Once upon a time ...

A fifth league is added in Middletown, the Spencer League. The city championship was now played between the five league champions. A playdown game was used to reduce the field to four teams. These teams played with the winners meeting in the city championship game. This format was in effect from 1971 to 1978.

In the opening round the Knights of Columbus dumped Concord Steel 13-5. Don Secore had great day with four hits including a home run. Bob Church had two hits including a homer. Rick Youmans pitched a three hit, eleven strikeout game.

In the second round Exchange nipped Knights of Columbus 5-4. Exchange was led by Tom LaRosa's double and two hits from Billy Russo. Exchange used the pitching of Grillo, Russo, and Jeff Grockowski. Bob Church pitched the distance for the Knights. He yielded seven hits, five walks and struck out eight. Rick Youmans had three hits for KofC. In the other semifinal, the Elks defeated Lions 10-2. The Elks used the pitching of Joe Kolenda five hits.five walks and eight strikeouts. The Elks had two hits from Mike Cimino and the Lions had two hits from Carl Manemeit.

The Elks captured another city title defeating Exchange 16-10 at Hubbard Park. Pete Tomczak was the winning pitcher. It was a hitting game as the Elks had 15 and Exchange 14. For Elks Kolenda and McArthur each had three and Thomas two. Grockowski had three including two home runs for Exchange. Bill Waldner had two as did Tom LaRosa.

District Nine Tournament
The opening round of the District Nine tournamnet saw two outstanding pitching performances by Wayne Burgess and Rick Youmans.

Rick Youmans fired a no hitter as Westfield defeated East Haddam-Moodus 5-0. Youmans struck out 11 and walked four. He fanned seven of the first nine batters he faced. Mark Tomlin and Bob Church each had two hits for the Westfield squad. In the second, Church stole second, third, and home. Don Secore had a double.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
EH--Moodus All Stars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Westfield All Stars 2 2 1 0 0 x 5 8

Wayne Burgess pitched a one hitter to lead Moose to a 4-0 shutout of Guilford. Burgess struck out nine and walked one. Tom Pellerin and Jeff Grockowski had RBI singles in the fifth when Moose scored all of its runs.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Guilford All Stars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Moose All Stars 0 0 0 0 4 x 4 8

Clinton spoiled Spencer's first all star appearance winning 5-1. Jamie Knight and Steve Kelly pitched for Spencer. Knight had two hits for Spencer. Tommy Smith scored their lone run.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Clinton All Stars 1 0 0 2 1 1 5 9
Spencer All Stars 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5

Pat Kidney used a fourteen hit attack and defeated the Bernie O'Rourke All Stars 16-9. Mark Muller had four hits and his teammates Kellan Banks, Dave Campisi, Joe Kolenda, and John Gibson each had two hits. Muller had two home runs to bring his season total to 16. Banks also homered. In the third, Jeff Artikes hit a grandslam for Bernie O'Rourke. Craig Patenaude and Ray Jacobs each drove in two runs in the fourth to chase Larry Liedke off the mound. Peter Tomczak came in and shut the door. Artikes and Kevin Peters each had three hits for Bernie O'Rourke. Richard Scionti and Patenaude pitched for O'Rourke.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Pat Kidney All Stars 2 5 4 0 2 3 16 14
O'Rourke All Stars 0 0 4 5 0 0 9 11

Middlefield used a six run fourth inning highlighted by Dean Frederick's grand slam to defeat Moose 7-3 at Hubbard Park. Robbie Cannata homered for Moose, Tom Pellerin had 2 hits.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Middlefield All Stars 1 0 0 6 0 0 7 7
Moose All Stars 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 7

Cromwell took advantage of eight Westfield walks and several errors to win 9-5. Bob Church and Steve Augeri each had two hits for Westfield. Steve Rowe, Bob Church, and Mark Tomlin each pitched for Westfield.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Westfield All Stars 2 0 2 0 0 1 5 7
Cromwell All Stars 0 4 5 0 0 x 9 7

