The Connecticut ASA Hall of Fame has announced its 2010 Fast Pitch Wing inductees. Former players Louis Plagesse and Bob Velky, along with umpire Cliff LaRose and sponsor George Franklin Jr. will be honored at the annual Hall of Fame dinner, Sunday, Sept. 26 at Costa Azzurra Restaurant in Milford at 4 pm. The CASA Hall Slow Pitch Wing inductees will be announced next week. For tickets priced at $35, contact state commissioner Ed Austin at 203-874-4036.
Plagesse started his 20-year career with the Raybestos Hawks of Stratford in 1962-63. A strong defensive outfielder, he then spent two years with the both the Waterbury Bombers and Norwalk Eagles, before joining the Mar Parks team in New Britain. When the Mar Parks team disbanded, Plagesse moved on to play 10 years for the Poughkeepsie Brewers, who won four regional titles in that span. In 1972, he was co-MVP in the regionals. In the National Tournament, Poughkeepsie finished third in 1972 and 1973.
A good contact hitter, Plagesse usually batted in the number two slot. He currently resides in East Haven.
Velky, who passed away in 2000, began his softball career in 1977 with the Raybestos Cardinals. He quickly became the starting shortstop combining with second baseman Bob Quinn, another CASA Hall of Famer, to give the Cardinals one of the best DP combinations of all time.
In eight seasons with the Cardinals, Velky was a member of two national championship teams. One of his major offensive highlights came in the 1984 World Softball Tournament in Michigan, when he homered to send the game with New Zealand into extra innings, a game won by the Cardinals. .
The Stratford native was an outstanding infielder for the Bunnell High baseball team and later on the collegiate level at both Housatonic Community and Sacred Heart. Velky also played slow pitch for Avco Textron Lycoming and Clairol. In all, Velky played in eleven National Tournaments and one World Tournament.
LaRose has been an umpire since 1989. He has worked three ASA National championships. The Monroe resident has umpired tournaments at many levels, and also has served as a commissioner and tournament director for youth events for ages 16 & 18.
He also has an extensive collegiate career, umpiring the MAAC championships from 2001-04 and the America East from 2005-2010. A former president of the Bridgeport Umpires Association, LaRose still acts as the assigner for the Bridgeport area.
Franklin took over the sponsorship of the Raybestos Cardinals and continued the team’s long tradition of excellence. The Cards won four regional titles and qualified for four national championship tournaments under his watch. In 1983, the team won its only National title as the Franklin Cardinals. They then went on to win the bronze medal in the 1984 ISF World Tournament. Franklin also sponsored the Melrose Mets in Metro Boston from 1975-79. Franklin resides in Lynnfield, MA.
