New Haven Register (CT)

May 19, 1991

Last game of softball season final chapter for St. Mary's
Author: Steve Wilson

The St. Mary's High softball team is approaching Monday's season-ending doubleheader with Whitney Tech of Hamden like any other games - even though they will be the last in school history.

"They're not going to be mopey just because it's the last game," coach Renee Balisciano said. "All season none of them has talked about this being the last year."

Softball is the only sport at St. Mary's this spring. St. Mary's, a Catholic school for girls (it was coed from 1936 to 1961), will close its doors next month after 90 years because of financial problems and declining enrollment.

St. Mary's is the state's third Catholic high school to close in the last two years. Central Catholic of Norwalk closed last year and South Catholic of Hartford is shutting down next month - both because of lack of money.

The St. Mary's softball team, with a record of 1-10, isn't good enough to qualify for the state tournament, so Monday's doubleheader has extra meaning.

"I want to end on a good note," said junior catcher Julie Cerrone. "If we win or lose, I want to feel good about it."

The Olympic ideal - competition above winning - is prevalent at St. Mary's, said Athletic Director Peg McGowan. She noticed it after coming to the school seven years ago. McGowan coached volleyball and track at Milford high schools.

"They (St. Mary's athletes) were very naive to competition," said McGowan, who coached the school's volleyball team. "They'd get blown out and they'd be singing on the bus on the way home. It was refreshing."

The attitude hasn't changed.

"In all my years here, I've heard that it doesn't matter if you win or lose, but how well you play together," said junior class president Anne Miller, who plays three sports.

Said McGowan: "They're the happiest bunch of kids I've ever dealt with. You rarely ever hear a kid say, `We stink.' "

School spirit and an emphasis on winning were greater, many say, before boys sports were dropped in 1961.

"When the boys were kicked out, it might have put a damper on school spirit," said Bob Jacunski, 50, of Wallingford, a three-sport standout at St. Mary's who graduated in 1958.

Jacunski, who does public relations for Southern New England Telephone, played end on the last football team at St. Mary's in 1957. The team went 4-2, winning the last four games for the school's best football record in 19 years.

Jacunski said St. Mary's biggest rival was Notre Dame of West Haven. He recalls playing the Knights in football as a freshman the year after a fight had broken out during a 12-6 loss to Notre Dame.

"Sister Uriel (the principal) told us she wanted us to be on our best behavior," Jancuski said. "She didn't want to let it happen again."

St. Mary's behaved, all right, losing 61-0 to an ND team that included the late Nick Pietrosante, who would star at the University of Notre Dame and in the NFL.

St. Mary's didn't always lose. The baseball team won state championships in 1959 and '60. The Friars defeated Housatonic Regional of Falls Village 4-2 for the Class M title in '59 and St. Basil's of Stamford 8-0 for the Class S title the following year.

In 1961, the baseball team advanced to the Class S semifinals before losing to Washington High 1-0. It was the last baseball game in school history.

St. Mary's has many well-known alumni who played sports at the school. Among them are state Rep. Bruce Morris, Westbrook Superintendent of Schools Bob Schreck and Hillhouse baseball coach Sam Burrell. The three played together on succesful teams in the early '50s.

Vanessa Thompson brought attention to the school in the early '80s through her achievements in cross country. Thompson was the State Open champion in 1981 and won Class M and State Open titles in 1983.

"She's a legend in this school," McGowan said. "I'm really grateful to her talents for putting St. Mary's on the map."

Cross country was one of the few sports the school offered this year. Track was dropped two years ago because of lack of interest. The school once had field hockey, bowling, swimming and tennis for girls.

The gym is one of the smallest in the state. "People laugh when they see it," McGowan said. Before the gym was built in the 1960s, basketball games were played at the New Haven YMCA. The school has no softball field and much of its athletic equipment is outdated.

Despite the hardships, athletics has been an important part of school life at St. Mary's. And it will be a sad moment Monday when the last out is made against Whitney Tech.