Stoughton High Alumni Baseball Game Brings Back Memories

For the second year in a row, experience won out over youth, with the Stoughton High alumni team beating the current varsity squad 11-6 this past Saturday in the 2nd Annual SHS Alumni Baseball game.

The alumni team, comprised of about 20 former varsity players, withstood a two-run rally from the current varsity squad in the bottom of the last inning to improve to 2-0 in the series.

The alumni players took little time to get the bats going, and they were aided by some youth of their own—three members of the class of 2010, Kyle Connors, Dan Floro and Pat Jordan returned to face their former teammates.

John Cody, who graduated in 2009, and the trio from the class of 2010, all played for current coach Mike Armour, who is in his fourth season leading the Black Knights.  They joined a cast of players that spanned Bob Ashley’s 27 years as head coach in the 80s, 90s and 2000s to make up the alumni team.

“It’s good to see how into it everyone is,” Connors said of his alumni team. “It’s good to see that these guys still have it.”

Eddie Rodrigues, now a business teacher and DECA adviser at SHS, started for the alumni squad, pitching against some of his current students. Connors relieved Rodrigues, and was disappointed he didn’t get to face his brother Jaime, who is a current varsity player.

“I was hoping I’d get to pitch against him. I would have thrown one up and in,” Connors joked.

For some of the alumni, last Saturday’s exhibition game was a chance to reminisce about the glory days of Stoughton High baseball, when the team won back-to-back titles in 1983 and 1984.

Bob Fedorowicz, Scott Carlson and Jim Overstreet represented the championship teams at the alumni game.

Overstreet, a senior on the 1984 team, and Fedorowicz, a junior on that team, recalled game details as if they were played yesterday.

“To beat all those players, and accomplish what we did…the town really got into it, crowds at games, [a championship] parade…it put Stoughton on the map,” Overstreet said.

Coach Ashley sat along the third base line, assisted by Kevin McCormick, a 1968 SHS grad and retired longtime teacher at the school.

“For me it’s great to see all the guys who played, see what they’re up to,” Ashley said.

Ashley retired with 402 wins and is in the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Prior to the start of the game, the home dugout along the third base line was officially dedicated to him with an honorary plaque.

The father-son duo of Mike and Shawn Bailey served as umpires, wearing tie-dye shirts in place of traditional blue tops. 

The PA announcer was Dan Mark, a multi-sport coach and eighth grade social studies teacher at the O’Donnell Middle School. Mark flashed his trademark wit and sarcasm throughout the game.

“[Next year] you’ll be here as washed up has-beens,” Mark jokingly told the current seniors on the varsity team during player introductions.

The exhibition allowed Armour to tinker with his lineup. Kevin Linehan, who usually plays the infield, started the game at pitcher for the varsity team; Atticus Rentsch, an outfielder and designated hitter, pitched; and Jaime Connors, an infielder, pitched as well. Eric McPherson, a speedy centerfielder, pitched and played some time behind the plate at catcher, and Adam Kenney, a southpaw pitcher, logged some time at third base.

Coach Armour hopes this becomes a yearly tradition. “Have young kids growing up in Stoughton look forward to playing in this game,” he said.

The current senior class will have the opportunity to switch sides and play for the alumni in next year’s game.

“I look forward to playing next year,” senior Kevin Linehan said.  He enjoyed squaring off against his former teammates this year. “It’s funny seeing them come back.”

Fedorowicz, a 1985 graduate of SHS, has teenaged children and watches their athletic games, but on May 14 he was reliving his youth.

“It’s exciting. I’m up at bat after 27 years,” he said. “[It’s a feeling of] I get to do it again.”

ALUMNI: Scott Carlson; Kyle Connors; John Cody; Bob Fedorowicz; Dan Floro; Kevin Gilbert; Michael Horan; Ryan Hudson; Cory Johnston; Pat Jordan; Dan Leonard; Luke Lysak; Bill Maloney; Jim Overstreet; Jim Pascarelli; Eddie Rodrigues; Kenny Tocci; James Yaitanes

Take a look at the photo gallery for pictures from the game. Special Thanks to Kevin McCormick for contributing photos.