Parsons/McKenna

 

Elected : USSSA New York Hall Of Fame in 2010
Inducted : 2011, Syracuser, NY

Parsons-McKenna team was formed in 1986 when two clubs from the Syracuse City Rec League merged to create a highly competitive team with great "team chemistry".  Their team chemistry and success helped to keep them together for 12 years.

Managed by Chuck Sharkey, their success and longevity were partially attributed to the core of the team that consisted of a set of 3 brothers (Frank, Bob, and Don Chajkowski) and a set of 4 brothers (John, Steve, Dick, and Chris Donegan) and Dan Wiecek.  Over the years other players participated on the team to help with their success .  These players include Steve Robarge, Don Livingston, Rick Fanto, Brian Vogler, John Mooney, Ron Foraker, Tom Klug, Bob Walsh, Scott Sellin, Sean O'Loughlin, Joel Parrish, John "Whammer" Youmansand Tom "Sudsy" Sadowski.

    

The team enjoyed immediate success by winning the Lafayette league 6 years in a row.  In 1986 they were the Cicero Fall league champs going 10-0 and scoring 135 runs while allowing only 27 runs in 10 games.  In 1987 they won the Lafayette league going 15-1 and also were the City Rec B Division Champs.  In 1988 they were City Rec B Champs and runner-up in the City County Championships. They also won the Lafayette league with a 14-2 record along with the playoffs.

Then in 1989, by winning the Lafayette league going 15-0, they qualified for the City County Championships.  The team went 6-0 in the City County's to win it all defeating the highly favored team, JreckSubs, 5-4 allowing just 7 hits in that semi-final.  That same year they finished in 2nd place going 11-5 in the highly competitive City Rec A division.

In 1991 they joined the highly competitive Hopkins A Classic league where they felt that the only way to get stronger was to compete against the best teams in the area.  Over the years they gained the respect from their opponents for their competitive play and good sportsmanship.

 Parsons-McKenna owed their success and longevity of 12 years together because of "team chemistry", athletic ability, loyal support from family and friends, and lastly the sponsorship from Parsons-McKenna Construction Company (Tom Parsons and Jake McKenna) and the Lafayette Inn (Dave LaBeff).

As a result of their support, the team has many great memories to look back on.  How many other teams can say that?