By Kim J. Harmon

More than 110 years ago two base ball teams – the Hops and the Sodas – mixed it up in the shadow of Cady Mountain in Sandy Hook.

That spirit was revived this past weekend when the Newtown Sandy Hooks and Waterbury Connors vintage base ball teams mixed it up in a doubleheader on the palatial grounds of McLaughlin Vineyards … in the shadow of Cady Mountain.

Around 200 spectators – known as ‘cranks’ to all vintage ballists – relaxed beside the stone fence and under the shade trees and watched as the Hooks and the Connors played two rousing, seven-inning games by 1861 rules (no gloves, underhand pitching, balls caught on one bounce are outs).

The Connors were a hard-hitting, crisp-fielding club and they walked away with a pair of wins – the first was a hard fought, 6-4 decision that saw the visiting nine take an early lead but then hold off the hard charging Hooks.

In the second game the Connors – with a ‘rabbit’ ball inadvertently thrown into play – exploded for 10 runs and coasted to the win.

The best play of the day was a backpedaling, one-handed grab (sans glove) made by ‘Pops’ Pendergist in left field that quelled a potential Waterbury rally. This resulted in a rousing round of applause by the ‘cranks’ and spectators.

Mike ‘Rambo’ Rambone also wowed the local fans with some spectacular plays in centerfield.

Dennis ‘Doughboy’ Norwich belted a home run for the Hooks and the Dieckmans – ‘Pudgey,’ ‘Chief,’ and ‘Shoeless’ – continued to rip the ball. Ray ‘Shutta’ Shaw – team ‘owner’ – had a chance to become a striker in the second game and knocked a ball through the middle of the infield for a single.

The Hooks will be back on the field this weekend for the Newtown Tercentennial Celebration. On Saturday, the local nine will host the Hartford Senators in a doubleheader featuring rules of 1876 and 1886 (or possibly a return to 1861 rules).

First pitch is slated for 10 am at Fairfield Hills.

The Hooks are slated to host the Simsbury Taverneers in a doubleheader dip on Saturday, August 13, and are slated to visit Simsbury on September 10 for another doubleheader dip. Later on in September, the Hooks and the Connors will renew their newfound rivalry.