Around the corner

copyright Owen Canfield – Register Citizen 8/9/10
Infusion of younger players makes Tri-State a vibrant league
After the Winsted Whalers scored a 5-2 playoff victory over the Terryville Black Sox at Walker Field Saturday, the plate umpire made his way to the parking lot across the street, removed his gear and stored it in the trunk of his car.Ed Gadomski of Thomaston is not only a talented umpire. He’s also Tri-State Baseball League commissioner. He had worked this game with Lou Fracasso. “Lou’s a Hall of Famer,” he said, pulling his shirt over his barrel chest.
Gadomski, 43, is a computer specialist at Waterbury Hospital and the man who runs things with a smooth and expert hand in this flourishing league. He enjoys it immensely, which is why, after a long amateur baseball playing career, he keeps his hand in umpiring and administrating. “It’s the young men who are keeping this league on a healthy path,” he said. “It’s not an old guys’ league or a beer league. It’s a heck of a good league with the influx of all these young players.”
No, it’s not a beer league but that doesn’t mean a man can’t refresh himself after a win, does it? So some of the Winsted players had gathered around the trunk of someone’s car to talk about the game and have a celebratory cold one. Young guys, they were. One was third baseman Jeoff Langill, a student at Central Connecticut State in New Britain. He’s a Winsted guy who played ball at Gilbert School and Connie Mack League ball and then entered Central to study marketing. “I’ll be graduating in December,” he said.
Dave Lumpkin, second baseman and also a Gilbert grad, limped around with a fat ice pack strapped to one knee. “I laid out for a ball (headlong) and banged the knee,” he said. “That infield is very hard. I’m sure I’ll be fine for Monday’s game in Watertown. I want to play.” The Tri-State post-season tournament follows a double elimination format. Lumpkin is the ultimate student-athlete. He got his undergraduate degree at Syracuse University and is currently studying for his Masters in Clinical Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Impressed? I was, and more so when Lumpkin said, “after that I plan to apply for study to get my doctorate.”
It’s interesting to find out what some of these players are about. It makes one appreciate leagues like the Tri-State. Baseball is a natural catalyst. Not realizing Saturday’s game started at noon, by the time I arrived at Walker Field, it was the ninth inning and pitcher Adam Piechowski was about to finish a terrific route-going job. I had the chance to say hello to Rob Jasmin of New Hartford, a Whalers assistant coach who played his high school ball at Northwestern Regional and now manages a Dunkin’ Donuts store in Simsbury. He was helpful but before I could get to the Winsted managers, D.J. Reese and Ricky Langer, Piechowski and his mates had finished the job.
BURLINGTON HUNTERS to play in PAL Baseball Classic August 21,22
{Ed and I(Tal Luther) have been communicating on a regular basis, but let me give you the details}
Pal Baseball Classic to be played on August 21st and August 22nd at Northwest Park, which is a major league diamond, former home of the Silkworms, it is an outstanding ball field in a major sports complex used last year for districts, etc.  The tournament is a charity baseball tournament to benefit the Police Activities League here in Manchester, and backed by the city and executive commitee. We are playing continuous baseball including night games to benefit this charity.
 
The only thing that you have to supply is gameballs, we will have professional umpires for all games, the venue has a concession stand, areas to warm up, etc.  We only ask that players to donate when they come to the park, whatever they can, concessions is 100% going to Pal. You will finalize our 6 team format – every team will be guaranteed 4 games, 2 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday, I will give you the bracket information tomorrow and I hope you do commit.  6 games will be played on Saturday and another 5 or 6 played on Sunday, it will be a combination of double elimination and incorporate a consolation games for teams 3 and 4, and a final championship played with trophies given on Sunday night under the lights.
 
Age restrictions, I have kept that a little loose, 17+ to whoever can play.  That should open it up for some legion and senior HS students to play.  We have a HS senior teams playing. We tried to make it all wood, a huge portion will be playing with wood, but at this stage and alot of players have made the transition to wood, we are going metal or wood.  I surveyed all the coachs and as I explained to them, it will make for more excitement with the metal and we should see a few go out of the yard.
We are going to slip in a home run derby in order to draw more fans. The event is being publicized in the Hartford Courant, the Inquirer and Cox Cable.. It should be a fun event.
 
Here are the teams:
 
Enfield CT River Mudcats – NABA – we have played them all season, good club with some good pitching.
 
Silk City Print/Manchester Expos – NABA – this is mine, both of our teams have been playing since March.
 
Manchester Police Department – representing the chief of police, coached by a Manchester High School coach
and will have a combination of officers, experienced and some outstanding senior legion players from Manchester.
 
Manchester Senior All Stars – this team is coached by my son and is comprised on mostly seniors, mostly all stars in their careers form East Hartford HS, Manchester HS and Cheney Tech. 
Bethel Outlaws – from the Housatonic League in the Danbury area, solid team, with a winning record in their league and coached by the commissioner.
  
All teams and managers are experienced and professional and work with leagues like your and love to play hardball and have fun. I am positive that you and your players will enjoy the field, the activities and the baseball.
 
Tal Luther
[email protected]
Tournament Director