Crimson Eagles Crushed Rival Flying Tigers on Baseball Diamond 51 Years Ago Today

Third baseman Mike Gorlo rapped a three-run home run, a double, and a single to lead the offensive explosion 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 arch-rival Roger Ludlowe at Sturges Park on Friday, April 27, 1962.

Coach Bob Jackson's Crimson Eagles got off to a fast start and hammered Ludlowe's 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 off the bat of Les Bufferd.

Gorlo's round tripper highlighted a five-run spree in the second inning for the Eagles at the expense of Bill Murphy, who hurled the last six innings for Ludlowe. The Warde third sacker connected for his homer after Murphy walked co-captain Mike Longo and co-captain Hank Bahe singled to lead off the frame. A pair of Ludlowe errors, a walk to Jim Lippman, and an RBI single by Bill Holling produced two more runs.

Bahe survived a shaky start and went the distance on the mound for the winners to pick up the victory. All of Ludlowe's runs and three of its six hits off Bahe were registered in the home half of the first inning. Bahe issued two bases on balls, Roy Hibyan socked a double, and Bruce Tabackman and Charley Skubas rapped singles.

The Eagles were blanked by Murphy in four of their last five turns at bat. Warde's final run, scored in the sixth inning, was unearned as the result of two Ludlowe errors.

Paul

Larry Mischik Pitched Warde to First Win of Season on This Date in 1962

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

Crimson Eagles' Nine Edged Blue Wave in Back-and-Forth Baseball Game at Darien 39 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School baseball team survived its own mistakes in the field and a comeback effort from host Darien to defeat the Blue Wave, 6-5, in 13 innings on Friday, April 24, 1974.

Pitcher Kirk Anderson went 12 innings to pick up the win for the Crimson Eagles, but he had to battle seven errors from his fielders and the never-say-die Blue Wave.

Warde broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 12th inning with a pair of runs on RBI hits by Jeff Hannon and Tim Walsh, but Darien responded with two runs on a two-base outfield error and Eddie Lechak's run-scoring hit.

The Eagles, now 6-0 in the FCIAC and 6-1 overall, struck for two more tallies in the 13th frame as a single by Jim DelVecchio and Bob Nielsen's double scored runs.

The game wasn't decided yet, however, as Chuck Santos-Duch led off the bottom of the 13th inning with a single and moved around on a stolen base, an error, and a groundout. Reliever Buddy Peck came into the game after the stolen base to save the victory for Anderson.

Darien, which fell to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in league play, opened the scoring in the fourth inning on Santos-Duch's RBI single, but Warde answered with a run in the fifth on consecutive two-base errors. The teams traded runs in the sixth to set the stage for extra innings.

Dave Catino, who pitched the final inning for the Blue Wave, took the loss. He was the fourth pitcher used by Darien.

Paul

Cardinals Nipped Eagles in FCIAC Baseball Clash in Greenwich 46 Years Ago Today

Greenwich scored runs in five of its six innings at bat to defeat Andrew Warde, 8-5, in an FCIAC baseball game at the winners' diamond on this date, Thursday, April 20, 1967.

Jed Swift led the Cardinals' attack at the plate with a perfect three-for-three performance, while Vin Esposito and Corky Fitter added two hits apiece. Al Rakoczy drove in four of the five Crimson Eagles runs with a bases loaded triple and a sacrifice fly.

Singles by Mike Aliberti and Jon Davis, a wild pitch, and Rakoczy's long fly ball gave Warde a short-lived 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Trailing by 7-1 in the sixth inning, Rakoczy delivered his bases loaded triple. Steve Plucker followed with a double to plate Rakoczy with the final Warde run. The Eagles were outhit in the contest, 11 to 7.

Paul

Hatter Miscues Help Warde Post 2-1 Victory Over Danbury 42 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School baseball team tallied two runs in the first inning and held on to defeat Danbury, 2-1, in an FCIAC contest 42 years ago today, Monday, April 19, 1971, at the Crimson Eagles' diamond.

