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At  Dodd Stadium

The TriTown team poses for a team photo at Dodd Stadium. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC sporty shoutout is sent along to Thompson Tax Collector Rene Morin.  A graduate of the former St. Joseph’s High School in N. Grosvenordale, Morin starred on the basketball and baseball teams for the Saints.  Today he enjoys rooting for the Red Sox and playing an occasional round of golf at Quinnatisset Country Club.

Baseball is America’s pastime.  In years gone by kids played the game in city streets, schoolyards, cow pastures and empty fields.  The advent of Little League in 1939 changed the face of the game to a more organized format.  Today youngsters enjoy playing games on finely manicured fields that were never envisioned many years ago.

On Monday, June 23 the TriTown American Legion Senior and Junior teams, who play their home games at Tourtellotte Memorial High School and the Bentley Athletic Complex in Woodstock respectively, enjoyed a special baseball treat.  Thanks to the efforts of the program’s Executive Committee both teams had the opportunity to play at Dodd Stadium in Norwich.

Dodd Stadium personnel headed by General Manager Eric Knighton and special events manager Jack Kasten rolled out the red carpet for the Towners and their opponents Jewett City.  The players had the use of the visitors’ clubhouse prior to the game.  After both games all the players enjoyed hot dogs, Gatorade and chips in the clubhouse as part of the “Big League” package.

During the opening ceremony for each game the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 Honor Guard of Putnam presented the colors.  The Honor Guard was led by Air Force veteran Marc Coderre along with Air Force veteran Donald Steinbrick, Navy vet and Vietnam veteran Alan Joslin and Marine Corps veteran David Smutnick.  The National Anthem was sung by another Air Force veteran, Maurice “Moe” Coderre, who also sings the Anthem at all Putnam High School boys’ and girls’ home basketball games.

Thanks to the generosity of the Byrnes Agency of Dayville, Woodstock and Norwich, the teams were able to enjoy the extra niceties that were provided both teams.  Every player was also presented with a backpack compliment of the Byrnes Agency.

Although the stadium, which seats about 7,000, appeared empty, a crowd estimated at approximately 250 was on hand.  The crowd was primarily composed of parents, extended family, friends and a number of veterans who were on hand.

Tourtellotte Inducts New Hall of Fame Class

The Tourtellotte Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame, probably the premier program of its type in the area and the envy of others, inducted its Class of 2014 on Saturday, June 14 in the school’s auditorium.  Prior to the start of the festivities a moment of silence was held in memory of the late Jim Naum, a member of the Hall and a founding member of the program.

One of the 2014 inductees was Louis Thomas of the Class of 1985, starring on the soccer pitch and baseball diamond.  During his four years on the Tourtellotte campus “Sweet Lou” dominated the two sports.

As a baseball player Thomas was a catcher for coach Tom Auclair’s Tigers, leading the team to a pair of Quinebaug Valley Conference Championships in 1983 and 1985.  Small in stature but big of heart, Thomas was a natural leader behind the plate.  His talent led to many personal awards.

He was the Tigers 1985 MVP and was selected Observer Patriot/Journal Transcript all star in 1983, 1984 and 1985, as well as a QVC All Star.  As a senior he was named All-State by the Hartford Courant and selected to play in the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Senior Baseball All Star game.  

In soccer he was the team’s MVP in 1984 and 1985 and garnered Observer Patriot/Journal Transcript all star recognition.  As a member of the 1985 Zenon Sosnowski Memorial Soccer Challenge Cup Championship team, Thomas was selected MVP in 1984 and 1985.

Recognized as a student he was honored in 1985 with the James P. Canty Good Citizenship Award and the Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award.  Thomas later went on to Springfield College, where he was a member of the baseball team.  He currently holds a management position at the Kochek Co. in Putnam.

Hyde School Honors Local Athlete

A Pomfret Center young man was recently honored by Hyde School-Woodstock for his play on the lacrosse field.  Charlie Levine, a junior, was named the Wolfpack boys’ junior varsity lacrosse Most Improved Player based on his performance and achievement during the spring trimester at the independent character-based school.

“Levine and the other award winners embody what it means to show grit, character and leadership.  Each player demonstrated a high level of skill, as well as dedication and personal growth,” said Hyde-Woodstock Head of School Bob Felt.

Levine is the son of Charles and Melissa Levine.

Spotted in the Crowd

Among the people in the crowd at Dodd Stadium for the American Legion baseball game between TirTown and Jewett City was former Norwich Free Academy Hall of Fame coach John Iovino.  Seated by himself far behind home plate, Iovino, who is an astute student of the game, was enjoying the contest and probably making some mental scouting notes.  

Although no longer an active coach, Iovino, who is currently in administration at NFA, always has a keen eye out for talented baseball players.  He’s very proud of the fact that two of his former Wildcat players are in the Major Leagues.  Eric Campbell is with the New York Mets where he’s been pinch hitting and playing in the infield and outfield for Manager Terry Collins.  Dominick Leone is a relief pitcher with the Seattle Mariners, where he possesses an Earned Run Average of less than 2.00.  Another player, Andrew Carignan is a relief pitcher at AAA Phoenix for the San Francisco Giants.  Carignan once was in the Majors with the Oakland A’s prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Around baseball John Iovino is a proud papa of the young men he nurtured when he was coaching and building character in his players.

RPC’s Closing thought For The Day: Celebrate the 4th of July safely and remember what the day means.  It celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and is a National holiday.

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