The Connecticut ASA Hall of Fame has announced its newest slow pitch softball inductees. The five new Hall of Famers, along with their fast pitch counterparts who were announced recently, will be honored at a dinner on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 4 pm at Costa Azzurra Restaurant in Milford. Tickets for the dinner are $35.
Slow pitch inductees for 2008 are players Dominick and Mike Calise of Westport, Ralph Ciarleglio of West Haven and Jim Walkley of Middlebury. Being inducted into the Bernie Iassogna Hall of Honor as a longtime sponsor, manager and friend of slow pitch softball is Sal Candelora of North Branford.
The Calise brothers, who both now reside in Arizona, join their father, Mike Sr. (1993) as the only father and son tandem to be inducted as slow pitch players in the CASA Hall of Fame. Al Morazes, Sr. (manager) and Al Jr. (player) were inducted together in 1998.
Dom Calise played from 1977-90, and was one of the key players for Hall of Famer Sonny DeMattio with Sonny’s of Westport for seven of those seasons. As a shortstop-third baseman, Calise helped lead Sonny’s to pair of ASA National tournaments in 1988 and ’89, winning the New England MVP award along the way in 1988.
Both a power and high average hitter, Calise played in numerous state tourneys, was a perpetual all-tournament performer in many of the biggest slow pitch events on the East Coast and racked up plenty of MVP awards as well. He finished his final Connecticut playing career days with the Westport Merchants and Shiney’s. He is still active in Arizona and has played in a host of national tourneys since moving out West.
Mike Calise was one step away from a major-league baseball career as he played several seasons of Triple-A ball in the St Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles organizations. His softball career, however, is legendary, starting at the young age of 13 when he earned the nickname “Rookie.” His eye-opening performances with his powerful bat during his 17-year career (1971-88), primarily with Sonny’s of Westport, combined with his long home runs and slick glove at shortstop etched his name into softball lore in the state.
Along with his brother, Mike was a key to Sonny’s placing 7th in the ASA nationals in 1988. In tournaments throughout New England and the state his name is engraved on many, if not most, of the MVP trophies. He continued his dominance in Arizona, playing in national/world tournaments there, and earning all-world honors five times.
Candelora has had an influence on Connecticut softball for nearly 40 years. His lasting legacy will be the Connecticut Sportsplex, a state of the art, 5-field facility he built in North Branford. Since opening in 1998, the Sportsplex is the crown jewel of softball fields in New England.
The teams that Cadelora has showcased at the Complex and around the nation have been some of Connecticut’s most successful. He has sponsored and managed teams in all age divisions, winning state, regional and national titles. In 2006, his 50 and 55 ASA teams won national crowns.
Ciarleglio, now in his 70’s, is still going strong as an active player as a member of the Edge Technology team in the senior division’s 70-74-year-old category. He started his career in 1961 with the top teams in West Haven, and then made his next move up the competition ladder in 1971 to play with one of New Haven’s most successful teams, Shultz Electric. As an infielder and pitcher, he was part of New Haven and West Haven teams that played in 13 state tournaments.
While taking a break from playing after the 1977 season, Ciarleglio revived his career later in life in 2004 as he was one of the founders of the Connecticut Senior ASA League for players over 60. He continues to play in his fifth decade of softball.
Walkley had a 31-year career and was a mainstay as a shortstop on the top teams from Bridgeport in the late ‘60’s through the 80’s. He was a member of the Miller Buick team that won the Connecticut state title in 1970, and was a key performer for North End Sports and Riverside Café of Fairfield. He also spent several years playing with Ronnie’s of Greenwich, another state power.
Recognized as one of the best fielding shortstops of his time, Walkley also played one season of fast pitch with the legendary Raybestos Cardinals. He spanned four decades of play from 1962 to 1993, andalso played third base and pitched during that time, whilecompiling a career batting average of .450.
For information about the dinner and to purchase tickets contact Ed Austin at
203-874-4036, Jim Carey at 203-924-5956 or Jim Consiglio 203-996-5206.