TWINS                IP     H      R      ER     BB     SO
Higgins L            7.0    1      1      1      3      2
Eufemia              0.2    0      0      0      2      0

FOXES
Niemann W (5-0)      8.0    2      0      0      3      8

T: 2:06. ATT: 2,557

NOTES:

The story does not note when the Foxes picked up their first hit in game one of the doubleheader.

Click on the individual names for the baseball-reference.com page of each player.

The 1982 Foxes always seemed to find a way.  They went on to win the Midwest League Championship.  This was the first of three straight titles for the Foxes.


Past Flashbacks:

October 8: In fair territory (1994)

October 15: Fans flock to see Foxes (1987)

October 22: New Park (1995)

October 29: Logo Decision (1994)

November 5: Ed Sedar, Pitcher (1985)

November 12: Abarbanel no-hitter (1966)

November 19: McCauley no-hitter (1972)

November 26: Monroe no-hitter (1975)

December 3: Conner, Smith no-hitter (1990)

December 10: Pomp & Circumstance (1940)

December 17: Opening Day (1940)

January 7: Matt Erickson: Year One (1997)