Raybestos Robins
1961-1974

ARCHIVES HOME

REUNIONS

BRAKETTES HISTORY

ALL-TIME ROSTER

ALL-TIME RECORDS

HALL OF FAMERS

ASA NATIONALS

WMS TOURNAMENTS

RAYBESTOS ROBINS

RAYBESTOS FIELD

EXIT ARCHIVES


This page highlights the Raybestos Robins, the Brakettes farm team of the 1960s and 70s which played in the Connecticut Girls (Women's) Softball League. The Robins were made up mostly of area high school talent, given excellent instruction, and were prepared to play for the Brakettes when needed.

This is an ongoing work in progress. Information will be added as it is acquired.

The late former Brakette and 10-year Robins Head Coach Edna Fraser graciously provided the 1965, 1968 and 1970 team photos, much of the player identification, and more. Her help was essential to this project which began in 2015.

Thanks to John and the late Micki Stratton who also provided photos (and much more) and helped identify players.

Thanks to former Brakette (and Robin) Karen Hovan for providing the 1964 Robins team photo (scroll down for photos).

Mary Lynne O'Brien Larkin has provided the 1961 team photo. Thanks, Mary Lynne.

The first 1970 color photo was provided by longtime Brakettes fan Michelina Buchino. Thanks, Michelina.

Thank you Sharon Lofthouse Moss for much helpful information and scrapbook items.

Thanks to Barbara Clark for the 1969 Schedule and Statistics

Others who have helped are Pat Harrison, Linda Finelli, Debbie Paul, Joan Bonvicini, Sharon Valley, Diane Drab, Karel Julian, and Dorothy Franco Reed. Thank you all.

We are actively looking for the other Robins team photos (still need 1962, 63, 66, a better 67, 71, 72, 73, and a better 74), additional names, yearly rosters, schedules, final league standings, etc. to add to this project.

Please email webmaster Harlan Gage at: brakettes@optonline.net with team photo information, additions, corrections, missing names, mis-spelled names, or other items to share. Let's see if we can get team photos for all 14 years of the Robins existence!

Coaches 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74
Brenda Reilly H H                        
Lorraine "Chic" Meehan A                          
Shirley Topley     C C                    
Laura Malesh     C C                    
Pat Harrison       A                    
Edna Fraser         H H H H H H H H H H
Micki Stratton             A A         A A
John Stratton           A A A A A        
Bill Lofthouse     V V V V                
H- Head Coach     C- Co-Coach     A- Assistant Coach
V- Volunteer Coach

Player chart below is incomplete.
For instance; Who played on the 1972 Robins?
Can you help?
brakettes@optonline.net

B- Played for Brakettes 
Players 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 Pos.
Maureen Alexander                         SS
Pat Balazsi         B             1B, C, P
Elaine Biercevicz     B B B B B         C, OF
Joan Bonvicini             B       1B, OF, P 
Cynthia "Cinny" Bowlann                       3B
Marybeth Brown                        C, OF
JoAnn Cackowski           B B B B B C
Laurie Cimmino                            •  
Jackie Cipollini                            
Noreen Clancy                            
Barbara Clark                 B B B B B  B>78   OF, C  
Karen Clark                            
Marnie Dacko                            •  
Mary Daubenspeck                            
JeanAnn Delaney                         2B
Vicki Dingle                         OF
Ginny Dolyak                         OF
Carol D'Orio                            2B
Diane Drab                           CF
Sandy Eriksson                              3B
Linda Finelli                 B B B B 1B, P
Debbie Franco                            •  
Dorothy Franco                             • SS
  61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74  
Maureen Gardella                         1B
Lou Gecewicz                       B  B75   OF
Linda Hamm                           1B
Barbara Harris                           P
Sandra Hawkes                           C
Eleanor Healy                            
Dawn Hill                            
Mary Ann Holder                  •   P, OF
Magdelaine 'Marge' Horvath                          
Karen Hovan     B                        IF, OF
April Hunt                           1B
Hyduk?                            
Chris Jones                          
Lori Jones                         3B
Karel Julian                         RF, 3B
Michele Katz                           P
Sandi Kochiss                           C
Pat Kronenberg                           UT
Gail Kurinsky                            SS
Natalie Lademan                         OF
Theresa "Terry" Lakatta                       P, OF
Ella Lazaro                         OF
Judy Levi                            
Elaine Lofthouse                           Batgirl
Sharon Lofthouse                     P
  61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74  
Sheila McArdle                       IF
Sally McCann                         OF
Jill MacDiarmid                         P
Joan Miller                            OF
Paulette Millo                            
Tracy Mosier                            
Kathy Mucherino                           C
 Gisele Nabor                     C
Debbie Napoli                           3B, 1B
Kathy Neidemeier  •                           Scorer
Ruth "Rudi" Nemergut                             Scorer, 2B 
Mary Lynne O'Brien  •                           P, 1B
Barbara Patusky (sp)                            
Pat Patusky                       2B
Debbie Paul       B B B B         SS
Leslie Paul                         UT
Mary Pulaski                            
Ann Pynigar                            
Janet Riley                       P
Laura Rubino                               B75-80   P
Mary Saloomey                           UT
  61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74  
Karen Sautter      B60                             1B
Linda Schork                            1B
Linda Sennawald                     SS
Maureen Sheehan                          • UT
Sandy Sigona                       C
Sue Snow                 P, 2B, OF
Frances Spellman   B58, B60  B B                       P
Barbara Stawski B B                     OF
Lynn Stiliha                            
Jo-Marie Tamburrino                         P
Mary Jane Telford                            
Stephanie Tenney B B                   P, 3B
Mary Toaso                            •  
 Sue Tomko                     B B B B SS
Cathy Turnbull       B           OF
Sandra Uhlig                     1B, 3B
Sharon Valley                   OF
Pat Van Stone                         OF
Mary Jo Vaysor                            
Miriam "Sparky" Warmann                         P, OF
Sue Wasowicz                             3B
Elizabeth "Dukie" Watts                 OF, C
Sharon Weaver                   3B
Pat Weldon                           UT
Tina Wilton                           UT
Sue Woessner                       UT
Barbara Zito                              UT
  61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74  


