Press Clippings

September 5, 2004 - Berkshire Eagle: Over 2,000 cranks watch Hillies win Saturday

PITTSFIELD Terry "Lefty" Bishop, Pat "The Gun" Ryan and Tom "Rizz" Rizzo were but a few of the many Pittsfield Hillies who yesterday afternoon at Wahconah Park brought honor to this city by defeating the ballers who represented the Hartford Senators by the score of 12-4 before over 2,000 cranks (fans) who seemed to enjoy the vintage contest played under sunshine on a beautiful Labor Day weekend Saturday.

What was indeed striking to the many local fans must have been the way the Pittsfield team has quickly mastered the nuances of the vintage style of play. It was just the third game for the Hillies, who won the season series against their Hartford foes by a 2-1 count.

Hartford, meanwhile, has stepped onto the field no less than 20 times this summer and suffered the pangs of defeat on only three occasions -- two to the fledgling Hillies' team which is in their first year of play.

The strapping Bishop, who some 12 years ago toiled for the Taconic High baseballers on the Wahconah diamond, walked the path to the mound on nine difference occasions yesterday, stopping the talented Hartford team cold after giving up two markers in the first inning.

Hartford's Matt "Crazy Legs" March send a message to the Pittsfield players right away by walloping a Bishop delivery far beyond the left-field fence. If the circuit clout was meant to send a message to the Pittsfield team -- capably run by the likes of "Choo Choo" Chuck Garivaltis, Paul "Road Runner" Procopio, Ed "Itch" McMahon, Joe "Zavie" Zavattaro, Tony "End Zone" Ferdyn, and Ray "Thunder" Woitkowski -- then it was never received by the lads who occupied the third-base dugout.

The Hillie ballers quickly came back with two scores of their own in the home first and after taking a 7-4 lead, put the game away with a five-run outburst in the eighth.

There was much pomp and circumstance before the start of yesterday's deciding game. Team CEO's Jim Bouton and Chip Elitzer were decked out in their vintage finest while old-time music was performed by a barbershop quartet, who continued to entertain between innings.

Christine Ungewitter, who will turn 97 in a couple of weeks, threw out the first call to Hillies catcher Jeff "Backhoe" Reynolds, who was nice enough to plant a pre-birthday kiss on Ungewitter's cheek.

Ungewitter was said to be confused as to why she was selected to throw out the first ball. Many people attended the games of the original Hillies back in the 1920s, according to Ungewitter.

That story was told over the loudspeaker and the joke went over well. The truth is that Ungewitter did attend many of the Hillies' games in those days and has lived in and around the park all her life.

The Hillies played well and kept the visitors o their heels most of the afternoon. Ryan whacked the ball well on a couple of occasions and made a nice running catch of a fly ball in center field late in the contest.

Rizzo spend much of the game on his belly,, either sliding into bases while on the run on the basepaths or while trying to make a stop on a daisy cutter from his position at shortstop.

"We played to win," said Rizzo, another Taconic product from about two decades ago. "Hartford knows how to play this game well, but we picked up on it pretty quickly ourselves. I love running the bases aggressively. I love the game and even though the rules might change the way we play won't."

Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, the Hillies bounced back with a four-run inning to take a 7-3 lead. Two misplays by Hartford players and a booming two-run triple by Ryan were front and center to the rally.

The icing on the cake came in the eighth. Dave Galvagni had a booming hit to right from the left side of the plate that brought home a marker while Ryan again proved himself a worthy baller with another hit to right that plated a run. Mike "Bizz" Bissaillon added a two-run double while a strapping Tim Flaherty offered an RBI double of his own.

Bishop then went out and pitched a scoreless ninth to wrap up his own vintage performance.

"The Hartford players stayed around the first time we played on July 4th," Bishop said. "They helped explain to me things like the quick pitch and I was able to put some of the things they taught me to good use."

"It's really exciting to pitch this style," Bishop added. "It makes the game more interesting."

Bishop praised his teammates, who fielded well in a game played with the small gloves of another era and a ball that can spin wickedly when hit.

"It can be tough," Bishop said. "But the 24 guys behind me are great."

So, too, was the win. The Hillies proved what many have known for a long time. Berkshire County has always been a baseball Mecca in this or any other era.