By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC sporty shoutout is sent along to Rollie Johnson of Putnam.  The father of a number of former Putnam High School athletes, Rollie was a pretty fair golfer himself.  Today he can be seen on many mornings enjoying breakfast at Main St. Grill with his wife Alma.  Rollie blew out another candle on the cake on Thursday, March 27.

Last year around this time Dayshon ‘Scoochie’ Smith was relishing in the publicity he was receiving for being named the Northeast Prep Tournament Most Valuable Player and for the fact that he had signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Dayton.

If you’re one of the millions across the country who are engulfed in March Madness you’re probably becoming more familiar with the name ‘Scoochie’ Smith as it appears to be a favorite of the courtside television announcers and the studio analyst who dissect every aspect of every game.

Smith and the University of Dayton Flyers have become the darlings of the nation as they’ve come from their underdog role to advance to the NCAA Elite 8.  The Flyers opened tourney play by ousting Ohio State University.  This was a huge victory not only because Ohio State was a decided favorite but adding spice to the win is the fact that the schools are located only 30 mile apart.

The next foe to fall in this David versus Goliath scenario was the mighty Syracuse University Orange.  In the Round of 16 the Flyers flew past a much bigger but slower Stanford Cardinal, winning by 10 points.

Smith has been steady throughout the tournament as it appears that coach Archie Miller has nurtured his freshman guard in preparing him for a bigger role in each game.  ‘Scoochie” scored two key hoops in the win over Syracuse and in the nationally televised contest against Stanford, Smith ran the offense with the skill of a veteran.  In addition, he hit a big three-pointer and just when it seemed the Cardinal was making a run, Smith hit a driving layup to stem the tide.

The Flyers, who play in the Atlantic-10 Conference, have a record of 26-10.  Entering the South Region championship game in Memphis, Tenn., as 10-point underdogs they go against another tough opponent in the 35-2 University of Florida and coach Billy Donovan.  At this point being the underdog appears to be a role that the Flyers are enjoying.  (The Flyers put up a tough fight but were beaten by the Gators 62-52.)

Three years ago Smith was faced with an important decision, where to play high school basketball.  A native of Bronx, N.Y., his parochial high school, Brother Rice closed leaving ‘Scoochie’ searching for a school to call home.  Fortunately for ‘Scoochie’ and Putnam Science Academy coach Tom Espinosa, Smith opted to come to Putnam and join the Mustangs.  Observing where he is today it appears he made the correct decision.

During his two years on the Maple St. campus Smith led the Mustangs to the best single season record in the school’s history, posting a 22-8 log.  (The record was broken by this year’s team, which went 29-5.)  He ended up as the program’s top career scorer and first 1000-point producer with 1010 points.  He also holds the career record in assists with 345 and steals with 205, both areas that he also holds the single season mark with 215 and 103 respectively.

At the moment Smith can also boast of being the school’s most noted graduate.  He’s also helped to put the 06260 zip code on the map.

Centaur Missing for 

Good Reason

The Putnam Rotary Club Ray Brousseau Senior All Star Shootout was missing one of the area’s best players in the boys’ game played on Tuesday, March 25.  Chris Lowry of the Woodstock Academy Centaurs was absent from the game but for a good reason.  According to CIAC rules, players are only allowed to participate in two postseason all star games.  Lowry has been invited to play in the two most prestigious games in the state.

On Sunday, April 13 Lowry will take part in the Jewish Community Center Schoolboy Classic.  He was one of only 24 schoolboy athletes to be selected state wide.  He’ll also be participating in the CIAC State All Star game.

Anyone interested in attending the JCC Schoolboy Classic on April 13, it’s held at the New Haven JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge.  The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start, immediately following the girls’ games that is scheduled to tipoff at 1:30 p.m.  Admission for both contests is $12.

Professional Baseball Update

As Major League spring training is wrapping up and teams and equipment trucks are heading north for the start of the 2014 season the teams are making final moves as they prepare for their Opening Day rosters.  Some players with local ties have been involved in those moves, some staying up in The Show and others going down to the minors.

Area favorite Roger LaFrancois recently e-mailed PTC Sports indicating that spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals has been progressing well toward the start of the season.  LaFrancois, who serves as a minor league hitting instructor for the Redbirds will be spending the season with club’s Class A team in Jupiter, Fla., the spring training home of the parent club Cardinals.

Keeping an eye on the agate page and particularly the Transactions column, it was good to read the news that East Lyme native 39 year old John McDonald earned a spot with the Los Angeles Angels.  McDonald, who last season finished the year with the world champion Boston Red Sox, signed a minor league contract with the Angels but his play in spring training where he batted .321 secured his spot as the team’s utility infielder.  A magician with the glove, it’s a certainty that Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia won’t be sorry that he kept the affable McDonald on his Major League roster.

Former Thompson Little League home run champion Bryan LaHair, who is attempting a return to the Majors following a year in Japan, spent spring training with Terry Francona’s Cleveland Indians.  LaHair was recently reassigned to the minor league camp.  Jesse Hahn, who pitched at Fitch High School, with New York Mets all star Matt Harvey, will start the year with the San Diego Padres top farm team, San Antonio of the Pacific Coast League.  Finally, Dominic Leone of Norwich was reassigned to the minor league camp of the Seattle Mariners.

Remembering An American Legion Legend

People who follow American Legion baseball, especially from 1959 through 1999, will remember the name Lou Ernst.  The backbone of the Niantic American Legion team as an organizer and coach, Ernst 86, died in Florida on Saturday, March 22.

Ernst was known in his day as the dean of American Legion baseball.  He is remembered by those who knew him as “a class act.”  He had high standards for himself and passed those on to all the young men who played for him.  He left baseball and the world as a respected individual who had values that were his trademark.  God speed, Lou Ernst.

Trivia Winner

Congratulations to Romeo Blackmar who was the first person to answer last week’s trivia question.  There were two other people with the correct answer, Ed Dias of Putnam and Ed Hamill of Marco Island, Fla.  The four players to hit home runs in four decades were Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, Rickey Henderson and Omar Visquel. 

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day… You know you’re over the hill when you develop a taste for All Bran.

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