Sports in RI: CLCF continues leading the way for all youth sports stands for, and more – John Cardullo

by John Cardullo, sportswriter

Ever since CLCF burst upon the youth sports scene in the mid-1950’s few sports organizations withstood the test of time like Cranston League for Cranston Future. Created at a time when the need for youth sports programs were becoming greater. Post World War II times, when Americans were deployed all over the globe, it was sports that help glued them together.

Listening to baseball games or boxing matches had Americans gathered around the radio. When track and field sensation Jessy Owens gave the Germans something they had never seen before, a black American winning gold medals at Hitler’s Olympic games, it was at that moment that pride in American sports set the country on fire in ways that still burns today. It also put track and field on the map of the American landscape.

Back in Cranston, Rhode Island Leo Castigilioni and Domenic Vivenzio took notice and the two friends came up with a unique concept. Let’s create a sports organization strictly for the youth of Cranston. CLCF sports offered the basic sports for boys only. Contact sports such as football, hockey, wrestling and boxing were high in popularity and the old standby, baseball, were the only sports offered at the time by CLCF. The concept was to create an inner-city sports league throughout the city where different teams would play each other all season long. Teams were often sponsored by different businesses in the city. They were broken up to different geographical areas, crossing from one part of the city to the other. Along the way there were many adjustments and alterations, but the basic system worked and 70-some-odd years later, it still works.

During this time other sports organizations tried to make a run at CLCF, but because CLCF offered more sports under one organization, it made it very appealing for athletes to play as they headed off to high school.All anchored by Vivenzio running baseball and Castigioni running football, Bingo (yes Bingo, you had to pay the bills somehow). Hockey and Boys’ Volleyball. As the expansion in sports began to take hold, CLCF expanded as well. Tapping professional baseball and basketball local legend, David Stenhouse, to oversee the east side baseball and basketball program, and Paul Hazian to head the boxing program. There was a saying in business that “working together works!” Well, for the sports organization that is CLCF, that rang true!

Time for the girls

By the mid-1970s girls sports were emerging and thanks to Title IX, allowing girls and women to have an equal number of opportunities to play school and college sports as their male counterparts. Suddenly, sports organizations had to figure out a way to adapt or fade away. CLCF chose to embrace all things girls into the fold. Cheerleading, GALS basketball, GALS softball, (GALS being an acronym that stands for Girls Athletic League for Sports) and volleyball quickly took hold. GALS started out as an independent organization strictly for girls, but merged under the CLCF banner. This opened a whole lot more opportunities for girls in athletics. The trailblazers such as Fran Colore for cheerleading, Lea Richard for basketball, Mrs. Corkin for softball and Mrs. Carlson for girls’ gymnastics became household names in Cranston. The flood gates were opened, with sports such as Judo, Bowling, Co-Ed Volleyball, Cross Country, Track, Street Hockey, Chess, Swimming, Golf, Tennis, Soccer, Lacrosse and Pickleball (yes, even pickleball!). These were all sports that were tried at the CLCF headquarters located at 970 Pontiac Ave. in Cranston.

CLCF building

The building itself is a testament to the organization. Opening in 1974 the iconic building has gone through expansions and improvements. Practice and game fields surround the facility. Some of the aforementioned sports are still being played at CLCF, and some that grew less popular over time have been dropped from the program. One of the strongest parts of the organization remains football under the direction of Christine Field who keeps her eyes on everything.

Not even the smallest detail gets by Field. A force of nature, she gives all the credit to the dedicated coaches, players, staff and parents who help keep the CLCF Chiefs one of the state’s best youth football organizations. She also credits her “right hand man”, Jeff Hamilton, for his support throughout her stint as the head of football operations. Hamilton is very supportive and unselfish as he sees the bigger picture of when the football program succeeds, all of CLCF succeeds!  Both the Football and Cheerleading teams have not only have had a huge amount of success in the state, but they have gone onto both regional and national recognition as well.

Field doesn’t see herself as a woman at the top of what would be a typical men’s position in any other organization. CLCF isn’t a typical organization, they think outside the box, they make decisions on what’s best for the kids, and how to keep a competitive edge. Field’s children all grew up playing CLCF sports since they could shoot a basketball, throw a baseball or softball. Running from one of her kids’ games to another has become the norm for Field. The kids at CLCF are true extensions of her family.

Her interest in the athlete does not end with the move onto the high school level, as a matter of fact, their success is her success. If an athlete goes onto the high school level and beyond, she knows that she and the entire CLCF organization have done their job.

CLCF grows

The CLCF organization has grown over the years, their board of directors have kept the basic ground rule in effect – to do what’s best for the youth of Cranston. Even as the organization closes in on its 70-year anniversary, it continues to evolve, and try new sports that appeal to the youth of today.

The Board of Directors are President Frank Notarianni, Treasurer Michael Prew, Director of Communications Kate Brennick, Safety Director Dick MacDonald, Director of Fundraising Steve Marocco and Special Activities Director Karina Rossi. As modern technology began to take hold CLCF began a Database department which is managed by Tony DeSimone.  The Building Administrator is Tom Dorsey and Jim Malloy oversees both the building reservation and room rentals. Tom Aman oversees the Castiglioni Award.  

The different sports chairs include Dan Neimeyer-Baseball; Craig Zarrella and John Palazzo-Basketball; Rick MacDonald-Boxing; Val Nolan-Cheerleading; Frank Notarianni-Cross Country; Christine Field-Football; Mark Charleson-Golf; Nicholas Budano-Lacrosse; Soccer-Mike Prew; Soccer Select-Patrick Johnson; Soccer development-Tony DeSimone; Softball recreation-Patrick Sweeney; Street Hockey-Rick Morang; Tennis-Nate Brinker; Track & Field-Frank Notarianni; Volleyball-Emily Hausman and Wrestling-Matt Ruggieri.

If you are interested in learning more about CLCF and the different sports that they offer, please feel free to visit their website and contact any of the board members – https://clcfsports.org/

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John Cardullo, sportswriter. John is a lifelong Rhode Islander. His sports experience is extensive, as a player, coach and sponsor of youth and high school sports. He has been the Public Address Announcer for the CCRI Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams. Both the Cranston East and Cranston West football, Cranston East Boys and Girls basketball for 12 years before moving onto the Central, Juanita Sanchez and Mt. Pleasant football teams. Also, Central HS Boys and Girls Basketball, Scituate High School Boys and Girls Basketball, Johnston High School Girls Basketball, Boys Volleyball, Girls Softball, Boys and Girls Soccer teams, and CLCF football.

John has been involved in Men’s softball for 61 years, starting as a batboy for his father’s team in 1964. He moved to the teams scorekeeper then became a player in 1975, and created the men’s team, Players Corner Pub, that went on to win 20 State Championships in their 35 year history. In the 1990’s he published the statewide softball magazine “The Fielders Choice” which was dedicated to all topics related to adult softball. As a feature writer, John and the publication won several media awards. In 2019 he was elected and inducted into the Rhode Island Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame which he also helped create. John is a softball umpire in Warwick, Rhode Island.

In his spare time John golfs with his life long friends in season. After retiring from the printing Industry after a 45-year career, he now writes specialty sports columns for RINewsToday.com, is still actively engaged in the high school sports scene, and will soon launch a radio show/podcast on high school sports.