I can’t be quite that specific this time, but here are the five best ballgames of my career.

No. 5 – June, 1963

Dunkirk Little League Field

Woodrow Avenue in Dunkirk

CRAIG PATERNITI

Dunkirk Police vs. USW-CIO

My first at bat ever against younger brother Tom was a long home run to left field to give my USW-CIO team an early lead.

Full disclosure, Tom’s team won the game and he struck me out once. He says twice, but I trust my memory more.

No. 4 – May, 1968

Veterans Field

DAN WOLFE

Dunkirk, NY

Dunkirk High vs. Cardinal Mindszenty High School

I singled home the winning run for CMHS in the last inning off ace pitcher Dave Grabias.

My ground ball up the middle was tracked down in short centerfield by future pro infielder Dave Wisniewski. Beat his throw by a step.

It was Coach Bob Muscato’s first baseball win over Dunkirk High and fellow Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee Coach Al Stuhlmiller.

No. 3 – July, mid-1990s

Dunkirk Little League Field

Woodrow Avenue in Dunkirk

Dunkirk 11-12 Softball All-Stars vs. Syracuse area team

As defending champions, Dunkirk hosted the Little League sectional tourney on a blazing hot weekend. I was the team manager again.

We reached the title game and nursed a one-run lead into the final inning.

See HAMMOND, Page C2

The visitors loaded the bases with one out when the batter lofted a fly ball to centerfield.

Their runner on third base tagged up and headed home with the tying run.

Fortunately for Dunkirk, Amanda Waite, a generational talent, was patrolling centerfield.

She made the catch and instead of firing a throw home, she won the race to second base. The runner on second forgot to tag up and when Amanda stepped on the base, the unassisted double play ended the game. We had won back-to-back titles in front of cheering fans, family and friends.

No. 2 – July, 1968

Lakewood ball field

Dunkirk Legion vs. Lakewood Legion

Chautauqua Sports Hall of Famer Craig Paterniti was the Falconer High ace who wrote his name in the Ithaca College baseball team record book after being drafted by, and turning down, the Cleveland Indians.

With Paterniti, Lakewood was a major threat to win the county American Legion crown.

It came down to a showdown game between Dunkirk and Paterniti’s team for first place.

My dad was the Dunkirk manager and he picked Cardinal Mindszenty legend Dan Wolfe to pitch the big game.

It was at this game I became convinced our catcher and unquestioned team leader, Dave Criscione, was going to the major leagues.

I’d known and admired Dave even before our Little League years, riding my bike to play ball with him in unspacious Washington Park.

The tense battle was scoreless for several innings and then our boy “Boots” Wolfe suddenly couldn’t throw a strike.

This prompted a mound visit from my dad that didn’t do a darn bit of good.

Dan walked the first three batters and struggled to a three-balls, no-strikes count on the next patient hitter. We were one pitch from disaster.

That’s when it happened and Dave launched himself to a higher level of admiration in my eyes.

What did he do? He called a pickoff play, of course!

As I remember it, Dave yelled, “Let’s go, Matts!”

“Matts” was one of my numerous nicknames at the time. I would answer to that or “M” or “Emmett” or “Emmer” or even “Hammer.” I could go on.

For pickoffs, Dave would use our nicknames instead of our first names. Very effective. Other teams knew me only as Bill.

Wolfe remarkably threw a strike to Dave and Dave rifled a better one to me at first base.

The runner on first was stunned, frozen in position. I had to walk several steps over to tag him.

The effect on the team was dramatic and immediate. Cheered on by his revived teammates, Wolfe snapped out of his wildness.

Five strikes and two strikeouts later, we were out of the inning and I was convinced there was a future major leaguer on our roster. One who would use a form of that pickoff play throughout his professional career.

No. 1 – Two innings later

Same bat time, same bat channel

I homered into a tennis court in right-center field off Craig Paterniti to win the game and eventually the county American Legion championship.

Oh, and dad said he was proud of me.

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DO YOU have a favorite, funny, weird, best or worst memory of amateur sports refereeing, playing or spectating? Drop me a line at mandpp@hotmail.com and let’s reminisce.

Bill Hammond is a former EVENING OBSERVER sports editor