By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Billy Corey one of the best schoolboy soccer players in the history of the game on the pitch in Massachusetts.  Corey is now a Connecticut resident and can often be found in downtown Putnam frequenting the its numerous fine dining establishments.

Lady Tiger to Test Hoop 

Fortunes in Vermont

This past basketball season the Tourtellotte Lady Tigers basketball team received a pleasant surprise when Deanna Lazzara returned to the Thompson school after living in Massachusetts.  Her presence in the front court was a major difference in the success of the team.  Lazzara teaming with Jess Dodd under the hoop and the outside play of Ali Ablondi propelled Tourtellotte to the Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division regular season title.

The 6-foot, 1-inch Lazzara recently announced that she’ll be continuing her hardwood career on the collegiate level.  In September she plans on attending Green Mountain Community college in Poultney, Vt., where she’ll play for interim head coach Jonathan Lamiotte.

This season Lazzara averaged 8 points a game while hauling in 5.7 rebounds per contest.  She was one of the team’s leading shot blockers with 4.1 per game, while also averaging 1.7 steals in leading the team to a 19-6 record.

Coach Lamiotte is a familiar figure to followers of high school basketball in Putnam and northeastern Connecticut.  A 2001 graduate of Putnam High School, Lamiotte played for coach Tony Falzarano and closed out his career with 758 points, tying with Eric Mauer in 18th place on the all-time Clipper scoring list.  Among his accomplishments, Lamiotte was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2000 Quinebaug Valley Conference tournament and a regular season all star selection.  In 2001 he, along with Jeff Bousquet, was named to the Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division regular season all star unit.

Lazzara is the second Tourtellotte women’s basketball player to move on to the college circuit.  Earlier her teammate Ablondi announced her intention to play at Central Maine Community College in Auburn, Maine.

Trio Selected As Scholar-Athletes

Three football players from northeastern Connecticut high schools were recently notified of their selection to the Southeastern Connecticut Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.  

Matthew Hare of Woodstock Academy, running back and wide receiver Michael Elsey of Killingly and Braden Beauregard of Plainfield will be honored at the foundation’s annual banquet.  The event is scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m.  This year the banquet is being held at the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun.

Killingly Grad Joins Charlotte Hornets

Former Killingly High School women’s basketball standout Megan Robinson is scheduled to graduate from High Point University in High Point, N.C., in May.  Robinson, a sports marketing and communications major, was recently notified that she’s been selected for a position with the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association.  In her position, she’ll work in the marketing and sales and ticket promotions area for the Hornets, who feature former UConn All American point guard Kemba Walker.

Robinson, the daughter of Mary Egan of Danielson, was an Eastern Connecticut Conference all star performer for the Redgals.  Most recently she could be found during her summer vacations working for Club Pro Jim West at Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam.  Her ultimate goal is to someday be an on-air sports personality for a major network.

Former Eastern Board Ump 

Calls Last Pitch

Back in the day when we umpired baseball games for the Eastern Board of Approved Baseball Umpires we developed a friendship with a gentleman from Norwich by the name of Frank Yankiewicz.  His nickname of course was “Yank.”

As a young umpire “Yank” took me under his wing and shared his baseball knowledge and experiences, helping me climb the umpiring ladder.  In fact, the first college game I was in engaged in was with veteran ump Frank Yankiewicz.

I was deeply saddened to read of his passing on Friday, April 10.  “Yank” was 98 and lived a great life.  The last time we met was approximately three years ago at Dodd Stadium, where even into his 90s he was working at the stadium for the Tigers.  Baseball was his love.

The gregarious and outgoing Yankiewicz, in life as he was in baseball as an umpire on the diamond, was a lovable individual.  He’ll be remembered not only as a very good umpire but a great person.  “Yank” joins many of his former Eastern Board Umpire friends in the big diamond in the sky.

Spotted In Downtown Putnam

Former Wesleyan University head football coach and current gridiron assistant Frank Hauser was recently spotted dining in Putnam at The Crossings Restaurant.  Hauser, who enjoys a round of golf, when not engaged in recruiting or coaching college football players, had recently completed 18-holes at The Raceway Golf Club in Thompson and was spotted relaxing with friends.

Hauser, a native of Burrillville, R.I., is familiar with the Putnam area through his love of golf.  He’s also been in the area as a featured speaker at the Putnam High School Athletic Alumni Association sports banquet.

Welcome Back ‘Soup’

Eric “Soup” Campbell of Norwich who was assigned to Las Vegas by the New York Mets at the end of spring training was recalled on Wednesday, April 15.  His call-up was due to a hamstring injury to third baseman David Wright.  Campbell singled in his first time at bat and scored a run to help New York to a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

His teammate, the much celebrated Matt Harvey former Fitch High School product, is off to a great start at 2-0 in the early going.  Harvey is returning from Tommy John surgery.

Another Norwich Free Academy grad, Dominic Leone was recalled by the Seattle Mariners where he is a key member of the team’s relief corps.  Harvey’s teammate at Fitch High School, Jesse Hahn, is pitching well for the Oakland Athletics.  He’s in his first season with Oakland, having been traded in the off season from the San Diego Padres.

Finally, New London High School grad Rajai Davis hit a home run for the Detroit Tigers to help the team to a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.  

RPC’s Closing thought For The Day: “Kindness in words creates confidence.  Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.  Kindness in giving creates love.” Lao Tzu

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