Motivated
Centaurs
beat Killingly
The Killingly Redgals were a thorn in the side of The Woodstock Academy softball team last season.
The Centaurs lost in both games to their rivals by a run.
It was something that coach Jay Gerum reminded his team of just before the game started April 13.
“We wanted this one so bad,” said senior outfielder Naomi Rivard. “Killingly has always been a big rival for us. “To have this win puts us in a comfort zone at the beginning of the season- we’re ready for anyone now.”
So Rivard and her teammates were more than happy when they posted a 13-4 win over Killingly in the first game of the season played at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
The Centaurs (2-2, 1-2 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II) were coming off a 7-3 loss April 12 to Montville in a game where the bats went flat.
“The focus (Friday) was that we were playing another pitcher (Killingly’s Ashley Veillette) as good as (Montville’s Alexis Michon) and we needed to wake the bats up. We did,” Gerum said.
It took three innings to do so.
The Centaurs jumped out in front in the second inning when Maia Corrado doubled and pinch-runner Hannah Wotton scored on a single by Hannah Chubbuck.
But Killingly (2-2 0-2) tied the game in the top of the third as it took advantage of two infield errors and pushed across a run on a single by Lexi Faucher.
Ciri Miller broke the tie in the bottom of the inning when she doubled, went to third on a single by Casidhe Hoyt and scored on an outfield error on the play.
The Centaurs broke open the game in the fourth.
Heather Converse – who reached base in all four of her plate appearances – ripped a one-out triple to center. Catcher Julianna Nuttall reached on an infield single and Camille Corrado slapped a ball down the third base line for an RBI single, plating Converse.
Hannah Burgess made it 4-1 with an RBI single and Rivard followed with a run-scoring fielder’s choice. She later scored on a throwing error to give the Centaurs the 6-1 lead.
The fifth inning was even better.
The first four batters all had hits, producing two runs, with Maia Corrado picking up her second double of the game in the rally.
Two outs later, Burgess singled home a run and Rivard brought her home with an opposite-field triple to right.
“I wasn’t expecting that. I was just trying to get my bat on the ball and I have never been a big, consistent hitter, but now-and-then I get those hits. I don’t know where it came from, but I will take it,” Rivard said.
She and Burgess combined for four hits, three runs scored and four RBIs making for a nice pair of table-setters for Gerum.
“It’s a good combination,” Rivard said. “She has the slap and we both have pretty decent speed so when we get on the bases with our hitters following, it’s great.”
Rivard scored and another run came across thanks to a pair of Killingly outfield errors to complete the seven-run uprising.
“We short-gamed, too,” Gerum said. “We always tell the kids that we need to have their second option. Everybody has to be ready and focused to make short-game plays and do some things to cause some havoc. We did kind of both.”
Freshman Mackenzie Leveille was the beneficiary of all the runs. The pitcher went the distance and allowed just one run and four hits in the first six innings before being clipped for three runs in the seventh, two on a homer by Veillette.
“Mackenzie did great,” Gerum said. “She and Hannah (Wotton) have been taking turns. We have three good pitchers, we know we do. Hannah has been throwing a lot of the games early on so we decided to give Mackenzie the start and if she did well, we were going to stick with her. It’s a normal starter-reliever situation and she was on. She was shutting everyone down and we made some great plays behind her.”
The softball field at the Bentley Complex had not been able to be used because of the seemingly never-ending winter which left it wet and unplayable. The Centaurs had played their first couple of home games on the green in front of the school and at Roseland Park.
“I loved it,” Rivard said of the return to the field. “We’ve been playing on fields with outfields that go on for miles.”
Rivard said it was a comfort to know that there was a fence behind her although Killingly’s Ashley Veillette made use of it in the seventh inning with a drive that went about 215 feet and cleared the chain link for a two-run homer.
“It was over the fence, but I didn’t even know where the fence was and I just ran into it,” Rivard said with a laugh. “It’s tough when there are big hitters who can hit it over (the fence), but for the most part, it’s nice to be home.”
Montville scored two runs in both the second and third innings and maintained that lead throughout in the win over the Centaurs April 12.
Aurora Curran put the first two runs on the board for the Indians with a two-run triple in the second inning. Kaitlin Price repeated that in the third inning for the Indians (2-1, 1-0 ECC Division II).
