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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s sporty hello goes out to Putnam’s Matt Heath. A former youth league standout athlete, he’s the personality behind the success of Someplace Special Restaurant. From early in the morning to late at night he always wears a warming smile.
As a retired umpire who toiled the high school, American Legion and college baseball scene for 25 years, one of the nicest things that happens each year is my invitation to the annual banquet of the Eastern Board of Umpires. This year’s event was held at the internationally renowned Moose Club in Bozrah.
A former well known Danielson personality and current New London resident, Sean Brennan was elected the president for 2013. Brennan waxed eloquent in his thanks to fellow members for placing their faith in his ability to lead the organization forward. If he’s as capable as president as he is on the field, the umpires are in good hands.
Brennan ranks highly on the Eastern Board’s list of umpires. Following in the footsteps of his late dad, Ralph “Bill” Brennan, Sean has worked numerous CIAC State Tournament games, including many finals behind the dish. He’s well known and respected in American Legion circles, having gone as far as umpiring National World Series games. Brennan succeeds Richard “Sarge” Pasqualini of East Lyme.
The banquet featured a number of award presentations. The Roger LaFrancois Eastern Connecticut Conference Team Sportsmanship Award was presented to Fitch High School and coaches Marc Peluso and Brian McGugan. The award was presented by Roger LaFrancois, who reminded the audience how important the organization was to his late father.
Kyle Griffin of Plainfield, a member of the American Legion Post #91 coaching staff accepted the Ralph Brennan Legion Team Sportsmanship Award. An emotional Sean Brennan presented the award, which is the second time the Post #91 team has been so honored.
The Frank Slivenski Legion Player Sportsmanship Award went to Post #91 standout pitcher and infielder, Dylan Yaworski. The award is presented in memory of the late Slivenski, who in addition to being an umpire was a well known educator.
The 2012 Umpire of the Year Award went to Leo Bawza, while Ed Nevins was honored as the Jack McDonald President’s Award winner and Gary Thompson took home the Iron Man Award.
The guest speaker was the well-known and highly respected coach at UConn Avery Point, Roger Bidwell. He reminded the audience of more than 100 umpires how much their work means to the players throughout Eastern Connecticut at all levels.
“You job is about relationships. By doing your work for the love of the game, you are encouraging kids to stay involved in America’s National Pastime,” said Bidwell.
Among the past umpires on hand for the evening’s festivities were Richard “Dish” Marien of Norwich, Ted Taraszkiewicz of Montville, Mike Chiappone, of New London and Stan Lenniewski of N. Grosvenordale. Also on hand was former Fitch High School coach Ed Harvey, the father of New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey.
Andrea Plucenik Watch…
Following her selection as the Big East Soccer Rookie of the Week, former Woodstock Academy booter Andrea Plucenik continues to shine on the pitch for UConn. In a double overtime victory over Villanova University in Pennsylvania, Plucenik tallied the winning goal, propelling the Lady Huskies to a hard fought 2-1 win.
Plucenik and her teammates are currently 6-4-1 overall and 2-2 in the Big East. Plucenik’s winning boot was her fifth goal of the season. She’s a sophomore at the university but a red shirt freshman on the soccer team.
Former Tiger Leading Nichols College Booters…
The success that the Nichols College Bisons are enjoying on the soccer field this season can be largely attributed to Scott Coderre of Thompson. The 4-4 Bisons recently won a pair of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) contests thanks to the talented toe of Coderre. In a game against Becker College, Coderre had a rare hat trick, recording three goals in a 4-0 win, in which he also had an assist. He followed that performance with two assists in a big 3-1 win over Curry College.
Coderre was honored as the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Player of the Week. The CCC followed-up that award by naming him the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. On the season, Coderre leads the Bisons offense with six goals and four assists for a total of 16 points.
The Nichols College senior was a four-year starter at Tourtellotte Memorial High School, where he played for coach Dennis Snelling. In the off season, Coderre can be found on the Tourtellotte basketball bench as an assistant to coach Tony Falzarano.
Tourtellotte Hoosiers…
In 1987 the movie Hoosiers, about a small comeback high school basketball team from rural Indiana was popular among moviegoers. At the same time in Thompson a band of high school players led by coach Jim Naum and assistant coach Merrill Seney was creating its own version of Hoosiers.
The team, which posted a final record of 20-7, was good but not good enough to win even its own conference, the Quinebaug Valley Conference. Undeterred, the Tigers embarked on the CIAC State Tournament and to the surprise of many came home with a State title.
The team’s starting five was composed of high-scoring Greg Guillot (20 ppg), hard charging rebounders and scorers Earl Rosebrooks and John Lesniewski and guard Tom Naum and Chris Mayotte. The first subs off the bench were usually Conway Dodge, David Biron and Jeff Guillot. Other members of the squad included Shawn Brissette, Dan Dodge, Jeff Golembiewski, Bob Hamel, Kevin O’Connell and Len Sugalski.
At the end of the season, Guillot and Rosebrooks were named QVC all stars. Rosebrooks, who emerged in the State Tournament, was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, while also garnering All State honors. Guillot was named All State Honorable Mention and coach Naum was honored as the Journal Transcript Coach of the Year. In June 2012 the team was inducted as a unit into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “…if they used my figure for an hourglass the day would be very short.” Phyllis Diller