By Kim J. Harmon

GLASTONBURY – Huzzah!

The Newtown-Sandy Hooks opened their first summer of vintage base ball at the Glastonbury Vintage Base Ball Festival last weekend at the Welles Street Park and secured a rousing 6-2 win over the Mudville Nine of Massachusetts.

The game was played under the rules of 1876 – which means, among other things, underarm pitching from 45 feet away, nine balls for a walk, three strikes for an out (although foul balls count for nothing), a live backstop (foul balls caught off the backstop are outs), high/low pitch preferences, fouls balls caught on a bounce are outs, and batted balls that touch fair territory at any time are fair no matter where they end up.

On top of all that … no gloves.

But that’s okay, because the Mudville Nine brought down a couple of “mush” balls that were softer and much more pliant than the slightly more modern vintage base ball used in games played by the rules of 1886.

So, nattily attired in their new red and white uniforms, the Sandy Hook ballists took to the Welles Street field for their first official game (they did play an exhibition against the veteran Hartford Senators) and had some fun.

The Honorable Herb Bush – who had time to enjoy a cigar during the contest as well as perform a little sewing on one of the balls – officiated.

Brian “Tex” Casey hurled scattered six hits and was supported by tremendous defensive plays by basetender Mike “Bulldog” Paes (a couple of those stretches at first deserved a loud HUZZAH!) and behind John “Rock” Zulli, who used the live backstop to his advantage. The locals banged out 20 hits as Randy “Pudgey” Dieckman, “Chief” and “Shoeless” Dieckman pounded the mush ball all over the yard.

Following the contest, the two teams shook hands and then – as is the custom – saluted each other with a short speed presented by the captain and a team cheer of Hip, Hip, Huzzah!

The Festival – which also featured the Hartford Senators, the Pittsfield Elms, and the Simsbury Taverneers – was sponsored by Glastonbury’s Diamond Pub & Grille, Giovanni’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, Hebron Avenue Shell, Flowers by the Way, and the Hartford-based Vintage Base Ball Factory. The Glastonbury Little League was an endorsing sponsor and Glastonbury Parks and Recreation provided assistance.

A local NBC affiliate was on hand with a camera crew to gather material (film and interviews) for an original program entitled Connecticut Discoveries, which will air later this month and feature a segment on vintage base ball in Connecticut.

The local ballists will host the Hartford Senators on Saturday, June 25, in games played under the 1886 and 1876 rules. And on Sunday, July 31, they will visit the Waterbury Connors (named in honor of Hall of Fame first baseman, Roger Connor, who was born in Waterbury and who was the original home run champion before the arrival of Babe Ruth).

All of this will prepare the Sandy Hooks for the Saturday, August 6, contest against the Senators during the Newtown Tercentennial celebration.

Randy “Pudgey” Dieckman, Dennis “Doughboy” Norwich, Scott “Hammer” Orlando, Jim “Sparks” Marcucilli, Phil Keane, Brad “Lefty” Greene, Doug “The Shadow” Kissack, Keith “Moose” Margoulas, Mike “Bulldog” Paes, Doug “Pops” Pendergist, Brian “Tex” Casey, Taylor “Jr” Casey, Mike “Kid Rambo” Rambone, John “Rock” Zulli, and general manager Ray “Shutta” Shaw make up the meat of the Sandy Hooks roster. A few other guys and girls will have a chance to take their rips at the plate as the season progresses.

For more photos, check out www.vbbnewtown.com.