By Ron P. Coderre

The postponements from earlier in the season caused by cold and inclement weather and the recent prolonged rains has created a rush situation for all teams as they attempt to squeeze in remaining games prior to tournament time.  

Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Woodstock Academy and Putnam all played four games in a busy week.  Ellis Tech, believe it or not, played an unusual five games in the span of six days.  The games left coaches scratching their heads wondering where the pitching would come from.  Tourtellotte went anemic offensively, scoring only three runs in four games and going 0-4 on the week.  Putnam and Woodstock posted 1-3 weeks, while the Golden Eagles of Ellis Tech were 3-2.

Plainfield and Killingly, who managed to avoid the bad weather earlier each played twice.  The Redmen lost both games, while the Panthers were a perfect 2-0.  The preps, Marianapolis and Pomfret had light schedules.

Ellis Tech and Plainfield are both qualified for CIAC postseason play, surpassing the mandatory eight victories required for entry.  Tourtellotte, Woodstock, Putnam and Killingly are very much on the bubble.  The Tigers, the Centaurs and the Redmen will require a miracle to qualify, while Putnam seems poised to sneak into the tourney.

Ellis Tech Playing Well

Ellis Tech a team that’s generally not a baseball power is enjoying a winning season as the Golden Eagles are 10-6 on the season and 8-1in the Constitution State Conference – East.  In a week that featured five games the Techmen opened on a down note losing to Windham of the Eastern Connecticut Conference 6-2.  

The Golden Eagles bounced back with hard fought 3-1 over CSC – East opponent Norwich Tech.  The win propelled Ellis Tech into first place in the division and assured them a spot in the CIAC postseason.  Tech pitcher Brandon Bastien was immense on the mound, going the distance for the win.  Jacob Hart delivered the key blow of the contest when he doubled to right centerfield driving in Harrison Basley with the go-ahead run, a lead they would not relinquish.

In a contest best described as a first round knockout the Golden Eagles pummeled CSC –East foe Parish Hill 32-0.  Saige Louis, who scored five runs, opened the contest with an inside the park homerun, setting the tone for the game.  Louis and Brett Ravenelle each recorded five hits in the win.  Darius Devanny went the distance for the win, striking out 13 along the way.

Next up was Bacon Academy of the ECC.  The Bobcats bested Ellis Tech 6-3 in a game played in Colchester.  The Techmen concluded the week with a big win over CSC – East opponent Putnam.  Caleb Deslauriers pitched a complete game in the 12- 1 victory with a dozen strikeouts.   Chuck Innes (four hits) and Hart (three hits and three RBI) propelled the Golden Eagle offense to the win.

Following its morning loss to Ellis Tech the Putnam Clippers lost an afternoon contest to visiting Plainville 15-1 as the team managed only two hits.  The Clippers opened the week on a high note, beating Grasso Tech 19-4 but it was all downhill after that contest.  Mitchel Barylski led a trio of hitter with three hits to go with his five runs-batted-in.  Zach and Cutler Cole Davagian also posted three hit days in the win.  Prior to its doubleheader loss on Saturday, Putnam was also beaten by Windham Tech 5-2.  The Clippers are 6-10 and 4-5 in the CSC – East.

Plainfield raised its record to 10-6 with a pair of victories over local teams.  The Panthers rode the strong arm of Dylan Horn in shutting down Woodstock Academy 10-0.  Izaiah Thompson and Jeff Nicolosi provided the offensive fire power for Horn.  

In its only other game Plainfield defeated ECC – Medium Division opponent Killingly 5-1.  David Carpenter and Colby Greenhalgh were the hitting stars for the Panthers who stand at 5-2 in the Medium.  The Redmen are 4-10 overall and 1-6 in the ECC – Medium.  Killingly lost its other game a 3-2 heart breaker to East Lyme.

Following a big 2-1 win over Ledyard, Woodstock Academy fell three times in a four-game week.  Evan O’Connor tallied the winning run for the Centaurs when he raced home on a wild pitch for the walk-off victory.  David Redfield tossed a gem in picking up the win on the hill.

In addition to its loss to Plainfield, Woodstock was shutout 2-0 by Norwich Free Academy and fell 4-1 to Fitch.  The Centaurs are 5-11 on the season and 2-6 in the ECC – Large.  They need to pick up three wins in their final four games to qualify for the CIAC Tournament.

Tourtellotte’s bat took a vacation as the Tigers lost all four games in a dismal week.  They were shutout 7-0 by St. Bernard to open the week and followed that contest with losses to Lyman (12-1), Windham (10-1) and Griswold (7-1).  The Tigers are 5-9 on the year and 1-7 in the ECC – Small and need three wins in their final six games to move into the postseason.

Marianapolis had a 50-50 week on the diamond, losing to Providence Country Day 5-2 and rebounding with 10 hits in a 13-3 win over Beaver Country Day.  

 

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PUTNAM — The town’s Memorial Day observance will take place on Monday May 30, with the parade step off at 10 a.m. and will conclude with a memorial program at Rotary Park.  In case of inclement weather, notification will be on WINY 1350 AM the morning of the parade.

The parade will feature a lineup of marchers which will include town officials, a National Guard Unit, local veterans groups, VFW and American Legion poppy queens, several civic and fraternal organizations and youth groups. Patriotic music will be provided by local bands and the Putnam High and Middle School bands.