Madison limited Pat Kidney to two hits and won the game at Snow School 4-2. The Pat Kidney hits were by Joe Kolenda and John Gibson. Mark Muller was intentionally walked in all three of his plate appearances. Clacy was the winning pitcher. He had ten strike outs and walked six.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Pat Kidney All Stars 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 2
Madison All Stars 0 4 0 0 0 x 4 7

Clinton used the shutout pitching effort of Francis Criscuolo to defeat Madison 1-0 in the District Nine title game. Criscuolo walked two and fanned nine. Mike Spotts scored the lone run in the first. Clancy was losing pitcher.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Madison All Stars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Clinton All Stars 1 0 0 0 0 x 1 4 3

Clinton used the one hit pitching performance of Mark Kowalski to defeat Thompson 2-0. Kowalski fanned seven. Clinton had doubles from Collins and Bob Richards.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Thompson All Stars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Clinton All Stars 0 0 4 5 0 0 2 5 0

In a game played at Waterford, Clinton defeated Waterford South 4-1. Francis Criscuolo was the winning pitcher. He fired a two hitter and struck out six.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Waterford All Stars 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2
Clinton All Stars 0 0 0 4 0 x 4 5

Clinton was eliminated in the semifinals by South Windsor 8-1 in a game played at Henry Park in Rockville. Mark Kowalski and was relieved by Lewis. Mike Spotts and Bob Richards each had two hits for Clinton.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Clinton All Stars 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 7
South Windsor All Stars 3 0 0 5 0 x 8 7

1971 Moose League All Stars
Tom Pellerin, Wayne Burgess, Robbie Cannata, Bill Waldner, Jeff Grockowski, Ed DiClemente, Gary Thompson, Kerry Marshall, Charles Grillo, Billy Russo, Jim Corvo, David Onorati, Lou Labbadia

1971 Pat Kidney League All Stars
Dave Campisi, John Gibson, Mark Muller, Bill Cronin,Joe Imme, Kellan Banks, Bob Thomas, Joe Kolenda, Mark LeVasseur, Peter Tomczak, Jim Annino, Gary Krajewski, Larry Liedke, Mike Santostefano

1971 O'Rourke League All Stars
John Ewanowski, Ray Jacobs, Richard Scionti, John Lundell, Jeff Artikes, Mark Steele, David Gallitto, Jim Coughlin, Scott Sierpinski, Jeff Priest, Bob Satagaj, Kevin Peters, Craig Patenaude, Mike Baranowski

1971 Westfield League All Stars
Mark Tomlin, Tom Beebe, Kevin Scarrozzo, Rick Youmans, John Socha, Steve Augeri, Bob Church, Bob Chapman, Art Sibley, Richard Kriwacki, Chris Williams,Don Secore, Jim Sweeney, Steve Rowe

1971 Spencer League All Stars - Their first All Star Team.
Bill Sciacca, Roy Mainelli, Guy Misenti, Jeff Mockalis, Tom Smith, Steve Kelly, Jim St. Amand, Richard Manzi, Jeff Hoffman, Robby Ronzello, Dave Hickcox, Charles Dupnik, Gary Nadeau, Jamie Knight

The aluminum bat, developed in cooperation with Little League, is first used.

Middletown Collegians - 1971 CCSBL State Champs

Front Row ( L to R ): Ted Lombardo, John Waylock
Second Row ( L to R ): Mike Pitruzello, Bob Tremalgia, Bob Volk, Don Lombardo, Mike Cirrullo
Third Row ( L to R ): Ed Wargas, Frank Johnson, Mark Brookes, Alex Parmuka, Gar Dubey
Fourth Row ( L to R ): Marty Ryczek, Craig Lundell, Bill Keenan, Bill Piemtek, Rick Kolenda
Back Row ( L to R ): Gen. Mgr. Joe Lombardo, Phil Sienna, P.J. Daniels

Photo courtesy of D. Lombardo

Bill Piemtek of Middletown CCSBL team signed with the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1971 season.

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