By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC shoutout is sent along to U.S. Navy Veteran Nick Milano.  After serving 30 years under water as a submariner, Milano is now above land and living in Pomfret.  Hope you enjoyed Veterans Day, Nick.

Since the student population at Putnam High School has dipped to around 300 the championships on the athletic fields and courts have been difficult to come by.  Despite the lack of numbers, the Lady Clippers soccer team brought joy to the Woodstock Ave. campus when they captured the Constitution State Conference title.

The team is to be commended because it accomplished the feat without one of its best players.  In an October game against New London forward Saige Morin was lost for the season when she suffered a broken leg.  With Morin down, the fate of the Lady Clippers appeared dismal.  Joining together the team dedicated the remainder of the season to its teammate.  Their desire to win for Morin carried them to a five-game winning streak and eventually to the CSC Championship.  

Putnam took the title with a 3-1 victory over Parish Hill, a team that had beaten them earlier in the season.  Following an early goal by the Lady Pirates the Putnam defense stiffened limiting its opponent to only three shots on goalie Dakota Andersen.

Meanwhile the offense went to work behind dynamic sophomores Morgan Foucault and Jaidyn Gillette.  Gillette scored two goals.  She delivered the game tying and game-winning goals, while Foucault put the icing on the championship cake with a late second half goal.  The combination of Foucault and Gillette along with the return next season of Morin bodes well for the future of coach Molly Panteleakos’ soccer squad.

The win closed the season at 11-7 for the Lady Clippers and ranked them 17th in the CIAC postseason Class S rankings.  Unfortunately for Putnam it drew #14 Terryville in a first round game, which meant a long road trip across the state.  The courageous Clippers put up a valiant fight but lost in a heartbreaker 1-0 to officially end the season.  

PSA Grad on XL Center Court

The college basketball season is about to officially begin this week.  In a tradition that started in the last decade or so, many of the major programs prepare for the season by hosting exhibition games against NCAA Division II teams.  It’s an opportunity for the majors to get a look at all their players, while the visitors get the opportunity to play in a large arena in front of a good size crowd.  It also provides the smaller schools with a handsome paycheck.

On Saturday, November 7 the UConn entertained the visiting University of New Haven Chargers at the XL Center in Hartford.  As expected, coach Kevin Ollie’s Huskies dominated the contest, winning easily 83-43.  Every scholarship player on the UConn roster hit the scoring column.

A familiar face on the New Haven roster was former Putnam Science Academy guard Jemal Mosley.  The junior point guard is projected as the key player for the Chargers this season as they prepare for competition in the rugged Northeast-10 Conference.  Mosley, who is 12th on the career scoring list at Putnam Science Academy with 406 points, played well against the Huskies.  In 27 minutes of action Mosley had seven points on 3-for-9 shooting and contributed six rebounds and four assists.

Field Hockey Stars

The Eastern Connecticut Conference named its field hockey all-star team for the recently concluded fall season.  As expected Killingly’s high scoring stick handler Alyssa Rainey was a top pick as the Redgals dominated the First Team with three selections.

Joining Rainey, who was a midfield selection, were her teammates Teagan Waggoner (offense) and Hailey Beaupre (defense).  Another local First Team pick was Woodstock Academy’s offensive performer Mikayla Jones.

Hannah Canedy of Woodstock and Madison Weaver of Killingly were Honorable Mention selections.  Sportsmanship awards went to Bernice Boateng of Killingly and the Centaur’s Kylie Barrows.

Parlez Vous Francais?

Roger LaFrancois, the former Griswold High School three-sport standout and ex-Boston Red Sox catcher, has been toiling in the minor leagues for a number of years as a manager and hitting coach.  It’s not always easy, especially in the hot Florida summer sun and with many long bus rides, but LaFrancois is a dedicated baseball man.

Now in the St. Louis Cardinals organization LaFrancois has worked with a number of the young players who have made their way up to the Big Leagues.  That in itself is very rewarding but LaFrancois recently received a unique offer from the Cards.

Beginning December 2 and through December 9 LaFrancois will be in France representing the Cardinals and conducting baseball camps in two locations.  He’ll be working with players at the French Academy in Toulouse and with players and coaches in Mulhouse.  Each stop will be for three days, where he’ll teach hitting, catching techniques and general baseball strategy.

Thanks to the St. Louis organization, LaFrancois will be joined on the trip by his wife Colleen.  “The offer came as a total surprise.  But it’s a great opportunity for me and my wife.  Teaching baseball and enjoying France,” LaFrancois told Putnam Town Crier Sports.

Gridiron Standings and Stats

The Killingly Redmen enjoying one of their finest seasons under coach Chad Neal have once again vaulted on to the top of the CIAC Class M playoff points standings with a win over Fitch.  Killingly with its 7-1 record has 122.50 points.  Second and third places are also occupied by Eastern Connecticut Conference teams.  Bacon Academy (120.00) and Ledyard (118.75) are just behind Killingly although all three teams enjoy identical records.

Austin Caffrey of Killingly continues to occupy the top spot in the rushing and touchdown departments.  Caffrey has 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns in eight games.  He’s followed by Quinebaug Valley Pride all-purpose performer Jeremee Perez who has 902 yards and nine touchdowns in eight contests.

Killingly quarterback Kyle Desrosier leads northeastern Connecticut with eight touchdown passes.  The Pride’s Saige Louis is the top touchdown receiver with six scores through the air to his credit.

On The Heal

Former Putnam Selectman Norman “Barney” Seney was recently hospitalized for observation at Day Kimball Hospital.  He returned home on Thursday, November 12 and assured RPC that he’s quickly returning to normal.  Following a period of rest and recuperation he should be back to normal shortly.

Take a moment and send Barney a get well note at his home Elm Hill Road, Thompson, CT 06277.  It’s certain to speed his recovery.  RPC sends his best Barney.

From The Where Are 

They Now Files

Former Putnam High School three-sport standout Emily Vaillant-Mayo continues to shine as an athlete 22 years after leaving Clipperland.  Vaillant, who graduated from Putnam in 1993, ran a Half-Marathon in Madison on Saturday, November 7.  It was her initial attempt at the 13-plus mile distance.  She finished in a time of 2:20.

Following her graduation from Putnam Vaillant starred on the softball diamond for four years for the Assumption College Greyhounds.  Vaillant is the head of the English Department at Douglas, Mass., High School.

Her husband Luke Mayo, a 1994 Putnam grad, not to be outdone, ran the Hartford Marathon on October 24.  The former track and cross country star for the Clippers is a graduate of Western New England College where he received a degree in engineering.

Emily and Luke live in Coventry with their son Trevor 7, and 6 year old daughter Hailey.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”  Mother Teresa

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