By:Angela Marshall
For the 1982 Cyclones, it lives on in their memories and in lasting relationships that span more than two decades.
Coach Joe Metallo called the team together one more time last week to celebrate their unbroken record. Twelve members of the team and one of the managers gathered Saturday at the Reliance firehouse on Forest Avenue.
Distance proved no barrier for those who sought to relive their glory days.
This is something that you always remember, said Eugene Thompson, who flew in from California where he works as a lawyer. When I heard about this, I knew I had to make the trip.
Earl Wright traveled from Baltimore, John Klaess from North Carolina and Scot Ryan from Virginia.
We were a close-knit group 20 years ago, and this shows that we remain that way, said coach Metallo, who lives in Nevada.
They sat around talking and joking Saturday as though no time had passed. And if you ignored the slight weight gain and receding hairlines, it was almost like it didn't.
To this day, most players still can't believe they lost the Long Island championship.
Each has a story about how they helped or hurt the team at a crucial moment in the playoffs and championship games. But it is Tom Hennig who will forever be remembered for the last out of the season.
Just a sophomore at the time, Tom was pinch-hitting for Bob Heinemann.
The score was 11 to 9. The bases were loaded; there were two outs and Tom had two strikes. Then came the final pitch
