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'Honus' Pernerewski rips one toward
the gap in the second inning of the '1861' match with the Waterbury
Connors at Dickinson Pond. |
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It is hard to comprehend what
forces come into play when the Newtown Sandy Hooks meet their
intercounty rivals the Waterbury Connors. The two clubs have
met on at least six occasions in the past three seasons and each
time Governor Wigren's nine has politely spanked the upstart
country boys in climatic fashion. On Sunday, it was hoped all
that would change as the Waterbury nine made its way to Dickinson
Pond for a two match set.
As a subtle introduction to home field advantage and country
hospitality, the potato shuckers provided vague directions to
a well disguised Dickinson Park which had the Connors traveling
circuitous routes through Fairfield Country Club property to
find the secreted turf. The unintentional rouse failed as the
inflamed visitors spanked the locals in the preliminary match.
As is generally the case in an '1861' game, the Sandy Hooks
view the event as tantamount to dosing castor oil or cleaning
the gutters. One crank was heard to murmur: 'The Newtown club
tends to lose all composure, determination and dignity when they
play the '61 game.' 'Doughboy' Norwich, hurling for the home
side, got little support from either side of the ledger as the
Hooks went blandly through the motions and failed in almost any
way to play a competitive level of ball. While the Waterburys
strategically placed base hits to every hole in the garden, the
Hooks determined that 'boom ball' was the appropriate method.
As the Waterburys related after the match, their club takes
a calculated approach to playing the '61 game. They work hard
to make contact with the ball and place it through open spots
in the diamond and move the runners ahead with sharp base running
and good base balling tactics. While, at the same time, the Newtown
club played like lowbrow softballers trying to crush the slick
and mushy sphere out of existence. This short-sided tactic failed
as the Connors prevailed in game one by an 11 to 0 margin.
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Connors captain Jim Wigren attempting
his confounding 'Wrong Way Corrigan' approach to executing a
'fair foul' hit. |
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After being whipped like a rented
mule in match one, the sun seemed to peek through the clouds
and the home side awoke to a new day to play in their standard
'1867' match.
Very little changes between an 1861 and 1867 rules match except
that the fielders are required to catch a fair out on the fly.
However, something changes in the mind of the Sandy Hooks when
they step into their '1867' role and that fact was immediately
apparent in inning one of the second match.
'Saint' Louis Margolus called the second match to order as
his offspring 'Moose' Margolus, suffering from Sunday morning
melancholy, laced a sharp single into the gap to kick-off game
two. 'Muhl' Snyder followed with an RBI single to spot the Hooks
their first ace of the day.
With Norwich back in the box for a second stint, the Waterburys
responded with four runs on their side of the next three frames
while the Sandy Hook's defenses stiffened to maintain pace.
In the third, the Newtowns woke from their apparent malaise
to plate five big runs to take a decisive lead with 'BB' Dieckman
leading the charge followed by subsequent base hits by Margolus,
'Pops' Pendergist, Snyder, 'Zack' Wheat, 'Kid' Rambone and Norwich.
Suddenly the sleeping giant had awoken and the Connors had everything
they could do to hold the fort.
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'Pops' Pendergist sizing-up the next
victim to run through the jungle (jim). |
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In the fifth frame 'Pops' ignited
the Hooks again with a single to left center and two stolen bases
while Snyder singled and Wheat crushed an awe inspiring triple
to the far reaches of the grounds. Norwich sacrificed in the
third run of the inning with a decisive blow to left as Wheat
came roaring home with ninth run of the match for Newtown.
 Sandy
Hook native Ron Miller launches a sky ball to short right for
the Connors.
In the bottom of the fifth, Waterbury went to work with a
strategic barrage of their own scoring five aces to take a 10-9
advantage.
In the sixth, 'Bulldog' Paes reached on an error and stole
second, Dieckman reached on a fielder's choice as the top of
the order came to the plate. In a debatable attempt to show the
'kids' how to play, both Paes and Dieckman erased themselves
while trying to advance against the sure-handed Connors. (This
tactic would eventually lead to the demise of the Hooks later
in the match.) In spite of that fact, the Hooks persevered as
'Mister' Edwards (just returning from a '60 foot' interlude at
an adjoining field) smacked a Waterbury offering to the deepist
reaches of the property. Margolus, Pendergist and Snyder followed
in logical order and the Sandy Hooks found themselves up by two
aces after six frames.
 No
amount of zig zagging could prevent a determined 'Doughboy' Norwich
from nailing his man.
The tug-of-war continued through
the subsequent innings as the Hooks reasserted themselves in
the top of the eighth scoring two more when Pendergist, Snyder
and Wheat punished the base paths with well placed hits and well
struck balls. For the second home game in a row, the club squandering
at least two runs in that inning with faulty base running and
lackadaisical base coaching that is so painful it makes one's
hair hurt.
Unfortunately, the excitement of a 15 to 11 advantage was
short lived as the always treacherous Connors showed their contempt
for defeat at the hands of the Newtowners and scored six masterfully
executed aces to bring the tally to 15 to 17 with only one frame
to play.
Having rebounded from certain defeat on two occasions this
season to win in the final frame, the confident Sandy Hooks faced
the ninth inning down by two appearing confident and determined.
As 'Doughboy' popped a lazy fly to first a blithe 'Express' Pendergist
stepped to the dish and slashed a single to right to the delight
of the hometown cranks.
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 A typical day
in the park for the Sandy Hooks. Dieckman, Rambone, and Pendergist
converge on second as a Connor takes a swipe.
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Being as aggressive as the senior
Pendergist who patrols the same ground, 'Express' immediately
stole two bases to set-up a potential run scoring situation.
An elated 'Matty' Pendergist, who had previously bloodied himself
preparing for his mascot & batboy duties, screamed his support
from the base of the bat rack.
After Dieckman shot a BB to left that was handled appropriately
by a Waterbury gardener, Edwards launched a single to left center
to score the rapid junior Pendergist to cut Waterbury's margin
to one.
With two ducks down, the Hooks still hopeful and Mister hovering
around second sack, the Conner's hurler 'Sugar Bear' Behr spun
a reverse seam in-slider that confounded Margolus who fouled
it into the waiting hands of the Waterbury behind.
With all hands down and a 17 to 16 in the books for the Connors,
the dejected Hooks thanked their adversaries and retired to the
showers to lament what might have been (if they had just found
the time to practice together).
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'Kid Rambo' Rambone makes connections
before retiring to the Maine woods for the Summer. |
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Number one crank, mascot and batboy 'Matty'
Pendergist took one for the team as he bloodied his elbow preparing
for the match. |
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The day's tally featured more crooked
numbers than the local town budget. |
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Next Saturday the Sandy Hooks see if they can turn
their fortunes around as they venture to Manhattan to play the
mighty New York Gothams in the North Meadow of Central Park.
The Connors will be at home at Chase Collegiate on Sunday to
host the Bridgeport Orators (a classic later day dual between
Roger Connor's club and the club of James 'Orator' O'Rourke).
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