BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

April 1 1958

Johnny Goryl, the former Cumberland High star who hit .301 and drove in 86 runs for Memphis last year, has emerged as the Chicago Cubs’ No. 1 third base choice. Goryl, a 25-year-old rookie, got his chance when Tony Taylor, Cuban speedster, was moved to second on March 23 – and he’s made the most of it. Goryl, drafted into the Cub clan in 1956 by Los Angeles, is fielding superbly, hitting around .290 and displaying plenty of aggressiveness.

1969

Steve Bachand, a Tolman senior, recorded a perfect score of 500 points as the Tigers defeated Pawtucket West 4,513 to 2,946 in the annual physical fitness competition between the two schools. Rounding out the top ten are the Rangers’ John Levasseur (489 points), John Cola (483) and Paul Batalon (476) followed by the Tigers’ Carl LaBranche (466), Armand Amyot (464), Ray Bubier (461), Rich Hayes (457), Larry Berg (454) and Tom Simpson (438).

1979

“Pitching still is our biggest problem – but Mike Anderton and Jim Siwy could help us solve that problem,” said Rhode Island College assistant baseball coach Art Pontarelli on two of the Blackstone Valley alumni who are on the 1979 squad. Anderton, a freshman from Cumberland, pitched seven innings of no-hit ball against Lincoln (Pa.) University. Siwy, a sophomore from Central Falls, had a no-hitter going for five innings against Bellarmine College before tiring.