PSA baseball recaps
SALISBURY — The Putnam Science Academy baseball team traveled to the hills of Northwest Connecticut to take on Salisbury School and fell short in a great battle, 3-2. Brian Feliz brought in a run with an RBI single in the top of the 5th inning, scoring Chris Promades. Justin DeJesus later scored to bring the second Mustang run. Andres Jurado started on the mound pitching 3 innings while giving up 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 runs earned and a strikeout. Janiver Diaz went in to relieve Jurado in the 3rd pitching the rest of the way. Diaz gave up one run on the mound while dealing 6 strikeouts. 
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Jacob Mondo was outstanding in the 9-5 home win against Mount Saint Charles. Mondo pitched a superb 4 ? innings with 8 strikeouts. Shilo Reyes shined in his outing of 2 ? innings. Mount St. Charles began to threaten the Mustangs. Through Reyes’ composure and pitching acumen he got the Mustangs out of the jam. Nolan Rodman extended the Mustangs lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the 4th with an RBI-single. Kike Melo brought in an RBI with a single of his own to make it 6-0. With the score at 7-5 with the Mustangs in the lead in the 6th inning, as Mount St. Charles threatened with runners in scoring position, Max Sanchez made the defensive play of the game to hold Mount St. Charles at bay. Catching a routine fly ball from right field, Sanchez threw out the tagging runner at home with an absolute laser of a throw. The Mustangs extended the lead to 9-5 later on and won by the same score. 
By Ben Heacox

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Norfolk State gets a steal in Skyers
PUTNAM — Norfolk State University was one of the first schools to offer Jordan Skyers. Now the four-star prospect announced his commitment to Norfolk State University out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Ranked among top 40 as a combo guard by ESPN, Skyers is the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to the Spartans, which he said played no factor into his decision. He described the recruiting process as “tough.” “I stuck with it, decided to go a different path and commit to an Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said Skyers. “I’m happy with my decision, I love my decision. I can’t wait for my freshman year to get started.” 
Head Coach Robert Jones and the recent success of the program was a major factor for Skyers. “He’s a winning coach, 13 seasons and he’s had one losing season. Went to the tournament 4 or 5 times. His resume speaks for itself,” said Skyers. After the aforementioned losing season for the Spartans coach Rob vowed that would never happen again. The vision he has for this program and the determination to turn it into a consistent power stood out to Skyers as well. He sees coach Rob as the perfect man to unlock his potential and take his game to the next level. 
“He’s a passionate guy, why would I not want to play for someone that looks like me?” It also doesn’t hurt that his future head coach is from his home state of New York- specifically Queens. Skyers acknowledged that his familiarity with the region will help the coaching staff understand what type of character Skyers will bring to the Spartans. The program is acquiring a well-rounded player, who will bring “energy for days.” “I’m a three-level scorer, I can rebound and guard for days,” Skyers said. 
His ability to adapt is another strong suit of his game. “I’m going to have to adapt to the speed and level of college basketball,” he said. “But overall, I’m just going to Norfolk to win.” Skyers described his moment of commitment as a “big rock that has been lifted off my back.” The recruitment process was filled with ups and downs, according to Skyers. He didn’t make his final decision until the very last moment. “I just want to go out there and play my hardest. Play the best I can, stay healthy and I thank God for that.”

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Girls’ Golf Preview
Woodstock Academy brings experience and talent back to golf course
A milestone for Woodstock Academy girls’ golf coach Earl Semmelrock. This is his 20th year at the helm of the Centaurs.
“Not really,” Semmelrock said with a laugh when asked if he expected his coaching tenure to go as long as it has. “Things have just kind of fallen into place and it is what it is. I plan to keep coming back as long as I have good groups of kids that want to learn and want to get better so here I am.”
The Centaurs come back pretty much intact from a year ago.
Isabel Mawson was the only graduation loss which means the top two players, senior Lily Moran and junior Reagan Scheck return.
They have been joined by a host of others.
“We’re excited,” Scheck, who will serve as co-captain with Moran, said. “We’re happy that the team has grown. We had 16 girls tried out and two of our freshmen are fantastic too so I’m excited about the young people coming and the people from last year coming back because we did make States so I really want to repeat that.”
Woodstock captured second place in the ECC championship a year ago.
Scheck was the medalist for the Centaurs at the league championship match, tying for second overall and reaching a personal goal by breaking 40 with a 39.
Moran also had a season low in the ECC tournament with a 45.
The Centaurs finished with a 10-6 record in the regular season and a good enough stroke average to qualify for the Div. II state tournament where they finished ninth.
“We had a successful year last year by making states and improving our ranking during the state tournament. The nucleus of the team is back and I’m sure we’re going to have an outstanding season,” Semmelrock said. ”Reagan has come through since she was a freshman and the expectations are high for her to have another good season. Lily Moran’s game has really come around. She showed that at the state tournament last year.”
The team has also benefitted from some offseason practice.
“We have been to Bears (Virtual Golf in Danielson) this winter and we have been practicing and it’s definitely been showing on the course. I feel very confident and I think we will do well this year,” Scheck said.
Sophomore Colby O’Connor also returns and has improved over the course of the year. Semmelrock also expects contributions from freshmen Brianna Beck and Addy Beams.
Other varsity players for Woodstock this year include Finley Hamilton, Isabelle Tedisky, Abigail Langevin and Elizabeth Thomas.
The newcomers have been fitting in nicely with the returners, according to Scheck.
“The chemistry has always been there and it seems to get stronger every year, especially with the new girls, there are no cliques. Everybody is a team and we do everything together,” the junior said.
In addition to the team roster growing, so has the league.
The ECC can now boast of nine teams as Waterford and Lyman Memorial have added programs.
“That’s a first for the league to have so many which is outstanding. That makes me happy because of all the years I have put in to see it grow and it seems to be taking hold now. There will be a lot less travel to Western Connecticut to get matches, not as much time on a bus,” Semmelrock said.
The Centaurs had their first two matches postponed and will now play their season opener right after spring break.
They will get on the bus April 20 and head to the Mohegan Country Club to play Lyman Memorial.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

captions:

Junior co-captain Reagan Scheck tees on the first hole at the Woodstock Golf Course during a practice last week.  

2026 boys and girls golf
Members of the Woodstock boys’ and girls’ golf teams recently participated in a clean-up day at the Woodstock Golf Course to help the facility clean up after a rough winter and get ready for the golf season.
Photos by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.

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