By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Putnam resident Joe Nash.  A competitive tennis player in his younger days, Nash is known today as a community servant.  He’s a long standing member of the Putnam Board of Finance.  He’ll be blowing out a candle on the cake on Feb. 15.

It’s that time of year when friends get together in support of the Putnam Lions Club Volleyball Challenge.  Every year for more than a decade, mid-March signals the time when the Putnam Lions spring into action for local non-profits with their biggest fund-raiser, The Volleyball Challenge.

The 2015 event is once again being staged at the Strong Field House on the campus of Pomfret School.  The two-day event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15.  The Challenge features the competitive A & B Divisions for the more serious netters and the Corporate Division, which plays for the vaunted traveling trophy.

Individual prizes will be presented to players who raise the most pledges.  Complimentary food, beverages, snacks and T- shirts will be presented to all participants.

Anyone interested in entering a team is encouraged to do so as soon as possible as the tourney usually fills quickly.  For more information or to register a team, contact Steve Faucher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at 860 617-4142 or Michael Hanrahan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 860 933-5793.

According to Greg King and Club President Lea Therrien, sponsorship opportunities are also available.  Levels include Platinum ($750), Gold ($500), Silver ($350 and $250), Bronze ($150) and Net sponsor ($50).  All sponsors will be acknowledged in the Shoppers Guide and Turnpike Buyer.  Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor should do so prior to Feb. 21.  King can be reached at King Cadillac in Putnam.

The Putnam Lions Foundation is a 501 © 3 organization which supports eye research and diabetes care.  During the past 10 years the Putnam Lions have presented more than $250,000 to local charities, non-profits and in scholarships to area students.

Farewell To A Red Sox Great

As a kid growing up in Putnam and being a diehard Boston Red Sox fan one of my favorite players was pitcher Bill Monbouquette, the man who was affectionately referred to a “Monbo.”  A competitive right handed pitcher, Monbouquette was signed by the Sox out of Medford (Mass.) High School.

“Monbo” spent the first eight years of his Major League career with Boston where he compiled a 96-91 record with a respectable 3.68 ERA.  While with the BoSox he was a four-time All Star selection.  In 2000 Monbouquette was elected to the team’s Hall of Fame.

Following his days in Boston he was traded to Detroit and later pitched for the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants, although he’ll always be remembered as a workhorse pitcher with Boston.  When he retired in 1968 he posted a 114-112 record with a 3.68 ERA.

The highlight of “Monbo’s” career was August 1, 1962, when he threw a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox as a member of the Red Sox.  Following his retirement he served for 38 years as a scout and coach for several teams.

Approximately eight years ago we had the pleasure of meeting Monbouquette in person at the Raceway Golf Course in Thompson, where he was playing in the Marianapolis Prep School Golf Tournament.  “Monbo” turned out to be the gentleman that we envisioned him to be when he was the hero of a 16-year-old Putnam kid.  Before we parted ways on the day of our meeting, “Monbo” autographed a baseball, which is still one of our most treasured collectibles.

Monbouquette died on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015.  He was 78 years old.

Red Sox Sign Local All Star

The Boston Red Sox recently announced the signing first baseman/outfielder Brian LaHair to an undisclosed minor league deal.  LaHair is the Marco Polo of baseball.  He’s been traveled in baseball from Seattle to Chicago, to Japan and to Akron, Ohio, where he played last season for the Cleveland Indians Double A team.

LaHair has played parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues with the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago Cubs.  His big league stats include a .260 batting average with 21 career home runs and 56 runs batted in.  When playing with the Cubs in 2012, LaHair was the team’s lone representative on the National League All Star team.

Since the 2012 season, he’s never played in the Major Leagues.  Last season he played in the Japanese Baseball League where he batted a disappointing .230 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI.

LaHair’s profile indicates he was born in Worcester; however he spent many years in Thompson.  As a Little Leaguer in Thompson he’s remembered as probably the most prolific hitter to ever grace the North Grosvenordale diamond.  The stories of his home runs are prodigious.  

According to Bleacher Report, “LaHair figures to be little more than Triple A depth for Pawtucket.”  Those who know LaHair are rooting that he’ll surpass that prediction.

Killingly Wrestler Athlete of the Month

Conner Lemley, a junior at Killingly High School, was named the Eastern Connecticut Conference Male Athlete of the Month for December 2014.  Lemley finished the month of December unblemished on the mats at 9-0 in the 195 pound weight class.  He’s currently 20-1 on the season.

Lemley, who is ranked fourth in his weight class by ConnWrestling.com, won his second consecutive Lancer Holiday Tournament in Waterford by pinning all opponents in his weight class to capture the Gold Medal.  The captain of coach Rich Bowen’s squad, Lemley also plays football for the Redmen and was an All-ECC Honorable mention lineman this fall.

Deanna McCarvell, New London High School’s 1000-point scorer, was named the Female Athlete of the Month.  She’s averaging 16 points a game for the Lady Whaler basketball team, which boasts a 13-2 record.

The ECC Athlete of the Month is presented by the Byrnes Agency of Dayville, Norwich and Woodstock.

Sports Tidbits

Rick Place of Putnam Ford is all smiles following his return from Phoenix where he witnessed the New England Patriots victory in Super Bowl XLIX at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale…Freshman Bobby Ahearn, a Binghamton University forward, posted six points and four rebounds in 27 minutes of action in a 62-61 loss to the University of Hartford.  Ousmane Drame had 20 points in a loss to Canisius and 17 in a loss against Niagara for the 11-10 Quinnipiac Bobcats.  Ahearn and Drame are former Marianapolis Prep standouts…Pomfret School’s Juliette Lawless is 69 points shy of cracking the 1000-point barrier for the Lady Griffins…Woodstock’s Oliver Simon has taken over the lead in three-point field goals with 38, three ahead of Plainfield’s Steve Jankowski.

RPC’s Closing thought For The Day: Winning is not everything – but making the effort to win is.

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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