Front Row: David "Bull" Ondik, Joey "Schmoe" Mitchell, Shawn Sherry, Ricky "Hound" Schumacher, Brian McLaughlin, Al Scalo, Ricky Hartz.
Standing: Manager Bob Sherry, Jim Benson, Tom Stabryla, John Aguzzoli, Mark "Old Folks" Wenger, Tom Ryan, John Kunz, Coach Bob Land.

Click on image for a larger photo.
* Photo provided by Jeanie Ondik *

Some 1974 Season Highlights

Brookline Journal Senior League Write-Ups
(missing four editions)

MAY 26 - McGaffin, with Easy Ed McGrath at the helm, moved to the top of the heap by unseating defending champion Stebbrook Healthland, 4-0, as 13-year old Eddie (Spinach) Beveridge fanned ten, walked only three and smashed a homerun. Georgie DelGreco also homered for the new leaders. Beveridge, DelGreco and Danny Mezyk rapped two hits apiece.

MAY 26 - Johnny (The Spider) Lee whiffed 11 and walked only one as he made his Senior pitching debut with a 7-4 conquest of DeBor. Johnny (Choo Choo) Szewczyk and Johnny Aguzzoli homered for Manager Dick Seiler's Legionaires while Mark (Old Folks) Wenger and Jimmy Benson cleared the playing barriers for Manager Bob Sherry's DeBor embalmers. Kevin (Mini Knobby) Walsh socked two hits for the winners while Wenger banged a pair for DeBor.

MAY 27 - Drew (The Statistician) Ondik went to the "junk heap" again for his 2nd straight slab victory as Healthland rutned back the Lions, 4-0. Rege Carver moved ahead in the homerun derby by slamming his 5th, plus a single. Danny Kadar regained his batting eye with a stinging double and three singles and Ron Boyle swatted two hits. Johnny (Fibber) McGee cracked two hits for the Lions.

MAY 28 - In a homerun slugfest, Legion spilled McGaffin back to a tie with Healthland for first place, 8-7. Jimmy Wicks socked a 3-runner while Johnny (Choo Choo) Szewczyk and Jim Corbin connected with the sacks empty. Eddie Beveridge flexed his muscles with his 2nd and 3rd of the season, driving in five runs, and Billy Anderson unloaded his 1st for McGaffin. Georgie DelGreco socked two singles and Wicks went 2-for-2 for Legion.

MAY 30 - Georgie DelGreco struck out ten and also walked ten but McGaffin unloaded four homeruns to club the last place Lions, 14-9. Mike Cahill, Toby Zugates, Mark Schumacher and Billy Anderson smacked homers for the winners. Bobby Dimitroff, the losing pitcher, socked two homers and two singles to lead the Lions. Brucie Buskirk added two singles.

JUNE 2 - Jimmy Benson moved within one of Rege Carver's homerun lead as he unloaded his 2nd, 3rd and 4th of the season to drive in seven runs and spark DeBor's 10-6 triumph over the Lions. Benson also singled to help Denny (Meatball) Murrie pick up the mound success. Danny Simmers, the losing hurler, stroked two homers and drove in four, but it wasn't enough to offset Benson's big day. Johnny Aguzzoli and Mark (Old Folks) Wenger hit two singles each for DeBor.

JUNE 2 - Johnny (The Spider) Lee outdueled Rege Carver as Legion pulled into a second place tie with Healthland by pulling out a 4-3 squeaker. The loss dropped the Vitamin Kids from a tie for the lead with McGaffin. Johnny (Choo Choo) Szewczyk popped his 3rd homer, one of three hits yielded by Carver who fanned seven but also walked seven. Lee, a Senior surprise to date, yielded only two hits, singles by Carver and Rick O'Patchen, whiffing seven and walking only three.

JUNE 3 - Billy (Spike) Anderson, Eddie (Spinach) Beveridge and Mark Schumacher lashed homeruns to account for eight runs as McGaffin boosted its first place hold by blasting Denmark, 13-10. Beveridge, Rege Flowers and Georgie DelGreco smacked two hits each for Easy Ed McGrath's winners. Tommy Kinzel slammed a pair for Manager Mo Buskirk's Amazin' Milts. Vince (Big Curly) Panucci drilled two singles for the losers.

