Warde Nine Clinched First Place in FCIAC East by Defeating McMahon 60 Years Ago Today

Andrew Warde High School's baseball team virtually locked up first place and the FCIAC Eastern Division championship for the second straight year by defeating Brien McMahon High School, 11-9, in eight innings, Thursday, May 23, 1963.

First baseman Gary DuBoys assured the Warde triumph when he smashed a two-run home run with none out in the first extra inning, following a leadoff single by hard-hitting Al Englander, to break open a high-scoring battle which was played under protest by the Senators after a second-inning rhubarb at the Eagles' diamond. The Senators charged that the umpire changed his ruling from a foul to fair ball on a pop up which was turned into an inning-ending double play by Warde catcher Doug Goodfellow.

Coach Bob Jackson used four pitchers for the Eagles. The hosts blew an early 6-0 lead, but they staged a three-run comeback rally in the sixth inning to deadlock the game at 9-9 after McMahon surged ahead by scoring nine runs in the fifth and sixth frames at the expense of Bill Binkiwitz and Pat McDonough. Barry Turlish ended a four-run splurge by the Senators in the sixth, and southpaw Larry Mischik pitched two scoreless innings to gain credit for the hard-fought win.

It was the ninth conference victory in 13 contests for the Eagles, moving them two-and-a-half games ahead of Stamford Catholic (6-6) in the Eastern division standings, with only three games remaining on the regular-season schedule. The defeat dropped Brien McMahon to third place in the division with a 6-7 record.

A walk to Mischik, John Nemeth's single, a two-run triple by Englander, and Pete Jankovsky's sacrifice fly produced the three sixth-inning runs which pulled Warde into a 9-9 tie and sent the twilight game into extra innings.

Paul

Mike Gorlo's Three-Run Home Run Sparked Warde Over Ludlowe 61 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

Sophomore Mike Abraham Tossed Three-Hitter to Lead Warde Over McMahon 52 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 Seantors 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

Warde Students Took Advantage of Rare March Snow Day to Build Snow Bunny 56 Years Ago Today

One of the snowiest March days on record in Fairfield happened 56 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

Andrew Warde High School Product Richard Belzer, Noted Actor and Comedian, Passes Away

Richard Belzer, who attended and graduated from Andrew Warde High School (Class of 1962) and was a stand-up comedian who became one of TV’s most indelible detectives as John Munch in Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU, has died. He was 78. 

Belzer died on Sunday at his home in Bozouls in southern France, according to his longtime friend, Bill Scheft.

Here is Belzer's photo and caption from the Andrew Warde High School 1962 Flame yearbook:

Belzer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Frances and Charles Belzer. His father was a candy and tobacco wholesaler. 

Belzer grew up with his parents and older brother, Leonard. As a youth, Belzer worked as a paperboy and at Modern Tobacco (his parents' business) part-time while attending high school. 

He was "kicked out of every school he attended." Nonetheless, Belzer was perhaps the most recognizable Andrew Warde High School graduate from the Class of 1962. 

Both parents died while he was young; he was 18 when his mother died of cancer and 22 when his father committed suicide.

The tribute video to the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1962 on its 50-year reunion acknowledged the "Munch."

Belzer, cousin of actor Henry Winkler, played the wise-cracking homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories for more than two decades and across 10 series, including appearances on the hit comedies 30 Rock and Arrested Development. 

Belzer first played Munch on a 1993 episode of Homicide, and last played him in 2016 on Law & Order: SVU. Belzer never auditioned for the role. 

After hearing him on The Howard Stern Show, producer Barry Levinson brought Belzer in to read for the part. “I would never be a detective,” Belzer once said. “But if I were, that’s how I’d be. They write to all my paranoia and anti-establishment dissidence and conspiracy theories. So it’s been a lot of fun for me. A dream, really.”

Paul

Warde Girls Captured First FCIAC Basketball Championship 47 Years Ago Today by Defeating Westhill, 62-49, in Norwalk

Andrew Warde High School's girls' basketball team captured the FCIAC championship 47 years ago today by defeating Westhill High School, 62-49, in Norwalk. Kathy Anderson, tournament MVP, led the Crimson Eagles to their 15th victory in 17 games by scoring 20 points, while Diane Dionis and Debbie Mendell had 12 points apiece to aid the Warde attack.

The Crimson Eagles led the entire way against the Western Division champions, marching to a 32-25 halftime lead. The Lady Vikings lost for only the third time in 17 outings. Warde advanced to the title game by defeating Western Division runner-up Stamford, courtesy of Anderson's 19 markers. Westhill moved into the finals by defeating Eastern Division runner-up Ludlowe.

The champions bolted out to a 12-9 lead after the first quarter before taking the seven point cushion into the intermission break. Warde outscored Westhill, 14-10, in the third quarter to increase its lead to 46-35 heading into the final frame. Warde won the final quarter, 16-14, to post the comfortable 13-point margin of victory.

With a new head coach, Miss Mary Beth McGirr, the girls got off to a slow start early in the season, but they staged a remarkable comeback to end up winning the league title. One of the reasons for the team's mid-season surge was the play of Anderson, a sophomore sensation. Her phenomenal improvement from the beginning of the season paralleled the improved play of the team as a whole.

By the end of the campaign, Anderson was habitually leading the team in points and rebounds every game. She earned All-FCIAC first-team honors, and she was named the MVP of the league tournament. But, Anderson wasn't the only reason the team won the coveted FCIAC championship.

The many other players who contributed much to the team's achievements included seniors Dionis, Mendell, who earned All-FCIAC second-team recognition, Gayle Johnson, and Marti Causey. The juniors included Kris Ness and Betsy Niesyn. The FCIAC championship game was played Friday evening, February 13, 1976, at Norwalk High School.

Paul