After a two-year hiatus due to Covid concerns, Stratford High Baseball announces the triumphant return of the Penders Memorial Scholarship Game this Saturday, April 9th at 11:00 at Penders Field. The game, which honors the memory and legacy of the late great and longtime Stratford High baseball coach Mr. James W. Penders, pits traditional power East Catholic versus Stratford High in a yearly rivalry that started back in 1982 and ran continuously through 2019. Mr. Penders, known affectionately as the town’s Mr. Baseball, coached Stratford High Baseball from 1946 to 1968 winning four C.I.A.C state championships along the way. He also was an educator from 1932 to 1970, started the town’s summer playgrounds program in 1933, and served as a recreation supervisor from 1947 to 1970. His devotion to the town and its youth was impactful and far-reaching. Two of Mr. Penders’ former players and later longtime coaches themselves, Alvin ‘Bud’ Russell (SHS 1954 and Mr. Penders’ coaching successor at Stratford High) and son Jim Penders, Jr. (SHS 1960 and East Catholic’s baseball coach for 42 years), came up with the idea and established the scholarship game tradition played every year on the field named in Mr. Penders’ honor. Current Stratford High head coach Mick Buckmir (SHS 1983) played in the inaugural game in 1982 with Stratford High winning by the score of 5-4. There is no admission charge to the game, but all donations made during the game will help fund the Penders scholarship which goes yearly to a graduating member of the Stratford High baseball team. Checks can be made out to the Penders Scholarship Fund. (Two photos provided – One of the dedication plaque at Penders Field, the other of Mr. Penders coaching at SHS)