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Champs

Members of the championship Putnam Co-Ed Volleyball League, the Jolie Netters celebrate the title, left to right: Brent Leveille, Dillon Roberts, Shawn Jolie, Kayla Jolie and Ashley Hayes.  Courtesy photo

 

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC sporty shoutout is sent along to Crystal DiZazzo and members of the Putnam Rotoract Club.  Last week they threw a party a J.D. Cooper’s to raise money for a scholarship.  It turned out to be one of the best attended “guest bartender” events the area has witnessed in many moons.

Dan Gagnon, who starred at Pomfret School in basketball and baseball, is enjoying success in baseball on the collegiate level with the Lasell College Lasers.  The sophomore standout starts at shortstop for the Lasers who are 16-9 overall and in second place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference with a league record of 10-4.

Gagnon, who also played summer baseball for the Danielson American Legion, is having an outstanding year with the bat as he leads Lasell in many offensive categories.  He currently sports a .341 batting average and a .408 slugging percentage, while having the most hits, doubles, walks, extra base hits and stolen bases.

In the classroom Gagnon is majoring in Athletic Training.  Lasell, which is located in Newton, Mass., is a Division III school.

Putnam Volleyball League Concludes Successful Season

Putnam Co-Ed Volleyball League Commissioner Gordie Mauer sends word that the fall to spring competition recently concluded its season by crowning the Jolie Netters league champs.  According to Mauer, the league which is run under the auspices of the Putnam Recreation Department and plays every Tuesday evening at the Putnam Middle School featured six teams this season.

Thanks to the solid net play of Dillon Roberts and Ashley Hayes and the serves of Kayla Jolie the Netters persevered over the rest of the competition.  Mauer noted that Shawn Jolie and Brent Leveille were outstanding setting up their teammates and digging out a number of tough slams.

Rumblings From Orono, Maine

The University of Maine in Orono athletic teams is known as the Black Bears.  It seems that the Black Bears were running this past week as there were some strong rumblings emanating from the Pine Tree State.

The first bit of earth shaking news was the firing of head basketball coach Ted Woodward, who had been at the helm of the hoop fortunes for 10 years.  Woodward’s departure started a domino effect that eventually reached a former member of the Putnam Science Academy Mustangs.

Shortly following the announcement of Woodward’s firing, former Mustang Shaun Lawton announced he was planning to transfer.  Lawton, a sophomore, played in 28 of the Black Bears 29 games as the team posted a disappointing 6-23 overall record and a 4-12 America East Conference log.  He led the team in assists, averaging 4.2 per game to go along with an 8.1 points per game average based on 227 points scored.  He also led the team in steals with two per contest.  Lawton, who played his high school basketball at Long Island Lutheran, was a valuable member of UMaine on both ends of the court.  

While at Putnam Science Academy under coach Tom Espinosa, Lawton was one of the main cogs in a 20-9 season.  He averaged 15.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.  As he did in college, Lawton led the team in assist 4.4 per game and 3.3 steals a contest.  Lawton posted a total of 442 points in his one season on campus, placing him 8th overall on the career scoring ladder.

The Black Bears also have another area product on the roster, 6-foot, 9-inch freshman Christian Ejiga, who played at Hyde-Woodstock.  As of press time there is no news regarding his intentions.  There was also no further news where Lawton planned to transfer.  While at PSA, he was also pursued by Norfolk State University, where current Mustang Jordan Butler will play next season.

 Former Centaur Helping Pointers Roll

Chris Mayhew, who is coming off a stellar freshman season at the UConn- Avery Point, continues his hot hitting in his second season with the Pointers.  In a recent doubleheader sweep of Lackawanna Community College, Mayhew was instrumental in keying the second game win.  He contributed a pair of hits including an RBI double in the 6-5 victory.

Against Monroe Community College of New York, in another doubleheader sweep, Mayhew had four hits and drove in four runs in leading UCAP to a 12-1 win.  The Pointers of Coach Roger Bidwell are 33-6 in the NJCAA Division II heading toward Regional competition. In his latest contest, Mayhew helped the Pointers to a 12-7 win over Holyoke Community College with two hits including a double.

Florida Report

Avon Park, Fla., is the winter home of many folks from northeastern Connecticut, most who are longtime members of Quinnatisset Country Club.  A recent call from former Tourtellotte Memorial High School baseball coach Tom Auclair indicates that the snowbirds are enjoying some great golfing weather in the Sunshine State.

Auclair and his wife Jan are enjoying their first full winter in Avon Park.  He reports that local golfers Cliff Aubin, John Smutnick, Dave and Anne Kelly, Tom Morway and many others continue to enjoy Florida’s rays, although most will be heading North sometime in May.

RPC’s Closing thought For The Day: When you think you’re really important, try giving orders to your cat.

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