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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent along to Ellsworth Chase and his wife the former Patty Divincenzo. The couple is happy to be back in northeastern Connecticut and reacquainting with their many friends. Ellie is a noted golfer, who holds the course record at Norwich Golf Club where he fired a blistering 62.
Marianapolis Prep School’s athletic programs are noted for producing basketball players who move on to the college level but in a rare offseason announcement on Friday, November 15, the school noted the signing of a baseball player to a National Letter of Intent.
Devin Springfield, a postgraduate student, signed on the dotted line to play next season at Franklin Pierce University, located in Rindge, N.H. Springfield, who will play for the Golden Knights and coach David Austin in the spring, comes to Marianapolis from Jaffrey, N.H. and Conant High School.
While at Conant, Springfield roamed centerfield and pitched for the New Hampshire team. Last season he posted a batting average of .430, with 22 runs-batted-in and 25 runs scored. His performance garnered him All-State honors and selection to the prestigious New Hampshire vs. Vermont all star game. He also helped his high school team to its first baseball state championship since 1956.
Franklin Pierce University is an NCAA Division II school that plays in the highly competitive Northeast-10 Conference. Former Woodstock Academy and TriTown American Legion standout Ross Lincoln is a member of the FPU baseball team.
The Coaching Shuffle
The departure of Willie Bousquet as the girls’ basketball coach at Putnam High School presents not only a changing of the guard on Woodstock Avenue but speculation as to how the dominoes will fall in the local coaching ranks. Currently, with approximately one week prior to the official start of practice, Putnam is left without a varsity coach for the Lady Clippers.
Bousquet’s arrival at Woodstock fills the void left by the sudden departure of former coach Dave Walley. The Centaurs have Peter Green in place as the girls’ freshman coach, a situation that Bousquet is in concert with. However, there is a vacancy on the junior varsity level at Woodstock, which Bousquet should fill rather quickly.
The questions remains — who will take over for Bousquet in Putnam? And who will Bousquet tap to fill the JV role in Centaurland?
Speculation is that Bousquet’s former assistant at Putnam Mandy Hogan may be his successor on the bench for the Lady Clippers. Her selection seems logical, based on her years sitting beside Bousquet (when he wasn’t roaming the sidelines) and also based on the fact that she was a college basketball player. But then again, why wouldn’t Bousquet invite his longtime assistant to come up Rt. 171 with him? She is well ingrained in the Bousquet coaching philosophy, making the transition fairly comfortable for both.
If that scenario occurs, where does that leave Putnam? Scratching its head as usual when it comes to filling coaching vacancies? The next few days should prove interesting as the plot thickens and the coaching skein unravels.
PSA Grad Gets Playing Time
Last season, 6-foot, 9-inch Paul Brooks was a key inside operative for coach Tom Espinosa at Putnam Science Academy. His play for the Mustangs earned him an opportunity to move on to the hardwood at Worcester State University.
Early in the season it appears that Brooks is taking advantage of his elevation to the college level. Last weekend, the Lancers opened the season in Willimantic at the Eastern Connecticut State University Tip-Off Tournament.
Worcester State University played its cross-town rival Becker College in the consolation game on Saturday. The Lancers lost by a score of 66-64 with Brooks contributing four points.
Woodstock Netter in Coaches All Star Contest
Sarah Swenson, Woodstock Academy’s outstanding volleyball player, has picked up another postseason honor following a great fall season for the Centaurs. Swenson was named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Star Game, which was played at 7p.m. on Monday, November 18 (after the Putnam Town Crier went to press) at Maloney High School in Meriden. Her selection comes off the heels of being named a First Team Eastern Connecticut Conference all star.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “The only difference between me and General Custer is that I have to watch the films on Sunday.” Rick Venturi, Northwestern University Football Coach.