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caption, page 1:
Mission Accomplished
Cody Bennett, center (baseball cap, no sunglasses), and volunteers revived Putnam's Nature Trail as Bennett's Eagle Scout project. Courtesy photo.
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Before
After
From left: Bousquet, Mayor Barney Seney and Bennett.
Bringing the nature trail back to life
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
The deciding factor for Cody Bennett, candidate for Eagle Scout, was which project would help the community the most.
Bennett, a member of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 25 of Putnam, set his sights on refurbishing the Putnam Nature Trail behind the Putnam Middle School.
Originally he had wanted to do something for veterans but then a former Eagle Scout in his Troop recommended that Bennett contact Willie Bousquet, director of Putnam’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“He (Bousquet) gave me a few options ad I picked this one because I thought it’d help the community the most,” Bennett said.
It’s quite a process for an Eagle Scout candidate.
Bennett had to plan out what had to be done, have that approved by the troop and then the council. Get the materials and volunteers, acquire donations for food (Broken Crust) and on work day, lead all the volunteers that he had. Some 17 or 18 volunteers helped Bennett. “I had to organize who would do what based on their skills,” he said.
The town donated the materials for the project including: hardware (worth $80), stair treads ($1,450), markers ($30), and processed material ($50).
First they blew all the leaves off the trail. In doing that, the group uncovered a “hidden” trail near the softball fields. They got to work on that with rakes and loppers, clearing that, too.
They put markers on the trail on the river side, cleaned off the stairs and leveled them and put treads on the stairs. They put lag bolts on the uprights on the handrails because they were loose. Bennett said they also filled in the washout at the bottom of the stairs.
Bennett now has to write up the completed project and present it to the Board of Reviews with the troop and the council, probably in June.
He said “I’d like to thank the town of Putnam for the opportunity to do this project. I hope the community will enjoy the trail. I’d also like to thank past and present Troop members and my family for their support.”
Bousquet said: “The Town of Putnam appreciates the update to the stairs at the Putnam Nature Trail along with the trail cleaning and marking that Cody Bennett accomplished as his Eagle Scout Project”.
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Delivers
Woodstock Academy pitcher Lexi Thompson delivers to the plate against Killingly. The junior pitched a no-hitter against Bacon Academy the day after. Photo by Marc Allard.
Roundup
Young
arms lead
Centaurs
to wins
While the baseball bats were on display earlier in the week, it was the arms that ruled April 23.
Sophomore Riley O’Brien went the first four innings against Killingly and freshman Brady Ericson tossed the last three. Between the two, they did not allow an earned run, gave up only four hits and struck out 11 in a 6-1 win over Killingly. Junior Kaden Murphy and sophomore Eric Mathewson have also been very effective.
Ericson started on the junior varsity level this season.
The bats were hot earlier in the week and took a little while to come around against Killingly starter Dominik Kubera.
Killingly took the lead in the third inning but the Centaurs rallied to tie in the bottom of the fourth when Jon Smith singled, went to third on a Jackson Goetz single and scored on a Carter Morissette sacrifice fly.
The Centaurs went ahead for good in the fifth. Zach Roethlein singled and Smith ripped a triple down the right field line to put Woodstock ahead for good. Smith came home on a Goetz sacrifice fly to give the Centaurs a 3-1 lead. Woodstock put the game away with two outs in the sixth.
Kaden Murphy singled and later scored on a Roethlein base hit.
Mathewson, who had walked, went to third on the single and scored on an error and Roethlein came home on a Smith double to right field.
Smith was 4-for-4 against Killingly and now has a .517 batting average (15-for-29) going into the 10th game of the season.
Earlier in the week, Kaden Murphy had quite the day in a 17-0, 5-inning win over Montville, going 3-for-3 with three singles and three runs batted in at the plate. He also allowed only two hits in his four innings on the mound.
Which part of his effort was he happier with? “Probably the two-hitter,” Murphy said. “I felt good. I didn’t have a great performance in my last outing. I am starting to get into my groove and I’m hoping this carries into my next start.”
The win also helped the Centaurs forget about a 12-8 loss to Bacon Academy the day before.
Kaden Murphy had little to worry about on the mound. After putting Montville down harmlessly in the top of the first inning, he and his teammates put together a two-out, seven-run rally in the bottom of the inning.
Hamilton Barnes and Smith both scored on wild pitches and Ethan Davis scored on an error. Marcus McGregor had an RBI single and later scored on a Kaden Murphy base hit. In between, Morissette walked and scored on a Barnes’ double. Kaden Murphy came around on a wild pitch.
After Kaden Murphy set the side down in order in the top of the second, the Centaurs added three more runs to make it a 10-0 game. Kaden Murphy had a two-run single and Goetz added an RBI base hit.
Plus, even with the big lead, the Centaurs didn’t lose focus as can sometimes happen in a one-sided game.’
