The Newtown Sandy Hook's sixth season of vintage base ball began in unceremonious fashion on May 1st when the club traveled to what was advertised to be a Civil War reenactment in Coventry, RI and turned out to resemble a classic example of Who's On First and Where's Waldo.

Civil War reenactment with its multitudes of appropriately clad soldiers, civilian camp followers in their period finery, wagons, horses and spectators blends perfectly with vintage base ball. The game developed in the midst of that historic struggle and emerged as America's National Pastime after the war so; the Game is an obvious compliment to 'Civil War' activities.

Unfortunately, Saturday's event was on its maiden voyage and neither location nor the organizers were prepared to accommodate vintage base ball in the fashion that is generally custom. Plus, the quantity of Civil War reenactors and trimmings measured in the handfuls and not the thousands that most of these events are known for. The occasion was hosted on a high school back lot featuring chain link corrals, better suited to a Texas cow calf operation, dotted the landscape with events taking place in locations most appropriate for base ball.

When the collected ballists were urged to meet on a grassy patch, well suited for a base ball match, a deranged and self-important athletic director with the demeanor of a reform school warden appeared on the scene to banished the lot from his precious 'soccer' pitch. Once the offensive party left the area, both clubs determined to honor the ill-mannered oaf by designating his football field as a home for the day's events. At that point, the New London and Newtown contingent went to work mapping the field and determining line-ups for match number one.

Newtown, with an impressive if not fully staffed group of ballists, drew home team in the ensuing bat toss, and took the field to start the day's action. 'Mister' Edwards, recently returned from a tour of Mainland China, toed the line for what would be eighteen straight innings of hurling mastery. Toomey, Wheat and Miller patrolled the garden while Godwin, Maleri, Snyder, Paes and Silkowski played musical chairs in the hard pan infield. 'Rock' Zulli, only an occasional participant in recent years, inaugurated his sixth season as Newtown's master behind.

As the highly respected Edward Baker assumed the umpiring duties, Edwards went to work with buzz saw precision baffling New London batters one after another with his high-speed style and immaculate control. The 1860's game is generally seen as a lob and toss affair but Newtown hurlers like Edwards, Norwich, Keane and Snyder pride themselves on their high-speed moves, featured by incomparable Miklich of the Mutual club of New York, then the lazier, sleep inducing offerings that bear marked resemblance to America's poor excuse for baseball.

While Edwards was doing his best to confuse the opposition, the Sandy Hooks' hitters took control of the festivities with an offensive display that is expected and well documented. Even with their side diminished to just ten of their twenty some members, it was clear the Newtown club had arrived with a powerful array of ballists who could compete with any 19th Century team in existence.

In game one, the entire Sandy Hook club produced a well-balanced mix of twenty base hits resulting in ten runs. Their tenacious efforts enabled them to outshine their less potent rivals by a score of 10 to 4 in a decidedly one-sided affair.

Every member of the Newtown nine sparkled in his season debut. In the field, Edwards showcased his impressive pitching array, Zulli managed the dish while slinging waist high bb's to second to catch reckless base stealers, the three gardeners tracked down nearly everything that came into view, Maleri was normally fantastic with his dazzling catches in all corners of the diamond, Godwin, Snyder and Silkowski grabbed everything that moved and Paes stopped base runners in their tracks including a Waterbury runner in game two who tried to steam-roll the first sacker into the next county, and another who stopped at first then made the tragic mistake of stepping off the bag while the perpetually shifty 'Bulldog' held a live ball hidden under his blouse.

In the nightcap, after a slow start, probably attributed to the previous nine inning merry-go-round and the 80º summer heat that blew in from the west for the first time this season, an unspectacular tête-à-tête against their perennial rival Waterbury Connors resulted in a five to four lead for the Newtowners. As the game droned on into the later innings, it was clear by the strong smell of brewer's yeast emanating from the Waterbury bench the Newtowner's might have an opportunity to sneak-up on their unsuspecting opponents.

In the top of the eighth, the Newtowners loaded the sacks with Edward, Paes and Miller reaching base on singles and a couple of mishandled hits. 'Crash' (also known as 'Zack' depending on which direction he arrives at a base) Wheat stepped to the line and connected with a picture perfect Waterbury offering that sent the Waterbury fielders scurrying to the deepest reaches of the stadium. The resulting blast cleared the bases to give the Sandy Hooks a seemingly comfortable 9 to 5 lead going into the 9th. But, as we have seen in the past when playing the explosive Waterbury nine, Sandy Hook teams have shown a susceptibility for turning a seemingly comfortable lead into a disappointing rout for the other side.

Having been party to five seasons of losses at the hands of the Connors, the Edwards and Zulli battery and supporting cast became seriously focused in the top of the ninth to insure that past dalliances would not be replicated.

As Connors batters took their places at the line, all remaining Sandy Hooks positioned themselves strategically in the field determined to take home a second all-important win for the day. In the ensuing face-off, the Connors were able to eke out one final ace to tantalize the spectators and heighten the Hook's resolve. But, in the final analysis, Edwards and the Sandy Hook defenses held, and the Newtowners earned a 9 to 6 triumph, their first victory after years of torment, on behalf of their upstate nemesis.

It was truly a banner day for the hometown nine! All parties shook hands and vowed to meet another day in the coming months to see if the Sandy Hooks can retain their spot as kings of Western Connecticut.

Hitting stars in the Sandy Hook's thirty six hit day were many, but standouts included the aforementioned Wheat, who accumulated for six safeties and eight runs-batted-in and 'Rock' Zulli who contributed five hits and four runs-batted-ins plus an Herculean effort behind the dish.

After a round of good cheer, all parties headed out on their two hour return trip to Fairfield County with the realization they would retrace their steps a week to the day when they visit the seaside bastion of Fort Trumbull to take on the same Thames club and the Bristol Blues in a two game match.