Sophomore Mike Abraham Tosed Three-Hitter to Lead Warde Over McMahon, 4-1, in Norwalk 40 Years Ago Today

Sophomore Mike Abraham tossed a three-hitter to lead the Warde baseball team to a 4-1 victory over Brien McMahon in Norwalk 40 years ago today, Tuesday, April 20, 1971. It was the second victory in as many days for the Crimson Eagles.

Warde, which edged Danbury, 2-1, the previous day, improved to 3-1, while the Senators dropped to an even 2-2.

The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Abraham opened the inning with a single and, after a fly out, moved to second on Bob Maffei's base hit. John Zerjav then laced a single to center to score Abraham, and when the centerfielder misplayed the hit, Maffei raced home from second base.

McMahon nicked Abraham for an unearned run in the fourth inning. Felix Rodrigues led off with a single and stole second before the ball was misplayed by second baseman Bill Mulligan, allowing Rodrigues to move to third. Ruddy Gisolfi's run-producing safety brought Rodrigues home.

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, moved to third on a groundout, and crossed the plate when John Favale ripped a triple to right field. Abraham, who struck out seven, helped his own cause with an RBI single, scoring Favale with the Eagles' final run.

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

Paul