team primed 

for productive 

season

By Ron P. Coderre

Two years ago the turn out for the TriTown American Legion Baseball program left organizers scratching their heads as only a total of 16 players tried out for the team.  Due to the low turnout of players a number of very young candidates were combined with the veteran players to form a Senior team.

That season proved very difficult for everyone involved with the program as the youngster were subjected to competition that was out of their league.  What they didn’t realize at the time was that the experience and competition made them better players for the future.  And the future is now.

According to Dan Durand, second-year coach of Junior team, the kids are now the backbone of his team.  Players such as Jared Carignan, Jared Durand, Ryan Gadoury and George Murphy are ready to lead this year’s team to what the coach believes could be a spot in the American Legion State Tournament.  Last season the Junior unit posted an 8-8 record, which saw them fall just shy of entry into the tourney.

“The fact that those kids stuck it out when the going was tough is a credit to them as young men.  They are also one of the reasons that we had a great turnout of candidates this season.  I believe it’s their presence that made players from area high schools decide to come out and play Legion baseball,” said Durand.

Like most teams in baseball, the Junior squad is relying on its pitching staff to lead them to the promised land.  Gadoury, Carignan and Nick Foucault, who is also part of the Senior team roster, will be relied on as the aces of the staff.  Joe Donovan, another player who will play with the Senior unit, Murphy, Tom Kingsbury and the Shanley twins, Nathan and Tyler will all see action on the hill for the Towners.

The catching duties will be handled by Jacob Guertin, who had a good spring for Putnam.  Guertin who will see action with the Senior team, is also a threat at the plate.  He gets backup help from Hunter Malboeuf and Murphy.

In the infield Carignan will handle first base duties when he’s not pitching.  He’ll be backed up by Alex Leveille and Mike Falco.  Durand will start at second base with support from Malboeuf and Nathan Shanley.  The shortstop slot belongs to Foucault but when he’s not around Carignan can slide over from second and Tyler Shanley can move in.  Donovan will anchor the hot corner backed by Gadoury and Leveille.

Young Zach Cutler, who is part of a quintet of newcomers who rate highly in Durand’s eyes, starts in leftfield.  Murphy patrols centerfield and Evan Tremblay, a player with a silky smooth swing, starts in rightfield.  Durand, Devin Belanger, Josh Allen and Tom Kingsbury are also ticketed for outfield duty.

“This is a great group of young men.  They all love baseball and realize that everyone has an important role in our success.  They’re a pleasure to coach,” said Durand.

He also noted that the Shanley twins along with Allen, Kingsbury and Cutler are five newcomers who could be the impetus for the continued success and growth of the Junior program.

The team plays a 20 game schedule in five weeks.  According to coach Durand, New London and Ledyard-Pawcatuck appear to be the strongest teams in the zone this year, although he stressed that every game will be important.  Other entries include Niantic, Jewett City and Norwich.

Durand, whose coaching experience goes back to the Thompson Little League, is assisted by Putnam High School assistant coach John Foucault, Mike Carignan and a former TriTown player Gunnar Andersen.