Saturday, August 16, 2003

By Michelle K. Massie, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

There was no apparent beef between the sausages and pierogies, but Pirates fans were ready to see the sausages eaten alive last night in their first showdown since the infamous July 9 whacking incident involving Pirate first baseman Randall Simon.

	Pirates pierogi Jalepeno Hannah makes her way past two of the Milwaukee Brewers racing sausages during a matchup between the two food groups last night at PNC Park. The Pierogies won the race and the Pirates won the game, 6-3. (Peter Diana, Post-Gazette) Click photo for larger image.

"I think it's gonna be brutal," said Paul Bell, 44, of Center, before the game. "Teeth are gonna be bared tonight. There's no stopping the pierogies."

Bell was right. The Pittsburgh Pierogies blew by the Milwaukee Sausages in a relay race at the bottom of the fifth inning.

"This is why I came to the game, to see the race," Frank Hooper, 50, of Lower Burrell said jokingly. "It was a great race. The finish wasn't even close. Those sausages are overweight and out of shape. Pierogies are much healthier for you. That's why we won. [The pierogies] are just from a much healthier city."

Before the race, anticipation for the big event was building among fans.

Cheers of "pierogies, pierogies!" echoed from left field. "Pierogies Rule, Sausages Stink" read the signs of 11-year-old Tina Wiser and her best friend, Cassie Thompson, 8, both of Vandergrift.

"This one says 'Sour Sausages'," Wiser said. "It took us like an hour to think of that one."

With that kind of home field support, the pierogie team hustled from right field to left field as fans stood up and cheered. In the end, the pierogies easily took the coveted prize in the "Great Pierogie/Sausage Challenge" -- the Golden Skillet trophy.

Fans celebrated to the sounds of Queen's "We Are the Champions" and a brief fireworks display.

"She was just telling me that was the greatest relay race we ever saw," said Gigi Trask, of Penn Hills, as she looked down at her 4-year-old daughter Katarina.

From the start, the pierogies were ready for the race.

"We were prepared for the race," said Rick Orienza, director of promotions for the Pirates. "They were prepared and focused. We have a lot of heart and we just wanted it. I think home field advantage also helped. [The sausages] had a long road trip."

The sausages will have the opportunity to avenge themselves in a rematch next Friday in Milwaukee.

Simon, who gained national notoriety after whacking one of the sausages last month in Milwaukee, didn't show much interest in last night's contest. He was warming up between innings and did not watch the race.

Simon was fined $432 by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's office for a disorderly conduct violation. He was also fined $2,000 by Major League Baseball and served a three-game suspension.

But at least for one night, Pirates fans were happy, and not just because the Pirates beat the Brewers.

"I think the pierogies deserved to win," Cassie Thompson said, "because they taste better."

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