Light pg 9 4-23-15
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By Ron P. Coderre
In a light week of softball action local high school and prep school teams enjoyed success on the diamond. Woodstock Academy after dropping its season opener last week, picked up a pair of convincing victories over two rugged foes.
Despite a loss to Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division Killingly, the Tourtellotte juggernaut went to 4-1 on the season with a big win over Constitution State Conference foe Ellis Tech. Plainfield was victorious in its season opener.
In the prep ranks Pomfret enjoyed a 1-1 week, while Marianapolis lost two games to fall to 1-6 on the season.
Woodstock Asserts Itself
with 2 Wins
Rylee Hehir, who transferred to Woodstock this year, paid immediate dividends for the Centaurs as she tripled and scored a run to lead her mates to a 4-3 hard fought win over Montville. Alexa Pearson scored twice for Woodstock. The Lady Centaurs opened the week with a satisfying 8-2 win over Killingly off the bat of Clara Sarantopolous, who had two hits and three runs batted in. Meghan Labbe also had a pair of hits for the winners, while driving in a pair of runs in the win. Hehir had a two-run round tripper against Norwich Free Academy but it wasn’t enough as the Centaurs lost to the Wildcats 8-4. Woodstock is 2-2 and 0-1 in the ECC Large Division.
Killingly rode the bat of Sue Rodriguez in a lopsided 10-2 win over Tourtellotte in its other contest of the week. The Lady Tigers bounced back with 26-1 shellacking of Ellis Tech with a 29-hit attack. Carinne Sosnowski had a single, double and triple in the win. Her teammates Michaela Godzik had a five-hit game, while Christina Kopacz and Crystal Daly each had four hits for the winners. Killingly enjoyed another big game in strolling past New London 17-2 behind the tosses and bat of Taylor Duchesneau. She struck out five and had a triple and two runs batted in. Rodriguez also had a triple for the 2-1 and 0-1 ECC Medium Division Redgals. Chivon Burns rose to the occasion on offense and defense in leading Plainfield to a 4-3 win over a stubborn St. Bernard team. Burns had a pair of doubles for the 1-1 Lady Panthers. Ellis Tech won its only game of the week8-1 over Norwich Tech. Sheridan Murphy struck out 11 in the win for the 2-2 and 1-0 CSC East Lady Eagles. Autumn Jackson contributed a double in the win.
Pomfret School opened its week with a 9-8 win over local prep rival Marianapolis. The Lady Knights also lost to Chase Collegiate despite two hits by Christina Doherty. The Lady Griffs then traveled to Easthampton, Mass., where they were dropped 8-3 by Williston-Northampton, falling to 1-1 in the early goings. Makenna Newkirk had three hits and Elizabeth Berard contributed a pair of hits in the losing effort for Pomfret.
Sports pg 9 4-23-15
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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Billy Corey one of the best schoolboy soccer players in the history of the game on the pitch in Massachusetts. Corey is now a Connecticut resident and can often be found in downtown Putnam frequenting the its numerous fine dining establishments.
Lady Tiger to Test Hoop
Fortunes in Vermont
This past basketball season the Tourtellotte Lady Tigers basketball team received a pleasant surprise when Deanna Lazzara returned to the Thompson school after living in Massachusetts. Her presence in the front court was a major difference in the success of the team. Lazzara teaming with Jess Dodd under the hoop and the outside play of Ali Ablondi propelled Tourtellotte to the Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division regular season title.
The 6-foot, 1-inch Lazzara recently announced that she’ll be continuing her hardwood career on the collegiate level. In September she plans on attending Green Mountain Community college in Poultney, Vt., where she’ll play for interim head coach Jonathan Lamiotte.
This season Lazzara averaged 8 points a game while hauling in 5.7 rebounds per contest. She was one of the team’s leading shot blockers with 4.1 per game, while also averaging 1.7 steals in leading the team to a 19-6 record.
Coach Lamiotte is a familiar figure to followers of high school basketball in Putnam and northeastern Connecticut. A 2001 graduate of Putnam High School, Lamiotte played for coach Tony Falzarano and closed out his career with 758 points, tying with Eric Mauer in 18th place on the all-time Clipper scoring list. Among his accomplishments, Lamiotte was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2000 Quinebaug Valley Conference tournament and a regular season all star selection. In 2001 he, along with Jeff Bousquet, was named to the Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division regular season all star unit.
Lazzara is the second Tourtellotte women’s basketball player to move on to the college circuit. Earlier her teammate Ablondi announced her intention to play at Central Maine Community College in Auburn, Maine.
Trio Selected As Scholar-Athletes
Three football players from northeastern Connecticut high schools were recently notified of their selection to the Southeastern Connecticut Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.
Matthew Hare of Woodstock Academy, running back and wide receiver Michael Elsey of Killingly and Braden Beauregard of Plainfield will be honored at the foundation’s annual banquet. The event is scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. This year the banquet is being held at the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun.
Killingly Grad Joins Charlotte Hornets
Former Killingly High School women’s basketball standout Megan Robinson is scheduled to graduate from High Point University in High Point, N.C., in May. Robinson, a sports marketing and communications major, was recently notified that she’s been selected for a position with the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association. In her position, she’ll work in the marketing and sales and ticket promotions area for the Hornets, who feature former UConn All American point guard Kemba Walker.
