By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC shoutout is sent along to the LSU Tigers of Putnam Minor League Softball.  The young girls worked hard all season and were rewarded by winning this summer’s league championship.  RPC sends along congratulations. 

Woodstock Academy officially concluded with the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2016 on Sunday, June  19.  Prior to graduation the Academy feted the students with a number of awards ceremonies.

Cahan Quinn was recognized as the school’s Male Athlete of the Year.  His counterpart was Mikayla Jones, who was recognized as the Female Athlete of the Year.

Quinn, who will be attending Norwich University in the fall, was recently notified by the football coaching staff that he’ll be a member of the Cadets football team as a freshman.  He’s been a member of the Woodstock Academy football team for four years where he starred at his inside linebacker position.  He’s expected to get a look at the same spot at Norwich University.

As an athlete Quinn was selected as the captain of the Centaurs football and wrestling teams.  He was also a member of the school’s varsity lacrosse team during his junior and senior years.  He was recently honored by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as a scholar athlete.  The All-Eastern Connecticut Conference 2nd team selection at linebacker was the recipient of the American Legion Post #13 of Putnam 2016 scholarship.

In the classroom Quinn carries a 3.3 GPA while taking AP/ACP courses.

Another Woodstock senior, Kara Heilemann, was recently honored by the Putnam Rotary Club.  Heilemann, who is the valedictorian of the Class of 2016, was recognized in a luncheon ceremony at the Inn at Woodstock Hill.  She’s headed to UConn in September.

Heilemann is a member of the Centaurs track and field team, where she excels in the discus.  She was ranked the top female discus athlete at the CIAC Track and Field State Open that was held at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on June 6.  She qualified as #1 with a throw of 121 feet, 1 inch.  Unfortunately she was hampered by a shoulder injury limiting her performance at State Open where she finished in fourth place.

All-State Baseball Honors…

Despite some very good baseball that was played in our area this past spring only one individual was selected by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association for the All-State baseball team.

David Carpenter, who was the mainstay of the Plainfield Panthers mound staff, was chosen for the Class M team.  Carpenter was the defensive glue for the Panthers when not on the mound and was also the team’s leading hitter.  He hails from a long line of Carpenter’s who have graced Plainfield athletics over the years.  His father is Paul Carpenter, who along with his brothers Bill and Alan, were the backbone of Plainfield teams in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Helping A Killingly Athlete…

The Killingly High School scholastic and athletic family is rallying behind one of its athletes who is battling cancer in the form of lymphoma.  Football coach Chad Neal along with basketball coach Jim Crabtree and golf coach Kevin Marcoux are joining forces to assist football and basketball standout Vasileios Politis and his family as “VP” battles lymphoma.

A Comedy Fund-raiser titled “Victory For VP” Benefit for Vasileios Politis is scheduled for Friday, July 8 at the Danielson Elks Lodge #1706 on 13 Center Street.  Festivities kickoff at 7 p.m. and the comedy performance begins at 8 p.m.  Tickets are $20 and include snacks, raffles and 50/50 drawing.

Comedy headliner Scott Higgins and two other top comedians have graciously donated the show for the cause.  “We’re excited about a fun evening out for a great young man,” said Neal.

Tickets may be purchased by contacting Neal at 860.377.4101 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Marcoux at 860.428.3922 or Crabtree at 860.377.2880.

A Glimpse of the Past…

When the TriTown American Legion Baseball team opened its season against Cumberland, R.I., June 8 the players from both team witnessed a legend throwing out the first pitch of the season.

Brian Murphy, who was an integral member of the TriTown team in the early 1970s,  graced the diamond at Tourtellotte Memorial High School for the pre-game opening ceremony.  Murphy, who remains in great physical condition, threw a strike to TriTown catcher Jacob Guertin, who responded by giving Murphy an autographed souvenir baseball for his appearance.

As a young man Murphy was an All-State pitcher in 1975 at Tourtellotte.  In 2010 he was inducted into the Tigers Athletic Hall of Fame.  He moved on to a four-year career at Eastern Connecticut State University where he earned All-New England and All-American honors.  He was the Warriors Most Valuable Player in 1979.  He was elected to the ECSU Hall of Fame in 2010.

Murphy was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1979 and spent two all star seasons in the New York minor league system.  Following his baseball career he forged a successful career in corrections, becoming the Connecticut and Rhode Island Commissioner of Corrections.

Former Killingly Hoopster 

Wins Championship…

Shane Gibson, who was unstoppable as a basketball player at Killingly and then went on to a stellar career at NCAA Division I Sacred Heart University, garnered more basketball honors recently.

Gibson, who is playing professionally in the National Basketball League for the Halifax Hurricanes, helped to lead his team to the championship over the London Lightning.  The Hurricanes won the seven-game series four games to three.  Gibson contributed 11 points in the team’s 125-117 victory in the seventh and final game, which was played in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The former Redman and SHU standout was the Hurricanes’ second leading scorer this season.  He averaged 16.3 points per game over the team’s 50 game schedule.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours.”  Yogi Berra

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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