BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

August 1

1955 Manager George Duffy has tabbed Tolman’s Artie Fletcher (4-1) to oppose Bob Plante, capable Mount St. Charles twirler, as the Kennedy-Collins Post of Pawtucket (9-2) meets Young Post of Woonsocket (9-1) in a key late season American Legion Northern Division encounter at McCoy Stadium. Defensively for K-C, Ron Goyette, new to first base, plays the bag now like a veteran, Bobby Perreault, SRA shortstop, has played superbly at second, Al Orzechowski is strong at shortstop and Frank Dougherty has performed well at the hot corner. Mike Lannon paces the Caseys at the plate with a team-leading .461 mark with Fletcher next at .382.

1965 Joe Braganca spun a five-hitter, fanned six, walked three and drove in his team’s lone run, but it was not enough as the Darlington American Little League All-Stars dropped a 2-1 decision to Middletown in the District Two Tournament championship final. DALL loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth inning on singles by Nick Asermelly, Tom Rogers and Mike Menard. Al Leo, usually dangerous in the clutch, whiffed, Braganca singled scoring Asermelly but Rogers was thrown out at the plate and Bill Britt struck out to end the tournament season for DALL.

1975 Playing Quidnessett Country Club’s 490-yard first hole, Matt Zito Jr. hit a three-iron on his second shot from 180 yards out that bounced twice and hit the stick stopping six inches from the hole for a tap-in birdie to defeat friend Danny Chabot on the 19th hole to capture the 1975 Rhode Island Junior Golf Championship. Chabot rolled in a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to tie the match, only to set up Zito’s heroics on the first extra hole. The two friends play together nearly every day during the summer at either Kirkbrae, where Zito is a member, or at Lincoln Country Club, Chabot’s home course.