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caption, page 9:
Donation
Putnam Rotary Club President Cynthia Dunne presents a check for $250 to Ronald P. Coderre for the Tri-Town American Legion Baseball Program. Coderre is a Putnam Rotarian and chairman of the Legion’s Executive Committee. Linda Lemmon photo.
Faucher to
lead Tri-Town
baseball
By Ron P. Coderre
Joseph Lindley, Executive Committee secretary for the Tri-Town American Legion Baseball Program, announced that Paul Faucher of N. Grosvenordale is returning for his third season at the helm of the senior team. Faucher, who’s been with the program for nine seasons, brings a solid baseball background to the head coaching position.
A graduate of Marianapolis Prep School where he played four years of varsity baseball, Faucher has also served Tri-Town as the junior squad head coach for two seasons as well as three seasons as assistant. Prior to moving up to the senior team, he served as assistant coach to Ron Kingsbury. Faucher’s baseball experience also includes 10 seasons in the Worcester Adult Baseball League and three seasons on the former Putnam American Legion team under legendary coach Tom Auclair.
“I’m looking forward to the upcoming season. The program’s shown continued improvement in the past two summers. The players have demonstrated remarkable chemistry, especially since we draw our players from many different schools,” said Faucher.
This summer Tri-Town will play a 30 game schedule in the 11-team Zone VI, which this season has added Willimantic as its newest entry. Other teams include local nines from Danielson, Plainfield and Griswold with the Zone stretching to the New London, Waterford and Niantic area. The season opens on June 12 and stretches through July 21.
“The Zone features some quality teams. I stress competitiveness to our players, urging them to never give up and make each opponent know they’ve been in a game every time we’re on the field,” said Faucher.
Joining Faucher on the senior coaching staff are his son and Tri-Town alumnus Andrew Faucher, Tyler Smith and Charlie Darras. Scott Marquis takes over the leadership of the junior team following two seasons as an assistant. He’ll be assisted by Joe Barbour and John Marquis.
“Our coaching staff relates well and we all bring different baseball experience to the team. This bodes well as we work together to bring the program to the next level,” said Faucher about the Tri-Town staff.
Despite struggling for victories in recent seasons, the Tri-Town program has produced four former players who are playing in the college ranks. Ross Lincoln is an outfielder at Franklin Pierce University, David St. Lawrence is a pitcher at Brown University, John Rafferty is the starting catcher at Worcester State University and Julian Concepcion is a pitcher and infielder for American International College.
Once again in 2012 the senior team will play its home games at the Tourtellotte Memorial High School field and the juniors will call Woodstock Academy’s Bentley Complex its home field.