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Post by Tom Benneche on Oct 20, 2004 14:10:21 GMT -5
Your brother was a great player and teammate.
I was trying to remember our 1980 team - Sal was the rock at short, Pete Gale was our dependable 2nd baseman and leadoff hitter as I recall; Tim played center; Eric pitched or played 1st when I pitched. I can't remember our catcher - I know Ronnie Brown caught for a brief stint when at SHS. Was it Frankie Mignano?
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Post by Tom Benneche on Oct 20, 2004 14:15:16 GMT -5
Coach Conlon was the Varsity Coach for years. He was a tough man to play for if you were slightly non-comformist such as myself! But he was a good baseball man and taught us all a lot about how to play and how to approach the game. His style was to play hardnose baseball - he taught me the virtues of "chin music" - but he always told me to be sure All-Division Wrestling Sal was on short before I threw the music.
My favorite Coach Conlon line was after a particularly ugly loss when our team did not play to our potential: "I don't know what you gentlemen are going to do tonight, but I am going to throw up."
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Post by Perry on Oct 21, 2004 19:59:37 GMT -5
Jackie-- Coach Conlon was Vinnie Conlon. No relationship to you I don't think. He was Mr. Conlon the gym teacher from junior high when we were there. He coached varsity baseball for awhile.
Tom-- yeah, Conlon used the throw-up line on us many times. But then again we Were a bunch of under-achievers that won nothing during the 70's and '80's right? Big names and talent we thought, but no championships--- no drive, spirit, enthusiasm-- I wonder if it was the coaching..... hmmmm. You know that spirit that is suppose to filter down to the players. The drive to win. I know this because I've been apart of Division Ave baseball for the past 17 years. Division has 3 state championships, a few LI championships, atleast a dozen county's, and first place for the past 20 years but once or twice. MacArthur HS can probably match those number as well. We never told our players to go home and throw-up by the way...
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Post by TomBenneche on Oct 22, 2004 8:46:34 GMT -5
Perry:
The inability of the Varsity teams I was on to achieve anything of significance was disappointing year in and year out. We had enough horses - no chemistry and not a heck of a lot of fun were the problems. The teams played tight and, in many ways, bore the personality of the short guy with the SpotBilt cleats. Contrast that with the success the little league all star teams had, and how much fun we had playing, and a clue reveals itself.
I live in Simsbury, CT, a Hartford suburb, and have managed my son's little league teams from T-Ball to Babe Ruth for 8 years. We had 900 kids in our little league program last year and our compound includes 6 ligthed fields, electronic scoreboards and 2 snack bars. The goal of the program: learn about the game and have some fun! No throwing up allowed. As a result of this feeder program, Simsbury High School won the State's a few years ago and is a perennial player in the State tournament each year.
Sounds like the Division program is very successful and I'm glad you're involved and having fun and success.
Tom
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Post by Perry on Oct 23, 2004 17:12:53 GMT -5
Well said, Tom, very well said. I really liked VC, he was really was a great guy who was witty, respected, and a fun, fair teacher.... just on the ballfield that dozens of talented Seaford ballplayers couldn't All be wrong.
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Post by Perry on Oct 25, 2004 21:45:24 GMT -5
getting back to a previous question--- yes, Frankie Migano was indeed the catcher in '80. He was solid behind the plate and hit with power the opposite way. Other catchers from that era were: Steve Krasier, Ray Newmark, Jimmy Cutolo, Pat Hashimoto. ('80-'84) And, of course the two guys from '85 that were Awesome in our alumni game: Joe Ivoroni and Joe Luciano.
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Post by Anthony Sabia on Nov 2, 2004 10:32:35 GMT -5
That is an excellent insight by Mr. Benneche about Little League. Like his team, we had tremendous horses, particularly pitching arms my Junior year with Gian, Gaertner, Hoffman and Grande. We couldnt get over the Levittown hurdle for whatever reason and I think it was because we always played a little tight. In little league however we went deep into the county championships year after year with the likes of Joe Fassanello and Mr. Gianfrancesco as coach. And yes we did have fun.
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Post by Tom Benneche on Nov 2, 2004 11:34:53 GMT -5
Anthony: Are you Vinnie's little brother and, if so, how is he?
