Sports
Naugatuck Hall of Fame Honors: Walter Klimaszewski
Former baseball standout was instrumental in Naugatuck's success in the late 1970s. Opposing coach called him "a major league shortstop."
The Naugatuck Hall of Fame is holding its 41st-annual induction ceremony Oct. 20th at the Continental Room in Naugatuck.
This years honorees are Jessica Mudry, Eric Mudry, Bud Klimaszewski, Dan Freddino, Cindy Adamski, and Ed Rossi. Former UCONN Womens basketball All-American and present University of Hartford Women's coach Jen Rizzotti will be the guest speaker for the evening.
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Dinner begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $40. Money raised from the evening will go to the organizations scholarship fund.Tickets may be purchased by calling Ray Rossi Jr. at 203-729-4865 or Gordon Rossi at 203-723-7893. Tickets are also available at the Tax Collector's office at the Town Hall or from the inductees. No tickets will be sold at the door. Anyone wishing to purchase a booster ad or an individual ad can call Kim Pruchnicki at 203-808-6776 by Sept. 28th.
Naugatuck Patch is highlighting each of the inductees with brief bios and a photo. Today, we have chosen...
Find out what's happening in Naugatuckwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Walter "Bud" Klimaszewski
“Bud” Klimaszewski was a standout baseball play for the Naugatuck High School Greyhounds during their heyday in the late 1970s.
He was a member of the 1977 state championship team and helped the Greyhounds finish runner-up in the 1978 state championship game; the Hounds won the NVL in 1978, too.
From 1977-78, Klimaszewski had an unbelievable .992 fielding percentage. One opposing coach called him a “major league” shortstop.
During the 1978 state quarterfinal game against Plainville, he was named player of the game. In that season, he compiled a .333 batting average, a .548 on base percentage and his 23 steals on as many attempts lead the team.
Standout baseball player and former teammate Paul Granahan, who is also in the Naugatuck Hall of Fame, said simply, “He is the best athlete I’ve ever played with.”
Currently, Klimaszewski is the City Hill Middle School softball coach. He also spent 11 seasons coaching Little Pal basketball through the YMCA and 10 seasons coaching in Union City Little League.
Other bios:
- Eric Mudry
- Jessica Mudry
- Dan Freddino
- Ed Rossi
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