The parade marshal will be, Alan Joslin. He entered the service while a senior at Putnam High School.  He graduated in June 1966. He was officially sworn into the U.S. Navy in July 1966.  He spent the first two years on tug boats in Bremerton, Wash., Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.  He volunteered for Vietnam April 1968.  Alan went to Special training in Coronado, Calif. In December of 1968 he was in Vietnam attached to U.S. Army MACV as an adviser on river patrol boats. In September of 1969 he was wounded in an ambush with fellow advisor James W. Sampers who died from his wounds.  In time Alan was sent stateside, remained in hospital for almost one year. He was honorably discharged in August 1970.

Alan worked for the State of Connecticut (DOT) as a mechanic at the Putnam garage for 30 years.  He married Jo-Ann (Gorey) Joslin in 1975 and has been married 41 years.  He has two daughters, Angela (Joslin) Stringer and Beth Joslin and five grandchildren.  Alan is a member of VFW Post 1523 of Putnam.  He is an active member of American Legion Post 13 where he is a member of the color Guard and presently Senior Vice-Commander.

To accommodate older and disabled veterans, who wish to be in the parade, transportation will be available by calling the VFW at 860-928-9897.

Following the parade a speaking ceremony will take place in Rotary Park. The  keynote address will be given by veteran Todd Stevenson. Todd enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1957 following his graduation from Woodstock Academy.  He served in active duty for five years.  Todd served in the 483rd Air Police Squadron in Japan before being assigned to the 377th Security Squadron in Vietnam.  Upon discharge, he became an active member in the Putnam business community.

All marching units and on lookers are asked to gather at Rotary Park on Kennedy Drive immediately following the parade for the Memorial Day observance ceremony. The program will be led by Master of Ceremonies, Ronald P. Coderre, a U.S. Air Force veteran.  The VFW Chaplin will be announcing the remembrance of deceased soldiers in the state of Connecticut during duty in 2015. Lillium Florist will be at the ceremony to distribute roses to family members of deceased and living Veterans.   Following the ceremony, the VFW and American Legion will host a free picnic in Rotary Park.  Refreshments include hot dogs, chips & drinks for as long as they last. 

Earlier in the week, local veterans will place American flags at the graves of Veterans interred in the St. Mary, Grove Street and Nancy Drive, Munyan Road and Rt. 21 cemeteries.  There they will remain until Veterans Day in November.

The traditional wreath laying and military tributes at Putnam cemeteries, bridges and monuments will be conducted by a National Guard firing squad plus officers and color guards from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, starting at 10 a.m. May 29. The Putnam Police Department is providing security and escort services for all Memorial Day observance activities. 

 

 

Nicholas Giavara,

WWII vet

QUINEBAUG —  Nicholas Giavara, 88, of Linda Ln., died May 12, 2016, in Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the husband of Gloria (Nizamoff) Giavara.  They were married June 27, 1965, in St. Dimitrie Church, Bridgeport. 

Born in 1927 in Blackstone, Mass., he was the son of the late Spiro and Chirata (Gaci) Giavara.

Mr. Giavara was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army serving during WWII.  He worked as the executive director of the YMCA in Southbridge.  He was a member of St. Michael Romanian Orthodox Church in Southbridge.  He enjoyed playing handball.  

In addition to his wife Gloria, he leaves his sons, Kurt Giavara (Patricia) of Montpelier, Vt., Stephen Giavara (Andriani) of Bethesda, Md., and Peter Giavara (Susanne) of Kirtland, Ohio; his brother, Sutiri Giavara of Stratford; his sister, Frusina Balamaci of Scarsdale, N.Y.; and grandchildren Liliana Giavara and Samantha Giavara.  He was predeceased by his brother, Athanas Giavara. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was May 16 in St. Michael Romanian Orthodox Church, Southbridge, with burial in W. Thompson Cemetery. Donations: St. Michael Romanian Orthodox Church, 16 Romanian Ave., Southbridge, MA 01550. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Ruby LaFleur

PLAINFIELD — Ruby (Wong) LaFleur, 84, died May 16, 2016, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam.  She was the wife of the late William G. LaFleur who died in 2010.  She was born in Bocas Del Toro, Panama, daughter of the late Emanuel and Edna (Lee) Wong and lived in Plainfield since 1967. 

She leaves her son William G. LaFleur Jr. and her daughter, Jacqueline LaFleur both of Plainfield; three sisters; Karen LaFleur of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.,, Rose Blankenship of Nashville, and Florence Kowal of Denver.

The services were private. Donations: Alzheimer’s Assoc., 19 Ohio Ave., Norwich, CT. 06360. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

 

Honored

Four World War II veterans gathered at the RSVP Veterans Coffeehouse in Killingly recently to discuss the June 1944 invasion of Normandy, France, that eventually led to Allied victory in Europe.  Armand Jolly of Pomfret, who served on the Navy Destroyer USS Emmons, holds a print showing his ship in the thick of the action at the Battle for Green Fox Beach at Normandy.  Jolly, 93, donated the print to the Coffeehouse.  The Emmons was credited with blasting German positions to enable American forces to come ashore.  The WWII heroes shown are, from left: Navy veteran Ken Marvin, 88, of Woodstock, who served in the Panama Canal Zone; Jolly, 93; Chaplain Ernest Salvas, 89 , of Danielson, who served with the Navy Seabees at Okinawa; and Air Corps Navigator Fred Carlage, 99, of Woodstock, who flew 47 missions over the South Pacific.  Sheri Sochor of Arts & Framing in Putnam graciously donated professional framing services for the print. Courtesy photo.