As I mentioned last week, the columns which folks indicate they are most eager to see are the ones which chronicle past events or contests featuring the names and deeds of those familiar to them. Those names listed may be of friends, relatives, schoolmates, hometown heroes, and, yes, everyone enjoys reading about themselves.
Following the line of thinking cited above while also remaining true to my promised “swing through springs past,” today we’ll reprise the accounts of some Attleboro Little League games from the last week of May and the first week of June in that carefree year of 1958 — Buddy, Richie V. and the Bopper were still alive and rockin’ and Elvis was a Pfc. Here, on the fields and parks of Attleboro:
Jim Brassard pitched a no-hit, no-run game for the Dodgers last night at Capron Park against the Cardinals. The 12-0 game found Brassard fanning 14. The loss was the second for the Cardinals, who fell 2 1/2 games off the pace. The Dodgers remained a game behind the Braves who staggered to an 11-10 victory over the Giants.
Brassard not only did a stout pitching job, but also wielded a heavy bat. In four official appearances at the plate, he had a single, double and a home run. Charlie Hindley started on the mound for the Cards and was tagged for 11 hits before being replaced by Johnny McKenna. The Dodgers landed on Hindley for three runs in the opening frame and then scored eight in the third. Dave Watters also had three singles in as many trips to the plate for the Dodgers.
Brassard failed to give up a walk in pitching his masterpiece, and the Dodgers received only three free passes off Hindley.
The Yankees subdued the Senators last night by the score of 11-3 at Willett Field. Bob Sita, the winning pitcher, had the situation well in hand, other than issuing three consecutive bases on balls in the second and being tagged for three hits in the fifth when the Senators scored twice.
The Yankees came up with seven runs in the second on singles by Wayne Pendleton, Steve Mendes, Tetreault, Wheeler, Buck Cassidy, a walk to Paul Geddes and a home run by Gilmore. Cassidy later had a triple while Pendleton and Mendes were adding singles to lead the Yankee hitting attack.
The Senators scored in the second when Ken Burton singled to right and was forced in when walks were issued to Sanborn, Pullen and Ed Normandin. In the Senator fifth, Frank Streeter singled to left and Tommy Kelliher reached on an error. Ken Quaglia drove both home on a double to left. Ken Burton doubled to left for his second hit, but was stranded.
The Dodgers made it four in a row last night at South Attleboro, defeating the Tigers 16-7 at Veterans Memorial Playground. The Dodgers own the only unblemished record of the Little League “Farmers.” Mike Walsh went the distance for the Dodgers in winning his second game of the season. Darrell Grant did the catching. Dexter Nerney had a perfect night at the plate, slamming out three home runs.
Dick Bajnoci pitched three-hit ball, struck out 13 and walked but five as the Braves ran their victory string to six games, taking over top spot in the Parent Little League standings. The Dodgers became Bajnoci’s victims in the 11-4 game played at Willett Field last night.
The Braves, after having two runs scored against them in the top of the first, answered with four of their own in the initial frame and were never headed. George Bosh had a perfect night at the plate for the Braves with four hits that included a pair of well-hit home runs. Jim Croteau and Cy Brennan also had two hits to lead the Braves, while Austin Puppolo was getting two for the losing Dodgers.
The Giants defeated the Braves 23-8 last night at Willett Field to tie for fourth place in the standings. Tom McAvoy (who?) and Fred Poholek formed the battery for the Giants. In addition to pitching a sterling game, McAvoy clouted two home runs. Other hitting stars for the Giants were Tom Libby with four hits and Freddy Poholek. Working on the mound for the losing Braves was Dave McGinn with “Bobo” DeMayo backstopping.
Coach Ted Kaczowka’s Red Sox rolled merrily along last night at Willett Field when downing the Senators 13-6 behind good pitching from Johnny Thibeault. Tom McNeil did the receiving for the Crimson Hose. Ronnie Burton was the Senator hurler with Russ Sanford behind the plate. Jim Corcoran, a newcomer to the local league this season, and a native of Rhode Island, got the Sox started in the first frame with a long home run.
I’m afraid that space allotments force me to call it over and out for this week. I know I enjoyed hearing some of those names and the memories they inspired quite a bit. Perhaps next week we’ll dig up some games which involve some teams other than those mentioned today.
Until that time, please let that Golden Rule be your watchword for life, and remember that every face you see carries its own burdens and fights their own battles. Peace.
