Colonie Little League

Charles Thum got three hits and Joe DiGiulia got two to lead Rutland Lumber past Tim’s Trotters, 6-5 in the first Colonie Little League game on June 4, 1955. The game was played at Exchange Park just off of Wolf Road where DeNooyer Chevrolet is currently located, on land owned by the Bergbold family. In the second game of the day, Tom Burns pitched a one-hitter to lead Tobin Packing to a 5-0 victory over Greenhouse.

Tobin went on to win the league championship that first year with a 12-6 record.  Rutland Lumber and Greenhouse tied for second with 11-7 records.  Tim’s Trotters finished last with a 2-16 record.  Players on Tobin’s championship team included Ronnie Beecher, John Hotaling, Bernard Scranton, Frank Myers, Tim Dennis, Henry Denis, Bobby Foggo, Dick Johnson, Gerald Bylsma, Larry Tull, Art Waugh, Wally Burns and Bill Giering.  Richard Waugh managed the team and was assisted by coaches Erlane Carroll and William Stevens.  Bob Gidley managed Rutland Lumber, Frank Maguire managed Greenhouse and Ed Coughtry managed Tim’s Trotters.

Colonie Little League applied for and received its first charter from Little League Baseball Incorporated on May 23, 1955.  Albert Foreman was the first President of the league.  Other officers included Jack Weininger, Vice President; Rudolph Gross, Secretary; and Joseph Smith, Treasure. 

In 1956 Tim’s Trotters won the league championship.  This time it took a play-off game win over Tobin’s to determine the champion.   Stan Ravish pitched a two-hitter for Tim’s in the play-off game.  Joe Pappa hit a home run for the winners.  Tim’s finished with a 12-7 record.

In 1960 Redwood Lanes replaced Rutland Lumber as a major team sponsor.   Colonie won its first District 13 12-year old all star title that year and became the first District 13 team to participate in the New York State Little League Tournament.  Players on the 1960 12-year old all star team included Jay Hinds, Mike Hart, Marty Sebast, Paul Aussicker, Lenny Boni, Dave Paul, Gary Reynolds, Vince Stitzer, John Gulliver, Steve Kretzer, Jerry Anson, Steve Prue, Lee McGrath, Jim MacDonald and Bob Doyle.  The team was managed by Jack Hinds along with Coach Dan Ryan.

In 1961 the league expanded to six Major division teams with the addition of Colonie Elks and Dewey’s Diner as sponsors.  Colonie Elks is a current sponsor and has sponsored a team in Colonie Little League for 48 straight years.

Colonie won the District 13 12-year old all-star title for a second time in 1963.

In 1967, under the direction of Fred McDonald, League President, Colonie moved to new facilities at Cook Park in the village of Colonie.  The facility now includes five baseball diamonds, two concession stands, a batting cage and a pavilion.  The fields and the facilities were built and are currently maintained by volunteers.

The league expanded to 8 Major division teams in 1971.

In 1972 through 1974 Colonie won three consecutive District Championships.  The 1973 team went on to win the Sectional, State and Eastern Regional tournament and competed in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  The players on that team included Mark Friss, Curtis Benedetto, Allan Haskell, Tim Coyne, Dave Jackson, Thomas Kenna, Gary Krueger, Anthony Kuchis, William Lovely, John Miller, Don Putnam, Bruce Roeser, Jim Flood, Vince Agneta and Dave Dixon.  Bob Friss managed the team with assistance from coaches Bruce Roeser and Tony Agneta.

Colonie has won the District 13 12-year old all-star title 28 times.  They have won the Section title 10 times and have won four State Championships (1973, 1980, 1987 and 2004). 

In 1999 Colonie served as host for the New York State 10-year old Tournament.  Colonie’s 10-year old all-star teams have competed in five State tournaments (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2007) and won the state tournament in 1998, 2003 and 2007.

Colonie’s 11 year-old all-star team has won three District 13 championships.  In 2008 Colonie’s 11 year-old all-star team won the Section 2 championship and the New York State championship.

In 1997 Colonie began a “Fall Ball” league.  This is primarily an instructional league that ran from early August through the beginning of October.   Approximately 160 boys and girls participate in this program.

In 2000, Colonie Little League expanded to 10 Major division teams.  In addition to those previously mentioned, major division team sponsors over the years have included Crisafulli Builders, JT Garry, Devito’s Restaurant (now Truman’s Restaurant), Andy’s Hardware, Village Pharmacy (now J & T Associates), The Schenectady Gazette (now The Daily Gazette), Burger King, Vellano Brothers, L-Kens Drive In, Colonie Mechanical Contractors, VFW, and DC Pizza.  In 2004, the Major division was reduced to 9 teams and in 2005 the league went back to 8 Major Division teams.

Also in 2004, Colonie Little League, in conjunction with New York District 13, began a Challenger Division.  This Division is intended to provide opportunities for physically and mentally disabled kids to participate in Little League Baseball.  Approximately 40 kids participated in the Challenger Division each year

A Board of Directors that includes approximately 60 volunteers runs the League.  A League Parent Auxiliary operates the concession stands during the season and provides other support to the Board.  Ed Pfaff is the current League President and Nancy Anderson is the Parent Auxiliary President.  Previous League Presidents and Parent Auxiliary Presidents have included:

Of particular note are two Board members that have completed 38 years of service with Colonie Little League.  Jack Walsh and Frank Porcaro became involved with Colonie Little League in 1971.  As a father of four daughters and no sons, Frank Porcaro never had any of his kids compete in Colonie Little League.  Jack Walsh managed his two sons when they were in the league.  He is currently the longest serving manager in the league having managed a major division team continuously from 1984-2008. Another Board member, Greg Therien, holds the distinction of having managed four New York State champion all-star teams for Colonie Little League

The league currently consists of approximately 500 baseball players on approximately 45 teams competing in Challenger, T-Ball, Junior Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Intermediates and Majors.  Additionally, approximately 14 teams compete each year in the fall ball program.

District 13 Champions 1958-2008