JUNE 4 - Mark (Old Folks) Wenger, who hadn't lost a Senior game in three seasons, was the victim of a throwing error as Healthland's defending champions broke his mastery with a 6-2 conquest behind the five-hit hurling of Wenger's bosom buddy, Drew (The Junk Man) Ondik, 3-0 for the season and also undefeated in three seasons as a Senior pitcher. Ondik stuck out nine with his assortment of curves and, as usual, didn't walk a batter. Wenger whiffed 11 and walked only one. Jimmy DelGreco homered off Ondik. But The Junk Man went 4-for-4, all singles, against Wenger with Danny Kadar smacking two singles and walking in four trips. It was the pitching classic of the season to date.

JUNE 5 - Rich Bianchi twirled a 3-hitter, fanned 12 and walked 11 while sparking the Lions to a 5-3 conquest of Legion. Bruce (Lean and Mean) Buskirk and Bobby (Mad Russian) Dimitroff slammed homers to back Bianchi's pitching while Jackie Clark contributed two singles to the victory.

JUNE 6 - With TV cameras showing Manager Danny McGibbeny lighting a victory cigar ala Red Auerback while World Team Tennis (WTT) Triangles were winning in Boston, Prince Edward (Knobby) Walsh guided Healthland's defending champs into a tie for first place with McGaffin, 8-4. Johnny (Paesano) Romano bobmed a grand slam homer and Timmy Evans southpawed his way on the mound to his 1st Senior pitching victory. It was Romano's first homer ever. He also singled in three trips. Drew Ondik and Rege Carver collected a pair of singles apiece in four times at bat. Kevin (Pippin) Sherry and George DelGreco homered for the losers. Healthland and McGaffin are now 5-2 and tied for first place in first half pennant competition.

JUNE 7 - Jimmy Benson swatted two homeruns to take over the Senior lead but DeBor went down to a 7-5 loss as Denmark's Amazin' Milts, managed temporarily by Big Mo Buskirk, made it two in a row. Mark Wenger also homered for DeBor but the big blows were struck by Big Mo's middle son, Jeff, who swatted two, his 3rd and 4th, both coming with one on base. Buskirk went 4-for-4 while John Thomas, Mike Walsh and Mark Lamonde slapped a pair apiece for the winners. Benson also singled while Johnny Kunz and Joe (Schmoe) Mitchell doubled for DeBor.

JUNE 17 - Stebbrook Healthland's defending champions made a stong pitch for the first half flag as they slammed five homeruns to support Rege Carver's two-hit pitching in a 19-0 romp over a surprisingly inept gang of Denmark Amazin' Milts, ranked as the team to beat in pre-season banter. Johnny (Pie) Romano, who had never hit a homerun until last week, unloaded another grand slam and belted his 4th of the season with two on to drive in seven runs. Carver swatted his 7th, Drew Ondik blasted a two-run job and Rick O'Patchen connected with the bases empty for SH, managed by Dan (Racqueteer) McGibbeny and coached by Edward (Knobby) Walsh. Ron (Rookie) Boyle, Danny Kadar, Danny O'Brien, Tim (Angel Puss) Evans and Robbie Hurley were other SH batting stars. Ondik was on base five times with three hits and two walks.

JUNE 18 - Kevin (Specs) Walsh scattered seven hits - one of them Bobby (The Mad Russin) Dimitroff's 2-run homer - as Legion squeezed by the Lions, 4-3. Johnny (Choo Choo) Szewczyk sliced two hits for Legion. Rich Very, Brucie (Baby) Buskirk and Dimitroff accounted for two each to lead the losers.

JUNE 20 - Jimmy Corbin bashed a 3-run homer and Tim (Crazy Legs) Schumacher rapped a 2-runner as Legion outslugged Denmark, 17-10. Johnny (General) Lee, despite walking 10, breezed to his 3rd win against only one loss. Roger (The Dodger) Malone of WTT Triangle tennis fame, Joe McGee and Johnny Szewczyk belted three hits each for the winners. Jeff Buskirk singled and walked three times for the losers while Vince Panucci, Tommy Kinzel and Harry (Hairbreadth) Patterson collected two hits each.

JUNE 21 - Mark Wenger fanned eight to win his 3rd and Jimmy Benson blasted his 8th and 9th homers, a Senior high, as DeBor spoiled McGaffin's chances of moving closer to a first-half title. The loss put Healthland in first place at 7-3 and McGaffin second at 5-3 with two games to play. Billy Anderson rapped two hits and Danny Mezyk homered for the losers.

