Page 12 Thursday, June 25, 2009 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION Devil’s Den The Summer of ’66 Was Devil of the Week Will Return Best of Baseball Times In Mid September

By BRUCE JOHNSON Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Basketball was always my passion, same as WHS’s, with Anderson fin- The Merchants went 16-2 in the We’ve been talking a lot about the and swimming became my passion. ishing off an amazing five months UCL, winning their third straight town’s great baseball teams and play- But baseball was always in my genes, with a combined record of something league title. Schram and Widmer tied ers recently. But what about the guys thanks to a father who was a three- like 23-1. Brewster and Down shared for the league batting championship. who were really good, like in Little year starting catcher at Long Branch the catching, while the regulars were Turner’s club again qualified for the League, or junior high, maybe even High School in the late 1930s. I grew Stith, Chuck Hood (and Rich season-ending Tournament of Cham- junior varsity but didn’t play varsity? up listening to his stories about the St. Papaccio), James and Or the guys, who played varsity as Louis Cardinals’ Pepper Martin, Enos Mease in the infield, underclassmen, but didn’t play as a Slaughter, Stan Musial and, of course, with Tom Hood (and senior, for whatever reason? Here’s

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times the 1934 “Gas House Gang.” Randy James), Flynn my starting lineup of the best “Did THE SPF CONNECTION…Raider cross-country coach Rob Rafferty, front, and Playing, watching or covering base- and Mulford. Not Play”(ers) of the past half-cen- former Raider athlete, Charlie Bachi, hope to get hits for the Trinity softball team ball has consumed most of the springs (On June 29, Ander- tury (with apologies to those forgot- against Investor Savings. See story on page 11. and summers of my life. son pitched a no-hitter ten/missed/overlooked). And never was there a better time to win a 1-0 pitchers’ ss Eddie Belford (’75) Hye-Young Choi for baseball watching in Westfield then duel against Roselle. dh Nick Piscopo (’64) #1 REALTOR, 1964 … 1965 … and 1966. Whether it The losing pitcher that 1b Monte Turner (’75) Total Production 11 Years! was behind Edison Junior High School game was Richie 3b Mike Bukowiec (’68) NJAR® Circle of Excellence watching Norm Koury’s Blue Devils, Juelis, the uncle of fu- c Rick Thorne (’67) Platinum Level 2002-2008 or over at Tamaques Park taking in ture WHS athletes Jay, cf Dwight Winn (’62) Direct Line: 908-301-2015 RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE Post 3 American Legion or Westfield Craig and Mark. WHS 2b John Hallam (’64) www.hye-youngchoi.net • [email protected] Merchants games, it was a great time got only two hits, a lf Mel Thorne (’71) for Base Ball in the Olde Towne. first-inning single by rf Matt Sulentic And 1966 might have been the best Flynn and an RBI p Jeff Gilbert (’61) year of all. Over five-plus months, the triple by Stith.) Bench: Mike Clements (’71), OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, June 28th • 1-4PM three teams won more than three- Meanwhile, coach Chuck Cosenza (’76), Bill Cutrer fourths of almost 90 games, with WHS Bob Turner and his Bob Turner, right, presents Cranford’s Joe DiFabio with the (’69), Bob Cutrer (’67), Ken Cutrer 125 East Dudley Avenue winning the Union County Tourna- merry bunch were run- team’s Most Valuable Player award following the Westfield (’71), John Davis (’75), Tom Della ment, Post 3 winning the Union County ning roughshod over Merchants’ 1965 season. The Merchants would have their best Badia (’80), Mark Dorne (’69), Scott American Legion League title and the the competition in the team under Turner the following year, though DiFabio was Eichhorn (’72), rf Richie Faggins, Merchants rolling to their third straight Union County and pitching in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor leagues at the time. (’61) Mike Gandy (’91), Andrew Union County League championship. Plainfield Twilight Garrison (’03), C.J. Johnson (’72), Starting in April, Koury’s crew had leagues. Turner had one of the most pions down at Cumberland County’s Pat Kennedy (’62), Jim Kontje (’79), one of the best seasons in school his- talented teams to ever wear a “Mer- legendary Breslin Field in Bridgeton Pete Love (’61), Ross Mannino (’61), tory, going 22-4 behind ace Don (Big chants” or “Westfield” on its