Former New London announcer recognized at Legion tournament
By Scott Bellile
Although he didn’t wish for the attention, New London Clippers volunteer Scott Huntley was honored by the baseball team for his years of volunteerism at the annual George Huntley Night.
Scott Huntley received a plaque for his team spirit as a Clippers announcer at the start of the New London versus Bonduel game at Hatten Stadium on Friday, July 10. His voice carried from the press box to the crowd for seven years while his sons Andrew and Austin played for the Clippers.
“He didn’t miss a game in the booth and was always around to help when we needed him,” Clippers coach Jim Thorpe said. “His help wasn’t just done on the microphone. He was also around at all tournaments to help prepare fields, grill, sell concessions, drive kids to fields at various locations and [keep] everyone around him in good spirits.”
“I just believe that the individual has to contribute to the community and the growth of it, too,” Scott Huntley said.
Scott Huntley said he didn’t deserve the award because plenty of others have helped local athletes just as much as he has, including his late uncle George, the long-time volunteer the annual night commemorates.
“I’ll never be able to live up to his reputation or fill his shoes,” Scott Huntley said.
Thorpe disagreed, saying the voting board considered Scott Huntley “much deserving” of the award. He is a perfect representation of the Legion baseball program, Thorpe said.
“He was a one-of-a-kind kind of dude, and was great to have, and still comes to support the Clippers as often as he and his wife can,” Thorpe said.
The award night was part of New London’s four-day Clippers tournament held July 9-12. New London won three games and lost one over the four nights they played, finishing second overall after champions the Clintonville Diamond Cats.
New London 10, Manawa 0
On Thursday, July 9, New London’s Alex Stitchman took to the mound to pitch his first varsity complete game, leading New London to a 10-0 victory over Manawa.
New London’s bats came alive in the fourth inning with six runs aided by four Manawa errors. The Clippers scored one run in the fifth and posted three more off of five hits in the sixth to win the game.
New London 2, Bonduel 1
A large crowd turned out Friday, July 10, to see Scott Huntley accept his award and watch the pitcher duel between lefties Tyler Jagiello for New London and Connor Rosin for Bonduel.
The Clippers scored the first run of the game in the third inning when Hunter Ferminach hit a one-out double to right centerfield, followed by a single by Tyler Jagiello.
Bonduel tied the game 1-1 in the sixth inning.
In the eighth inning, Tommy Thurber hit the ball to deep centerfield and turned his double into a triple when Bonduel’s defense botched a throw to second base. Austin Hanson hit Thurber in with a shot to deep left field.
Clintonville 8, New London 7
New London suffered its only loss on Saturday, July 11, against Clintonville.
New London scored the first three runs of the game over innings one and two. A number of errors by New London at the bottom of the second helped Clintonville produce six runs.
Four runs New London scored at the top of the third inning helped them regain the lead, but Clintonville scored two more to win the game at the bottom of the sixth.
New London 13, Green Lake 1
“New London handled Green Lake right out of the gate, scoring in the top of the first and never looking back,” Thorpe said.
On Sunday, July 12, after one run in the first inning and three in the second, the Clippers scored another four runs in the fourth and ended the game with five runs in the fifth.
The Clippers posted nine hits. Austin Hanson contributed four RBIs, and Sam Christian and Matt Wunderlich had two.