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Post by Peter Burke on Nov 2, 2004 20:34:05 GMT -5
Excellent insight by all. Tom I always feel like I'm reminded of you when watching Mike Mussina. You had a very similiar apporach, very workmanlike, focused and determined. I always felt like Conlon really couldnt get over HIS feeling that we (the players) should all remmeber it was about HIM and his terrific insights and baseball knowledge etc,... Hey all I know is we all had a number of very solid teammates, we were all so baseball enthusiastic, very sound fundamentals, most of which came form the Little League experience you mentioned. I played my guts out for the Green and White, played like a savage and loved the game despite the Coach. I remember playing on the '81 team with so many really skilled players, the Healy's LoStrappos, Robinsons, some gutty pitching, and standing in the outfield at SouthSide after yet another 1st round playoff loss shaking my head. Shame for that to only be repeated the following year, in ou last games vs Memorial. I totoally remember the teams of 79 and 80 and yeah you faced Memorial and Division with their great pitching, but you shure had the horses Tom. I get great joy out of my own coaching experience, I have girls and have become a "Soccer Guy"! we play travel and I run the age group for age 11 for our Club, Cold Spring Harbor. Its fun to reminice and I always have great memories of the players I watched that preceeded me and those I played with as well, all good kids that just plain loved baseball. Look forward to a response, its nice to see others are enjoying this forum. Regards Peter
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Post by Anthony Sabia on Nov 3, 2004 10:50:49 GMT -5
Tom,
Yes I am Vincent's brother and he is doing very well. He actually lives in Connecticut like yourself with a wife and two daughters.
I'll never forget the one on one basketball showdown you had against Joe Mancino in front of our house. That made for some great drama and entertainment for me and my best friend at the time, Mario Arena. I remember clearly that you won but I dont recall if it was a blowout or close game.
I will tell Vincent you asked about him,
Anthony
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Post by Tom Benneche on Nov 3, 2004 13:03:43 GMT -5
Anthony:
You made me laugh out loud with the remembrance of the Mancino-Benneche showdown game! I did win (by cutting off Joe's self-proclaimed famous drives to the hole and by torturing him with my uncanny fall-a-way from the baseline) and that set off a long series of grudge match one on ones which Vinny was waaaaaaaay to smart to participate in! Joe and I were the best and worst of friends! Do say hi to Vin for me.
Tom
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Post by Tom Benneche on Nov 3, 2004 13:21:07 GMT -5
Hey Peter:
Great to hear from you. "Soccer Dad", huh. My daughter played AAU basketball - it almost killed me. Girls are totally different animals as far as sports emotions are concerned to say the least. Glad you are out there with your girls. You gotta get involved with the kids and they will remember it forever.
The Vikings Baseball teams of my generation were too good not to make more noise, and it really is too bad. But I learned a lot about life. For example, Coach C used to send 2 kids to the bullpen to warm-up if my first pitch was a ball! Those days make current challenges seem easy! And I can actually look back on those things and laugh. I actually use another of Coach C's techniques on my son who is slow of foot on the basebaths. As Coach C did with me, I don't time my son by seconds, I yell out "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday . . . " as he's running! That is just good natured humor.
Take care and good to hear from you.
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Post by Perry on Nov 3, 2004 18:26:50 GMT -5
alright Tom, I have to bring it up.... I remember being in a senior league game in little league and I wasn't aware that I was the batter; it was late in the game and I was a sub. (I was 13, playing with the 14 and 15 year olds) Anyhow, the ump tells the pitcher to start throwing because its getting dark. so the pitcher, throwing to an empty baters box throws, obviously, strike one... strike two, at that point my coach, Mr. Wagner, is screaming for me to get into the box! The counts 0-2, and I'm up there against some big 15 year old and its getting dark. Well, guess what, the scrapper that I was, in what seemed like atleast a 15 pitch at-bat, I work out a walk! Can you tell me who the pitcher was?
Perry
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Post by Tom Benneche on Nov 4, 2004 8:15:49 GMT -5
Perry:
I take the 5th . . .
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Post by Perry on Nov 4, 2004 18:19:15 GMT -5
hahaha, you have that right!... (so that must mean you Do remember) Well, that was one of my greatest little league moments.... working out a walk against the Great Tom Benneche after not being in the box for two strikes!.... by the way I believe you shut us out and may have even had a no-hiiter going that game...
Perry
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