chest. where, after an opening loss to Derek Muller (’86), Ed Paquette (’62), D) Anderson and upcoming sophomore With standout Joe DiFabio playing Plainfield Boise’s and a win over Tom Pfeiffer (’72), Tony Quagliatta Frank Tokash. Anderson was 12-1 and in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league Passaic’s McGill’s Express, it was (’69), Pete Rehwinkle, Frank Ritter fanned 134 in 103 1-3 innings with 11 system, the pitching staff included eliminated by Holy Family, 4-3. (’74), Jeff Stewart (’71), Buzzy Turner complete games and four shutouts, as former WHS stars Jim Smith, Dennis REMEMBERING ROBERT (’75), Jimmy Tyler (’79), Drew he filled the shoes of the graduated Burke and Greg Chlan, Bill Dunkel, Speaking of the Merchants and Bob Viglianti (’69), Cliff Zackey (’64). Greg Chlan. Tokash, who would go on high schoolers Frank Tokash (WHS), Turner, this August 19 will be the 20th POST 3 JUNIOR TEAM to be the winningest pitcher in school Doug Ross (Cranford) and Chuck anniversary of his death (hit by a car Brian Sloan, assistant varsity base- history with 24 wins, was 5-1. Round- Ostrowsky (Hillside). on the Parkway). The Devil’s Den is ball coach at WHS (and father-to-be in ing out the pitchers were Jimmy The field players included Stith (1b- still trying to get Tamaques 4 named in August), is the head coach of the Howarth (3-0), shortstop Mike Mease cf), Charlie Krippendorf (1b), Richie memory of Turner. Anybody who feels Westfield Post 3 American Legion jun- (2-0) and John Sully (0-2). Rubenstein (2b), James (3b), Don the same should write a little note to ior team. The team plays a 16- game The regular fielders were: first base Tokash (3b), Joe Wiendl (if-of), Ron Bruce Kaufmann, Director of Recre- schedule that runs through July 9, with Westfield . . . Gracious, elegant 12 room home with 6/7 bedrooms, Ken Stith, second base Chuck Hood, Wolff (if-of), Cliff Zackey (2b-lf), Billy ation, Town of Westfield, 425 East playoffs to follow. 3 full and 3 half baths with many striking architectural features. third base Rick James, shortstop Myers (ss), Joe Najork (ss), Fred Byrne Broad Street, Westfield, N.J. 07090. Here is the roster: James Barry 2b, Mease, left field Tom Hood, center (lf-rf), Rob Schram (cf), Dunkel (rf), And on that Wednesday, around 6 Mike Coletta 1b, Ryan Elliott c-of, Beautiful moldings, arched entryways, accent lighting, deluxe kitchen field Bobby Flynn, right field Guy Charlie Mason (rf) and Charley Widmer p.m., I will be at T-4 to have a beer and Justin Erickson p-of, Ryan Ferraro ss- w/A1 appliances & adjacent FR 25x23 w/box beam ceil & frplc w/ Mulford, catcher Ed Down. Also play- (c). And veteran guys like outfielders toast the memory of one of the true 2b, Taylor Friss c-3b, Alex Graf p-3b, antique carved mantle, den/office for professional use or related family ing quite a bit were Bob Brewster (c), Pete Love, Richie Faggins and Sonny legends of Westfield sports. Hope- Jon Gribbin 2b-ss, James Kowalski p- w/private entry, 5 zn HT, open porches, deck & extensive landscaping Jeff Thiel (of) and Rich Papaccio (ss). Peterson were usually around to help fully, I won’t be alone. of, Mike Mondon p-3b, Aris Psyhojos for privacy. Easy access to schools, transportation and shopping. WHS beat Hillside, Plainfield, Gov- out whenever Turner called. THE ALL-DNP TEAM of, John Randazzo of, Will Riggs 1b- $1,199,000 ernor Livingston and Roselle in the c, Matt Rivera p-3b, Brett Ryan p-ss, One of Westfield’s finest homes. . county tournament. Choosing to com- Matt Varakian of, Dan Wickens p-3b. pete in the Greater Newark Tourna- All-State, All-Group, All-UC Here is the remaining schedule ment rather than the state tourney, (games behind Edison Intermediate WHS knocked off Haddonfield and School at 5:45 p.m., unless specified): Newark East Side before losing 2-1 to Honors in Baseball Given June 26, at New Providence; June 28, unbeaten Parsippany in a controver- Six Scotch Plains-Fanwood High All-UC. Raider senior Kevin Maroney at Holmdel, 5 p.m.; June 30, Linden; sial semifinal. School boys and five Westfield High (First Team All-UC) was selected July 1, at Berkeley Heights; July 2, at Most of those players made up the School boys have received All-Union Clark; July 7, Celtics; July 9, at Roselle. rosters of the Post 3 and Merchants Second Team All-Group 3 and team- Playoffs to follow. County (UC) honors by The Star- mate Nick Bonadies (First Team All- rosters that summer, and the winning Ledger. Raiders juniors Gary