JUNE 30 - They intentionally passed Eddie Beveridge to load the bases - normally a good strategic move - but Danny (Little Scratch) Mezyk hit one of Tommy Stabryla's southpaw slants nine miles over the fence in center and McGaffin pulled out an unbelievable 14-13 victory over DeBor. For DeBor, Jimmy DelGreco slammed one with the sacks packed and Mark Wenger blasted his sixth. George DelGreco smacked his 6th, Beveridge his 5th and Mark Schumacher his 4th to augment mezyk's bomb for the winners. Wenger had three hits and Denny Murrio a pair for DeBor. Billy Anderson socked two singles for McGaffin while Toby Zugates and Marty Smith belted doubles.

JULY 1 - Johnny Szewczyk smashed a 3-run homer and fanned nine as Legion laced the Lions, 13-6. Jim Corbin also homered for Legion, managed by wily Dick Seiler and Son. Bruce Buskirk (5th), Bobby Dimitroff (5th) and Dan Simmers (2 on) homered for Manager Kurt Vietmeier's losers. For Legion, Tim Schumacher drilled three hits. Buskirk, Dimitroff, Simmers and Jackie Clark lashed two each for the Lions.

JULY 2 - Danny Mezyk twirled a 4-hitter while Eddie Beveridge and Mark Schumacher slammed a pair of homers each as McGaffin exploded Denmark's Amazin' Milts, 16-1. Mezyk also homered. Beveridge drove in five runs as he boosted his homer total to 7. Ron Fogel and George DelGreco socked two hits each for McGaffin. Andy Clark had a pair for Denmark.

JULY 3 - Mark Wenger was "on the run" for six innings against Healthland's defending champs, but "Old Folks" had the last laugh as he overhauled the foe in the home half of the final frame with a game-winning homer, his 7th. Earlier in the inning, Denny Murrio homered off a tiring Drew Ondik, who also had hit for the circuit to give Healthland a 3-1 lead. Manager Dan McGibbeny brought in fireballing Rege Carver to relieve Ondik against Wenger. Carver took the hard-luck loss for the Vitamin Kids. Murrio had four hits for DeBor, while Ron (Rookie) Boyle stroked three for the losers. Carver had two in two trips and Danny O'Brien doubled for Healthland.

JULY 5 - Tommy Kinzel slammed a pair of 2-run homers and Vince Panucci cleared the left field barrier as Denmark spilled Legion, 6-4. Panucci also rapped two sizzling singles as Bobby Lutz went the distance to pick up the slab victory.

JULY 7 - It was a homerun fest as the Lions, behind Bob Dimitroff's adequate pitching, knocked off top-ranked McGaffin, 15-10. It was the same Lions who spoiled McGaffin hopes in the first half as Healthland went on to qualify for the post-season in their stead. Here's the homer list: Dan Simmers (1 on), Jackie Clark (2 on), George DelGreco (1 on), Eddie Beveridge (his 8th, 2 on), Toby Zugates (solo), Mark Schumacher (solo). Clark also singled twice, as did Schumacher. Danny Mezyk rapped two singles and walked twice.

JULY 19 - "The Kid Strategists" Kurt vietmeier and Bobby Kuhn did it again as the Lions knocked off one of the top teams, McGaffin, 6-5, to move into formidable position for the second half pennant. They used the long ball as Danny Simmers, the winning pitcher, and Bob (Mad Russian) Dimitroff slammed back-to-back homers while John (Vulture) McGee connected for the 1st of his career with a mate on base. Simmers had a no-hitter in the works until Danny Mezyk broke it up with a homer in the sixth.

JULY 21 - Rege Carver blasted a grand slam and connected with one on to drive in seven while Drew Ondik was chucking a two-hitter as Healthland's defending champions moved back into contention by smashing Legion, 15-1. Ondik also connected with one on. Ondik's cousin, Johnny (Baritone) Lee, the losing pitcher, got Legion's only run with his 1st homer. Ondik also slapped two singles and walked twice, getting on base five times. Other hitting heroes for the winners were Tim Evans, Johnny (Pie) Romano, Kevin (The Switcher) O'Rourke, Rick O'Patchen and Tommy (The Big Kid) Saunders.

JULY 21 - McGaffin rebounded with fury by smashing Denmark, 15-3, behind Marty Smith's Grand Slam and Eddie Beveridge's 10th homer, a high for a 13-year old in Senior LL history. Mike Welsh and Tommy Kinzel homered for the losers.

