The home plate area at the Warde baseball field (2006 photo).
The home plate area at the Warde baseball field (2006 photo).
Send in your class memories, and we'll try to include them. (Editing may be necessary.)

May 12, 1976

(30-year anniversary on Friday, May 12, 2006)

Warde Varsity baseball defeated Ludlowe at Ludlowe, 4-2, with a dramatic 4-run seventh-inning rally (last at bat for high school games). Bob Henry pitched a complete game three-hitter before a large and enthusiastic crowd. The weather was sunny and warm, perfect for a ballgame.

Other Seniors helping the cause included Paul Rossitto, John Zadrovitz, John Varholak, Tony Procaccini, Tim Kelly, Greg Aiello and Frank Fekete. Pitcher Joe McCormack was not needed in relief. Henry struck out 7 and walked 3. I caught the last out (a fly ball to left) and still have that baseball. I'm bringing it to the reunion, by the way.

Irony: We ended the season 6-12, while Ludlowe made the state tournament. Defeating archrival Ludlowe, what a memory!

Tony Procaccini


Tony Pro,
Not that I want any glory, but as I recall, and maybe you can look it up if "Bengie" has the game stats, I started the scoring by hitting a deep sac fly to the left field fence with the bases loaded in the 7th. I believe you were on second base at that time. I was down 0-2 on the count and Brian Lee threw me a knuckleball that didn't do squat. He had thrown me a curve ball the previous pitch and I was in a hole. I guess he was cocky (which he was when he torched us that fall in the basketball game) so he figured he would mess with me. Unfortunately (for us, sort of) I had only warning track power, but I still got us on the scoreboard. The rest is history. Hope this helps.
 Later, "Bad Zad"

John Zadrovitz 

Tony,
I recall it was NOT my scheduled turn in the pitching rotation of 
starters. However, I told coach Bob Jackson "I want the ball" for 
that game against our arch-rival Ludlowe. I was very upset when Ludlowe's
Jim Barletto hit a seeing eye two-run single off me that left us trailing 2-0.
My dad was never prouder of me after the team came back to win that game; he
had the game clippings plastered all over the walls at the family gas station
(Wells Rest Texaco, on Startfield Road) right up until he finished managing
the station in 1978.
Thanks, Bob Henry

Bob Henry