A wild pitch and an errant pickoff attempt brought home both Warde runs. Danbury jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Dennis Piela walked, stole second base, and came around to score on Ray Karas's RBI single.

The Eagles struck back immediately when Pete Paolini walked, Bill Mulligan singled, and Robbie Orciuch's sacrifice bunt was misplayed, loading the bases. Losing pitcher John Iovino then uncorked his wild pitch, scoring Paolini.

Iovino fanned the next two batters before walking Mike Abraham to reload the bases. Hatter backstop Hal DeLuca attempted to pick off Abraham, but he threw the ball into right field, allowing Mulligan to score what would be the winning run.

Mulligan, a senior righthander, picked up his second win of the season without a setback. He went the route in allowing three hits, striking out 11, and walking four. Warde raised its record to 2-1, while Danbury dropped to an identical 2-1 ledger.

Paul

Andrew Warde High School Class of 1973 Planning 40-Year Reunion

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1973 will hold its 40-year reunion, Saturday, August 10, 2013, from 7 p.m. to midnight at Testo's Restaurant, 1775 Madison Avenue, in Bridgeport.

That's the word from reunion chair Terri-Lynn Backer, who told me that 300 of the 450 students from the class have been contacted. "We're still missing 150 people," she said. "(We) would love to find them." Visit the reunion Web site by clicking the image below.

According to the reunion Web site, "It's hard to believe that it's been 40 years since we walked the halls of Barlow, Mason, Smedley and Wolcott. Now it's time to come together once again to reacquaint, reminisce and celebrate.

"We, your planning committee, have worked long and hard to make this our best reunion ever! If you have never been to one of our reunions, you don't want to miss this one!

"So come and renew old friendships, catch up on the past 40 years, and celebrate where we've been, who we are, and where we're going from here."

Paul

Warde Graduate Helps St. Emery Parish Host Successful First-Ever 'Luncheon & Cabaret Day'

Saint Emery Church parishioners and friends gathered in the church hall on Sunday afternoon, April 14 for the parish’s first-ever “Luncheon and Cabaret Day.” Good food and good music were in abundance, and the parish benefitted from the excess proceeds, the ultimate purpose for the event.

Advisory Council president Kathy Sherwood created the idea in the early part of this year, and Music Director Anthony Procaccini and numerous volunteers quickly moved ahead in planning, respectively, the musical and culinary delights. After a lunch including ziti, meatballs, sausage, salad and dessert, the audience was entertained with a three-part concert.

First, soprano Krista Adams Santilli (pictured above), a Trumbull resident, wowed the crowd with her virtuosity and an eclectic array of music from liturgical sources, opera, popular music and Broadway. Selections were derived from Mozart, Puccini, Rodgers and Hammerstein, “Les Miserables,” and “Sweeny Todd,” to name a few. For an encore, demonstrating her wide range once again, Krista gave a bluesy rendition of the Etta James classic “At Last.”

Next on the bill was a small Hungarians choir (pictured below) – the parish was founded by the local Hungarian community in 1932 - which sang 6 spirited songs, many of which were recognized by audience members, who also sang and clapped at times. Their finale was an appropriate closer, a typical Magyar dance song with lots of zest.

The closing act consisted of the Saint Emery Festival Choir, with help from a few outside friends who volunteered to help. Their one number, a lively Gospel-style tune entitled “One Step He Leads,” was performed with the right amount of poignancy and zeal, at the appropriate times. The audience applauded heartily.

Music Director Anthony Procaccini (pictured above), a 1976 graduate of Andrew Warde High School, served as emcee for the music program, and as piano accompanist for all the singers.

The parish hopes to repeat the event, with new music, more singers and a different guest artist, every six months.

Defending FCIAC Champion Warde Dropped Baseball Season-Opener at Stamford 49 Years Ago This Week

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.

Ware 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