Tag: rockville

by Vernon Orioles

The Town of Vernon Names Field for Krash

Story by Chris Dehnel on Patch.com

VERNON, CT — The official naming of an athletic field in honor of a sports and recreation legend in Vernon took place Tuesday (August 19, 2025). The softball field at Henry Park is now known as Stephen “Krash” Krajewski Field.

Krash was a long-time Vernon Parks and Recreation Department employee and hall of fame athlete at Rockville High School and Eastern Connecticut State University. The Vernon Town Council endorsed the move in May.

Steve “Krash” Krajewski, GHTBL Hall of Famer & former GHTBL Hall of Fame President.

Attending the ceremony were his family, along with town officials, fans, friends, and representatives of the teams and leagues he played for, administered or helped found — the Vernon Orioles, Vernon Adult Softball and Vernon Senior Softball.

Stephen “Krash” Krajewski Field Dedication, August 19, 2025.

“His camaraderie, sportsmanship and leadership has bound him to these fields and gyms of Vernon,” his wife, Danielle, told the crowd. “Honoring and dedicating this field to him was a perfect choice.”

She also pointed out that the first thing visitors to Henry Park will see is the “Krash Field” sign and the scoreboard dedicated to Don Berger, Steve’s first boss in the rec department.

Mayor Dan Champagne & Krajewski family members at Stephen Krajewski Softball Field, 2025.

Krajewski, who passed away at age 69 last January, rose through the ranks to become assistant director of parks and recreation, and served in that role for many years. He was focused throughout his 42-year career in Vernon on creating athletic and recreation programs for people of all ages.

He worked with community groups to create programs, such as Day in the Park, with the Vernon Junior Women’s Club. He also played a key role in creating July in the Sky, and countless athletic programs for children.

He also worked with adults to create and sustain softball and baseball leagues that play at Henry Park. At Rockville High School and Eastern Connecticut State University, Krajewski was an standout baseball player.

At Rockville High, he led the team to conference titles in 1971 and 1972 and was named a CIAC all-star. In 1973, he was named Journal Inquirer high school athlete of the year.

Steve “Krash” Krajewski, Eastern Connecticut State University, 1975.

Krajewski continued to be a fierce competitor at Eastern Connecticut State University, where he earned the nickname ‘Krash,’ was a four-year starter on the baseball team and batted better than .300 in his four seasons.

He played on two teams that qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament, was most valuable player his senior year and was named to Eastern’s all-time baseball team in 1978.

Steve “Krash” Krajewski, Eastern Connecticut State University, 1976.

He continued to play competitive baseball with the Vernon Orioles until 1993, then coached, managed and supported the team until his passing.

by Weston Ulbrich

Krajewski & Powell Return to the Vernon Orioles

The GHTBL Executive Committee has recently welcomed Steve Krajewski and Kevin Powell back to league. They will support Manager Jack Ceppetelli with club operations serving as General Manager and Assistant General Manager.

Steve Krajewski grew up in Rockville, Connecticut, and attended Rockville High School. Before his freshman year at the age of 13 years old Krajewski played for the Vernon Orioles in a GHTBL game.  More than likely, he was the youngest player in league history. Krajewski also played American Legion and eventually suited up for Eastern Connecticut State University for head baseball coach Bill Holowaty. He restarted his twilight career in 1974 after finishing the American Legion program. As a Vernon Oriole, he had 333 RBI, a .331 batting average and 55 home runs. He was selected to the GHTBL All-Star team 10 times. He led the league in hits and average in 1988.

Steve Krajewski of the Vernon Orioles (right), 1990.

Krajewski enjoyed playing for long time friend, coach, sponsor and GHTBL Hall of Fame inductee Frank J. McCoy. Krajewski also took great pride in representing his hometown of Vernon. He coached Vernon’s American Legion program for three years and then managed the Vernon Orioles for two years, winning the 1999 GHTBL Playoff Championship. Krajewski spent nearly 30 years with the Vernon Orioles and now returns as General Manager. He was inducted into the GHTBL Hall of Fame 1995 and the Rockville High School Hall of Fame in 2014. He is now retired after working for the Town of Vernon as the Vernon Parks and Recreation Assistant Director for 42 years.

Steve Krajewski, General Manager, Vernon Orioles, 2021.

Born on December 14, 1959, Kevin Powell grew up in Brooklyn, New York and attended St. Francis Prep. There he earned a City Championship and was recruited to play at Iona College. He later became player-manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers Baseball Club in the New York City Baseball League. Powell was the 1985 recipient of the league’s Walter Alston Memorial Award given for dedication to the game, on and off the field. He moved north to Connecticut and was a member of the Vernon Orioles under Frank McCoy (1990-1994). He has returned in 2021 to work with Orioles Manager Jack Ceppetelli as Assistant General Manager. Kevin currently resides in Coventry, CT with wife Karen and daughter Kristen.

Kevin Powell, Assistant General Manager, Vernon Orioles, 2021.

The Vernon Orioles look forward to the 2021 Regular Season. Vernon’s twilight team, loyal baseball fans and proud community will be hard to beat this summer. As for the Orioles roster, veteran players like the Trubia brothers, Tyler Pogmore and Jordan English will welcome newer, younger players to the franchise this season. Vernon has won a total of 9 Regular Season titles and 6 Playoff Championships since entering the GHTBL in 1966. The Vernon Orioles start the 2021 regular season against the East Hartford Jets on June 2nd at 7 PM, McKenna Field, Remington Road, East Hartford.

Jordan English, OF/P, Vernon Orioles.