The Rutherford National Little League All Stars took a step along the tournament route Saturday behind the no-hit pitching of Richie Koppel to defeat the Saddle Brook National All Stars on their home grounds 5-1.
Koppel, in addition to allowing no hits and striking out fourteen batters, had a perfect day at bat wit a double and a single in two official trips, and scored two runs, enough to salt away the game. He got perfect fielding support, although mostly all he requred was for Johnny Stoehs to catch the ball as he struck out one after another.
Four times Koppel struck out the side, in the first, second, third and fifth. He walked Becker in the first frame. Johnson walked in the fourth, but was caught trying to steal second, Stoehs to Ron Ryder. Mike Monaco speared one grounder at second and tossed to Bob Schwarzlow at first for the out. Ryder fielded a grounder at short and tossed to Jim Parnofiello at third to nip Bill Jones, who had walked in the sixth. Koppel himself fielded one grounder for an out at first.