Remember When?

Leopards Cop Zone Title with 5-0 Win Over Buffs

May 18-21, 1976

Kenny Hatfield pitched and helped bat the La Grange Leopards to the District 25AA East Zone baseball title here with a 5-0 shutout over the Giddings Buffaloes. The stylish southpaw set the Bisons down with three hits, fanned 14, and contributed four hits out of four trips to the hitting station. One of his licks was a three-bagger. Hatfield’s single, the first of the Leps’ 10 safeties, another base hit by Mike Pechal and a throwing error sent Kenny home with La Grange’s first counter in the bottom of the first. Larry Bippert strolled and pilfered second, and Johnnie Johnson singled for the first counter in the second. Two more raced across in the bottom of the third inning. Hatfield singled again, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Tommy Supak doubled to score Hatfield and Jeff Lindemann’s RBI single plated Supak.

The mobile x-ray unit of the American Lung Association-Alamo Area was scheduled to be in Fayette County May 22, 24 and 25. On Saturday May 22, the unit was to be in Schulenburg at the Elliot Ford Motor Co. On Monday afternoon, May 24, the unit would set up in La Grange City Hall. The following day, the unit would move to Flatonia at the Flatonia Independent School District building.

Three House committees in Austin completed a marathon hearing on utility rates and were directed to produce, by June 2, legislation to bring gas and electric rates down. Rep. John Wilson of La Grange complained that most of the witnesses were representatives of the oil and gas industry who “presented well-worn arguments against wellhead regulation.”

Justin Victor Bastos III of La Grange was among more than 660 University of Texas engineering students recognized as honor students for the 1975-76 semester.

Stephen Kovar of La Grange was named as co-valedictorian of the 1976 graduating class at Blinn College in Brenham. Stevie was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Kovar of La Grange. Sharing the honor with Kovar was Pam D. Hutchins of Rockport.

A total of 113 La Grange seniors were candidates for diplomas during senior commencement exercises at La Grange High School on Tuesday, June 1 in the school auditorium.

More favorites named in the new Leopard Spots Year-book were: Eugene Ulrich and Kathy Holub, most likable; Kenny Hatfield and Patricia Grant, most athletic; Shelby Willett and Kathy Holub, most likely to succeed and most dependable and best all-around; Rhonda Koether and Kenny Hatfield, most active.

Mr. and Mrs. Kermit A. Muske of Houston celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Saturday, May 1, at Erwin’s Camp House at Brenham. Josie Lee Hartmann and Kermit A. Muske were married on April 13, 1951, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in La Grange by the late Rev. H.T. Flachmeier.

Mary Ann Hruska of Ellinger participated in the National Piano Playing Guild auditions at Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio. She qualified in the International Preparatory A Division, which meant she would play a total of 18 pieces by memory, sight-reading and transposing by sight, and upon hearing, identify certain scales, cadences and chords, for the judge, Merle Holloway of Philadelphia. Her score was 98% out of 100%. Mary Ann received her Gold Star Certificate and International Gold Pin at the recital.

Ivan Fajkus, vice president of Combined Community Action, a tri-county organization dedicated to helping elderly citizens, presented the keys to a 12-passenger bus to Emil Kern, who would be driving those who requiring transportation. Present at the event were La Grange Mayor Sonny Stolz, Rev. Clarence Oestreich and County Judge Fritz Lobpries.

Fayetteville High School’s Thomas Gerik and Elizabeth Michalsky were named outstanding athletes.

The undefeated Giddings Buffs and the Plum Ravens continued to lead the league. The Buffs took a narrow win over the Warda Aces 8-6. Gaylon Michalk and Terry Talles combined their efforts, with Michalk getting credit for the win. David and Paul Schramm shared the mound duty for the Aces, with David being charged with the loss. The big bat for the Buffs was Kevin Brooks, blasting a home run, a single and two doubles. Curtis Christiansen also belted a round tripper. The Raves, on the other hand, zeroed in on Serbin and then zeroed them out with a 6-0 win. Charles Koepke got credit for the win and DeWayne Mitschke the loss. Danny Muzny got three hits in four tries for the Ravens, while Charles Koepke and George Maxwell got two for four and two for three, respectively.

Funeral services were held for: Henry Fred Stoecker, 92, a Fayette County native; Cyril F. Mazoch, 75, a native of Holman; Miss Stella Voelkel, 73, of La Grange; and Rudolph J. Vavra, 81, of Fayetteville.

A total of 252 descendants and kin of the late Filip and Cecilia Mazoch attended the fifth Mazoch reunion on May 2 at the KJT Hall in Ammannsville. The following officers were elected: Ladis Mazoch, chair; Frank Mazoch, treasurer; and Mrs. Agnes Struve, secretary. A $2 bill was presented to Mrs. Lad Cernoch of Holman, the oldest member present; fivemonth- old Sandra Lynn Allen, the youngest; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Schramm and family, traveling the great distance; and Ladis Mazoch and family, the shortest distance.

If you’d like to reach Elaine, please email her at callacomm@ hotmail.com. You can also visit her website: www. elainethomaswriter.com.