Once upon a time ...

A second league is added in Middletown, the Pat Kidney League. It was named after Patrick M. Kidney, who had served nearly 30 years as Superintendent of Parks and Playgrounds in Middletown. It also had four teams, the Eagles, the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Merchants.

After the conclusion of the regular season the first "City Championship" between the leagues takes place with Moose League Champion South Farms playing the Pat Kidney League Champion Elks. South Farms swept the Elks by scores of 13-3 and 13-0 in the best-of-three series to claim the first City Championship series, a tradition that continues to this day. In Game One, Jackie Lorenc pitched a two hitter and struck out 17. He and Sam Bitgood had three hits apiece. Howie Shaffer and Dean Patenaude eah had two hits.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Elks 0 1 0 0 2 0
3
2
South Farms 3 2 3 4 1 x
13
12

In Game Two, Joe Havicek hurled a one hitter, striking out 13 and walking just one. Dean Patenaude had two 3 run homers, Jackie Lorenc had four hits, and Walter Lefco, Sam Bitgood, and Howie Shaffer each had three hits.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
South Farms 0 0 3 3 2 5
13
16
Elks 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
1

In order to prepare for the upcoming state tournament, the All Star teams from the Moose League and Pat Kidney played a three game exhibition series. Game One went to the Moose All Stars 5-3. Kenny Fredricks hit two home runs and John Lorenc had two hits. Game Two also went to the Moose 12-7 An eight run first inning set the tone. Jerry Garvin, Cliff Carlson and Ben Citron all had two hits. Willie Graham had a home run for Pat Kidney. The Pat Kidney All Stars won Game Three 8-4.

The first Connecticut State Little League tournament takes place at Municipal Field, Middletown during the week of August 7. Fourteen teams were entered and the Middletown Press was the sponsor. In order to qualify a league had to be sanctioned by Little League and play at least a 12 game regular season schedule. Bridgeport emerged as the first State Champions. Other teams that partcipated in the First Connecticut Little League Tournament: Moose All Stars of Middletown, Pat Kidney All Stars of Middletown, Portland, Cromwell, Southington, Naugatuck, West Hartford, Meriden, Wallingford, Old Saybrook, Stratford and Border League.

Southington used the one-hit pitching of Robert Mongillo to edge the Moose All Stars 3-2.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Moose All Stars 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1
Southington 0 0 3 0 0 x 3 6

Pat Kidney opened with a 4-2 win over West Hartford. Cliff Carlson pitched a two hitter with eight strikeouts. Ben Citron's fifth inning single drove in the last two runs.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
West Hartford 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2
Pat Kidney All Stars 0 0 2 0 2 x 4 5

In the state sem-final game Southington defeated Pat Kidney 6-3. Robert Mongillo, who earlier beat Moose, threw a three hitter with 10 Ks. Gene Vereen had two of Middletown's three hits.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Southington 0 0 0 0 5 1 6 9
Pat Kidney All Stars 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 3

1949 Moose League All Stars
Manager Fritz Wamester and Coach Mike Stagon
Dick Wamester, John Burns, John Lorenc, Bob Russo, Sebastian Spada, Ken Fredricks, Jackie Malone, George Bitgood, John Rybczyk, Joe Vinci, Ray Bankoski, Wally Cahill, Richard Olsen, Joe Scirpo

1949 Pat Kidney League All Stars
Manager Frank Kalinowski and Coach Charles Krajewski
Gene Vereen, Jerry Garvin, Donald Main, Richard Raicik, Billy Daley, Bob Sienko, Don Stokes, Junior Salonia, Frank Wasicki, Willie Graham, Cliff Carlson, Ben Citron, Joe Didato, John Pacholski, Phil Pessoni, Jerry Goldberg, Everett Inglis


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