Stars come out at Avery Point

Groton - It was an evening of sentiment, remembrance, thanksgiving and appreciation. Mostly, though, it was a life's work for Roger Bidwell told in snippets, stories and speeches.

And in Bidwell's attempt to honor others, the true honor was for Bidwell and the UConn-Avery Point baseball program, whose Hall of Fame dinner inside the stately Branford House on Friday night was awash in standing ovations.

Avery Point recognized Rajai Davis, Pete Walker and John McDonald, its three alumni in Major League Baseball, as well as the 2010 team that was a win away from a Junior College World Series championship in 2010. The program also honored longtime statistician, announcer and scorekeeper Myles Halliwell with its Service Award.

"What makes Avery Point truly unique?" Avery Point director Dr. Michael Alfultis told a roomful. "At the top of a lot of people's lists is Roger Bidwell. The community has come to know us by our baseball team."

A baseball team with repeated trips to the World Series and New England championships. But none of the banners could compete with the people the program has produced.

"This is a humbling award," said Walker, a former pitcher with the Blue Jays, Mets and Padres and now Toronto's bullpen coach. "This is my Cooperstown. The things I learned at Avery Point I carry with me to this day and through my professional career."

Walker's speech featured a tribute to his daughter Marisa, 12, a cancer survivor, that drew a long and loud ovation.

McDonald, meanwhile, recalled a conversation with his wife, Maura, from earlier Friday.

"We were talking about what my life would be like if I didn't go to Avery Point," McDonald said. "First, I wouldn't have gone to Providence. … I wouldn't have met my wife."

It was one of several times McDonald paused and tried to win the battle over his emotions.

McDonald, an infielder with the Diamondbacks, chose his former Niantic American Legion coach Rick "Sarge" Pasqualini as his presenter.

"You have coaches in your life who have an impact on you," McDonald said. "Some just know how to push your buttons."

Pasqualini recalled a story from McDonald's American Legion days whereby he would never fail to mention rival shortstop Chip Terni's name to McDonald every day of the summer.

McDonald's speech also credited Bidwell with having more belief in him than McDonald had in himself. At one point, McDonald said, only one of them was convinced he was good enough to play in the Big East. It wasn't McDonald.

Davis, who has played with Pirates, Athletics and Giants, joins Walker with the Jays. Few, if any, players represent Bidwell's ideals better than Davis, who was presented by pastor Larry Delong.

Bidwell presented the award to Halliwell, saying, "We don't tell him enough how much we appreciate him."

Other awards went to Bidwell's current staff, including former high school coaching legends Ed Harvey (Fitch) and Gil Varjas (New London) who have helped Bidwell and Avery Point win sveral New England titles.

"This is as good as it gets for Avery Point baseball," Bidwell told the roomful. "It's hard to beat tonight."

m.dimauro@theday.com