Warde's Win Over Ludlowe Stirs Memories of 1976 Classic Comeback for Baseball Bragging Rights

Fairfield Warde High School's 6-3 victory over Ludlowe at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard this month was strikingly similar to the baseball contest between the two schools 32 years ago.

Ludlowe entered each game as the heavy favorite on its march toward state tournament berths in 1976 and 2008. However, as cliche as it sounds, whenever Warde and Ludlowe get together, it's time to throw the record books out the window.

The Crimson Eagles defeated the Flying Tigers at Ludlowe, 4-2, on May 12, 1976, after a dramatic four-run seventh-inning rally. Bob Henry, the crafty southpaw, pitched a complete game three-hitter before a large and enthusiastic crowd.

The weather was sunny and warm on that May afternoon 32 years ago, just about perfect for a ballgame between the cross-town rivals. Paul Rossitto, John Zadrovitz, John Varholak, Tony Procaccini, Tim Kelly, Greg Aiello, and Frank Fekete helped Warde to the exciting victory.

"I started the scoring by hitting a deep sac fly to the left field fence with the bases loaded in the seventh," pointed out Zadrovitz. "I was down, 0-2, on the count, and Brian Lee threw me a knuckleball that didn't do squat. He had thrown me a curve ball the previous pitch, and I was in a hole. I guess he was cocky, so he figured he would mess with me. Unfortunately, I had only warning-track power, but I still got us on the scoreboard. The rest is history."

Henry struck out seven and only walked three in fashioning an impressive showing on the mound. "I told coach Bob Jackson, 'I want the ball,' for that game against our arch-rival Ludlowe," admitted Henry. "I was very upset when Ludlowe's Jim Barletto hit a seeing eye two-run single off me that left us trailing, 2-0. My Dad was never prouder of me after the team came back to win that game."

Henry said his Dad had the game clippings plastered all over the walls at the family gas station, Wells Rest Texaco, on Stratfield Road, until he finished managing the station in 1978.

Procaccini caught the last out, and he still has the baseball to this day. The Eagles finished the season with a 6-12 record, while Ludlowe made the state tournament. Now, thirty-two years later, Warde posted another upset victory over Ludlowe. It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".