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1951 Telegram League and State Champions

3/4/2017

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Picture
First row, left to right: Coach Frederick Harlow, Malcolm Roma, Philip Buotte, Robert MacHardy, William Cary, Ronald LaBrecque,Ronald Johnson Second row, left to right: Manager Richard Robinson, Robert Barrows, Donald Fogg, Wayne Worcester, Armand Caron, Jackie Gaudette, Peter Grondin, John Johnson, Asst. Manager Lawrence Rousseau Third row, left to right: Richard Landry, Josiah Morse, Maurice Harvey, Richard Fortin, Lawrence Robichaud, Edward Poitras, Robert Bernier, Erlon Knight

Little did this team know that when they won the Telegram League and State Championship in 1951, that it would be FIFTY-THREE years before Westbrook would ever capture another such titile!

Below is the team information as it appeared in the Westbrook High School yearbook The Blue & White 1952:
The Westbrook High baseball season of 1951 was really successful. Our team captured the Telegram League and State Championship.

When we entered the final game with South Portland, we had a 12-3 record and were tied with the Capers for first place. We won the game 4-3 in ten innings behind Bill Cary, ace moundsman. The winning play turned out to be the "double-squeeze" which Coach Harlow had had the boys practicing all year.
We drew a bye in the first round of the State Tournament and faced South Portland again in the second round. With another close game expected, a large crowd turned out. Cary again held the Capers and we pounded out a 7-1 victory. With South Portland out of the way, we faced Lewiston. Cary went to the mound again and we smacked Lewiston, 9-4, to win the Western Maine Championship. This gave us the right to meet Presque Isle for the State Cham­pionship at Bangor. Gary went to the mound and pitched tremendous ball to hold Presque Isle to three hits. We won the game, 9-0, and ended a very successful season.

As anyone who followed the team could see, it was built around ace south­paw Bill Cary, who pitched terrifically all year. Bunky Buotte rounded out the other half of the battery doing a great job of receiving Cary's southpaw slants. The infield gave Cary good support during the year. Mal Roma was at first base, Freshman Bob Bernier was at second base and Joe Morse was at third base. Bob MacHardy, the batting star of the club, was at shortshop. The speedy outfield consisted of Larry Robicheaw, a great defensive outfielder, in left; Toots LaBrecque, a former second baseman, in center; and Dick Fortin, a transfer from Cheverus, in right. A good spot pitcher was Erlon Knight, who had a 3-0 record. Reserves who played an important part were Jackie Gaudette, Armand Caron, Wayne Worcester, Maurice Harvey, and Bob Barrows. Cary, Buotte, Robicheaw, and MacHardy were selected for the All-Telegram League Team, while LaBrecque, Morse and Fortin were given honorable mention.

A great deal of credit should be given to Coach Harlow, who brought the the team through in beautiful style. His knowledge of baseball and his love for the "world's greatest game" inspired the team throughout the season.

Courtesy of the Westbrook Historical Society.
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