Sikorsky Aircraft of Stratford, CT has dominated the ASA Men’s Major Industrial Slow Pitch Division like no other team since the ASA starting having industrials national championships in 1957. Since competing in its first Industrial championship in 1967, Sikorsky has won 16 ASA Major Industrial National titles under four different managers. Eleven of the national championships were won with Eugene Kwalek as the manager from 1982-1998, with seven of them consecutive. Under Kwalek, Sikorsky compiled a won-loss record of 105 wins and 15 losses for a winnning percentage of .876 in national championship play and a record of 75-4 (.949 winning percentage) in winning 11 national titles. It’s the highest winning percentage for a team in Major Industrial Slow Pitch. Kwalek’s association with the team dates back to 1964 when he was asked to join the team. He was a reserve that year, but in 1965 and 1966 he was the team’s regular shortstop. In 1976, Hall of Famer Ken Clark took over as the team’s manager, with Kwalek alternating between shortstop and third base. In 1980, he was assistant coach before becoming manager in 1982. Besides the 11 national titles, Kwalek guided the team to three second places, a fifth, an eighth and a ninth place in the Major Industrial National Championship.From 1979-1997, Kwalek ran the Sikorsky Interdepartmental Softball League and served as secretary and induction dinner chairman for the Connecticut ASA Slow Pitch Hall of Fame. He still assists with the annual induction program.
