The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-05

ste or year ago Lnan WatcrptHy, Conn, is comparable to Waterbury, Vt. A short 12 months ago, Har- risburg was alive with color and people, the color of Army, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard uniforms, policewomen patrolling the streets in pairs, to protect other women in the armed service of the United States and hundreds of civilians, wandering around the downtown section, with nothing in mind, ex- cept, perhaps. a little wondering as to what tomorrow would bring.
 To most of the ball players and men of the Franco American Club of Waterbury, the adventure was thoroughly interesting, if not excit- ing as yet for they were in the Pennsylvania capitol city for the first time and were extremely an- xious to get on the field for their first national tournament game yes- terday against the Spring Grove, Md. array at New Cumberland field, rated by tournament officials as one of the better playing fields to be used by the 17 teams in this, the third An-American Amateur Asso- ciatiOn meet,
 James (Shimmers) Sheehan, president of the Tribune Athletic club, 1945 City Amateur League champions, and a Waterbury fire man from good old Engine 3; al- most had an opportunity to answer a fire alarm, when the New York to Harrisburg train on which he was riding Tuesday afternoon, de- veloped insulation trouble, which caused considerable smoke, but lit tle damage. aside from alarming several of the older passengers, de- laying the arrival of the train in Harrisburg by about an hour. Fire man Sheehan talked calmly to many of the passengers, quietihe their fears, until the smokey situa- ton was eliminated by railroad men on two different occasions. The train proceeded to its destination though far from on schedule.
 Charley Geraoe, City Amateur league umpire selected by Water bury managers to work in the All American tournament leach entry is allowed to nominate one umpire) received his first assignment al Tuesday evenings drawing for yes terday's games. The popular ex- serviceman officiated with partner in the Martin Bombers vs. Imlays- town, N. J. game yesterday morn ing at II. Both teams were losers of first round games Tuesday, the BOmbers losing to Ensminger Stu dios of Harrisburg 6-2 in . night game, while the Jersey outfit dropped a 3-2 game to Spring Grove, Md, the team the Water bury Franco-Americans beat yes terday afternoon.
 Bernie Shembriskas, Franco tn- fielder, who has suffered recurrent attacks of malaria and rheumatism contracted in the tropics during the South Pacific campaign, was not up to physical par on the eve of the first game in which his team took part; but, with a good nights rest and a little medical attention, was expected to be ready for play by game time today.
 Five friends of Billy Moore, Fran co.'s outfielder, left their pobs at the Waterbury Tool yesterday noon and drove here to see the Waterbury hychaser in action. Although they arrived at the game in the fourth inning they were too late-Moore had been elected by the umpire for protesting a third strike too voci- ferously.
 Stan Droznick, Joe Bushnell, Roc- co Mara, Bill Duffy and Eddie Laf- ferty, reached the New Cumberland field in plenty of time to see the complete game only to learn that the Francos-Spring Grove contest sad been transferred to Enola Park some II miles away.