Droz Squad Goes 19-1,
Wins Little League Title

Droz battled its way to 17 straight victories and a 19-1 overall record en route to the Brookline Little League championship for 1985. Droz swept both the first and second halves to claim the unchallenged throne.

The 17 consecutive wins came after an early season 5-4 loss to Volpatt Tile in extra innings.

The key to success for the Droz squad was a "never-give-up" attitude developed by the players, according to their manager Pat McGlynn.

Droz incorporated that attitude on opening day and watched it grow throughout the season.

In their first game, the local crew went into the bottom of the sixth trailing by a 1-0 score. But a triple by Greg Dundon, a single by Kent Smith and another triple by Steve Loeffert transferred defeat into victory.

The year also was highlighted by a pair of no-hitters. The first was registered by Jimmy Wallace in a 4-0 victory over Volpatt. Walsh struck out nine batters.

Steve Keil logged the second no-hit job in a 21-2 triumph over St. Mark. Keil had seven strikeouts.

The leading hitters for the Droz squad included the following: Dundon with 37 hits and a .638 average; Smith with 31 hits and a .437 average; Bob Sohngen with 28 hits and a .500 average; Chris Dulavitch with 26 hits and a .413 average; Wallace with 25 hits and a .455 average; and Loeffert with 25 hits and a .403 average.

Outfielders Chris George, Robby George, Jim Malfatti, Mike Courey and Andy Gorring made some outstanding defensive plays during the season and collected 50 hits among them.

Droz awesome offense produced 247 runs in the 20-game season.

Pitching records for the champs were paced by Wallace's 8-1 overall mark, which included 106 strikeouts, three shutouts and a no-hitter.

Smith finished with a perfect 5-0 mark, followed by Dundon's 3-0 slate, Keil's 2-0 record and Loeffert's 1-0 mark.

McGlynn's three brothers, Dan, Bernie and Mike, served as coaches for the team.

* Reprinted from the Brookline Journal - August, 1985 *