JUST WONDERING … just continued. UC) was selected Third Team All- How many current and past WHS Binkiewicz and Joey D’Annunzio, Group 3. Koury and Al Moeller handled the who were All-UC First Team, also (and SP-F and Cranford) ball players, Legion team, and it won the Union Blue Devil sophomore Danny Kerr ages 15 to whatever, would be inter- were named All-Group 3 First Team was named to the All-UC Second County American Legion League title, and Blue Devil senior Chris Jenkins ested in playing for a team next sum- breezed through the District tourna- team as were Raider juniors John mer? It would most likely involve ment by sweeping Livingston and (All-UC First Team) was named First Maxwell and Lou Mazzella. Union weekend doubleheaders in June and Edison, then knocked off Lyndhurst Team All-Group 4 and Second Team Catholic Viking Matt Canales also July, into early August, and some travel twice and split with Hamilton before All-State. made the All-UC Second Team. Blue because the wood-bat league is in losing to the Mercer County power in Blue Devil sophomore catcher, A.J. Devils Mike Lessner and Aiden Burlington County. If interested, the state final. Murray was named to the Second Scanlon were named to the All-UC please drop me an e-mail and we’ll see The Legion’s pitching staff was the Team All-Group 4 and the First Team Third Team. if there’s enough (20-25) players who’d Binkiewicz, who finished the sea- like to give it a try. son with a 9-1 record and a save, was IN PASSING Westfield...Newly Listed. Elegant CH Col, park-like setting on EXTRAORDINARY AGENTS named Union County Player of the It was with sadness that I read in last Year. The Raiders, who won the Union Thursday’s Leader about the passing .57 acre on cul-de-sac. 4 plus BR, updated 3 ½ BTH. Newer EI Kit, County Tournament title in a dra- of Anne Hely, the mother of my WHS adjacent FR w/exceptional FRPLC & Slider to blue stn matic 10-inning classic over ’63 classmate, Nancy, and former patio.Gracious EF, LR, FDR, newly finished RR w/au pair Westfield, finished with a 22-5 record WHS athletes Charles (’64), Dan (’65) suite,office, deluxe wine cellar. 2 Zn HT. CAC, $1,590,000. and was named Union County Team and Jim (’68), along with Mary Lou of the Year. (’69), Elizabeth and Kathleen (’73). The Devil’s Den will return in the fall. Contact us with comments, sug- SPF Golfers Finish gestions and complaints at [email protected]. And remember: Win With 9-7-1 Record or not, WHS4EVR! The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High All-Group, All-UC School golf team placed second in the Union County Tournament, sec- Softball Selections: ond in the final Watchung Confer- Westfield High School senior, the ence Tournament and finished with a Union County (UC) Player of the 9-7-1 record. Year in 2007, has been named to the In the county tournament, the Raid- All-Group 4 Second Team and the ers lost by only four strokes to All-UC First Team by The Star-Led- Westfield and sophomore John Foti ger. Cranford had the most represen- placed fourth among individuals, with tatives on the All-UC First Team with seniors Austin Pfundheller and Steve Kat VanBenschoten, Deanna Pak placing 10th and 12th, respec- Russomanno, Kelli Bruno and Kelly tively. Hardman. Governor Livingston High- “It was a very good performance lander Nicole Koszowski also was from the boys,” said Raider Head named to the All-UC First Team. WESTFIELD OFFICE Westfield...Newly Listed. Pre-War Art Deco Col. Well cared for Coach Steve Ciccotelli, who added, Blue Devils Alyson Moskowitz and ÈääÊ œÀÌ Ê
Ûi°Ê7iÃÌÊUÊ7iÃÌwi`]Ê ÊäÇä™ä “I think John Foti will be good next Katie Esler, along with Scotch Plains- 5 BR, 3 1/2 BTH hm in the heart of Wychwood. Private lane. Unique Owned and Operated by NRT LLC 908-233-0065 year. I expect him to be one of the best Fanwood’s Kelly Cianciotta and foyer w/vintage glass brick, LR w/frplc, FDR, adjacent sunny garden around. He has a solid game.” Highlander McKenzie Liss were room, newer KIT w/granite, wine cooler, w/sep eating area. MBR Sophomores Ryan Laguna and named to the All-UC Second Team. w/new custom BTH, 2nd flr sun deck. CAC, close to sch. $995,000. Nowell Whitehouse, according to Highlander Katie Pires and Union coach Ciccotelli, “got a lot of playing Catholic Viking Shannon Deegan time this year. They will be an impor- were named to the All-UC Third The First Name in Fine Properties tant part of our team next year.” Team.

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