We need help identifying Unidentified player in 1965 team photo.
brakettes@optonline.net

1961 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- William S. Simpson, Raybestos Division; Head Coach Brenda Reilly, Coach Lorraine "Chic" Meehan, Mary Lynne O'Brien, scorer Kathy Neidemeier, umpire Bernie Iassogna, Joe Barber
middle row- Sharon Valley, Sandy Eriksson, Frances Spellman, Barbara Stawski, Sandy Sigona, MaryBeth Brown
bottom row- Sandi Kochiss, Gail Kurinsky, Maureen Alexander, Linda Schork, JeanAnn Delaney, Karen Sautter


1964 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- Coach Shirley Topley, Leslie Paul, Karen Hovan, Sandy Hawkes, Cathy Turnbull, Mary Lynne O'Brien, Elizabeth "Dukie" Watts, Barbara Zito, Debbie Paul, Sharon Valley, Coach Laura Malesh
bottom row- Carol D'Orio, Marge Horvath, Pat Balazsi, Paulette Millo, Stephanie Tenney, Sharon Lofthouse, Maureen Alexander, Elaine Biercevicz, Janet Riley


1965 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- Debbie Paul, Sandy Uhlig, Pat Kronenberg, "Dukie" Watts, Noreen Clancy, Marge Horvath, Unidentified, Sharon Lofthouse, Cathy Turnbull
bottom row- Sue Snow, Barbara Zito, Elaine Biercevicz, Pat Balazsi, Lynn Stiliha, Leslie Paul, Head Coach Edna Fraser


1967 Raybestos Robins

1968 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- Ass't Coach John Stratton, scorer Rudi Nemergut, Sparky Warmann, Sandra Uhlig, Terry Lakatta, "Dukie" Watts, Cathy Turnbull, Ass't Coach Micki Stratton, Head Coach Edna Fraser
middle row- JoAnn Cackowski, Sharon Weaver, Sue Snow, Pat Balazsi, Ella Lazaro
bottom row- Pat Van Stone, Linda Sennawald, Vicki Dingle, Joan Bonvicini, Karel Julian


1969 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- Assistant Coach John Stratton, Maureen Gardella, Sharon Weaver, Sue Snow, JoAnn Cackowski, Linda Sennawald, "Sparky" Warmann, Barbara Clark
bottom row- Vicki Dingle, Joan Bonvicini, Mary Jo Vaysor, Ginny Dolyak, Pat Patusky, Natalie Lademan
1969 Schedule
1969 Statistics


1970 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- Head Coach Edna Fraser, Natalie Lademan, Joan Bonvicini, Lou Gecewicz, Maureen Gardella, Sharon Weaver, Sue Snow, Gisele Nabor, Ass't Coach John Stratton
bottom row- Ginny Dolyak, Mary Ann Holder, Linda Sennawald, Sue Woessner, Cinny Bowllan, Jo-Marie Tamburrino, Pat Patusky


1970 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- Head Coach Edna Fraser, Lou Gecewicz, Maureen Gardella, Sharon Weaver, Joan Bonvicini, Sue Snow, Gisele Nabor, Natalie Lademan, Ass't Coach John Stratton
bottom row- Linda Sennawald, Sue Woessner, Mary Ann Holder, Ginny Dolyak, Cinny Bowllan, Pat Patusky, Jo-Marie Tamburrino


1970 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- Head Coach Edna Fraser, Lou Gecewicz, Maureen Gardella, Sharon Weaver, Sue Snow, Ginny Dolyak, Natalie Lademan, Gisele Nabor
bottom row- Linda Sennawald, Mary Ann Holder, Jo-Marie Tamburrino, Sue Woesner, Cinny Bowllan, Pat Patusky


1974 Raybestos Robins
L-R, top row- Coach Edna Fraser, Maureen Sheehan, Debbie Napoli, Jill MacDiarmid, Marnie Dacko, Dorothy Franco, Coach Micki Stratton
bottom row- Mary Saloomey, Sheila McArdle, Tracy Mosier, Sally McCann, Judi Levi, Laura Rubino, Laurie Cimmino, Chris Jones
missing from photo- Barbara Harris, Michelle Katz, Mary Toaso


1974 Third Women's World Tournament Batgirls
Raybestos Robins and others*
L-R, top row- Chris Jones, Mary Alice Lyddy*, Linda Auger*
middle row- Laura Rubino, Sally McCann, Debbie Napoli, Dorothy Franco, Marnie Dacko
bottom row- Maureen Sheehan, Tracy Mosier, Sheila McArdle, Mary Saloomey, Lisa Dennis*, Laurie Cimmino, Judy Levi

`