Sitting: Shawn Trainor, Conrad Weigold, Shawn Sherry, Pat Camarco, Bill Toskey.
Kneeling: Joe Panucci, John Miller, Bob Amorose, Tom Kienzl.
Standing: Coach Bob Sherry, Brian McLaughlin, Ricky Schumacher, Jim DelGreco, John Boyle, Al Scalo, Coach Mr. Scalo.

* Photo provided by Bob Sherry *

DeBor Regains The Title Throne

DeBor, managed by Bob Sherry, returned to the title throne after a one-season lapse by toppling Denmark's Amazin' Milts in two straight of a best-of-3 series.

Jimmy DelGreco walked 13 but was tough in the pinch as he recorded his 5th straight pitching victory and remained undefeated with a 12-7 victory in the opener.

Rick Schumacher, who hit safely in all 20 regular season games, continued his streak by rapping four singles in five trips while Tom Kienzl and Shawn Sherry stroked two apiece. Bill Toskey drove in two runs with his only hit. D.J. Hackett, a southpaw swinger who won the homerun championship with seven as a new ruling limited blasts over the left and left-center fence to two bases, had two hits and was the losing pitcher.

The second game went to thw wire before Sherry's "Diggers" could pull out the championship. Trailing 7-3 moving into the home half of the seventh and last frame, DeBor was equal to the occasion.

John Boyle, a hard-hitting 14-year old, drilled a double to start it. Brian McLaughlin and Shawn Sherry walked. The Bill Toskey smacked a two-run single. Al Scalo popped up but John Miller, the winning pitcher in relief of Boyle, doubled to drive in the third run of the inning and Shawn Trainor walked, loading the bases again.

Rick Schumacher popped up but Jimmy DelGreco unloaded a two-run double over the left-center fence for the game-winning sock.

Thus DeBor succeeded McGaffin, which slumped to last place this season, as the Senior champion.

Earlier in the game, Al Scalo slammed his third homer of the season for DeBor. Schumacher boosted his hitting streak to 22 games. DelGreco, Boyle and Brian McLaughlin also drilled two hits each. For manager George Kinzel's Amazin' Milts, Ray Benvenuti smashed three hits and Andy Clark a pair.

* Reprinted from the Brookline Journal - August 19, 1976 *

DeBor 1976 Regular Season Highlights

JUNE 13 - DeBor, managed by Bob Sherry, moved into a first place tie as Jimmy DelGreco won his third straight game by subduing Denmark, 7-4. Tommy Matrascia drilled three hits, Andy Clark a pair and Dino DelMastro a ground-rule double as DeBor handed Ray-Ray Benvenuti his second straight defeat. Johnny Boyle and Shawn Sherry slapped two hits each for DeBor. Tom Kienzl drove in two runs and Rick Schumacher continued his hitting streak with a ground-rule double.

JUNE 18 - DeBor buried Denmark's flag dreams for the first-half by clinching the championship, 8-3, behind the pitching and hitting of Johnny (Handsome) Boyle, who batted 3-for-4. Tom Kienzl and Pat Camarco had two hits apiece for DeBor. Mark LaMonde smacked two doubles for Denmark. Andy Clark was the losing pitcher.

JUNE 22 - Ray-Ray Benvenuti found his long lost control, whiffed 12 and held off DeBor's first-half champions as Denmark scored a 7-5 conquest. Manager George (Bruno) Kinzel's winners rode the hitting of Benvenuti, who rapped two doubles and a single; Handy Andy Clark (2-3), Ron Hitt (3-5) and Dino DelMastro (2-4). Rick Schumacher (2-4) and Billy Toskey (two doubles) topped DeBor's attack.

JUNE 26 - John (Matinee Idol) Boyle won his third straight after two losses as Rick Schumacher swatted three hits and Shawn Sherry rapped a pair to spark DeBor by the Lions, 11-5. John Miller drove in two with a double. For the Lions, Bruce Buskirk banged 3-for-3 and John (Corky) Corcoran smacked a pair.

JUNE 30 - Rick (Hound) Schumacher drove in five with two homers, a double and a single as DeBor battled the Lions to an 11-11 tie before darkness and All-Star practice forced a halt. Tim Gremba bombed a three-run blast for the Lions, driving in four as he also stroked two singles, while Paul Sullivan and Bruce Buskirk added a pair apiece. Jim DelGreco and Joe Panucci doubled for DeBor.

JULY 3 - Rick Schumacher smashed a solo homer, two doubles and a single while John Miller pitched a four-hitter as DeBor flattened McGaffin, 10-0. John Boyle collected two hits and Joe Panucci drove in two runs for the winners. Manuel Martinez, Jeff Murrio, Ed Ridge and Vince Gianella made McGaffins four hits.

JULY 5 - D.J. Hackett southpawed a 16-7 Denmark victory over DeBor's first-half champions. For Denmark, Mark LaMonde swatted four hits, Dino DelMastro three while Ron Hitt, Ray Benvenuti and Tom Matrascia had two each. Losing pitcher John Boyle, who socked a solo homer, Shawn Sherry and Conrad Weigold rapped two hits each for DeBor.

JULY 8 - John Miller struck out eleven while John Boyle and Jimmy DelGreco smashed three-run homers as DeBor toyed with Stebbrook, 10-1. Rick Schumacher, DeBor's big bomber this season, was 4-four-4. DelGreco and Brian McLaughlin slammed two hits each while Bill Toskey drove in two. Shawn Sherry singled and drew three walks. Rino Primiero, Pat McGrath and Brian Phillips, the losing pitcher, slapped two hits each, while Regis Faherty singled and walked in two trips for Stebbrook.

JULY 13 - Stebbrook Pharmacy outslugged DeBor, highlighted by Tom Sanders grand slam, 15-12. Brian Phillips rapped three hits while Tim Sharkey, Tony Caruso and Joey Fundo had two each. Keith Sciulli was on base four times with a hit, two walks and was hit by a pitch once. Rege Faherty and Tom Mooney singled in their only trips. Al Scalo and John Boyle (4th) homered for the losers. Boyle rapped four hits (5 ribbies) and Scalo three. Clint Burton was the winning pitcher, his third, and Boyle the loser, evening his record at 4-4.

JULY 17 - John Boyle went 4-for-4 for the second straight game as he twirled his 5th pitching victory by subduing McGaffin for DeBor, 14-6. Jimmy DelGreco also stroked four hits and had a walk. Al Scalo whopped three hits, including a double. John Miller, Brian McLaughlin and Shawn Sherry socked two hits each for the winners. Rick Schumacher singled and drew three free tickets. For the Big Macs, Dave Healy, Mike Raimondi and Jeff Murrio slashed two hits each.

* Reprinted from the Brookline Journal - June/July, 1976 *