Old-timers have a ball in Tri-State showdown

AMENIA — Baseball is more than just a sport. It’s a passion. At least for the players who participated in Friday’s old-timer’s game it is. Many of the fans who watched the game from the bleachers said they felt the same.

“It’s unbelievable to me because I grew up as a kid with all of these guys, I was a batboy for them,� Tom Downey Jr. said, as he watched many former Monarchs out on the field once again. “Baseball was a major part of my life. Come spring and summer it was always pretty much what the whole family did. It was a big part of my life growing up.�

Friday’s game was a special one. It included players who went to bat for Amenia through the years, many as members of the Tri-State League’s Monarchs. Generations of ball players were present to swing the bat again in a game that pitted New York against Connecticut.

“It’s a fun night,� Amenia player Paul Giroux said. “I’m having a blast seeing a lot of guys I haven’t seen in 12 years.�

“Just to get a bunch of some of the old, legendary guys out there has been a blast. Some of these guys haven’t seen each other in a long time,� said Amenia coach Ken Pomeisl. “Some of these guys are still pretty competitive. It’s great. I couldn’t be happier. It’s good to see it. We have some young Monarchs team members out watching these guys who played 30 years ago.�

“We’re teaching the next generation about baseball,� said the Monarch’s Tom Downey, who was honored at the game for his long years of dedication to the game in the town of Amenia.

Downey was tagged “Mr. Baseball� by town Supervisor Janet Reagon, who presented the Monarchs’ manager with a plaque for his contribution to baseball in general and to youth ball specifically. Reagon also named Aug. 10, the original day slated for the game (which was canceled due to rain), as Tom Downey Day. Additionally, the town named the road in Beekman Park, where the game was played, as Downey Drive.

“It’s a great thing,â€� Reagon said. “I’m just sorry we couldn’t have this on the original date, but I’m really glad the weather cooperated so we could have it today. I think it lifts the spirt of the town up. Amenia has always been a baseball town, and to see the families and the kids  out here, it just brings the community together.â€�

“We’ve had a good run in Amenia,â€� Downey said. “The league is really well-run. Three years ago when I got involved with this again I was kind of skeptical, but it’s a good league and we have a lot of fun. I’m glad to see a lot of people here and we’re going to  play some good baseball.â€�

“I’m glad to see baseball in general coming back, particularly local ball. It’s good for the kids and it’s good for the families,� said Amenia fan Charlene Mayville. “And they’ve done a lot up here at the ballpark. It looks nice.�

The game went seven innings, and according to Pomeisl, it was “well- played.� Connecticut ended up winning the game; the score was 2-0.

“We had a lot of fun and the fans went over real well,� he said.

The Monarch season will resume in the spring.

The players (and the decades in which they played) for the New York Team were:

Bob Skidmore, ’40s

Joel Pelkey, ’80s

Bob Clinch, ’80s

Steven Dam,  ’80s

Dan Funk, ’80s

Les Funk, ’90s

Bud McDonald, ’50s

Joe Carroll, ’50s

Joe McEnroe, ’50s

Tom Downey, ’60s

Howie Mann, ’60s

Mike Kohut, ’60s

Bud Kniffen, ’70s

Paul Giroux, ’70s

Jim Budd, ’70s

Bill Carroll, ’70s

Charlie Thornton, ’70s

Joe Carroll, Jr., ’70s

Rod Merwin, ’80s

TJ Campion, ’80s

Rick Langiu, ’80s

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