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- Category: Past Issues
captions:
upper left: Guest Speaker
Brian Murphy spoke at the Tri-Town Legion baseball banquet. Courtesy photos.
top right:
Winners
Left to right: David Santerre, coach Shawn Bates and Ben Ross.
bottom right:
Honored
Left to right: Mike Kingsbury, Ross Lincoln, Joel Jezierski and coach Paul Faucher.
Another season of American Legion Baseball came to an official end for the Tri-Town Senior and Junior leagues. An awards banquet combined with a steak dinner, was an opportunity to honor and recognize all of the players and coaches for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the program.
This year’s award winners: Mike Kingsbury - Rene “Doc” Desaulniers Distinguished Player Award; Ross Lincoln - Tom Auclair Outstanding Player Award; Joel Jezierski - TTAL Executive Committee Award; Ben Ross - Joe Lindley Most Improved Player Award; David Santerre – Louis Bates Memorial Award.
In addition to the awards, Brian Murphy, a former New York Yankee and Tri-Town American Legion player, was guest speaker. Murphy was one of the most successful players ever to come from Tri-Town American Legion baseball, and started his career on the fields of Thompson. He was a three-sport athlete while at Tourtellotte Memorial High School and was selected as a Connecticut All-State Athlete in baseball in 1975.
Murphy spoke highly of his experience with American Legion Baseball, having made the team at the age of 14. At that time, only one team existed; there wasn’t a Senior or Junior league. He gave the players some good advice and words of wisdom and encouragement, telling them “You work hard at sport, you work hard at life.” He encouraged them to always give it their all when they’re on the field, but to also keep in mind that someday, baseball will end for them, even if they are fortunate enough to make it into the major league, therefore it’s important to get an education as well.
Although the Tri-Town teams did not gather enough wins to proceed further in the playoffs, that’s not to say that the games weren’t competitive. The coaches from both the Senior and Junior teams said although they couldn’t boast a great winning season, they appreciated how much time and effort the players put into the season, and into every game as well. This year’s Senior’s team was managed by Ron Kingsbury, with Paul Faucher taking over as head coach, and assisted by Dan Olm. Serving as manager for the Junior’s team was Barry Shead. Shawn Bates returned for his sophomore year as head coach, and was assisted by Mark Peterson and Scott Marquis. It was a tough season for the Junior team as well, but the teams’ spirit remained strong.
Officials praised the program as a great organization that lives on because of the individuals who volunteer their time unselfishly. From January to July, these volunteers are hard at work to ensure that a long-standing tradition continues. The Executive Committee has the arduous task of securing the financial end of the program. A lot of “behind the scenes” work goes on that is instrumental to making the Tri-Town American Legion Baseball program available every year. This Executive committee, comprised of Ron Coderre, Joe Lindley, Barney Seney and Everett Shepherd, and others, won accolades for their combined efforts and hard work.
American Legion Baseball is a grueling, demanding and hectic schedule but it also offers the opportunity for growth, not necessarily solely of baseball skills. It’s a chance for these young men to learn how to be better men by teaching them responsibility, commitment, leadership, and respect, not only for themselves, but for their teammates as well. These boys come to the field possessing knowledge of the game of baseball, but the goal is always to teach them character by holding them to a higher standard. Assistant Coach Scott Marquis put it best by telling his players after a one-run tough loss game, “Not all victories are on the scoreboard.”
This year’s Senior players:
Chris Alves, Gunnar Andersen, Dan Arundel, Nick Darras, Dylan Duval, Drew Faucher, Joel Jezierski, Mike Kingsbury, Zak Kozey, Ross Lincoln, Paul Lindstrom, Brady Matteau, Mike Olm, Jimmy Sullivan, Chris Whitehouse.
This year’s Junior players:
Albert Bruso, Tim Cutler, Sean Falvey, Casey Kitka, Devin Marquis, AJ Monty, Jeremy Normandin, Keith Owens, Jon Peterson, Ben Ross, David Santerre.