Stanley page 1 8-1-13
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caption, page 1:
Honored
J.P. Bergeron, recipient of the first Stan Lesniewski 10th Player Award, is flanked by coach Paul Faucher, left,) and John Lesniewski, who presented the award in the absence of his father. Courtesy photo.
captions, page 7:
Honored
Mike Thienel, recipient of the Coach Tom Auclair Outstanding Player Award with his coach Paul Faucher. Courtesy photo.
Award Winner
Tim Cutler receives the Rene “Doc” Desaulniers Award from Coach Paul Faucher. Cutler was TriTown’s leading hitter and ace relief pitcher. Courtesy photo.
Stanley
Lesniewski
10th Player
Award started
By Ron Coderre
A major announcement at the TriTown American Legion Post-Season Banquet July 26 was the unveiling of a new award. The Stan Lesniewski 10th Player Award is named after the Thompson resident who’s dedicated his life to baseball and the young people involved in the game.
Lesniewski was a coach in the Thompson Little League system for many years, working on both the Little League and Senior League levels. He later moved on to a career as a baseball umpire on the Eastern Board of Approved Baseball Umpires. During his time as an umpire he was honored by being selected to officiate CIAC State Tournament and American Legion State Tournament contests. He is an active member of the TriTown American Legion Baseball Executive Committee.
The recipient of the first award was TriTown catcher J.P. Bergeron who was selected for the job he did in solidifying the catching position for the team. Bergeron caught every inning of every game in 26 of the team’s 27 games.
According to coach Paul Faucher, “J.P. is very smart and always works hard to improve his game. He has a great feel for the game.”
The Rene “Doc” Desaulniers Distinguished Player Award went to outfielder/relief pitcher Tim Cutler, who batted .320 this season and led the team in hits and also served as coach Faucher’s closer. A graduate of Woodstock Academy, Cutler is headed to the United States Navy in early 2014.
Mike Thienel was the recipient, for the second year in a row, of the Coach Tom Auclair Outstanding Player Award. Thienel, who is headed to Eastern Connecticut State University, was TriTown’s “best all around player” according to Faucher. He posted a .300 average and an ERA of 2.82. He led the team in extra base hits and runs-batted-in.
The Executive Committee presented awards to Josh Malboeuf and Garrett Ponte. Malboeuf, who is going to Keene State University in September, was a mainstay of the pitching staff as well as playing anywhere he was asked by the coaching staff. He pitched five complete games in his six starts. Ponte posted a .309 batting average, while emerging as a solid pitcher. He will be attending Roger Williams College in the fall.
Nicholas Foucault, a product of Putnam High School, was the recipient of the Joe Lindley Most Improved Player Award. A pitcher/shortstop, Foucault pitched three complete games in his five starts for the Jr. Team. He posted a .388 batting average. According to coach Dan Durand, “Foucault has a positive attitude and competitive spirit.”
The Louis Francis Bates Memorial Award, which was endowed to the TriTown Program by Bates’ children, was presented by Shawn Bates to Kyle Tyler. A Woodstock Academy product, Tyler served as the Jr. Team Captain. He led the team in batting (.438), slugging percentage (.833) and extra base hits. Tyler was “nearly perfect on defense at first base.”
Plaques were presented to Posts #13 Putnam, #67 Thompson and #111 Woodstock for their sponsorship of the program. Team mother CherylAnne Carignan was recognized for her work in coordinating off-field activities for the team throughout the season.