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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent along to Steve and Leia Faucher of Putnam. The pair is dedicated to the mission of the Putnam Lions Club, which keeps them heavily involved in helping the Putnam community. Steve is a former standout lineman for the Putnam Clippers.
In the mid-‘60s the duo of Bob Auger and John Smutnick were the backbone of the Putnam Clipper baseball team when baseball was important in the Antique city. The pair was reunited on the diamond as part of the Roy Hobbs Baseball World Series, which was held in Fort Myers, Fla., in late November.
Smutnick, who is a shortstop, has been playing in the Roy Hobbs competition for a number of years. This year he convinced his longtime buddy Auger that it was time for him to return to the game they loved as young men.
The two friends teamed up playing for the Mid West Nine from Springfield, Illinois in the World Series against teams from Albany, New York, Nova Scotia, Washington, DC, Minnesota, Houston, Texas and Chicago. There were 36 teams in the 60–year old category (it’s hard to believe Smutnick and Auger are in their 60s). The Mid West Nine was a “disappointing 2-4,” according to Smutnick.
The highlight of the Series for the duo was when they took turns on the mound and combined for a victory in a game played at Red Sox Jet Blue Stadium, which is a replica of Fenway Park and the spring training home of Boston. It’s reported that both players had a good hitting Series.
In their younger days Smutnick and Auger were the scourge of the Quinebaug Valley Conference from 1966 through 1968. Auger, who starred in the Hearst Newspaper Games in Boston, was later signed to a professional contract.
College Basketball Update
Ashley Espinosa, the former Putnam Clipper, and the Worcester State University Lady Lancers traveled to Wesleyan University last week but left disappointed as they were downed by the hosts 56-34. Espinosa was 1-8 from the floor and 3-4 from the free throw line for a total of five points. WSU is now 3-4 on the season. Another WSU product, Paul Brooks, formerly of Putnam Science Academy, had two points in the Lancers 71-57 loss to Trinity. The Lancers are 0-7.
Boston University trekked down to Hamden for a game at Quinnipiac University and came away with a last minute 69-66 win over coach Tom Moore’s Bobcats. The game was televised on NESN. The former Marianapolis Prep duo of Ike Azotam and Ousame Drame led Quinnipiac in this see-saw battle.
Azotam had 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Drame had 16 markers and a bushel of caroms for the 4-2 Bobcats. On Friday, December 6 Quinnipiac picked up its first victory as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) defeating the Fairfield Stags 83-79 and raising its record to 5-2. Again it was Azotam (16 points and 14 rebounds) and Drame (22 and eight) leading the way to victory.
In Hartford, at the XL Center UConn rolled to 9-0 by smashing the University of Maine Black Bears 95-68. The visitors from Orono have two former preppers on the team, Shaun Lawton of Putnam Science Academy and Christian Ejiga of Hyde-Woodstock. Lawton acquitted himself well in the loss, playing 23 minutes and scoring nine points. Ejiga didn’t see any action.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which is enjoying a great early season run at 7-1 easily beat Fitchburg State 88-53 on Saturday, Dec. 7. Ian Converse, who led Woodstock Academy to the CIAC Class L championship last season, had six points in the Engineers win.
Philanthropy at Its Finest
UConn was recently notified of a $3 million pledge to the UConn Basketball Champions Center by a couple from Stamford. The gift is being made by Denis and Britta Nayden, graduates of the university.
The $3 million gift is made in three parts: $1 million to the Champions Center, $1 million in scholarships for student-athletes and trainers and the final $1 million as a challenge match from former players in both the men’s and women’s programs. This unique gift puts some responsibility on those individuals who were fortunate to receive basketball scholarships and were able to parlay their talents into professional contracts. There are 58 players who went on to play in the NBA or WNBA.
Little known fact…Denis Nayden is a former roommate of Denis Kelly, owner of Kelly’s Tire in Putnam. When Nayden was in the MBA program, Kelly was a senior in accounting. The pair were very good friends. Kelly also got to know Britta Nayden through her courtship with Denis Nayden.
Kelly and the Nayden’s were reacquainted at the UConn basketball game when the Huskies entertained the University of Maine. Kelly said that the two, who hadn’t seen each other in more than 30 years, recognized each other immediately. Small world, isn’t it?
From The Annals Of Putnam Sports History…
October 1905: The first basketball game of the season was played in Union Hall (who can tell us where that was?). Putnam High School defeated Woodstock Academy 7-4. The game was played in two 20-minute halves. Putnam’s lineup: Lizotte RF, Gahan LF, Sherman C, Morse RG, Wheaton LG. Woodstock’s lineup: Chaffee RF, Whiting LF, Hyde C, Morse RG, Weaver LG.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: The beautiful thing about learning something is that nobody can take it away from you.