BABE RUTH
WORLD SERIES NOTEBOOK
WESTFIELD – Kyle Dulude of Westfield has elevated the Westfield Voc-Tech High School softball and girls’ soccer programs to new heights over a good part of the last decade, and now heads up the boys’ soccer and basketball teams. But the thirty-something vocational head coach credits a life-changing experience for his recent successes.
Back in 1992, Dulude helped lead the city’s 14-15-Year-Old Babe Ruth Baseball team to a second-place finish in the World Series in Vallejo, Calif. Scotsdale (Az.) defeated Westfield, 7-2, 9-7, in the championship game.
Dulude was named a tournament All-America – the only other teammate to receive the honor was Mark Mastroianni – with an on-base percentage better than .700. He batted leadoff and played left and center field.
“When I see the guys from my team, we still talk about (the World Series),” Dulude said. “It’s a lifetime memory.”
Dulude said he owes his coaching success to Babe Ruth coaches Frank Mochak, Phil Aucella, and Bill Amanti, all well-known baseball guys from these parts. The World Series team’s manager, Steve Maslar, has since moved away.
“I try to coach like them,” Dulude said. “They gave a lot to me. I’m trying to give back. I have the utmost respect for all those individuals.”
The Voc-Tech coach said there were many aspects of the entire trip 20 years ago that have provided a lifetime of memories.
“It’s all about baseball and wins, but there’s so much going on – it’s so eventful,” said Dulude. “It was my first flight. That was exciting, but long. Then there are the host families. They greeted us at the airport. And opening ceremonies. That’s where we were basically just checking out our competition. Then you finally play baseball. There are so many distractions.”
The team also took in a baseball game in San Francisco and Oakland.
Dulude said he could still vividly picture what the host family’s house and pool look like, how accommodating they were.
“For me, that was a time to talk and socialize,” he added. “There was no excitement over our host families. We all just wanted to be with our team.”
Dulude’s real family delivered a present two weeks ago, his All-America trophy.
“I came home two weeks ago and it was on my porch,” he said of the award. “For 19 years, my parents had been holding onto it.”
If all goes well for the current 13-year-old All-Stars in Kitsap County, Wash., there may be more trophies traveling the streets of Westfield in the coming days.
Said Dulude: “It’s just exciting for Westfield again.”
WHO’S WHO OF ’92: The Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball 14-15-Year-Old All-Stars roster included: Dulude, Mark Mastroianni, Stu Gornall, Greg Bevilacqua, Tim Laurita, Josh Pepek, Ryan Wallace, Jason Purdy, Kevin Pennington, Cris Amanti, Jeff Rodriquez, Pete Csekovsky, Mike Csekovsky, Joe Strebel, Eric Kaleta, and Mike Aucella.
DID YOU KNOW? In 1989, the Whip City’s 13-year-old All-Star team went 10-0 in postseason play to advance to the league’s first ever World Series in Millville, New Jersey. Westfield placed fifth.
The team roster included: Tristan Jerue, Steve Adam, Tim Farrell, Lindsey Scott, Bryan Kaasperowski, Chad Kasperowski, John Kane, Dan Chisholm, Jeff Hauk, David Paroline, Danny Parks, Dan Bennett, Jon (Pee Wee) Yvon, Jon (J.Y.) Yvon, Sean Ashton, and Mike Burque.
Manager Steve Maslar and coaches Frank Mochak and Ed Jerue led the team.
OPENING DAY: Westfield will open up the 2012 World Series against Midwest Plains regional champ Waite Park (Minn.) Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. on the west coast, noon ET.