Barnes, Roethlein and Goetz all added two hits to the Centaurs 12-hit attack with Barnes, Goetz and McGregor each knocking in two runs. Murphy struck out four on the mound.
Things were looking good early for Woodstock in Colchester. The Centaurs jumped out to a two-run lead over host Bacon Academy in the first inning and added four more in the second.
Unfortunately, it was not a good day to be a pitcher as Bacon Academy answered with a run in the first, five in the second and six in the third to post a 12-8 win, ending a five-game win streak for the Centaurs.
Both teams scored all of their runs in the first three innings. Mathewson doubled in the first inning and was knocked home by Smith. Smith would come around on a Davis single.
Woodstock, after Bacon Academy scored one in the bottom of the first, added four more in the second. Smith and Goetz (3 hits) had RBI doubles, Mathewson added an RBI single and Roethlein scored on a wild pitch.
The Centaurs scored their last two runs in the third when Goetz scored on an error and Barnes took advantage of a wild pitch to score.
The Centaurs finished the week with a 7-2 overall record (3-1 ECC Div. II).
Softball: 2 ECC Divisional wins
It’s always nice to get the adrenaline pumping a bit and that normally happens when a Woodstock team plays a Killingly squad.
Such was the case April 21 as the Centaurs held off Killingly, 8-2, on a very blustery and chilly April afternoon.
Despite the conditions, the bats did show up for the Centaurs who scored a run in every inning.
Winning pitcher Lexi Thompson helped herself in the first inning when she singled past third, advanced to second on an error, stole third and scored on a Liz Morgis sacrifice fly.
Killingly tied the game in the bottom of the first and the two teams went into the third tied at two.
But the bottom of the order came through with two outs in the top of the third for the Centaurs. Morgis drew a walk and Savannah Schley reached on an error. Both runners came home on a single to left by Emily Goodell. The single put Woodstock Academy ahead for good in the game.
Morgis had an RBI single in the fourth; Sarah McArthur added an RBI fielder’s choice in the fifth; Morgis came home on a passed ball in the sixth and McArthur had an RBI double in the seventh. Thompson, Morgis and Jenna Bankowski each added two hits in the win.
The Centaurs raised their record above the .500 mark, to 5-4, April 22 with a 16-1, 5-inning mercy rule win over Bacon Academy. Woodstock is now 3-1 in Div. II of the ECC.
Thompson pitched a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts against the Bobcats (2-5, 1-2). She had plenty of support at the plate again as the Centaurs pounded out 13 hits and put the game away with seven runs in the fourth inning and five in the fifth. Three doubles in a row spurred on the fourth inning uprising.
Morgis, Madison Nichols and Avery Collins all delivered run-scoring, two-baggers to help the Centaurs go up double digits, 10-0. Ainsley Morse also had an RBI single to make it 11-0 going into the fifth.
Bacon Academy did manage to score a run without the benefit of a hit in the top of the fifth. Woodstock put the win away early, however, with five more runs in the bottom of the inning. The Centaurs got runs on two passed balls, an outfield error, a Grace Delsanto sacrifice fly and Schley ended it with an RBI single.
Morgis raised her average to .542 on the season as she went 2-for-3 with a double and knocked in three runs in the win. Madison Martinez, who missed the Killingly game due to illness, chipped in with two hits and two RBIs. McArthur, Nichols and Morse also had two hits.
Boys’ Tennis: 50-50 week for boys
The doubles teams came in handy for the Woodstock boys’ tennis team last week.
Woodstock won at first singles, but then had to rely on its doubles teams to pull out the 4-3 win over Montville.
Later in the week, Woodstock traveled to Groton and lost to the Falcons, 4-2. The results of the two matches left the Centaurs with a 3-2 record.
Evan Haskins got the blue and gold off to the right start against Montville with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win over Brendan Duhamel at first singles.
But both Gabriel Viau and Diego Rodriguez lost in three-set marathons and Jai Abrams fell in a tough straight-set match.
That meant it was the doubles teams to the rescue for the Centaurs. Cormac Neilsen and Kyle Pazienza won at first doubles; Ari Abrams and Tyler Chamberlin at second and James Le and Max Ring took third doubles to give Woodstock Academy the win. Doubles also provided both of the wins for the Centaurs in the loss to Fitch.
The first doubles team of Ari Abrams and Chamberlin produced a 6-3, 7-6 win over the Falcons’ Calvin Lupo and Owen Parfitt.
Woodstock’s second doubles team picked up a forfeit win and neither team fielded third doubles which accounted for the six-match final score.
The Falcons (3-1) guaranteed themselves the victory early by sweeping the four singles matches that were played.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Delivers
Woodstock Academy pitcher Lexi Thompson delivers to the plate against Killingly. The junior pitched a no-hitter against Bacon Academy the day after. Photo by Marc Allard.
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DMV Coming
Putnam's DMV office is being renovated at the Putnam Parkade. Once finished, the office will be open three days a week, by appointment only. Linda Lemmon photo.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
April 11
Robbin M. Provasoli, 56, Riverside Drive, N. Grosvenordale; OUI, failure to maintain lane.
