THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 28, 2020 Page 15 MALDEN: TODAY | FROM PAGE 4 While on a stroll through Malden Square last week to visit Ron “The World’s Oldest Teenager” Cox at his office at MATV (Urban Media Center?) headquarters on lower Pleasant Street, I walked past the resting place of the long-forgotten Strand Theater. I remembered back to that day (1965) when my late cousin Joey “The Pride of Charlestown” Bates took us to see the newly released Three Stooges blockbuster film “The Outlaws IS Coming!” Best line in the movie by Moe – “Oh, a Japanese Beatle?!” We had a cold refreshment across the street at the Strandway Cafe after the show. Fellsway East and Highland Avenue – once known as the Dodge City on a Saturday night in 1875 of Malden has become a sea of tranquility since the lights went up. Granted they started the project in 1875, but it was worth the wait. Insert smiley face. How bout this “throwback” memory from Mike Craven via Facebook: 1973-1975 C.M.H.L. Friday night hockey at Hockeytown in Melrose. The Maplewood Spartans coached by Bob Rosano had the Bellavia brothers (Fran, Bobby & Steve), Steve ‘Moose’ Kinnon, ‘Tiger’ Connelly, Bobby Doolin, Tom ‘Stittles’ Littlewood, Dennis Lordan, Mike ‘Plummer’ Plumbodis, (the late) Mike Moriarty, Mike Buckley, and Mike Craven with a few missed due to hockey battle fatigue from the ’70’s. Many games fought with Sacred Heart coached by Bob Rotondi. What!? You thought Bob was a one trick pony?! Those guys could put together a baseball team that could beat the 2020 Boston Red Sox! Dennis Lordan was my catcher for the Stars in the B.R.L. and an all-star (he actually made me look good in a couple of games!). As well as Plummer whose baseball exploits are told around campfires throughout the city to this very day. Moose could flat out pitch! Tommy Littlewood could hit a ton! Malden produced some real baseball talent in the 1970’s! The countdown is on! Gabby’s Barber Shop will be leaving the building soon. If those walls could talk! Johnny is closing up shop by August’s end, but he will not be going very far. I will have all the news that’s fit to print very soon. Preacher Jack led a larger than life existence: most stories true to fact – some embellished over the years – none boring. The accolades for his life’s work behind the keyboard continue to pour in. I’d like to share three more stories from behind the veil, the life and times of Preacher Jack: David “Doc” Vincent – drummer, friend, confidant: “R.I.P. John Preacher Coughlin I will keep the flame burning for you! One of the world’s best boogie pianists right here folks. Best of the best. A true rock star. Proud to have backed you on drums. Heaven just got another rock n’ roll legend in the band. Gone but never forgotten my friend and music maker, what a journey we had together. As Jack would say, energy, energy. Will do my best my friend. Love you!” Tom Devaney via Facebook: “Farewell Preacher Jack. I have fond memories of watching the Preacher do his thing Sunday evenings at Frank’s in Cambridge. A true original. I recall one night he dedicated a song to the people in the kitchen ‘for makin’ all those steak tips happenin’ for you out there.’” Don Smith also via Facebook: “Always a good time with ‘The Preacher.’ Hauling Jack from gig to gig was an adventure, every time. We were on our way back to Salem after a gig in Middleton (the old Santa’s Lookout). At the time I was a Sexton at a historic church in Danvers. I needed to make a quick stop at the church to check on something. Jack being a lifelong student of history followed me in. While I went about my business, I told Jack to have a look around and turned on the lights in the sanctuary. The next sound I heard was Jack twinkling the ivories of an old spinet, in the corner of the room. The next hour or so I was treated to Preacher at his best. In a room he said was one the most acoustically perfect rooms he ever played in. Rock on, Jack!” “This is the end, beautiful friend; this is the end, my only friend, the end...” Love to hear from readers! 1970 Malden Babe Ruth League co-MVP Dennis Damiano reached out last week much to my surprise. A very pleasant exchange made my day. In the spirit of full disclosure, the Damianos and Levines go back. Way, way back. He loved my 1972 baseball article. He knew all the actors, played ball with most of them when he was a pup until he joined the Navy in the early 1970s. He also loved the Joe Levine pop up caught with his knees story. Joe and Dennis go way back. Joe, Dennis, Matt Ciccarelli, Vinnie Disano, the late Dommy DiSario, Freddie McCarthy and a cast of hundreds graduated from Pearl Street High School, where they learned most of the important things in life: friendship, party, neighborhood, family, as well as a few things that cannot be published in a family newspaper. Dennis has a million stories. I hope to bring a few of them to you in the future. Postscript: Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition! Ballantine Ale lovers of the world! Rejoice in the news that Chris (Lianos) promises to carry the nectar of the gods in his shop for one and all to enjoy! Malden Bambinos fall to Lexington in Championship Final Monahan-Dasilva is team MVP By Jason Mazzilli I t was a banner year, but also one that fell just short of taking the biggest flag of the summer, for the Malden Bambinos. Playing in their 37th straight playoff series, Malden soared to the Championship Final game for the 14th time in team history, before falling to the host Lexington Minutemen, 14-9, in the title game of the Middlesex Summer League, featuring teams at the Senior Babe Ruth level (ages 16-20). The Bambinos finished 10-5 overall for the season (8-4 regular season), including two exciting wins at home at Maplewood Park in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Veteran pitcher and outfielder Christian Monahan-Dasilva was named Most Valuable Player for the season, going 3-1 on the mound and leading the team with four game-winning base hits on the summer. Monahan-Silva is a 2019 Malden High grad, where he starred for and captained the baseball and boys’ basketball teams his senior year. Malden fell to Lexington in the title final, at the end of an unusual playoff series which featured three games and three nights in single-elimination format on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, August 10-12. The Malden Bambinos won the first game, 4-1, over Lexington 2, to advance to the semifinal. Monahan-Dasilva (3-1 for the season) pitched a complete game three-hitter with 10 strikeouts to lead Malden to the win. He got Christian Monahan-Dasilva led the Malden Bambinos to the Championship final game with a super season at the plate and on the mound to earn the Most Valuable Player honor. (Courtesy Photo/ Malden Bambinos) a lot of help from Jackson Stanton behind the plate, Jason Belliveau and Dave Witkowski in the infield and Zeke Bragg in right field. Bragg made several exceptional catches and also threw two runners out on the bases. Another former Malden High standout and baseball captain from the Class of 2019, Ari Cohen, went the distance in an 8-5 win for the Bambinos over Bedford in the semifinal. Malden came all the way back from a 4-0 deficit, all runs unearned, after four innings, to claim the win. The Bambinos sent 10 men to the plate in the bottom of J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. the fifth to score five runs and take a 5-4 lead, the big hit being a two-out, bases-loaded single up the middle by rookie Clifton Noelsaint, to put Malden ahead for good. Monahan-Dasilva helped his own cause with a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning to take an 8-4 lead for Malden. Other members of the team this season included Malden High team members Liam Jordan, Shai Cohen, Sam Solorzano, Tylor West and Tyler Doyle from Northeast Metro Tech along with Nick Longo and Angelo Robertson. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping
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