Alumni Return for Klank Klassic and Baseball

Two increasingly popular alumni athletic events took place earlier this summer, as alumni faced current varsity players in lacrosse and baseball.

The 5th Annual "Klank Klassic" Alumni Lacrosse Game was held on Van Brunt Field on June 12th, as alums from "Even" graduation years took on "Odd-year" comrades with the help of some 2010 varsity players. The "Evens" bolted to a commanding 5-2 lead before the "Odd-Squad" got their act together, chipping away at the deficit, to take a 7-6 lead with only a few minutes remaining in the final quarter.  Alex Gephart '06 scored unassisted to tie the game at 7, and brother Charlie '08 put the game-winner away as time wound down.

For the "Evens," Rob Iverson '84 dazzled with an unassisted goal, followed by a hat trick from Tom Beach '04 (assisted by Alex Gephart '06, Sean Gaffney '06, and scoring one unassisted), and one apiece for Mike Strader '06 (assisted by Pat Karole '12), Sean Gaffney '06 (assisted by Brian McFeeley '08), as well as the timely tallies by the Gepharts. Matt Metzger '08 was stellar in goal, turning away numerous point-black shots on the day.  Goals for the "Odd Squad" were registered by Justin Ashenfelter '03, off a feed by Jack Strain '11, Dennis Rodano '87 (assisted by Sean Fitzgibbon '89), Jack Strain '11 (unassisted), Evan Kitts '03, fed by Kyle Duca '11, former coach Rick Kitts (assisted by Tom Alati '07), Rick Kitts again, unassisted, and a final Mark Phillips '13 goal, assisted by Jack Strain.

One week later, MKA's 4th Annual Alumni Baseball Game was held on June 19th at the Middle School baseball diamond. Rob Hubsmith '77 was the "most seasoned" alumni player on the field, but he could still crush the ball with the best of them. The nineties were well represented by veterans Justin Blanes '95, Matthew Waldman '98 and Alex Holz '99.  Greg Harbeck '06, a Johns Hopkins stellar pitcher, looked sharp on the mound; also throwing bullets were Larry Canales '03, Andrew Powers '04 and Matt Waldman '98. Anthony Gray '02, a Wesleyan record holder, hadn't lost his "stuff." Alumni from 2001, '02, '03, '04 '05, '06, '07, '08 and '09 rounded out the field.

Click here to see photos from both events.