It was a record-setting game for Peter Meredith.
But the Larry H. Miller Toyota pitcher was more concerned about keeping his team alive in the International Softball Congress World Tournament than his new record.Meredith did both.
First, he limited the Denmark, Wisc., Dukes to three hits in winning, 4-2, Thursday night at Sunset Park.
And only then, did Meredith become aware that he had set an ISC Tournament record of 39 wins. He and Class Walls (Md.) Ty Stofflet were tied with 38 career ISC wins.
Class Walls has been eliminated from the tournament and Stofflet didn't get a win.
About the record, Meredith said, "It's a great accomplishment to be in the same breath as such high profile athletes as Ty Stofflet. He was the best in his time. I feel that 39 is not an untouchable number."
Miller Toyota's Brian Lehrman got the first of his three hits to lead off the game. Lance Pratt, who would later become the hero of the game with a two-run double in the sixth inning, followed with a single.
Pratt scored on Steve Roberts' RBI infield out. Gordon Eakin's RBI single gave Miller Toyota a two-run cushion until the fifth inning.
Jim Peerenboom's towering two-run home run knotted the score at 2-2.
Third baseman Brett Alvey got a two-out single in the seventh inning and Lehrman's third hit sent him to third base. That set the stage for Pratt's heroics.
Pratt blasted a two-run double to left centerfield for the game winning two RBI.
In winning, Miller Toyota defeated Mike Roberts, who is Steve's brother. Mike pitched for Miller Toyota last year. He admitted he had the incentive to beat the Murray-based club.
"Miller Toyota is a class organization and I'll have to admit that I wanted to pitch again for them this year," said Mike. "So, I'll have to be honest. It gave me a little incentive to beat them."
With the victory, Miller Toyota will play the Madison, Wisc., Farm tonight
Meredith has 44 strikouts in 28 innings, while giving up only nine hits and six walks. He has only allowed three runs in posting a 3-1 ISC Tournament record.
Four teams - Decatur, Ill., National Health Care, the two-time defending ISC champions, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and Toronto Gators - remain undefeated in the tournament.
They say it's tougher to win the first one.
That isn't necessarily the case according to Bountiful resident, Ken Hackmeister, an International Softball Congress At-Large Commissioner.
Salt Lake County won the first one and hosted the 1992 ISC World Tournament in 1992. Thursday, the SLC attempted to win it again - the 1995 ISC World Tournament - and lost, 29-12, in the balloting by ISC Commissioners.
Sioux City, Iowa, and host National Health Care Discounters, the two-time defending ISC champions won the right to host the 1995 ISC Tournament.
Sioux City's bid was $10,000 more - $85,000 to $75,000.
Miller Toyota 4, Denmark, Wisc., 2
Miller Toyota 200 000 2 4 7 2
Denmark Dukes 000 002 0 2 3 1
Meredith and Burrup. M. Roberts and C. Kohnle. WP-Meredith. LP-M. Roberts. 2BH-Lopati Pratt HR-Peerenboom