JULY 24 - Tim McCarthy tossed a 3-hitter but hard-luck Denmark managed to lose again, this time to Legion's contenders, 5-3. John (Choo Choo) Szewczyk hammered a homer and was the winning pitcher. He also singled. Tommy Kinzel homered and singled for the Amazin' Milts. McCarthy doubled and rapped two singles.

JULY 25 - McGaffin put it all together, slamming 20 hits in a surprisingly easy 20-8 triumph over Healthland, the first half champion and also the 1973 Senior king. Georgie DelGreco exploded for two homers, one with the sacks loaded, while Eddie Beveridge slammed his 11th, Bill Anderson his 5th and Mike Cahill his 2nd. Drew Ondik and young Tommy Saunders homered for SH.

Playoffs

Stebbrook Healthland, the first-half and defending champion, was battling DeBor in a best-of-three playoff series for the 1974 championship at press time.

DeBor, managed by Gentlemanly Bob Sherry, had to reach the post-season scramble the hard way, surviving a double playoff for the second half title.

The second half finished in an almost unbelievable four-team tie. Posting 6-4 records were DeBor, American Legion, the Lions Club and J.J. McGaffin. On paper, Legion and McGaffin appeared to be the teams to beat, but even Jimmy the Greek couldn't have foreseen a double upset as the Lions jarred McGaffin, 11-7, and DeBor jolted Legion, 15-9, in a Sunday doubleheader (August 11) that could have been called the semi-finals.

Then on Thursday, August 15, DeBor took it all the way as Denny Murrio, Ricky Hartz and Mark Wenger, all graduates of LL manager Joe Powers's BYMC pitching school, combined to twirl a two-hitter and slam the Lions, 20-3.

Now Sherry has DeBor trying to bury Stebbrook Healthland, a task that may prove more difficult than it appears on paper despite SH's loss of All-Star catcher Danny Kadar, who moved to Maryland. Sherry has Wenger, the top All-Star pitcher, but Stebbrook, managed by Danny McGibbeny and coached by Edward (Knobby) Walsh, has a 1-2 pitching punch with Drew (The Junk Man) Ondik and Rege Carver, a fast-balling 14 year old. SH also has a pair of 14-year old southpaws available for relief - Kevin (The Penguin) A'Hearn and Tim (Angel Puss) Evans.

Stebbrook had already beaten Wenger twice this season. He has only lost three times, winning nine. Both teams have a homerun punch. DeBor's Jimmy Benson going in with 13, a figure matched by SH's Rege Carver.

Here is a breakdown on the second half four-team playoff:

AUGUST 11 - Mark Wenger struck out 11, yielding an amazing (for him) nine walks, but twirled DeBor by favored Legion, 15-9, as Johnny (Prince Valiant) Aguzzoli slammed in seven runs with a pair of homers. Other DeBor homers were hit by Tommy Ryan with two on and Jimmy DelGreco, a solo shot. Jim Benson doubled and singled. Johnny (Choo Choo) Szewczyk and Joe McGee swatted two hits apiece for Legion.

AUGUST 11 - McGaffin's sluggers blasted five solo homeruns but their power just wasn't enough to finish off the underdog Lions who moved into the title game with an 11-7 conquest. Danny Simmers, who picked up the slab triumph, was on base five times, twice on walks, once when he was hit by a pitch, and twice on singles. Brian Reddington got on four times, all via free tickets, as George DelGreco and Dan (Little Scratch) Mezyk, the loser, shared a four-hitter but combined to issue 16 walks. Eddie Beveridge, a 13-year old, took the home run lead with his 14th. Other McGaffin homers: DelGreco, Toby Zugates, Marty Smith and Mezyk.

AUGUST 15 - DeBor, with three former LL BYMC hurlers sharing a two-hitter, moved into the championship playoffs against first-half and defending champion Stebbrook Healthland, with a lopsided 20-3 rout of the Lions Club. Denny Murrio, Ricky (Specs) Hartz and Mark Wenger chucked for Manager Bob Sherry's winners and got homerun help from Tommy Ryan, who smashed two and drove in seven runs as he batted 5-for-5, Johnny Aguzzoli who rapped a pair for three ribbies and Bob Kunz who connected with one on. Al Scalo went 2-for-2 and walked.

DeBor went on to beat Stebbrook Healthland in the three-game championship, played at Moore Park, two games to one. The final game was a pitcher's contest, with Mark Wenger and Drew Ondik battling it out. DeBor won the final game by one run, 4-3.