Somewhere in that great ethereal beyond, John Dufford was smiling last night. Not because of the score, he would not have enjoyed that at all, but because Glastonbury and East Hartford Rotarians were playing softball on the Elks Field, an annual game he started and nurtured over the many years. From his days as a Founding Member of the Glastonbury Club until he passed on this January at the age of 93, John never missing a turn at bat and his presence was in the air last evening.

 

The game itself which matched Glastonbury Rotary’s actual members against a motley collection of East Hartford members, sons and daughters of members and former members, grandsons of members, and guests of members who can still run and catch a ball, a veritable surfeit of “potential” Rotarians on our team, was rather one sided.  Lead by our soon to be 78 year old crafty hurler, George Schoen,  sluggers Alex Wicz and Kevin Kickery at the plate and the ageless defensive wonder Danny “I need a runner” Larson on first, the good guys prevailed 20 to 6 in the five inning game.  Of course the myriad “potentials” had a modest role to play in this outcome as well.

 

All the credit for the victory accrues to Manager Neal Cunningham and Coach Jack Martin, who masterfully juggled the lineup to maximize the damage.  Also contributing to the rout were the many observing Rotarians and all the spouses and kids lining the right field line. All that was missing was Mary Sullivan doing a cartwheel after each run scored.

 

After the game we all adjourned to the pavilion where we enjoyed a meal of either roast beef or chicken with potatoes, Caesar salad and cheesecake. Seasoning the meal was the camaraderie between the hosts and our gang. A brief Glastonbury meeting ensued and in due course we headed back to our respective homes with President Marc promising we will return in a year’s time.