Tussey Mountain Baseball 1970
The Tussey Mountain baseball team and coach Howard Reasinger approached the 1970 season with high hopes.
The team was coming off a Bedford County League title and a District 5 championship in 1969 with six lettermen returning. Returning was Jack Spencer, the team’s leading pitcher who was 4-
1 in the county and 7-1 overall in 1969. That included two strong performances at the end of the season. Also returning was Wes Drenning. Who led the league in hitting in 1969 with a .515 average and three home runs.
Tussey’s concerns for the 1970 season was threefold:
- There wasn’t much experience beyond Spencer’s pitching
- The team was featuring new catchers
- Rain and snow prevented much outside practice and eliminated early-season non-league games to help the team prepare for the Bedford County League. Tussey started the season with a 9-3 win over Hyndman with Spencer striking out 14 and walking two.
The next game was a 3-2 win over Everett with Spencer hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning to win the game.
Tussey’s third game was against Bedford. The Tussey boys really wanted this game at Bedford’s new coach, Gary Waugerman, had coached and taught at Tussey, so the boys all knew him and respected him, but they wanted to beat him. Tussey came away with a 5-3 win. Steve Fox led the way with three hits, and Spencer picked up his third win. The fourth game was a tough one for Tussey against Northern Bedford. The Panthers beat Tussey Mountain, 4-2, behind a good pitching performance by Jess Reighard, who struck out nine and only walked three. Tussey had Northern Bedford in several jams late in the game, but Reighard worked his way out of them. Tussey’s Drenning struck out eight, allowed one hit, and didn’t walk a batter.
Tussey Mountain came back with a vengeance by beating Chestnut Ridge, 15-1. Dean Lehman threw a five-hitter and had th ree hits at the plate, including a triple to drive in two runs. Tussey jumped out to a 5-1 record with a 5-0 win against Everett. Drenning threw a three-hitter and had a double.
The Titans got revenge for their loss to Northern Bedford with a 14-4 win. Spencer, Snyder,Thomas, and Dickson each had two hits.On May 12, Tussey continued with the big bats as the Titans hammered Hyndman, 15-1. Spencer threw a one-hitter, while Dean Lehman had three hits. Tussey clinched at least a tied for the Bedford County League title by topping Chestnut Ridge, 6-2. Drenning threw another one-hitter, striking out eight and walking two. Spencer had a bases-loaded triple to break open the game. In the league finale, Tussey held off Bedford in a defensive effort, 1-0. Spencer outdueled Dan England as England struck out 13 and allowed only three hits. The game was saved in dramatic fashion by Tussey second baseman Rob McCahan. With one out and a runner on second, McCahan made a diving catch on a blooping popup to right field by a Bedford batter. As McCahan was diving to the ground, the Bedford runner was crossing home plate. McCahan threw the ball to third baseman Jack Dickson, who managed to throw the ball to Spencer, who was covering second. This doubled-off the runner and clinched the game for Tussey Mountain. The game was huge as it clinched the Bedford County League for Tussey Mountain, and it sent the Titans back to the District 5 playoffs. Tussey faced Forbes Road in the District 5 semifinal with the Titans winning, 6-0. Spencer threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 batters.
In the District 5 final, Tussey Mountain blanked Forbes Jointure from Somerset County, 3-0. Spencer threw a two-hitter, giving up two singles in the sixth inning. He struck out 11 and walked one batter.
The Tussey Mountain baseball team gave its fans many thrills and exciting moments on its way to its second consecutive Bedford County League and District 5 titles. The Titans closed their season with eight consecutive runs. They had seven batters that hit .300 or better in the 1970 season.
The 1969 and 1970 teams had a combined record of 23-4 with seven seniors graduating from the 1970 season. The players remember the season and that team for many years. These players have certainly added the local sports lore.
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