DANBURY - A depleted Providence Game Hens club was no match for a formidable Danbury-Newtown nine coming together for a Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund benefit match at Rogers Park in Danbury on Saturday.
DANBURY â A depleted Providence Game Hens club was no match for a formidable Danbury-Newtown nine coming together for a Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund benefit match at Rogers Park in Danbury on Saturday.
Playing an 1876-rules game, the Danbury-Newtown nine bested the Hens, 21-9.
The local ballists welcomed Craig âCrashâ Renda and Jason âShankâ Crookshank to the squad, which turned out in full force (some 16 strong) for the match while the Game Hens traveled all the way from Providence, Rhode Island, with just nine stalwart men.
Brian âTexâ Casey took to the box for the Hooks while Patrick âBlueâ Reilly hurled for the visitors. Doug âPopsâ Pendergist set the tone for the local ballists by making an acrobatic catch in left field for the first out of the opening frame.
The Hooks struggled early against the tough efforts of Reilly, but did scratch out five aces to take a 5-2 lead into the fourth inning. But Reilly â in the process of delivering a pitch â severely fractured his pitching arm and had to be transported to the hospital.
The injury further depleted the Hensâ squad, which bravely continued with the match as Jim âThe Hammerâ McHale took to the box. The Hooks â led by âMooseâ Margolus, Pendergist and Jim âSparksâ Marcucilli â rattled the new hurler and went on to post better than 25 hits and 21 aces in the game.
The Hens continued to fight, though, and reached Pendergist for seven aces in the last three innings of the match.
The Hooks intend to repay the Hensâ kindness and travel to Providence, Rhode Island, next season for a match. The final match of this season for the Hooks, however, will be Sunday, October 9, when they take on the Hartford Senators on the St. Rose Church/School grounds to celebrate the St. Rose Oktoberfest.
First pitch is slated for 1:30 pm.