By Ron P. Coderre

 This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Thompson resident Cosmo Quercia.  A little known fact about the affable Quercia is that he was a vaunted running back during his high school days at Norwich Free Academy and went on to play college football at Central Connecticut State University.  Today Quercia and his trusty camera can often be found at local sporting events taking photos of current day athletes, as he’s turned photography into his new passion in retirement.

During the past decade Brad Favreau’s name has been associated with real estate sales.  The Woodstock resident has realized success because of his outgoing personality and ability to create relationships.  To the surprise of many, in early January Favreau announced a career move from real estate to baseball.

Although the move may seem foreign to some, it’s not too farfetched for Favreau, who is returning to a career he enjoyed out of college.  Although baseball seems like it’s home run away from what he was doing, it’s not.  He’s assuming the full-time position of director of Business Development for the Connecticut Tigers, “selling baseball.”

Favreau’s new position allows him the opportunity to promote Tigers baseball and the many other uses that have made Dodd Stadium a venue that has also served high school, college and American Legion Baseball as well as being used by community organizations.  He’ll also serve as a pseudo ambassador in continuing to strengthening relations with surrounding communities.  When he graduated from college he previously worked at Dodd Stadium for the Norwich Navigators, so his new position should be comfortable to him.

Despite enjoying success in real estate Favreau appears very comfortable in the realm of sports and baseball.  A 1988 graduate of Woodstock Academy where he starred in basketball, baseball and soccer, Favreau played one season of college basketball at Becker College in Worcester.  He’s a 1993 graduate of Keene State University with a degree in sports management and a master’s degree from UConn.

Favreau also serves as assistant softball coach at Woodstock Academy, which he’ll continue to do.  He has extensive coaching experience in softball, basketball and soccer, having previously worked at Griswold and Ellis Tech.  He and his wife Amy, an administrator at Woodstock Academy, live in Woodstock with their three children, Guerin (11), Lennon (9) and Campbell (6).

Baseball Coaches Convention A Success

The Mohegan Sun World Baseball Coaches convention, which attracted more than 1000 baseball and softball coaches from around the country and the world, is officially in the record books.  According to organizers Pete and Andy Walker and Roger LaFrancois, the convention in its 11th year was another success.  Among the speakers were current Major League players Eric Campbell of the Mets, Nick Ahmed of the Houston Astros and Dominic Leone of the Seattle Mariners.  Former Big League players Bruce Hurst, Bob Tewksbury  and Jack Morris were featured presenters along with Boston Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo.

TriTown American Legion Baseball coaches John Foucault and Mike Carignan were among the many attendees on hand to take in the wide variety of programs that were offered.

N. Grosvenordale Demolition Derby

On a humorous but serious note, Cumberland Farms on Route 12 in North Grosvenordale had an unexpected intruder Jan. 17.  The well known Stan Lesniewski, a former Eastern Board umpire and Thompson Youth coach, hit the wrong pedal as he approached the store for his Saturday morning coffee and newspaper.  The mistake resulted in Lesniewski’s vehicle going through the plate glass and ending up with the front end of the vehicle in the store and the rear end in the parking lot.

Fortunately neither Lesniewski nor anyone in the store was injured.  He was able to finish his business after a brief investigation by State Police determined it was purely accidental.  Although it was no laughing matter at the time, Lesniewski, as you might imagine, has received his fair share of heckling from his friends, including RPC, since the incident. 

PSA #3 in Latest Prep Rankings

The latest Next Up Recruits Post Graduate Prep School National standings that were recently released has the Putnam Science Academy Mustangs of coach Tom Espinosa occupying the #3 spot in the nation.  Brewster Academy and Notre Dame Prep of Fitchburg, Mass., two future PSA opponents are ranked #1 and #2 respectively.

Elev8 Prep of Florida is #4 followed by Hargrave Academy and Northfield Mt. Hermon, two teams the Mustangs have beaten.  St. Thomas More of Oakdale, a team that PSA lost to by one point, is #7 followed by IMG Academy of Florida, a team the Mustangs have beaten.  South Kent School is #9 and Fork Union, another PSA victim, round out the Top 10.

Sporting a 19-2 record, Putnam Science Academy appears poised for its second trip to the National Prep Championships scheduled for sometime around March 10.  There’s still plenty of basketball to be played before the Mustangs reach that point of the season.

New York Football Giants

 Connected To Putnam

The New York Football Giants looking to rebound from a down season have made some adjustments to coach Tom Coughlin’s coaching staff.  News last week out of the Big Apple indicated the Giants were bringing back Steve Spagnuolo as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Spagnuolo, who is 55, most recently was a defensive assistant with the Baltimore Ravens.  During his 34-year coaching career, Spagnuolo had a stint as the head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

Spagnuolo was born in Northbridge, Mass., and spent his youth in Grafton.  He played college football at Springfield College.  His parents Robert and Angie Spagnuolo are Putnam residents.

News on the College Front

There’s a familiar face on the bench at Nichols College basketball in Dudley, R.J. Evans, the former Norwich Free Academy great, who scored more than 1000 points at Holy Cross and had a successful post graduate season at UConn, now has a role with the Nichols College Bison.  Evans is an assistant coach for the 11-4 Bison, who are a perfect 8-0 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Paul Brooks, the 6-foot, 9-inch former Putnam Science Academy center, continues to shine at Worcester State University despite the Lancers dismal 3-13 record.  In a recent loss to Bridgewater State, Brooks turned in a stellar performance scoring 22 points on an 11-13 effort, while also collecting 14 rebounds.

At Quinnipiac University, ex-Marianapolis big man Ousmane Drame continues to impress.  Drame registered another double-double with 12 points and a season-high 19 rebounds in a 73-59 win over Manhattan.  The 11-5 Bobcats of coach Tom Moore also received a double figure performance from former PSA center Chaise Daniels.  The 6-8 freshman had a career high 11 points on a 5-for-8 shooting night.

RPC’s Closing thought For The Day: Look for something wonderful to happen to you and it will happen.

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