By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC shoutout is sent along to nonagenarian Evelyn Russell of Putnam and Webster Lake.  On July 6 Mrs. Russell blew out another candle on the birthday cake.  In her spare time she occasionally continues to play the piano.  RPC sends along birthday wishes, Evelyn.

Joe Lindley, chief operating officer of the TriTown American Legion Baseball Committee, recently released the names of the first class of people who’ll enter the program’s Hall of Fame.  According to Lindley, the initial class will be inducted in a ceremony on Friday, July 22 at this year’s team awards banquet.  The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the VFW Post 1523 hall on Providence Street in Putnam.

The first group of inductees includes three former players, a coach and a contributor.  The players are Brian Murphy, Alan Leboeuf and Bob Auger.  The coach inductee is longtime legendary coach Tom Auclair, while Dr. Rene Desaulniers, who is attributed to being the founder of the program, will enter posthumously.

Desaulniers was an individual who cared about people and who loved Putnam.  Everything he did was done with 100 percent effort and energy.  He was an optometrist who practiced many years from his Grove St. office.  Out of the office Desaulnier had many interests, baseball ranking on the top.  He was an umpire for many years on the Eastern Board but it his impetus that created what is TriTown American Legion Baseball today.

Coach Auclair served as the American Legion coach from 1976 to 1997, a total of 21 dedicated seasons.  His 1984 and 1997 teams were among his best, advancing to the American Legion State Tournament.  He was also the coach of the Tourtellotte Tigers, for 24 seasons, amassing more than 350 victories.  Auclair, who played college baseball at Eastern Connecticut State University, is a 1965 Putnam High School graduate.

Murphy, who is a member of the Tourtellotte Athletic Hall of Fame, was an outstanding pitcher in the early ‘70s.  Murphy was arguably the best pitcher to ever wear a TriTown uniform.  He went on to an All-American career at Eastern Connecticut State University, where he was drafted by the New York Yankees.  He played two all-star seasons in the Yankees minor league system.  He later distinguished himself in corrections, serving as Commissioner of Corrections in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Leboeuf is also a member of the Tourtellotte Athletic Hall of Fame.  He distinguished himself as a hitter at Eastern Connecticut State University, where he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies.  A knee injury sidetracked his rise to the Major Leagues.  He’s arguably the best hitter to ever put on a TriTown uniform.  Today Leboeuf continues in organized baseball as a coach for the Milwaukee Brewers minor league system.

Auger, a 1968 graduate of Putnam High School, was a baseball phenom from the day he put on a uniform as a Little Leaguer.  As an 18 year old he distinguished himself by winning the Most Valuable Player award in the prestigious Hearst Baseball Games at Fenway Park.  He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and played two years of minor league baseball.  He later became athletic director at Bay Path Regional Vocational School in Massachusetts.  Although he never played for TriTown he starred on the combined Danielson – Putnam Legion team of the late 60’s.

Each inductee will be presented a commemorative plaque symbolizing their selection and their name will be placed on a permanent plaque that will be displayed at a location yet to be determined.

Happy Anniversary…

RPC extends congratulations and Happy Anniversary wishes to former Plainfield athlete Lenny King and his wife Joyce (Shaw) King.  The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary recently.  The Kings have two children, Jill and Jason, who was an outstanding football player for the Plainfield Panthers.  The Kings enjoy well-deserved summers on the beach in Newburyport and winter in Florida.  The Kings, who met at Kaman Aircraft, continue to enjoy life “hand in hand, heart to heart.”

Basketball Clinics on 

the Horizon…

Boys and girls ages 8 to 18 will have an opportunity to learn basketball skills first hand this summer from one of the area’s best basketball clinicians, Putnam Science Academy coach Tom Espinosa.  

The Putnam Science Academy 2016 Basketball Clinics are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 29 and 30 and Aug. 12 and 13.  The clinics will be held at Hyde School-Woodstock.  All sessions are 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.  The Drills and Skills Clinic will take place in July and the Shooting Clinic in August.

The clinic fee is $60 per player and includes Clinic T-shirt, fundamentals workshop and station work and contests.  Mustangs Kid’s Club members are entitled to a 20% discount.  Anyone desiring more information or registering should make checks payable to Putnam Science Academy and mail to PSA, Attn: Coach Tom Espinosa, 18 Maple St., Putnam, CT 06260.

Icelandic Experience…

Thompson residents Cosmo and Bernadette Quercia recently returned from a one week vacation to Reykjavik, Iceland.  While they were in the capital city they witnessed firsthand the excitement of the Icelanders for their international soccer team.

Iceland upset the United Kingdom and Austria before being vanquished by France.  According to Cosmo Quercia, during the victory over Austria, he witnessed a crowd of more than 3,000 people watching their team on a big screen in the town square as they beat Austria.  He noted that the experience was other worldly.

Note from the Connecticut Open…

The Connecticut Open Qualifier was held on Tuesday, July 5 at Lake of Isles Golf Club at Foxwood in North Stonington.  Fletcher Babcock, playing out of Connecticut National Golf Club was among the field of approximately 50 amateurs and professionals testing their skills on the Par-72, 6,783 yard layout.  He recorded a respectable 79, which was two strokes shy of the projected cut of 77.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be.” Harvey Mackay

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