La Salle Academy - Maroon and White Yearbook (Providence, RI)

Page 93 text:

iflmffw, Y, .,Qiq,x'Xll1itJ1a1,,0j,,, V THE MAROONTIAN DiW1!TE W CBD ,X lf LMJC K EW there are who will forget the remarkable march of last year's Maroon and White sextet to the playfoff with Cranston High for the State Title. For years all hopes of such success were but the stuff of which dreams are made. ln the mind of jack Cronin, the coach, and in the hearts of his plucky squad, there must have been always the thrill that would eventually be theirs if the heights were reached. Last year their aspirations were realized and those of us who saw our courageous hockey squad rise from the depths will not forget the thrill with which they favored us. ' The squad of last year was composed of seasoned veterans. They had been under fire often and knew the game. Graduation destined them for other places, and Coach Cronin was faced with the problem of rebuilding the team that would uphold the record of last year. With but two veterans, Gaffney and Pyne, Jack began his work. In a short time he had organized a sextet fair enough to do battle with the best of them. A season of sixteen games, left them winning seven, tying four and losing five. The team made the playfoffs and were finally forced to play a team which failed to qualify. As usual it proved our nemesis. In the allfstate selections the newspapers selected the following boys from Coach Cronin's squad, Gormley, Pyne, Gaffney and Murray. No one is prouder of her hockey team than La Salle. lt came near the top after a hard season. In every game in which the squad played, they gave all that their plucky hearts had. Next year Jack Cronin and La Salle will miss the 'CSwede Gaffney, Pyne and Murray, but Jack will not be dismayed, helll hit the line again. Eightyfnine

Page 92 text:

,sgiillllluinwf - Z -f THEWROON ANDWITE K GD X ,. M 11 io I pf VS tl? GS L.Q Cl I ' HE old Bard of Avon was indeed right when he penned the oftfquoted line, that all the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players. After all we trip our pathways through life merely to make way for those who are following. As it is in life, so is it in sports. To sustain a high standard in sports, the coach must prepare for the teams in years to come. 'As his firstfstring men depart he must have others to replace them. This is the function of the Junior Varsity Club. lt acts as a distinct unit. It has its own coach, a separate schedule, and regular practice sessions. From the cream of this crop, come the prospective players of next year's varsity's team. ln past years the Junior Varsity Club has done creditable work. This year under the snappy direction of Coach Bleiler it enhanced the records of previous years. After much difficulty a schedule was arranged that embraced the junior Varsities of other High Schools and neighborhood clubs. The competition throughout was keen and gave the team a great deal of experience that should stand them in good stead for the years to come. Cf the fifteen games played, the Junior Varsity won nine and lost six. Cutstanding in the junior Varsity were: De Coste, Semper, Cuglielmo, Reilly, Cardillo, Nugent and Smith. In the Midget Division of the Junior Varsity Club five games were played without a single defeat. Promif nent among the midgets were: Belknap, Coffey, Whitef side, Bourdon, McCullough, Sheehan and McElroy. As the years go on we fear no decrease in basketball material for these are ready to replace those who are ready to leave. l Eighnyfeighr

Page 94 text:

Qxlllllfiffjywf, . I . 1' H E mo N A N r E W CW Ckgasedall 19323-3 PROLONGED session upon the throne as State Champions came to an end last June Qt for the La Salle baseball team when the umpire barked the last strike of the basef ball season. To the eyes of everybody the 532 squad had all the distinctive marks of a championship nine. They had experience, a snappy infield, comprised of men who could field and throw accurately, a hardfhitting crowd and they were grounded in the basic principles of baseball lore by Coach Jack Cronin. All signs pointed to the Championship, but other circumstances intervened to thwart the aspirations of the Maroon and White nine. Around the veterans, C'Donnell, Gaffney and Kane, Jack Cronin moulded his 532 squad. A change of Gaffney from shortstop to pitcher gave him needed strength in the hurling section. Then with Pyne, Cardillo, Gormley, Grady and Okolovitz, jack was ready to face the season. As in football so in baseball the new realignment of schools gave the team a schedule far more difficult than in previous seasons. Scattered among the competing teams were the best that the public high schools could put forth. Sixteen games made up the schedule. Cf these fourteen were won and two were lost. At the end of the season, a tyup among Cumberland, Pawtucket High and La Salle led to a playfoff. In the Hrst game Cumberland was eliminated. ln a meeting that preceded the series it was agreed upon that the two teams entering the playfoff would play three games, the state title going to the team winning two of the games. For some reason or other, Pawtucket elected to forget the agreement, and a chance win left the title in their hands. ln the allfstate selections honors went to: Grady, Cardillo, Gaffney and Pyne. The present season is underway. Already the 335 squad is showing its wares, and we hope that the title so justly deserved by last year's squad will be their reward at the end of the season. Ninety