Six new local standout sports stars were inducted into the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame Wednesday, including three representatives from Fairfield, one from Stratford, one from New Canaan and a Stamford star inducted posthumously.
From New Canaan, Dennis Paglialunga, a three-sport standout who played baseball, basketball and football at New Canaan High School and two-time all-FCIAC running back who led the conference in scoring in 1973 and 1974. He was a four-year starter as the University of New Haven's third basemen, three of those years reaching the College World Series, Division II.
Two inductees were named to each of the Hall of Fame's three wings, the James O'Rourke Amateur Wing, the Jackie Robinson Professional Wing and the J. Walter Kennedy Community Service Wing. Paglialunga was inducted to the James O'Rourke Wing.
"I want to thank all my coaches, all the players I played with and against," said Paglialunga during a speech Wednesday. "It's a great day and I'm very humbled. Just looking at this wall and seeing some of the names I'm standing next to... Bobby Valentine? Are you kidding me? It's a great day."
Inducted to the Jackie Robinson Wing Wednesday were professional tennis player James Blake, of Fairfield, and MLB Umpire Mark Hirschbeck, of Stratford, who joins his brother John to become the first brother tandem in the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame.
Don Cook, a 50-year veteran to college athletics, and one of the state's most winningest high-school coaches Earl Lavery, both of Fairfield, were inducted to the J. Walter Kennedy Wing.
Allyson Rious was inducted posthumously as the second member inducted to the James O'Rourke Wing. She was a standout triple-sport all-star from Stamford's Westhill High School who went on to play softball at Rhode Island and the University of Massachusetts before joining the Raybestos Brakettes for 10 years as the second baseman. She died in 1989 at the age of 27 from an inoperable brain tumor.
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