Well, little buckaroonies, today’s first entry in the sweet sports sweepstakes of Tuesday April 11, 2017 concerns itself with Little League baseball in early fall of 1960, 57 years in the past.
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Al Zito, a hitting and pitching sensation all season, slugged and hurled the Braves to a tight, 3-2 win over the Dodgers as the playoffs for the Little Baseball League championship opened at Dan O’Connell Memorial Field at Capron Park last night.
In the second playoff game of the night played at Willett Field, the Yankees came up with seven runs in the fourth inning and outlasted the Tigers 8-4, in their best of three series.
Winners of each series will hook up in a final test next week for the league’s 1960 title.
Zito slammed a home run in the sixth with two outs and two strikes on him to decide the Braves-Dodgers contest. He hit a sizzling low liner just out of reach of the shortstop and it split the outfielders. Al was across the plate before a play could be made on him.
Bob Johnson was a formidable mound opponent for Zito until the Braves’ pitcher took matters into his own hands. The hurlers struck out 14 batters each and were stingy with hits and walks.
Zito gave up a walk and four hits while Johnson, with nearly letter-perfect control, did not yield a base on balls and was touched for just five hits. Zito’s homer was the difference. Zito doubled in addition to the homer.
Heavy hitters for the Dodgers were Tom Fagnand, who tripled, and Tom Walsh, who chipped in with a double. Collecting singles were Jeff and Kevin Myles, Rick Halko, and Dave Hardt of the Braves and Eddie O’Brien and Mike Walsh of the Dodgers.
The Tigers held a 2-1 lead until the Yankees’ rally, featuring a grand slam by Neil Cassidy, the winning pitcher.
Joe Makarewicz, the leading distance hitter for the Tigers, connected for a two-run homer and a single. Ricky Ezyk doubled and singled.
Bill Saunders joined Cassidy in pacing the Yankee attack with two singles against Billy Byrnes and Makarewicz, who gave up seven hits between them.
Cassidy, who was touched for six hits, fanned 12 and walked two.
The second game of both sections of the playoffs will be played Monday at 6:15.
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From March of 1946, comes this:
CASSIDY TO HANDLE AHS TRACK TEAM
Acting Faculty Manager Jim Cassidy, former high school and Boston U athlete, will coach the Attleboro High track team this year. Track is to have a more important spot in the local high school setup under Director Howard Tozier and candidates for the team will be called out as soon as the weather is settled.
For several years Ray Cooney has handled track at the school, but this year, with his added duties in directing grammar school athletics, he cannot carry on his high school work and he is to be relieved by Cassidy. The latter will start checking on his material and begin making ready for the start any day now.
HIGH SCHOOL STUFF
There will be no formal spring training for the football players at Attleboro High. Brockton, Coyle, Durfee an some others are working out their 1946 grid hopes in regular schedule, but Tozier is issuing no calls here. He does have hopes, however, to get an early start in September.
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Both male and female directors of physical education will be employed at Attleboro High so there will be possible participation for all students. Jim Cassidy will have charge of this work under the supervision of Tozier.
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Four or five pitching prospects and a catching candidate have been tossing the balls around at the school gym, but there will be no official call for candidates.
Peace