More on Fostoria

More on Fostoria 1956

Local TV Team in District Tourney

Dick's TV Nine Trims Lorain In Tourney Game

The Dick's TV fast pitch softball team journeyed to Willard last night to open play in the fifth district fast pitch softball tournament and came home with a tremendous 1 to 0 victory over the defending champion Lorain Polish Club, Don Keller again tossed a superb one hitter and whiffed eight Lorain sluggers.

J. Paulak rifled a single to right center with one out in the first inning but Keller slammed the door on the hitters from there on.

Two errors in the fourth looked like trouble for the Televiewers but a force out at third, a strike out and a pop-up to the catcher put the damper on the scoring.

The Viewers scored in the top of the sixth on Stahl's drag bunt single, a sacrifice and Cline's line single to left center. Jimmie Stahl collected two of the Televiewers four hits. He also saved the day with a beautiful back handed catch of a line drive earmarked for extra bases with a runner on the in the first inning.

Both teams received a fine ovation at the conclusion of the game.

Dick's nest outing will be Friday night at &:30 when they entertain Rip Riley and his Gibsonburg team mates.

Dicks TV Nine Win Second Tourney Game

Dick's TV fastballers played their second tourney game last night and scored another 1 to 0 victory. In the tourney opener Dick's defeated Lorain by the same identical score.

Don Keller pitched another terrific one hitter and only two batters reached first. Brudzinazi Doubled in the fifth but was erased on a liner to Belshaw and Rogitski was hit by the pitcher with two out in the seventh and left stranded,

The Televiewers were limited to three singles by Richard "Rip" Riley (Now in the Ohio Softball Hall of Fame) but one of those blows came at the right time. Risner reached first when he was hit by the pitcher and advanced on a passed ball. He scored when Cline ripped one into left center . Loman hit a ling drive to left field and legged it to third but he was called out because he failed to touch second.

Sterling defensive play by the Televiewers again rated applause from the fans and the Fostorians rate as sentimental favorites as they have now beaten last year's runner-up and last year's champions.

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Members of Dick's 1956 Softball team were;

Jimmie Stahl, "Bud"Kimble, Curt Risner, Bill Cline, Al Ritzler, Leo Loman, Bill Belshaw Arden Stevens, Heitzman, Jack Bateson, Dick Sahs, Dick Danner and Don Keller

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Dick's TV Nine Win Another Tournery Thriller

Returning to tourney action at Willard last night Dick's televiewers came away with a thrilling 1 to 0 victory over a very fime Norwalk Reineck's team. The game went 12 innings before Fostoria was able to pull it out of the fire

Good clutch pitching and spectacular defensive play had the fans wondering if it would ever end.

Don Keller the winning pitcher gave up five hits and wiffed 13. While he wasn't as sharp as in previous games he had enough in the clutch to make it four shut outs in tounney play.

Dick's scored with two out in the 12th as Loman collected his second hit, advanced to second on a wark to Heitzman, and scored when Sahs dumped a single into short center.

Risner and Ritzler each turned in a fielding gem with the one by Ritzler saving the game. A hit and a walk in the bottom of the twelfth created trouble, but the fleet outfielder saved the day on a shoestring catch going at full speed.

Dick's return to Willard Sunday night where they will play in the semi-finals at 9 o'clock.

Dick's TV'ers Reached Finals At Willard

Dick's TV softballers have now battled their way into the finals of the fifth district softball tourney at Willard

Don Keller again continued his masterful hurling in the 4 to 0 conquest of the Willard Elks, He allowed but two hits and wiffed 10 while his mates sounded out 7 hits off loosing pitcher Laird. Belshaw celebrated his return form vacation with a triple and single to pace the hitting attack.

The Televiewsrs have made a tremendous impression on the crowds with their spirited play and the outstanding hurling of Don Keller.

The finals will be Wedensday night against the winning team of the losers bracket.

Ritzler again turned in a gem with a running catch of a low line drive.

TV'ers Lose First Tourney Game in 14 Innings

Dick's TV Wednesday night copped the fifth district tournery at Willard by defeating the Norwalk Reinicks by a 2 to 1 score in the finals. The televiewers lost the opening game of the finals by 5 to 2 in 14 innings.

Don Keller pitched shut out ball for 6 and 2/3 innings, but a barrage of base hits scored two runs and tied the game. The two teams then battled until the 14th inning when the roof fell in and Norwalk scored three runs to take the decision.

Since the Dick's were undefeated and Norwalk had been beaten once, a play off game was necessary. Arden Stevens toed the mound in the play off and pitched a fine four hitter for to 2 to 1 decision. The scoring came in the fifth on a single by Ritzler, a walk to Kimble, and a long double by Risner. Hunter drove a long home run in the top of the seventh, but that was all as Stevens slammed the door for the victory

Don Keller tossed 46 and 2/3 innings of scoreless ball before being scored upon, but the long tourney grind caught up with him causing the play off game. Fostoria can be mighty proud of the TV team as they played seven of the finest games possible to come out first among the eighteen fine fast pitch softball team in the 5th District.

