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Working Around
Woodstock Academy senior Alex Wojciechowski works his way around the Norwich Tech-Windham Tech defense on Saturday. Wojciechowski had a goal in the Centaurs 13-1 win. Photo by Marc Allard.
Roundup
Centaurs split
with NFA
Woodstock Academy may have lost its softball season opener against Norwich Free Academy April 10. It was largely forgotten by the end of the day.
The Centaurs rallied from a 15-7 loss to the Wildcats in the opener to the doubleheader for a 5-3 win in the nightcap.
It was Woodstock Academy’s first win over NFA in the sport since May 6, 2015, and was only the second time in 17 games dating back to 2011 that the Centaurs emerged victorious.
“I think the first game gave the kids a little confidence. We had one inning (the fourth) where we gave up a bunch of runs (six) with two outs and that was the game,” said Woodstock Academy coach Jason Gerum. “I think it was mental. We got a little quiet and that affected our bats, but we knew we could hit their pitcher; they just outhit us in the first game. I’ve got three freshmen and three first-year sophomores, we didn’t scrimmage anyone, so that will happen. But (in the second game), they just got comfortable and started to play well.”
And they rallied behind sophomore pitcher Lexi Thompson.
Thompson, one of those first-year sophomores who didn’t get the opportunity to play in her freshman year due to the pandemic, made her varsity debut a memorable one.
She allowed just six hits and struck out seven, helped to strand five NFA runners in scoring position, and gave the Centaurs the confidence they needed to rally from an early 3-0 deficit.
Meg Preston had an RBI single and Delaney Anderson drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning to reduce the deficit to one, 3-2.
Emily Goodell, Jenna Bankowski, and Mia Pannone all bunted and reached safely to open the sixth for the Centaurs.
Goodell scored on a bases-loaded walk to Preston and both Bankowski and Pannone came home on an infield throwing error.
Boys’ Lacrosse
Favreau leads Centaurs to win
The biggest thing for Woodstock Academy senior Guerin Favreau was not only the 13-1 season-opening win over the Norwich Tech-Windham Tech cooperative program, but the fact that it occurred on the Bentley Athletic Complex turf and people were there to watch.
“During hockey season, we had only one game with fans. It’s very different. It’s nice to have the crowds back. After every goal, you can hear the energy. During hockey, we would score and it was a dead rink. The bench would be going nuts but it’s not the same,” Favreau said.
Fans in the stands, no masks required on the field of play, a sense of normalcy crept over the opening to the high school spring sports season on Saturday.
And there were plenty of smiles on the Woodstock Academy sideline after the win.
None bigger than that of first-year head coach, Jason Tata who did not sleep much the night before.
“I think I shut my eyes for about a half-hour, woke up around midnight and then (assistant) Coach (Chris) Green sent us a big email around 1:30 a.m. and I was watching film after that for the rest of the night,” Tata said.
Favreau made Tata’s life easy. The senior scored four times in the first half to lead the Centaurs to a 6-1 halftime advantage. He added two more goals in the second half and four assists in the game.
“Guerin is going to go out and get his, he is, he is that kind of player, with that kind of drive. He’s that kind of maniac. It’s whether or not the defenses will let him do whatever he wants,” said first-year Woodstock Academy coach Jason Tata.
Jonah Libby and Everett Michalski added two goals apiece.
“Everett is one of my closest friends and I love seeing him out there on attack. He played defense his whole life and now he’s doing well on attack,” Favreau said.
Brandon Richards, Riley Chapuis and Alex Wojciechowski also scored for the Centaurs.
Gymnastics
Sorrentino named All-State
Woodstock Academy sophomore Bella Sorrentino had not been a part of a gymnastics program for a couple of years.
But she returned this past winter season to compete as a member of the Centaurs gymnastics team and found success.
Sorrentino was recently named 1st team All-State by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.
“It’s totally different, so much less stress and really fun,” Sorrentino said of her first year in high school competition.
For the most part, the gymnastics season consisted of virtual meets with Killingly with judges coming in person to the gym only a couple of times.
Sorrentino said she felt she excelled on the balance beam and in the floor exercise.
“Beam is terrifying,” Sorrentino said with a laugh. “But I only fell twice. It used to be my worst event, I did not like it at all, but this year was a lot better.”
Sorrentino admits she doesn’t have any goals for next year because she really hasn’t experienced a true high school season, something she is hoping will happen come this winter.
Baseball
Centaurs fall to NFA.
The Woodstock Academy baseball team, despite missing five players due to pandemic protocol, hung in for the first three innings against Norwich Free Academy April 10.
Eight runs in the fourth inning by NFA, five of them unearned, proved to be the Centaurs downfall as they lost their season opener, 12-2.
Brendan Hill had an RBI double and Norm Warcholik added a single to account for the only hits for Woodstock Academy.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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