In the 1950s Resurrection Ascension (RA) developed a great sports program which expanded into full co-ed participation and in the ensuing decades became very robust. Throughout those early years RA supported a variety of baseball and basketball teams covering our teenage years. We primarily participated in the CYO and in some cases also in the YMCA and Queens Alliance leagues (baseball). RA also supported a football team for a few years which was cynically dubbed “the Church team” by our competition. The football program competed in the Pop Warner Conference. Eventually this program became independent of RA and became the North Queens Crusaders, which I believe still exists today .

The 1958 Baseball Senior team was very successful, winning the Diocesan Championship and being invited to participate in the NYC Journal American Round Robin Tournament which included the champions of each league i.e. CYO, YMCA, Queens Alliance, etc. Some of the games were played in “Old Farmer’s Oval” on Metropolitan Avenue, one of the few fields, which offered lights for night games. At the time it was a big deal to play “under the lights.” This is now the site of Christ the King HS. This team was coached by Harry Faltermayer.

Some of us in the picture (in the print version of the Juniper Berry) who are still around and in contact are the following (l. – r. last row) Jack Veracoechea, Fred Elflein, Hank Flinter (5th and 6th from l.), Jackie Robinson, (first row, 3rd from l.).

The 1956 Football team was also very successful and reached the final but unfortunately lost to the Lynvets from Woodhaven in the Championship game. This team was coached by Larry Shinto and Harry Faltermayer. Some of the players in the picture are: (Top row l. – r.) Jim Lyttle #2, Len Proscia #6, Jack Veracoechea #3. Second row Ed Kofler #7, John Esposito #3, Jack Sheridan and Hank Flinter (3rd & 4th from r.). Naturally our home field was Juniper Valley Park where these pictures were taken.

The 1960 football team also reached the finals and again lost to the Lynvets in a 13-6 thriller.

Most of the people in the photos are now retired and some still reside in the area. Others have moved from the area and are scattered far and wide, a few in the Hamptons and Long Island and some in Florida, Texas and California. Sadly quite a few of our friends in these pictures left us prematurely but are always in our thoughts.

To contact Jack Veracoechea please email: JJVeras@aol.com