Raider Alumni Set to Take the Diamond In Annual Reunion: UPDATED

ENFIELD, CT — Due to the forecast of inclement weather Saturday, the alumni games have been moved indoors to the Star Hill Athletic Center in Tolland. The first contest kicks off at 10 a.m.

Original Story

ENFIELD, CT — From former professional players and college standouts to one-year high school reserves, nearly 100 Enfield High School baseball players of the past six decades, coming from as far away as Arizona, Florida and Ohio, will gather Saturday, Aug. 4 to partake in the third annual "Battle of Powder Hollow."

Despite the name, the games in "Decade Wars" will be played at the high school fields, beginning at 10 a.m. A team of players from the 1980s will battle alumni from the 1990s in one contest, while players from the 2000 and 2010 decades will square off in another. The winning teams will meet in the afternoon to determine this year's champion, while the other two squads will engage in a consolation matchup.

Players from the 1960s and 1970s will also be participating, being randomly placed on one of the other four teams. To date, the "most veteran" returnee scheduled to play is William Carlander from the Class of 1963.

The games began at Powder Hollow Park in 2016, when the 2001 team, which reached the Class L state finals, took on the 1994 state quarterfinalists to determine the school's all-time greatest team. Last August, all participating players were placed into a pool for an open draft; the first player selected was 2018 Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Wilfredo Medina. A downpour necessitated a last-minute move indoors to the Sports World complex in East Windsor, and the winning team was coached by Hall of Fame honoree Tom Owens.

"The vision and hard work to hold these events is the brainchild of Class of 1994 shortstop Brian Riley," said Mark Dube, one of the event's organizers. "The group is very active on Facebook to stay in touch, talk trash and even meet up once a month for a live Internet talk show that features all-time greats from the history of Enfield Raider baseball."

The show, hosted by Dube live from the Powder Hollow Brewery, has featured former Cincinnati Reds/Boston Red Sox prospect Brad Tweedlie; Steve Martocchio, a three-sport star from the Class of 1991; and Enfield Hall of Famers Bob and Cookie Bromage, Charlie Ragno and Mike Angelica.

New this year is creation of a "Hall of Honor" to recognize the all-time greatest performers in the school's history. Initial honorees are Tweedlie, Ragno, former Boston Red Sox hurler Bill Spanswick, college pitching sensation Dave LaRussa and former Phillies minor league pitcher Jack Taylor.

"The main goal of the group is to honor the legacy and core values of what it means to be an Enfield Raider," Dube said.

The public is invited to attend the games and continue to support the legacy of Enfield High School baseball.

Photo credit: Phil Dumond

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