The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-27
Army Won t Budge On o. K. For College Sports
CITY LEAGUES
 FANS AWAITING
 PITCHERS' DUEL
SmuIten, Nakentis Sunday Rivals in MiddIebury=
 Naugatuck Game

Two of the smartest and most talented pitchers that ever toed the rubber in a City Amateur league contest will face each other in the Super-headline attraction at Hamil- ton Park Sunday afternoon in the persons of Hal Smullen of Notre Dame and Pete Naktenis, late of the Milwaukee Club of the American Association. They'll be on the firing lines for their respective clubs, the Naugatuck Highlanders and the Middlebury A. C., champions of the Pomperaug League, both of whom are endeavoring to prove to local fans that they are good enough for the fast company" of the City circuit.
 The Naugatuck aggregation is striving to maintain its unbeaten record and thus retain first place position which it shares jointly with Pat Quilters Fighting Irish" from Washington Hall and whom they meet in the big birthday party program at Hamilton Park Sunday June 9th
 Big Naktenis, the recent pitching sensation of the Sunday circuit made his debut very quietly and without fanfare last Sunday in the uniform Of the Trask-Daly Middle bury combination. But the bespec- tacled chucker soon attracted the attention of the big crowd on hand by striking out six men in the first two innings, and with comparative ease.
 NakteniS graduated from Duke university in 193' after three years of varsity twirling under the watch ful eye of Jack Coombs. Coombs, & former Athletic star, and also member of Connie Mack's talent taff, sent Naktenis to the As where he remained through the 1886 sea- son. In '37 he was sold to Albany of the Eastern League, where he re- malned two years In 1889 he was sold to Cincinnati and late in the season was optioned to Baltimore. In 1940 and Al he was with Birm- ngham of the Southern Association and last year pitched the whole season with the Milwaukee Brewers under Charley Grimm, and for whom Pete won eight and lost eight.
 Opportunity
 This season Nakentis had several offers to return to class A ball, but being only 27-years of age and eligible for the draft, Pete chose to ignore all offers, including one from Gabby Hartnett down in Jersey City, and remain with his family while working in Colts in Hartford Naktenis was quite elated over his reception in the City League and hopes that his fate as far as the draft is concerned, will permit him to finish the season here. He is working out with the Hartford Club of the Eastern League this week in preparation for his turn on the mound for Middlebury against Milt Weisman's the high flying Napga- tuck club next Sunday afternoon.
 N. D. Star
 Opposing pitchers of the calibre of Naktenis will be nothing new for Smullen, who has gained himself nationwide reputation at Notre Dame as one of the most promising young pitchers in college baseball today. Hal won three and lost one this spring in the South Bend in stitution's abbreviated war time dia- mond schedule, his only defeat be- ing at the hands of Mickey Co., chrane's crack Great Lakes nine, woh beat him to B. In that en- gagement. Smullen struck out the great Johnny Mize three times Thus far in three City League skirmishes Hal has famed 45 opposing bats men If he can win the edge on Naktenis Sunday, the championship stock of the Naugatuck Club which has one of the largest followings in the league, will really go soaring