Dicks's TV State Tourney Team 1956

Front Row; L to R;-- Jimmy Stahl--Dick Sahs--Curt Risner--Al Ritzler--Jack Bateson. Bud Kimble

Back Row L to R;--Richard "Rip" Riley--Leo Loman--Arden Stevens--Heitzman--Dick Danner--Bill Belshaw

Bill Cline--Don Keller

Dick's TV Softballers Seek State Title

Dicks TV softballers, as a result of three weekend victories, are still in contention for the state softball title.

After losing their opening game to Akron the Televiewers bounced back with victories over Toledo Arrows Ansberg-West of Toledo and Chillicothe to gain the quarter-finals.

Outstanding hurling by Richard "Rip" Riley and Don Keller and the spirited play of the entire team has kept the Fostoria crew among the remaining six teams of a starting field of sixteen teams.

Tonight at 7 o'clock the viewers play Akron again and they are determined to avenge the opening round loss.

Dick's TV Nine Eliminated In Softball Play

The Fostoria Dick's TV softball were eliminated in the state softball tourney when they were edged, 3 to 0 by Dayton. Keller gave up five hits in the first two innings spelling doom for the Televiewers. The Fostoria club managed but two hits.

In the first game last night the TV nine avenged their first round loss by beating and eliminating Akron, 2 to 0 as "Rip' Riley chucked a two-hitter and struck out 13 batters.

Fostoria wound up in fourth place in the state event

The state titlists will be decided tonight when the winner of the Youngstown vs Columbus game tangles with Dayton.

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The Televiewers had the three top hitters in the Findlay league this year (1956). They were Bud Kimble, Bill Cline and Bill Belshaw.

Dick's sport an over-all record for the 1956 season of 41 wins and 9 losses. They now hang up their spikes until next year.

Pete Di Cesare Hurls Perfect Game

Pete (the shoemaker) Di Cesare chucked a perfect game for the Fostoria Knights of Columbus and whipped the Wayne merchants, 4 to 0, in the city league last night on Payne Field. Big Pete hurled his fourth perfect game of his career.

Big Pete was in the form that many Fostoria fans recall in years back as he allowed but two fly balls to be hit to the outfield and he whiffed five batters to bolster his own cause.

Pete Di Cesare one of the most Respected Hurlers In Area

Pete Di Cesare fell from a cherry tree when 7 years old and suffered a compound fracture in his right arm. It had to be reset a few days later.

This resulted in a crooked right arm that is six inches shorter than his left.

Fostoria Knights of Columbus now have in Di Cesare one of the most respected softball hurlers in the area.

Di Cesare admits a special advantage by way of strong delivery due to his crooked arm.

HALF WINDMILL STYLE

Di Cesare's pitching is described as "half windmill style," He snaps the ball off his hip with an unorthodox motion.

He has both control and speed. His best ball is an upshoot. As an example of his control he pitched seven straight games last year without giving up a base on balls.

In three years with the army during the war, Di Cesare's "weak" arm brought 70 victories against nine setbacks.

After his arm was injured, Di Cesare carried a tennis ball which he would squeeze constantly. He also played with a rubber ball on a string. These two exercises, he believes, developed extra power in his injured arm.

As a boy, when he watched the World Champion Toledo Crimson Coaches practice, he would say to himself, "I wish I could pitch like "Sox Wainwright."

Di Cesare has pitched with two or more teams a year during his years on the mound. He claims 45 no-hit no run games in his 23 year career

Di Cesare works as a shoe repair man. In 1947, he debated trying out with a Cleveland professional team or remaining in the shoe repair trade. He decided for the trade.

Di Cesare is 6 feet tall, weighs 245 pounds. Softball is his only sport. Hardball has not interested him as a player. His overhand throw is very weak.

"Confidence and control are the main qualities in pitching." he said. He credits much of his success to his catcher the last five years, Robert "Bob" Bradner.

Big Pete Di Cesare's Recond:

Started: pitching in 1937

At age: 13

Team: Fostoria City Park -- West End Wildcats

Pitched: 23 years

Retired from Softball: in 1960 at age of 36 years

Games Pitched: 800 +

Wins: 536

Losses: 274

No Hit Games: 45

Perfect Games: 4

Pete was Born May 15, 1924-- Died April 13, 2000

From Fostoria Focus April 30,2000

Memories of a special man and friend

By Don Miller

Thanks for the memories, Pete Di Cesare!

Memories of warm, summer nights in the middle to later 1940's, when I walked two an a half blocks to the "Wire Mill" field.

Pete you were the best softball pitcher in the area, No hitters were more common than three and four hitters.

Your fastball would jump up just as it reached the batter and when the batters thought they had that figured out you'd throw the pitch that dived down at the last second.

I watched you pitch for the K. of C. and the Peggs Paint All-Stars. The All-Stars in their bright red and white satin uniforms and you, Pete in your gray ball pants and black T-shirt. The opponents knew who was boss.

What a thrill if someone actually hit the ball. Sure supprised everyone, including your teammates.

Now, the field and stands and lights are gone, but the memory of a great pitcher and truly nice person will always be remembered by those of us who were 10 and 11 years old fifty some years ago.

Information furnished by;

Boyhood friend and teammate

Bill Cline

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