Robinson, the daughter of Mary Egan of Danielson, was an Eastern Connecticut Conference all star performer for the Redgals. Most recently she could be found during her summer vacations working for Club Pro Jim West at Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam. Her ultimate goal is to someday be an on-air sports personality for a major network.
Former Eastern Board Ump
Calls Last Pitch
Back in the day when we umpired baseball games for the Eastern Board of Approved Baseball Umpires we developed a friendship with a gentleman from Norwich by the name of Frank Yankiewicz. His nickname of course was “Yank.”
As a young umpire “Yank” took me under his wing and shared his baseball knowledge and experiences, helping me climb the umpiring ladder. In fact, the first college game I was in engaged in was with veteran ump Frank Yankiewicz.
I was deeply saddened to read of his passing on Friday, April 10. “Yank” was 98 and lived a great life. The last time we met was approximately three years ago at Dodd Stadium, where even into his 90s he was working at the stadium for the Tigers. Baseball was his love.
The gregarious and outgoing Yankiewicz, in life as he was in baseball as an umpire on the diamond, was a lovable individual. He’ll be remembered not only as a very good umpire but a great person. “Yank” joins many of his former Eastern Board Umpire friends in the big diamond in the sky.
Spotted In Downtown Putnam
Former Wesleyan University head football coach and current gridiron assistant Frank Hauser was recently spotted dining in Putnam at The Crossings Restaurant. Hauser, who enjoys a round of golf, when not engaged in recruiting or coaching college football players, had recently completed 18-holes at The Raceway Golf Club in Thompson and was spotted relaxing with friends.
Hauser, a native of Burrillville, R.I., is familiar with the Putnam area through his love of golf. He’s also been in the area as a featured speaker at the Putnam High School Athletic Alumni Association sports banquet.
Welcome Back ‘Soup’
Eric “Soup” Campbell of Norwich who was assigned to Las Vegas by the New York Mets at the end of spring training was recalled on Wednesday, April 15. His call-up was due to a hamstring injury to third baseman David Wright. Campbell singled in his first time at bat and scored a run to help New York to a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
His teammate, the much celebrated Matt Harvey former Fitch High School product, is off to a great start at 2-0 in the early going. Harvey is returning from Tommy John surgery.
Another Norwich Free Academy grad, Dominic Leone was recalled by the Seattle Mariners where he is a key member of the team’s relief corps. Harvey’s teammate at Fitch High School, Jesse Hahn, is pitching well for the Oakland Athletics. He’s in his first season with Oakland, having been traded in the off season from the San Diego Padres.
Finally, New London High School grad Rajai Davis hit a home run for the Detroit Tigers to help the team to a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
RPC’s Closing thought For The Day: “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” Lao Tzu
(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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Quest pg 10 4-23-15
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PUTNAM — Master Mike Bogdanski and Master Kristin Duethorn of Quest Martial in February promoted the following students.
Tiger
Tessa Riendeau,
Yellow
April Regis, Hunter Sanford, Logan Vinal, Alexa Deleon
Green Dragon
Adrianna Alvarez, Collin Tracz, Garrett Belleville
Orange Child
Madelyn Frechette
Orange Blue
Landen Reschke, Gianah DeAngelis
Blue
Samuel Desmaond
Blue Black
Campbell Fraser
Green Black
Charlie Caggiano
Ian Stone
Green~Red
Reed Magnan
Red~White
Ela Gadoury, Emma Rainville
9 GUP Orange
Page Krupula, Jennifer Frechette, Dathan Kindle
8 GUP Blue
Lucas Depari
7 GUP Blue
Sarrah Bernier, Derek May
6 GUP Green
Nils Larson, Lucien Frechette
Promotions in March include:
Tiger
Caydem Herlihy
Blue Dragon
Nathan Adams, Lillian Frechette, Ethan Gilchrist
Green Dragon
Xavier Lafleur
Red Dragon
Diezel LaPierre
Yellow
Carrina Cook, Greyson Magnan, Quan Sangasy
Orange
Cadence Kirkconnel, Evelyn Kirkconnel, Logan Parker
Orange Blue
Brynn Perry, Paul Poplasky, Keanu Sirimongkhoune, Ashton Sirimongkhoune
Blue White
Ari Abrams, Clayton Lehmann, Isaac Shippee, Zachary Underwood
Blue
Hunter Larson
Blue Green
Anthony Buckner
Blue Black
Isabella Selmeck
Green White
Alishia Thompson
Red White
Sadie Bergeron Tucker Trahan Nicholas Caggiano
8 GUP Blue
Salwa Naveed, Maxwell Underwood
7 GUP Blue
Vet pg 10 4-23-15
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caption, page 11:
Honored
Susan Fontaine of First Niagara Bank in Woodstock, was awarded the Patriot Award. Matthew Reed is in the center and Tom Pandolfi is at the right. Courtesy photo.
Vet award
WOODSTOCK — Susan Fontaine, assistant vice president of the First Niagara Bank in Woodstock, was presented with the “Patriot Award” from Tom Pandolfi of the Employer Support of the Guard & Reserves (ESGR) for her continued support to one of her employees, Matthew Reed, a member of the Massachusetts National Guard.
The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support Citizen Warriors through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off to prior and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed. The Patriot Award is the first in a series of awards for employers. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or even the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for support provided directly to the nominating Service member and his or her family.
The first in ESGR’s series of awards is the Patriot Award. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for support provided directly to the nominating Service member and his or her family. The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support Citizen Warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.