Upsala College - Upsalite Yearbook (East Orange, NJ)

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Just when most of us were forgetting stu- dies and exercise, twenty-four hopeful ball- players answered Coach Abbey Leitch,s call for practice. April weather urged us to lin- ger under the budding trees, but we often went down to the fleld to View our athletes. We watched Captain Bill Ritchie make the grade at first base and Art Frieberg con- tinue his sensational keystone play. At short- stop for the third season was Jack Becker, ready to go, and flashy Don Schaffer ca- vorted about in centeriield. We also wit- nessed the spirited competition for third base waged by Dick Pierson and Dick Rob- erts and the rise of two new outfielders, Marty Freedman and Jack Meredith. Behind the homeplate stood big Woody Mears. catching the slants of Herbie Melin and Johnny Pandolfe. And then, with the ar- rival of Pace for the opener, we urged our team through a grueling season. Against Pace, Herbie twirled sensation- ally, holding their hitters to only two hits and no runs and even struck out ten op- COACH ABBEY LEITCH posing batsmen. Schaffer gave us victory when he singled sharply to left, bringing home two runners. Plenty of enthusiasm was evident when John Marshall dropped in for our first conference game. Pandolfe was primed for the occasion and he held the Lawyer? in check throughout, holding THE BASEBALL SQUAD One Hundred Tbirty-stx

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BLUE KiEYettthey also serve tainly, organized cheering adds that pep and spirit Which is so vital to the success of the games at Upsala. Blue Key is the service organization of the campus. Members are tapped in the fall of their Sophomore year in a chapel ceremony. To be eligible to wear the white hat bearing a blue keyethe symbol of the organization, you must be willing to usher at Forum pro- grams and football games, entertain visiting teams even to surrendering your room to them and, When special circumstances arise, it Will be you Who must meet every emer- gency. We assemble all of our lettermen from basketball, football and baseball into one organization, known as the U. Club. This year Tony Mercogliano was elected President assisted by Don Schaffer, Isadore Vallorani and Jack Becker. THE U. CLUBeAthletes all! One Hundred Thirty-fi ye

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the Marshall team to seven hits as the Vik- ings registered their second straight triumph. Schaffer again supplied a deadly blow by tripling with two men on the sacks. The bubble of prosperity was pricked by Newark University in a thriller which wasn,t decided until the last inning. The lead had see-sawed back and forth until a long drive gave the tilt to our neighbors. Humiliating defeat was sustained on the first away game ewith St. John,s University. Everything went wrongeerrors, weak-hitting and mena tal lapses decided the issue. Coach said that the boys were due to have such a slump, and would recuperate. Against Pratt our gang was back in form, although Pratt copped a close battle. Prattis ball field was the funniest we had ever seen ethe depth of right field was so short that a fielder could run into the infield for a high fly. Three defeats in a row seemed to indi- cate a very dismal season, especially with an invasion by the powerful Panzer outnt. But Captain Ritchie rallied the team to a fight- ing edge. Craftyli John Pandolfe mixed his stuff well but in the seventh inning Panzer broke through for an easy win. Having such a small squad meant that we couldn,t afford any injuries or jinxes but we were not immune to them. Just before the trip to Moravian, Melin was laid up with a severe cold and Pandolfe, tired and over- worked, had to pitch anyway. Moravian clouted hard and often, to trounce us in a free-scoring contest. To climax the day, Meredith, sliding into third base, tore the ligaments in his ankle and was shelved until the alumni game. However, against John Marshall we watched our men enter the win column again. Pandolfe, whose arm suddenly be- came stronger, stood Marshall on its collec- tive head and our batters hammered the leather all over the lot. Newark U. caught Upsala in a revengeful mood brought on by our one-run loss to the Bombers back in April. Ritchie and Frieberg were the leading Sluggers, in a game marked by occasional showers. This was our third league success. Melin returned to the hill against Susque- hanna, but he had not regained his strength. We could appreciate the work of the men on both teams because a blistering sun recom- mended mint juleps. The invaders stood the heat better and prevailed. Izzy Vallorani pounded out two nice hits. Although Upsala had lost frequently, our conference record was one of the best and a Victory over Panzer would have given us a tie for the title. In the most sensational and dramatic game of our season, the Vikings failed by one run to put the skids under the Panthers. Hurling magnificently, Pandolfe appeared to be the stronger pitcher, but a balk in the seventh inning brought home the only Panzer run. It was a heart-breaking way to lose. A journey to Muhlenberg was to no avail because in the second inning a light rain CAPTAIN BILL RITCHIE One Hundred Tbirty-xeven