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From the top of the first inning right through to the ninth, it was Kâ€"W Dutchmen Homes all the way in last Wednesday‘s game against the Glanworth entry in the Midâ€"Western Ontario Ladies Fastball league, at Centenâ€" *Everybody into the pool‘ was the strategy used by coach Russ Habkirk as he took advantage of a big lead d played each of his 14 ‘yers from the bench, By Rick Campbell Chronicle Sports Editor Some embarrassing perâ€" formances by Waterloo sports teams recently have turned many coaches and managers into preachers. Waterloo Optimist midget baseball manager Paul Puncher was the latest at the pulpit. After watching his club get devastated 16â€"9 in Kitchener Sunday, Puncher felt something had to be said before Monday‘s game against Stratford. ‘*I simply told the guys ty had to reach back for t little extra from here on in in any given situation. I wanted them to be able to come off the field and say to themselves ‘Gee, I played a really good ballgame‘. Even if they lost and could still say that then I‘d be happy." Obviously the sermon paid off because Monday Opâ€" timists went out and played solid fundamental baseball to defeat Stratford 8â€"4 beâ€" hind the sevenâ€"hit pitching of Dave Drago, who now boasts a 5â€"0 record. _ Drago was nearâ€"invincible after the second inning, his only real trouble spot, as he struck out seven and exuded tremendous confidence. ‘"*As long as Dave can get by those first couple of inâ€" nings he‘s very tough,"‘ said Puncher. "He gets stronger Moorefield hands Dutchmen Homes first loss â€" Optimists rebound in style Strong, defensive play was again the key factor in the Dutchmen Homes win, but Glanworth, with only nine players on the bench was no real threat at any moving them around at ranâ€" Patty MciIntash perâ€" formed well on the mound for the home team, so with a 4â€"1 lead after seven innings, Habkirk gave her a rest and Pauline Bain finished the as he goes along." * and putting men in scoring toff man I sent him home," Drago was helped though position. Stratford did it said Puncher with a slight by both exczlalent fielding three times in the first two grin. "I probably wouldn‘t and good fundamentals such â€" innings Monday. have sent him in a closer as sacrifices, stealing and *"*Yeh, a lot of teams have ball game." M hitâ€"andâ€"runs by his mates. been stealing on me. We‘ve _ Sunday in Kitchener the And not hurting at.all was (he and the coaching staff) home club bunched eight their total of 15 hits, three been working on it to try to runs in the first three inâ€" coming off the bat of give me more of a fluid moâ€" nings and then staved off catcher Dean Geisel who : tion. Right now it‘s about a late Optimist rallies to has been hot as a pistol at three or four segment moâ€" score the easy victory. And not hurting at.all was their total of 15 hits, three coming off the bat of catcher Dean Geisel who has been hot as a pistol at ‘‘There‘s no real secret (to his hitting)," said Geiâ€" sel. Punch (Puncher) has just drilled it into us to take our time at the plate and wait for our pitch." "I wasn‘t hitting earlier in the year and I was way down in the order, but lately I‘ve been batting third and the hits give you confidence. I go up to the plate now knowing I can hit."‘ A 17â€"yearâ€"old last year midget, Geisel took a year‘s sabbatical from the sport last season to umpire minor ball and generally **get a theplate lately with 11 hits in the past three games. His emergence, and that of third sacker Paul Oberâ€" holzer as constant offensive threats, have raised the stock of the Waterloo club as a pennant threat in the midget loop. f Defensively though, Geiâ€" sel and Puncher are conâ€" cerned about the relative ease with which the opposiâ€" tion has been stealing bases game which ended with a 9â€"1 score for Dutchmen Homes. It was Mcintosh‘s fifth conâ€" secutive win and the seventh straight for the undefeated Dutchmen Homes. Jerri Such batting two for four drove in the first two runs as well as two of the five runs scored in the ninth inning. Debbie Hannah playâ€" ing second base hit two for three and scored one run in the four innings she played. Catcher Mary Ann Méderak tion," said Geisel illustratâ€" ing with arm movement. As they approach the midâ€" way mark of the season, Puncher is enthused that in nearly every respect his club is improving. *"And as long as we keep improving we‘ll be tough to beat. Our hitting has imâ€" proved, our fundamentals, our fielding: Everything‘s on the upswing."‘ Brad Schnurr had a triple and two singles for Opâ€" timists Monday while Oberâ€" holzer and Geisel each had three singles. Andy Boegel doubled and singled, Aron Gagnon had two singles and Ed Fowler and Dave Woroch one single each off loser Jeff Gleadall. Schnurr‘s triple was a line shot to the power alley in right scoring two runs, but the speedy shortstop was thrown out trying to stretch it into an insideâ€"theâ€"park home run. ‘‘Brad never broke stride rounding third and when I saw the relay go by the cuâ€" Homes travelled to Mooreâ€" field Thursday night. It was an entirely different story as the Waterioo team went down to defeat for the first time this season. The big, strong defense that had been the key to previous Dutchâ€" men Homes wins just didn‘t come up. Both pitchers gave up eight hits, but Dutchmen Sunday in Kitchener the home club bunched eight runs in the first three inâ€" nings and then staved off late Optimist rallies to score the easy victory. Waterloo is home tomorâ€" row night against Stratford again and travels to Guelph Sunday before returning home against Kitchener score the easy victory. _ L# 50 _ #+ _ asmitii. 4 Waterloo is home tomorâ€" _ ontcemameinmamamana ~ row night against Stratford PemtT2zuXl io. 3 again and travels to Guelph ""“’ * gths i0 % Sunday before returning k 22 ;&.‘J V M * home against Kitchener S " ‘MANNET o i Monday night. F iA ~ PIANOSZE & Lk *‘ FIRST BIRTHDA Y * /v/ * § / i MmpP KK © Adngh / X " ' / ‘/\ v::iEg AizZ»* ‘ [ ( £4 1 _ atemoo sovane / UV J $V JHD!_ SEE f x ”‘;270/ recCRerr PPCPFREE]) *A batted three for four in six turned when Dutchmes However, the tables were Homes scored only one run to Moorefield‘s six. Moorefield jumped on Dutchmen Homes in the seâ€" cond inning and held them down for the remainder of the game. Left fielder Grace Bults initiated her big attack with a single folâ€" lowed by a Dutchmen error. A base on balls, another sinâ€" gle followed by a wild throw, and Moorefield had scored three runs before Waterloo got the next batter out on a popâ€"up. Moorefield was then held scoreless until the sixth inâ€" ning when Bults beited a long drive into right centre field for a home run. Bults again figured in the scoring in the eighth when she drove in the final two runs of the _ Dutchmen Homes‘ only run of the game came in the fifth inning when Moira Johnston led off with a sinâ€" gle. The second batter was retired with a fly ball into left field. Patty Mcintosh got on base with a single, and Mary Reinhart on a Moorefield error loaded the bases. The nest batter popped up to the infield for the second out and Mary Ann _ Mederak‘s single scored the run. A . popâ€"fly by the next batter ended what could have been a big inâ€" Dutchmen Homes are exâ€" pected to bounce back tonâ€" ight when they meet their crosstown â€" rivals the Kitchener Civitans. Winner of this contest will take over first place in the tenâ€"team league. The game is at Cenâ€" tennial Park at 8:30. Moorefield‘sâ€" win went to pitcher Jenny Franklin. Patty Mcintosh took her