Are you a modern day Explorer?  You can be!  Discover the natural beauty of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor in the all new Explore!, a comprehensive Guide to Outdoor, Indoor, and Around Town Adventures.  Find wonder in the waterfalls, the fishing holes, the hilltops, and the farms.  Hear stories from the past, sip wine in a vineyard, shop til you drop, and savor local foods.  Kayak, backpack, pick an apple, or carve a pumpkin.  Choose farm fresh food, photograph bald eagles in flight, or gaze at the stars.  Delve into every inch of The Last Green Valley. 

Explore! is loaded with nearby places to visit for hiking, strolling, biking, paddling, swimming, learning, shopping and lots more.  Explore! helps you slip more fun into each day than ever before.  Invite your family and friends, take a breath, be prepared to smile, and start your adventure in The Last Green Valley.  Explore! and Explore! often.  Call The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) today at 860-774-3300 for your complimentary copy, or find it in information kiosks throughout The Last Green Valley.    

Stay up to date and learn more about The Last Green Valley and TLGV’s programs online at www.thelastgreenvalley.org and on Facebook.  

The Last Green Valley is a National Heritage Corridor – the last stretch of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl between Boston and Washington, D.C.  The Last Green Valley, Inc. works for you in the National Heritage Corridor. 

 

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Brandon Steed

 

By Ron P. Coderre

The ink on the agreement between former Putnam Science Academy basketball coach Tom Espinosa and Woodstock Academy to incorporate and establish a post-graduate basketball program at the Academy was barely dry when the announcement of the team’s first recruit came out.

The subject on the e-mail simply read CENTAURS SIGN STEED.  Brandon Steed, a 5-foot, 11-inch, 160-pound combination guard from Long Island City, N.Y., became the first official recruit to indicate he will join the Woodstock Academy Post-Graduate basketball program for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year.  Steed attended Flushing High School as a senior and had previously attended Holy Cross High School also in Flushing.

Last season, playing in the NYC PSAL Queens AA Division, the point guard, who also can play the shooting guard position, averaged 19 points a game.   He also accounted for four rebounds and four assists per game while contributing an unbelievable seven steals a contest.

“Brandon is noted for his quickness and tenacity on the court.  He’s an igniter who can come off the bench and spark the team.  His versatility at the guard position will be invaluable to the makeup of our team,” said Espinosa.

Steed, who carries a 3.4 GPA in the classroom, has a 30-inch vertical leap developed playing in some highly competitive AAU programs.  He’s worked with basketball trainers Clifford Brooks of the NY Gauchos, Louis Frye and former Providence College standout Jamel Thomas of  “Movement through Hoops” and Jayson Cole.  Steed has playing experience with the NY Rens of the 16U team and NYC Jaguars 17U team.  He’s also been fortunate to train under former Los Angeles Laker Devin Ebanks.

“Brandon has a great basketball resume as well as being a good student.  He’s the type of player who should adjust well to our system.  He’s a great young man of character who loves basketball.  He’s been described as a gym rat,” concluded Espinosa.

In addition to Steed, Espinosa and his Centaur PG program will be returning Mamadou Diarra, Hamidou Diallo and Brandon Hurst from last season’s Putnam Science Academy Mustangs nationally ranked team.

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

All girls’ softball teams saw action this week as most are on the downward side of a 20-game schedule.  Two magic numbers occurred in Plainfield during the week in which the Lady Panthers posted a 2-1 log.

In a Plainfield victory over Tourtellotte, Lady Panther coach Jimmy Langlois won his 100th career softball victory as Plainfield mentor.  In the very next game, a 14-0 shutout of Ellis Tech, Plainfield senior Keri Lehtonen recorded her 100th career hit.

Tourtellotte, Woodstock and Ellis Tech each won games after being beaten by Plainfield.  The Putnam Lady Clippers also posted a 2-1 week.  Killingly and Marianapolis were all winless.

Plainfield’s Lehtonen Enjoys Banner Week

Plainfield opened its softball week with a hard fought 4-1 win over Eastern Connecticut Conference opponent Tourtellotte in what could be termed Keri Lehtonen week in Pantherland.  Lehtonen yielded only two hits to the Lady Tigers and posted nine strike outs in picking up the pitching verdict.  The win was #100 for coach Jimmy Langlois.  Chivon Burns had a double and three runs-batted-in in support of Lehtonen.

The Lady Panthers followed up the win with a 14-0 white washing of Ellis Tech as Lehtonen recorded her 100th career hit, a first inning single.  Later in the contest she added another single and scored two runs.  Abby Horan had a double and two RBI’s for Plainfield.  The Lady Panthers ended their week on a sour note, losing to archrival Griswold 12-4, despite a 4-for-4 day at the plate for Lehtonen.  Plainfield is 4-6 on the season and 1-3 in the ECC – Medium Division.

Putnam opened its week on a disappointing note, losing 12-8 to Constitution State Conference – East Division opponent Norwich Tech.  The Lady Clippers bounced back with a resounding 15-0 shutout over another CSC – East opponent Windham Tech.  Mackenzie Livingston limited the Mighty Tigers to just two hits.

In another offensive showing, Putnam ripped Grasso Tech 21-4 as Livingston was the winning pitcher and had three hits.  Putnam is 4-7 overall and 3-2 in the CSC – East.

Ellis Tech also rebounded from its loss to Plainfield by taking out its vengeance on Grasso Tech 18-0 in a game called after five innings.  Winning pitcher Sheridan Murphy was Ellis Tech’s leading hitter with two hits and a pair of runs-batted-in.  Lizzy Patton had a remarkable six RBIs in the win while Sarah Tellier had four hits and Sydney Tetreault contributed a pair of doubles.  The Golden Eagles are 7-4 on the year and 5-1 in the CSC – East.

The Lady Techsters continued their winning ways with an easy 22-4 win over Parish Hill as Murphy had a five-hit afternoon.  Jackson added a double and triple and Tetreault chipped in three hits in the victory.

Michaela Godzik’s fifth inning single proved to be the difference as she drove in the winning run in 5-4 Tourtellotte victory over Lyman.  Earlier in the inning Crystal Daly’s double had knotted the score at 4-4.  Christina Kopacz was 2-for-3 for the 6-4 and 2-1 ECC – Small Division Lady Tigers.

Killingly, which went scoreless in three games, was upended 4-0 by Wheeler, 15-0 by Waterford and 20-0 by Fitch.  The Redgals are 2-8 on the season and 1-3 in the ECC – Medium Division.  Woodstock lost a tough 5-3 decision to very good East Lyme team.  The Acads raised their record to 6-4 overall and 1-3 in the ECC – Large Division with a 10-0 shutout of Windham.  Angela Caponi struck out 11 Whippet hitters in picking up the victory in the circle.  Marianapolis, which is 3-7 was shutout 8-0 by Suffield Academy.

(This week’s wrap-up only includes games played through Friday, May 1.)