Fairfield Scores and Standings: Sept 9

The Daily Sports Digest is designed for you to add your best photo and/or video to share (instructions here). If you see anything in our scores, standings, or schedules that requires updating, please e-mail regional editor Michael Dinan at michaeld+sports@patch.com.

Week two of the Fairfield County Football League kicks off this weekend. There are seven towns represented in the league -- Fairfield, Westport, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Wilton and Ridgefield. Here is this weekend's schedule of games in Fairfield.

Sunday

At Fairfield Ludlowe

12:30 p.m. --Bantam fourth grade -- Fairfield Bantam 4 Red vs. DJFL Bantam 4 White

2:00 p.m -- Junior fifth grade -- Fairfield Junior 5 Red vs. DJFL Junior 5 Blue

3:30 p.m. -- Senior eighth grade -- Fairfield Senior 8 Blue vs. Westport Senior 8 North

Earlier this week, the Connecticut Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame announced its newest members for the Hall’s Slow Pitch Wing.

Players Jim Dobbs, Bob Garcia and Al Ten, along with longtime sponsor and manager George (Mimi) Lawrence will be honored at the CASA Hall of Fame awards dinner, Sunday, Sept. 25 at Costa Azzurra Restaurant in Milford at 4 pm. That quartet joins previously announced Fast Pitch Wing honorees Joe Plagesse, Mary Schneider, Joseph Auwood and Ralph Moreo.

The late Jim Dobbs had an 18-year career that ended in 1986 and was a key player for two Bridgeport/Stratford area teams that performed at the national level. The left-handed hitting outfielder/catcher was one of Avco Lycoming’s standouts as the club was a yearly visitor to the ASA Industrial national tournaments, including winning three titles. Dobbs, who finished his career as a member of Avco’s 1986 national title team, was a three-time first team All-American selection. The Bridgeport native also was a coach on two more Avco national championship clubs.

He moved over to play in the Open division in the mid-seventies for North End Sports Center, and helped that squad to a pair of state championships and two trips to the national tourney in 1974 & 75. Dobbs passed away in 2002.

Garcia was one of the top pitchers in the state during his 35 year-plus career, with 27 of those playing for Bender Plumbing, one of New Haven’s powerhouse squads. He was on the mound for Bender’s 1984 Class A National Championship team, as well as two other top 10 Class A finishes and a pair of third-place showings in the National Masters Division. Bender’s won six Class A state titles and four New England crowns with Garcia on the hill.

The Hamden native was also a sure-handed defensive pitcher and a solid. .500 hitter in the Bender lineup. He has won over 1,200 games and still continues to play in his hometown for the Rosen & Dolan team, after getting his start with Hamden Package in 1975.

Ten was one of the sluggers for the Sonny’s of Westport teams that were one of the state’s most successful Major and Class A squads during Ten’s 15-year career from 1977-91. A versatile performer who played every position but shortstop, he won over 150 games on the mound, and earned his way to a first-team All-American slot as a third baseman when Sonny’s placed 8th in the Class A nationals in 1988. Ten hit .550 with four homers in seven games in the tourney.

Now residing in Midlothian, VA, Ten was usually the club’s cleanup hitter with outstanding power and hit for a better than .600 average. He was one of the key performers for Sonny’s 1980 Major State championship team and was the tourney[Soft Break]co-MVP with fellow CASA Hall of Famer Gary Lawrence.

With Mimi Lawrence being inducted to join his son Gary, the Lawrences become the third father-son tandem to be elected to the slow pitch wing of the Hall of Fame. Lawrence was involved in softball for nearly 60 years as player, manager and sponsor and will be inducted into the Bernie Iassogna Hall of Honor that recognizes longtime service to the game of softball.

Lawrence managed and sponsored Lawrence’s Tigers for over 30 years, winning four Norwalk city titles and numerous tournaments through out the state. Known as the “Ol’ Tiger”, he also had his two other sons, Tracy and Bobby, play for him for many of the years he was the skipper before starting to slow down in the early 2000’s. The recreation department in Norwalk recently named its wood bat league in his honor, after Lawrence passed away at age 83 in October 2010.

For tickets and information about the HOF dinner, contact Ed Austin at 203-874-4036 or Tom Chiappetta at 203-984-4806 or tomchip21@aol.com

With a record of 13-3, the Fairfield Mariners have clinched the second seed for the upcoming playoffs in the Fairfield County Senior Men's Baseball League.

The Mariners finished one game behind regular-season champion Monroe Top Hats (14-2).

The top four teams advanced to the top pier playoffs while the fifth- through eighth-place teams vie for the Presidents Cup.

The Bridgeport Brewers (9-8) are currently third, followed by the Trumbull Titans (8-6). The New Canaan Cannons (8-9) are fifth and the Stamford Phillies (7-8) are sixth.

In play-in games on Saturday, the Phillies face the Brewers and the Cannons take on the Titans. The first round of the playoffs begin on Sunday.

Signups for the Fairfield PAL travel girls and boys basketball teams will begin Sept. 13. The tryouts are for girls and boys in grades five through eight and the teams will compete in the Fairfield County Basketball League (FCBL).

Sign-up sheets will be available at The Higgins Group office at 1530 Post Road from Tuesday, Sept. 13 through Sept. 27.

Forms and payments need to be returned to The Higgins Group or to Paul Krumins PO Box 751 Fairfield CT 06824 postmarked no earlier than September 13.

Space on these competitive travel teams will be limited. For more information please email: Krumins@HigginsGroup.com

The Connecticut Premier AAU Girls Basketball clinics for girls in grades four through 12 get under way on Sept. 17 at Staples High School. They will take place every Saturday through Nov. 5.

Here is the schedule: grades 4-7 from 9-10:30 a.m; Grades 8-12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Tryouts for the 2012 season will take place on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 at Staples High School. Visit www.ctpremier.com for forms and tryout information.

The clinic will be run by Dave Danko, girls basketball head coach at Fairfield Warde High School. He will be joined by many other AAU coaches. Limited space available.

The fee is $150. Make checks payable to CT. Premier. Please contact Danko by phone at (203)-209-0861 or Steve McGillicuddy at (203)-394-2230 or e-mail mcgillicuddysteve@yahoo.com.