This weekend, we pay tribute to some local people who either made a difference in our lives or made it easier, and a whole lot more fun, to be alive.
Few people in the history of Lynn baseball had more influence on our love of the game than Nipper Clancy, the inspiration for the Clancy baseball tournament, which began Friday night.
He taught legions of kids the ins and outs of baseball, among them the late Tony Conigliaro. Four of those he influenced perhaps more than most were Dick Maag, recently inducted into the Classical Hall of Fame; Bart Conlon, former director at Lynn Tech; Frank Carey, one of the most renowned baseball coaches in Massachusetts history; and Jim Tgettis, who coached St. Mary’s to back-to-back state titles.
In 1982, five years after Clancy’s death, the four found themselves coaching at Classical, Tech, North Reading and St. Mary’s respectively. They came up with this tournament as an end-of-the-season tuneup for the state tournament.
Tech is no longer involved (English became the fourth team in the 1990s), but the connection is still strong as three of the coaches in this weekend’s tournament (Mike Zukowski, Classical; Doug Mullins, English; and Derek Dana, St. Mary’s) come from the Tgettis coaching tree. So the tournament has become generational.
It’ll be especially poignant this year because of Jimmy Clancy’s death over the winter. Not only did Jimmy inherit his father’s love of the game, he brought his own love of life and laughter wherever he went.
The John G. Holland Memorial Softball Tournament, played at Breed’s Rogato Field Saturday and Sunday, pays tribute to a man whose greatest gift to us was his willingness to volunteer for anything and see it through.
Holland was president of Lynn Babe Ruth when that marvelous facility behind Breed was re-done, and the snack bar and equipment shed was built. By the sheer force of his personality and his ability to persuade people, Holland was the driving force that got the field done.
He wasn’t the only one, of course. There was also Bill Foglietta, Norm Cole, Chuck Tracy, Wayne Palmer, and probably a hundred more that I’ve forgotten. My contributions, aside from being on that board, was to bring the coffee and donuts to the volunteers who worked on the project (from Dunkins’, of course).
I can understand how some of these events become so personal with people, because that’s how I feel about the Holland. John became a good friend (and better foil).
When Babe Ruth had its softball program — which it had thanks to Holland — it had a ready-made maintenance staff to get the fields ready for the tournament.
In recent years, Jim Beliveau and then Jeff Earp have had to use mirrors to get the fields ready. This year, Earp has taken the lead in organizing the tournament. He’ll still have help from guys like Dave Raymond of LHAND, who has worked tirelessly by his and Beliveau’s side for many years.
But it gets done. And I hope for a long time. Holland is one of those people who needs recognition, not because he ever wanted it, but because he never wanted it. He never looked for glory. He just pitched in and got things done.
The tournament opens at 3:30 Saturday (note the change in time from past years) with St. Mary’s taking on Swampscott. Last year, the teams met in the championship game, a wild one that the Big Blue won, 12-11.
In the nightcap at 5:30, it’ll be Classical and English. The Rams are tourney-bound while the Bulldogs are playing for a new coach, Ashley Aldred.
Finally, on Monday at 11 a.m., Gannon Golf Course will hold its annual memorial service for members who had died in the previous year.
The event is chaired by David and Joel Solimine, along with Mike Phelps of the funeral home. The Gannon management and professional staff sponsor the brunch following the ceremony, and Father James H. Riley, the U.S. Marine Corps ROTC cadets will present the colors and a quartet from the Lynn Public Schools music department will sing patriotic songs.
Those absent for tee time this year are Larry Gannon, Robert D. Trepsas Sr., Maurice A “Moe” Atherton, Peter L. Zetes, Robert M. DiCarlo, Thomas “Grinder” Gratiano Sr.’ Wendell F. Hubbard, Richard “Dickie” Truax, Richard E. “Dick” Blodgett, Hazen C. Ward, Bruce N. Sachar, Beverly Lombara, Joe Jedrey, Paul Yanakakis, Joan Henri, Frank Resse, Charles Scarlata, Bruce Hamilton and Richard Dylingowski.