April 13
James Charland Jr., 20, West Road, Colchester; evading responsibility and failure to maintain lane.
April 17
Hunter Palmerino, 19, Stafford Street, Charlton; DUI, failure to maintain lane, illegal possession of cannabis type substance with intent to sell.
April 14
Joseph Verreneault, 53, last known address: Bellevue Street, Putnam; criminal violation of a protective order.
Nicholas Lapierre, 22, Dean Avenue, Smithfield, R.I.; operating unregistered tail lights.
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Woodstock Academy freshman Christian Menounos finishes in first place against NFA in the 3200-meter race in his first high school outdoor track meet. Photo by Marc Allard.
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Far left: Senior Keenan LaMontagne gets ready to launch the shotput. Left: Senior Ian Hoffman clears the bar on the way to a 9-foot, 6-inch finish, good enough for first place in the pole vault against NFA. Photos by Marc Allard.
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It was the win that Woodstock Academy coach Josh Welch was hoping for.
“The spirits are high,” Welch said after his Centaurs girls’ outdoor track and field team downed NFA in the season opener for both last week, 92-58.
“NFA is always a great program so getting a significant win over them points-wise says a lot about where we are as we prepare for Fitch, E. Lyme, and Waterford. It is always tough to read between indoor and outdoor as the change in season sees crossover athletes come and go. But with a win here it shapes our conversation and plans as a team as we tackle the next opponent. We know at this point we have a great shot at wins against Fitch and Waterford, and a fighting chance at East Lyme this year,” Welch added.
The Centaurs picked up the win thanks to a host of athletes getting a lot of points.
Bella Sorrentino, a junior, placed first in the 100 hurdles (16.8 seconds); was a member of the winning 4x100m relay (53.8 seconds) team along with Isabella Selmecki, Hailey McDonald, and Juliet Allard; finished second in the shotput (31-feet, 7-inches) and second in the long jump (15-6).
Fellow junior Magdalena Myslenski took first in both the discus (110-5 ¾) and javelin (91-7) and was third in the pole vault (7-6).
Linsey Arends won the 800m (2:28); joined Lauren Brule, Julia Coyle and Leila MacKinnon to finish first in the 4x800m (10:31.9) and also joined Selmecki, Talia Tremblay and Reegan Reynolds to capture first in the 4x400m relay (4:26.6).
Brule was first in the 3200m (13:13) and second in the 1600m with Coyle second in the 3200 and third in the 1600m. Sydney Lord helped the Centaurs sweep the points with a third in the 3200m. Tremblay was best in the 400m (65.2 seconds) with Selmecki in second. Jillian Edwards was second in the 100 hurdles.
A couple of freshmen also stood out in their first regular season meet with Mia Sorrentino winning the high jump (4-8) and Juliet Allard finishing second in both the 100 and 200-meter races.
In all, the Centaurs had 14 state-qualifying performances.
Boys’ Track: Back to Competition
For the first time in three years, the NFA buses rolled on to the South Campus of Woodstock Academy to compete in an ECC boys’ Div. I track and field event.
“I think it’s new to (his team). For me, it felt normal, but we also felt like we were going at them with some chances. It wasn’t a 130-18 meet or some score like that. It was nice to see the kids step up, score some points and do well,” said coach Peter Lusa.
The Wildcats won, 99-51, but the Centaurs had plenty of things they could point to as highlights.
Senior Ian Hoffman said, “This was our first official meet and NFA is some really good competition. It was just good to get back out there. The cool thing was that there were some (NFA) faces that I recognized from cross-country and I knew they would be good competition. To be able to race against them was awesome.”
Hoffman picked up a pair of first-place finishes, including one that got the Centaurs off to a good start. He, Vince Bastura, Owen Tracy and Christian Menounos won the 4x800 meter relay in 8:59.9. They qualified for States, just barely.
It was one of five state-qualifying performances on the day for the Centaurs. “It’s a new season but the (4x800 team) was really focused on that. They were cheering each other on and that will egg on the other kids,” Lusa said.
Hoffman also finished first in the pole vault where he cleared the bar at 9-feet, 6-inches. He was shooting for 10-6, his personal best during the indoor track season, but outside the wind is a factor. Hoffman also finished second in the 800-meter.
Fellow senior Keenan LaMontagne qualified for the States in both the shotput and discus.
His shotput of 48-feet, 2 ¼ inches was his personal best “by a bunch” according to Lusa and he also managed a personal best in the discus at 147-8.
Jeff Phongsa (11.2 seconds) and Braeden Emerson (11.6) both qualified for the States in the 100m dash. Lusa was also happy to see the Centaurs score the first three places in the javelin — Silas Strandson placed first, Chase Young was second and Jared Eaton third. Menounos also picked up a first-place finish in the 3200m.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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