THE WORLD SERIES : OAKLAND ATHLETICS vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS : BELCHER BOOSTERS : Townsfolk of Sparta, Ohio--Pop. 200--Pitch In to Root for Dodgers’ Homespun Hero

An attempt to call a few gathering places in Sparta, Ohio, Wednesday night to see if Dodger pitcher Tim Belcher’s hometown friends were gathered to watch him pitch Game 4 of the World Series proved futile.

There are no bars or restaurants in Sparta--population 200--we are told.

“I’ll give you the Sheriff’s number in Morrow County, maybe he can help you,” the telephone information assistance supervisor said.

The Sheriff himself didn’t answer, but dispatcher Brian Humphrey did, and he said he knows Belcher.

“We graduated (from high school) the same year, and in this county you pretty much know every one around,” Humphrey said.

“I played ball against him, not baseball, but basketball. He was a good basketball player, a forward. But he was just an average player in high school. He didn’t blossom until he went to college.

“Let me give you the mayor of Sparta’s phone number, I’m sure he’s watching the game.”

Mayor Bill Neeld had already gone to sleep, but his wife, Bertha, answered the phone.

“Bill watched some of it, but he just went to bed,” she said. “But of course we watched Tim pitch, everyone is. Most of the people in town got together for house parties to watch the game.

“We all live close together. There are signs up all over on our doors with balloons. . . . Some of the signs say, ‘This is the hometown of Tim Belcher--go Tim, we are proud of you.’

“We can’t wait till he comes back to visit us--we started talking tonight about planning some type of celebration for him when he comes home.”

Belcher’s parents, grandmother, his brother and two aunts also live in Sparta. Aunt Hazel Belcher was home alone watching, and she was nervous.

“I was saying all kinds of prayers, since it was his birthday, and since he was a rookie pitching in the World Series,” Mrs. Belcher said.

“In that last game (Game 2) when Tim gave up that grand slam I was so nervous. I was just hoping he would get the chance to pitch again.”

Belcher was the winning pitcher Wednesday in the Dodgers’ 4-3 victory.

“I can’t go anywhere around here where I don’t see his name on a sign saying, ‘Go Belcher’, “ Mrs. Belcher said.

“Up in Mt. Gilead, our county seat, there are signs all over the windows, in people’s yards, everywhere. Tim and his wife (Teresa) just bought a new home there.”

Mt. Gilead, population 5,000, is about 18 miles from Sparta. Sparta is located about 36 miles north of Columbus, Ohio.

“Well, you know,” Mrs. Belcher said, “there is nobody around here who has had recognition other than Tim, so it’s like one big family.”

Mrs. Belcher said Tim has about 96 relatives who live within 15 miles of Sparta. She said Sparta has two beauty shops, a general store and a gas station.

And yes, she said, Sparta does have a restaurant: “Tim’s in-laws own it.”