Mike Gorlo Paced Warde to 10-3 Victory Over Ludlowe at Sturges Park 62 Years Ago Today

Third baseman Mike Gorlo rapped a three-run home run, a double, and a single to lead a strong attack as Andrew Warde High School's baseball team racked up nine runs in the first two innings and coasted to a 10-3 victory over Roger Ludlowe High School at Sturges Park, Friday, April 27, 1962. The victory evened the Crimson Eagles' conference record to 2-2, while the Flying Tigers suffered their third defeat in four games.

Coach Bob Jackson's team got off to a fast start and clipped Ludlowe pitchers Greg Madden and freshman Gene Radomski for four runs in the first inning. The early rally included a pair of walks, Gorlo's single, a bases-loaded double by Pete Jankowsky, and an RBI single by Les Bufferd.

Gorlo's round-tripper highlighted a five-run spree by the Eagles in the second inning at the expense of Bill Murphy, who pitched the last six innings for Ludlowe. The Warde third baseman connected for his home run after Murphy walked co-captain Mike Longo, and co-captain Hank Bahe singled with no outs. A pair of Ludlowe errors, a walk, and an RBI single by Bill Holling produced two more runs.

Bahe survived a shaky start and went the distnace on the mound for the Eagles to pick up the win. All of Ludlowe's scoring and three of its six hits came in the first inning.

Paul

Larry Mischik's Pitcing Lifted Warde Over New Canaan 62 Years Ago Today

Larry Mischik pitched Andrew Warde High School's baseball team to a 4-2 victory over New Canaan at the Rams' diamond on this date, Wednesday, April 25, 1962. The win was the first in three games for the Crimson Eagles.

Warde scored single runs in the first two innings. Singles by Mike Longo and Mischik and walks to Andy Bowman and Jim Lippman brought in the first Eagle run, and a walk, an error, and a fielder's choice by Mischik accounted for the second run.

The Eagles final two runs were scored in the third inning as Bowman doubled, Pete Jankowsky walked, and Les Bufferd tripled. The Eagles outhit the host Rams, six-to-three, in the FCIAC contest.

Paul

Sophomore Mike Abraham Tossed a Three-Hitter to Lead Warde Over McMahon 53 Years Ago Today

Sophomore Mike Abraham pitched a three-hitter to lead Andrew Warde to its second victory in as many days, a 4-1 decision over Brien McMahon in Norwalk, on this date, Tuesday, April 20, 1971. The Crimson Eagles, who defeated Danbury, 2-1, the previous day, improved to 3-1, while McMahon fell to 2-2.

The winners jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Abraham opened the frame with a single and moved to second base on a one-out base hit by Bob Maffei. John Zerjav laced a single to centerfield to score Abraham, and Maffei raced home from second when the centerfielder misplayed the hit.

The Senators nicked Abraham for an unearned run in the fourth inning. Felix Rodrigues led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third when the ball was misplayed by second baseman Bill Mulligan. Rudy Gisolfi's RBI safety plated Rodrigues.

Mulligan tallied the first of two insurance runs for the Eagles in the fifth inning when he led off with a walk, went to second on a sacrifice, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored when John Favale ripped a triple to rightfield. Abraham, who struck out seven, helped his own cause with an RBI single, scoring Favale with final run for Warde.

The Senators threatened in the last of the seventh inning when starting and losing pitcher Gary Lawrence lined a two-out triple to leftfield, but Abraham cut off any scoring hopes when he retired Dennis Dudas on a fly-out to center to end the game.

Paul

Defending FCIAC Baseball Champion Crimson Eagles Dropped Season-Opener at SCHS 60 Years Ago Today

Stamford Catholic High School's baseball team defeated FCIAC defending co-champion Andrew Warde High School at the Crusaders' field in the baseball season opener, 5-2, Monday, April 13, 1964.

Ed Manjuck's tie-breaking two-run double in the third inning propelled the Crusaders to victory. Manjuck's clout scored Tom and Dave Esposito to give the Lock City hosts a margin they retained the rest of the game.

Warde opened the scoring in the first inning when Mike Pantano laced the first of his two hits, a single to center. Hank Gellert's single, sandwiched around a passed ball, scored Pantano to put the Eagles ahead, 1-0.

Warde scored again in the second inning on Pantano's second hit, a triple, which followed a walk to Dave Newman. Stamford Catholic countered with two runs in its half of the second inning on the strength of two singles, a walk, a sacrifice fly, and a fielder's choice.

After a shaky start, Catholic hurler Ray Ryan settled down and pitcher scoreless ball the remainder of the game to nail down the victory. The Eagles outhit the Crusaders, 7 to 5.

Paul

Jay and the Americans Appeared at Warde 58 Years Ago

Which were the top rock 'n' roll music groups when you attended high school? Now, imagine if one of them appeared in concert at Warde when you were a student? 

That's exactly what happened 58 years ago when Jay and the Americans performed at Andrew Warde High School early in 1966.

According to a story which appeared in the Bridgeport Sunday Post March 27, 1966, as the immortal lyrics of 'Coca Cola' blasted out loud and clear in the Warde auditorium, the audience shrieked and school council members breathed sighs of relief and pride.

They had accomplished the incredible feat of bringing Jay and the Americans to school. The famous rock 'n' roll band gave two performances.

Plans for the event were initiated in December of 1965 in answer to a request by senior Bob Kaplan. Martha Whiteman was appointed chair of the project, which became known as Martha's Folly.

Through the work of agent Bud Filippo, the school's first choice group, The Lovin' Spoonful, was booked. However, they received an offer of a West coast tour which made it impossible for them to appear on the scheduled date.

Council president Rich Sloan and Miss Whiteman, who is recording secretary, spent a frantic week in conference with Mr. Filippo. Luckily, they were able to get Jay and the Americans who were also high on the priority list.

The program combined such hits as "Let's Lock the Door," "Cara Mia," and "In a Little Cafe," with comic numbers. In homage to television, they sang a medley of commercials. No video, to my knowledge, exists of their visit, but I'm sure it must have looked and sounded like this.

Also performing was a well-known Warde rock 'n' roll group known as the Valiants. The members of the band, all seniors, were Ron and Allen Kaplan, Jason Eisenberg, and Jonnie Rich. Jay and the Americans were impressed by the group's performance and expressed interest in helping the boys in their recording attempts.

The profits from the concert were donated by the school council to the exchange commission.

Paul

Warde Students Took Advantage of Snow Day to Build Snow Bunny 57 Years Ago Today

One of the snowiest March days on record in Fairfield happened 57 years ago today, Wednesday, March 22, 1967, when 11.1" of snow fell. Two students at Andrew Warde High School took advantage of the unusual March Winter weather by making a snow bunny.

This photograph graced the second page of The Bridgeport Post, Friday, March 24, 1967. Click the photo for a larger view.

According to the caption, "The Easter bunny, usually soft and cuddly, gets a new twist here from two Andrew Warde High School students who took advantage of the abundant snow to make a sculpture which is expected to slide, not hop, down the bunny trail Sunday.

"Gail and Robert Contolini, a senior and junior at the Fairfield school, designed the snowy mass, which is on display on the Warde grounds. The artists and their sister, Nancy, who helped in the project, live at 114 Rosedale Street, Fairfield."

Although I'm not certain, the Nancy Contolini mentioned in the article may have been my homeroom teacher in WS-11 in the 1970s. Here is the front page of The Bridgeport Post from Wednesday, March 22, 1967:

Paul