By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC sporty shoutout is sent along to Woodstock resident Atty. Bill Loftus.  A community minded individual, Loftus is involved in assisting with youth leagues in Woodstock.  He also finds time to serve as a basketball official on the high school level, an avocation that runs in the Loftus family.

Following a dismal initial season at the helm of the Connecticut Sun for coach Anne Donovan it appears that the WNBA franchise has taken a leap of faith and gone out on the limb to bring the most rabid women’s basketball fans in the country an exciting program and hopefully a winner.  The firing of coach Mike Thibault, who was popular with the players, in favor of Donovan stirred up a hornet’s nest last season.

Rather than kowtowing to the demands of players the Sun took a bold stand and moved some of the old standard bearers of the past for the youth movement.  The move which has some risk is one that appears will put the Sun in a good place in the future or maybe sooner.

The initial foray into the future came with the drafting of Stanford All-American 6-foot, 4 inch Chiney Ogwumike, a player who by all reports has a positive attitude, a high basketball IQ and a plethora of talent.  Ogwumike was the first pick of the entire draft.

Three selections later, the number four pick overall, the Sun corralled another gem in the person of 6-2 Alyssa Thomas of Maryland.  Another energetic player, Thomas will bring much needed spirit and enthusiasm to the Sun.  Anyone who watched the Women’s NCAA Tournament had to fall in love with Thomas and the style of play she and the Terrapins brought to the court.

In the 11th pick overall the Sun made another surprising choice in grabbing Duke’s Chelsea Gray, who despite being out with an injury could prove to be a missing part to the puzzle in the 2015 season.  The final pick was DeNesha Stallworth of Kentucky, another dynamo.

In a cathartic move, the Sun allowed Kara Lawson, ESPN personality, to hit the road to Washington to rejoin Thibault.  It seems that though she has a TV home in Bristol, Lawson and Donovan didn’t see eye-to-eye.  The biggest move of the bloodletting was the departure of Tina Charles to the New York Liberty.  Charles who was the WNBA MVP two years ago was also another malcontent because of the Thibault situation.  In return for Charles the Sun received the draft rights to the previously mentioned Thomas and Kelsey Bone, who by all reports is a player.  Add the reacquisition of former Sun, veteran Katie Douglas to the mix and basketball this summer at the Mohegan Sun Arena should be exciting. 

A prediction by RPC, watch out for the Sun.  This group could come together faster than predicted by the experts.

It was great to see the UConn duo of Stephanie Dolson and Bria Hartley go in the 6th and 7th picks.  Dolson went to Thibault and the Washington Mystics, while Hartley was the choice of Seattle, who then traded her to Washington to be reunited with Dolson.  One has to be extremely pleased for these two wonderful young women who for four years brought thousands of thrills to UConn Husky loyal rooters.

The Notre Dame pair of Kayla McBride and Natalie Achonwa made Fighting Irish fans happy by being selected in the 3rd and 9th rounds.  McBride to San Antonio and Achonwa to Phoenix.  Baylor’s Odyssey Sims went to Tulsa, where she’ll join former Notre Dame great Skylar Diggins.

In what could prove to be as exciting as hitting a big slot machine jackpot it appears that the Connecticut Sun put enough money into the slot to produce a winner at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Old Friends Reunited

The Woodstock Academy softball team is in good hands this season as two old friends have joined together to coach the Centaurs.  Jay Gerum, who formerly coached the Academy soccer team, is the new head coach and he’s assisted by former Centaur assistant basketball coach Brad Favreau.

The combination of Gerum and Favreau bring a wealth of diamond knowledge to the young ladies on the softball squad.  Both individuals are former three-sport athletes at Woodstock, with appreciable experience in baseball.  The duo has experienced winning as both players and coaches and will instill a positive attitude in the players under their guidance.  

Get Out the Fishing Gear

Local youngsters should mark their calendars for May 10, which is the 2014 date of the Putnam Rotary Club Noe Poulin Memorial Fishing Derby.  The Derby will run from 8 a.m. to noon and will take place on the banks of the Quinebaug River between the Bridge St. Bridge and Cargill Falls.  Registration is scheduled to begin at 7a.m. at the bandstand at Rotary Park.

As usual prizes will be awarded to young male and female anglers in a variety of categories and in age groupings.  All participants will receive food and drink, compliments of the Putnam Rotary Club according to Derby organizer Willie Bousquet.  Assisting Bousquet are Gerry Cotnoir, Paul Pikora, President Brad Favreau and Rande Chmura.

Chirping About Master’s in Augusta

Former Putnam resident Mark R. Russell, Marianapolis Prep graduate and member of his alma mater’s Board of Trustees, was one of the fortunate individuals to spend time at the Master’s Tournament in Augusta, Ga.  Although Russell was not present for the final day in which Bubba Watson was crowned the 2014 champion, he did attend the practice round on Tuesday and the Par 3 Tournament on Wednesday of Master’s week.

Russell notes that he enjoys those two days because it affords him the luxury of getting up close to the golfers, while providing the opportunity to take in the beauty and scenery of the course.  He’s been fortunate to attend approximately 25 Master’s Tournaments and has had a remarkable string of attending 32 consecutive U.S. Open Tournaments.

Husky National Champion

An individual with family ties to the northeastern Connecticut area was an integral part of the success of the UConn Women’s National Championship team.  Lauren Sheldon, a graduate of E. O. Smith High School and student at the university, served as the team’s student trainer.  She was with the team all season and especially at the Final Four.

Thanks to her connection to Geno Auriemma’s champions she was part of the championship parade in Hartford on Sunday, April 13.  Sheldon, the daughter of Scott Sheldon, was also awarded a team championship ring and is the proud owner of a piece of the net, which was cut from the rim in Memphis, Tenn., following UConn’s title win over Notre Dame.  She’s the daughter of Scott Sheldon.

RPC’s Closing thought For the Day: Learn to listen – opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.

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