Sandy Hooks Fall in Tightly Fought Battle

By Ray Shaw

The Newtown Sandy Hook Vintage Baseball nine played the Westfield Wheelman in a long-awaited match on May 5. This was the first time the two clubs had met since ‘Muhl’ Snyder and the Hooks mowed-down the Wheelmen way back in 2006.

The match was held in the most unlikely of locations at the shire on the edge of Barnes Municipal Airport, and the Wheelman prevailed 6-4.

As the morning mist lifted from the sparkling green pitch, the sights and sounds of two 21st century F15 fighters taxiing in close proximity to the right field fence broke the ‘vintage’ mood for a few minutes. In spite of that fact, the two teams focused on the rules of 1886 in preparation for the day’s action.

‘Bison’ Friedman, Newtown’s most accomplished left-handed overhand hurler, was called on to manage the pitching duties for the visitors while three different Westfield hurlers were to toil for the Wheelmen.

For the Sandy Hooks, this would be their first opportunity to see overhand pitching this season and though they got base runners aboard in the first two frames, they weren’t able to capitalize.

The Wheelmen earned a run in the first inning on an error and a sacrifice fly. Then, in the second inning, they picked-up a run on what could be called another example of ‘This could only happen in vintage base ball.’

A Westfield batter blasted a sky ball to the outer edge of the picnic grove in dead center field. The Newtown left fielder gave chase as the bounding ball careened deep into the forest. As the Westfield batter rounded first, the left fielder attempted a relay throw to the Hooks centerfielder that struck a towering pine with a resounding pop, then rebounded even deeper into the bountiful grove. The sound of this misstep shocked all in attendance and enabled the astonished baserunner to clear all bases to register his club’s second run of the day.

In the third, the Sandy Hook’s rookie second baseman Mike Newman roped a single to right field to lead off the inning. After stealing second base while Friedman was at bat, Newman waited on second for his next opportunity. Donnelly came to the dish and connected on an infield hit that resulted in a failed putout attempt at first, followed by a bungled relay throw to third that enabled Newman to unceremoniously barrel roll into third sack.

With home plate only 90 feet away, Newman appeared to attempt a delayed steal which the Westfield hurler anticipated but, thanks to a botched pick-off attempt to third, the resourceful rookie romped home just under the catcher’s tag for the Sandy Hook’s first run of the day. While Newman was creating havoc at the other corner of the diamond, Donnelly scampered around the base paths to set up the Sandy Hook’s second run of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, the Wheelmen registered three runs on resounding hits and unusual errors to put Westfield ahead for the remainder of the day.

‘Barkeep’ Donnelly was productive in the hitting department with three hits but his debatable base-running attempts snuffed-out potential rallies on two occasions as the Newtowners failed to capitalize on the quick-witted Wheelmen.

The Wheelmen will meet the Sandy Hooks at Rogers Park in Danbury on June 9. This coming weekend, the Sandy Hooks visit the ConnJam 2012 Boy Scout Jamboree in Orange to play the New London Thames club at 11 am. A vintage base ball clinic will precede the match.