Agganis baseball set to go

In these parts, Harry Agganis is known for being a transcendent figure in high school football — the man who filled Manning Bowl on Saturday afternoons as fans came from all over the region to watch him.But in other parts of the country, particularly in Major League Baseball cities, Harry Agganis is the tragic figure who was the promising first baseman for the Boston Red Sox — the man who was batting over .300 when he died suddenly in 1955 at the age of 26.When he died, the local patrons who created the scholarship foundation that bears his name — including The Item — established a football game as the principal fundraiser. But 20 years ago, the foundation decided to branch out, and the next thing on its list was a baseball game. From there, there came softball a year later, followed by soccer, basketball and lacrosse. Now, the festival of Agganis games will go from Sunday through Thursday night.The 20th baseball game will be played Sunday (3) at Fraser Field. Fittingly, the South team will be coached by Frank Carey, who is retiring after 49 years and 736 career victories.Carey was 12 years old in 1955, when Agganis died from a pulmonary embolism at Sancta Maria Hospital in Cambridge. He rode his bicycle from his house in Breed Square to the corner of South Common and Franklin Streets so he could see the massive funeral procession wend its way from St. George Church to Pine Grove Cemetery.Carey is synonymous to high school baseball in Massachusetts. He established the Eastern Mass. all-star game that showcases the state?s top talent every June, he is not only in the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame but the national one as well, and last year he spoke before a group of US Olympic coaches on the value of teamwork.Carey almost won another state title this season. His North Reading team lost in the state semifinal to eventual champion Bellingham. Had they won, it would have been the Hornets? second state title in three years.Among the players on this year?s South squad are Justin Avery, Brett Erelli and Brad Scuzzarella of Classical; Drew Gentile, Andrew Napoleon and Michael Troy of English; Joe Bertrand and Joe Prince of Saugus; and Jordan Roper and Jack Fraulini of Lynnfield.In the other dugout is a rookie to Agganis coaching — St. John?s Prep?s Dan Letarte, who took over for Pat Yanchus, who retired after last season.Letarte was the longtime boys basketball coach at the school. In his first year with the baseball program, he led the Eagles to the No. 2 seed in the state baseball Super 8 — even though he thought they were a year away. St. John?s lost to both Bridgewater-Raynham and Braintree.Three of Letarte?s players will be joining him Sunday: Mike Geaslen, Evan Roberts and Justin Snyder. Also on the North team are Bryan Nerich from St. Mary?s; Andrew McLaughlin and Sean McGrath, Peabody; Thomas Parsons from Bishop Fenwick; and Peter Clark and Jordan Pallazola, Gloucester.