Burgess and Rivard paced the Centaurs with a pair of hits. The Academy had only seven in total.
“We just went flat and to be honest, I think we underestimated Montville’s pitcher (Michon), she is very good,” coach Jay Gerum said. “Last year, we fared well against her. We have a lot of returning players and kind of took it for granted.”
Rivard and Ciri Miller had the only runs batted in for the Centaurs while Burgess had the only extra-base hit, a double.
The Centaurs were strong in the field where they did not make an error.
Converse was solid, handling all nine chances at first base.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
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By Shawn Bates
The Putnam Clippers varsity was victorious over Killingly April 14, by a score of 10-9.
The Clippers nabbed the lead late in the game. They trailed 6-5 in the top of the sixth inning when Aiden Ciquera singled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs.
Despite falling down by four runs in the sixth inning, Killingly tried to fight back. Killingly scored three runs in the failed comeback on a single by Zanauskas, a single by Yaworski, and a groundout by Nurse.
Killingly captured the lead in the first inning. Tarrik singled on a 0-2 count, scoring one run.
Scott Davagian led things off on the rubber for Clippers. He went three innings, allowing six runs on five hits and walking zero.
Yaworski was on the mound for Killingly. He went three innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out six. Preston and Nurse entered the game as relief, throwing two and a third innings and one and two-thirds innings respectively.
The Clippers scattered eight hits in the game. Mitchell Barylski, Ciquera, and Jack Lomax each collected multiple hits for the Clippers. Ciquera, Lomax, and Barylski each collected two hits to lead the team.
Chitamanothoa and Yaworski each had multiple hits for Killingly. Killingly didn’t commit a single error in the field. Zanauskas had 11 chances in the field, the most on the team.
The Clippers beat Parish Hill 8-5
The varsity fired up the offense in the first inning, when Mitchell Barylski doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run.
Scott Davagian was the winning pitcher for Clippers. He surrendered three runs on seven hits over five innings, striking out four and walking zero. Barylski threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Barylski recorded the last six outs to earn the save for Putnam.
Barylski went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Putnam in hits. Cole Davagian led Putnam Clippers Varsity with two stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with seven stolen bases.
Parish Hill collected 10 hits in the loss.
Softball
In extra innings the Ladies came up short with a 10-9 loss to Parish Hill. Ashley Burke would lead the ladies in hits with 3 and 3 RBIs.
Abby St. Martin had five strikeouts but would take the loss on the hill for the Clippers.
The Woodstock Academy girls’ track team had its concerns for its season opener in Colchester against Bacon Academy.
Its top jumper, Maddie Grube, was on her way to Greece on a school-sponsored trip. The same could be said for the team’s top sprinter and hurdler Ashleigh Angle.
Despite being a little short-handed, the Centaurs persevered with a 78-69 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II win over the Bobcats on.
“It wasn’t a P(ersonal) R(ecord) kind of day for us,” said girls’ track coach John Ywarsky, “It was a gritty win over a good ECC D-II team. It’s just the type of win we need, because we did it without two of our most prolific point-scorers”
Ywarsky had hoped the addition of some young and talented distance runners would pay off this season.
It did in the first meet.
Freshman Stella DiPippo won the 1,600-meter race by over 40 seconds. She also ran the anchor leg of the 4x800-meter which captured first-place points.
Sophomore Alexia Bourbeau was also on the 4x800 team and finished third in the 1,600m. Her classmate, Megan Gohn, was second in the 800m.
Senior Hannah Matsas, another 4x800 relay member, won the 3,200m with junior Shannon D’Alessandro in third.
But there were challenges for the Centaurs.
“Getting freshmen jumpers, a new 4x100 team, and a few substitutions going proved a little bit difficult for us,” Ywarsky said. “We were able to overcome a 4x100 dropped handoff and no points in the 100. Our jumpers, throwers, and distance really stepped up.”
The Bobcats took the majority of the points in the 100 and 300m hurdles, long jump, pole vault and 100m.
But the Centaurs rebounded as senior Kennedy Davignon won the 400m with Olivia Majek coming home in third. The two combined with Mallory Tyimok and Gillian Price to win the 4x400m relay. Carla Simal and Alina Michalski took the top two spots in the triple jump while Lindsey O’Dea cleared 4 feet, 8 inches to not only win the high jump, but also qualify for Class L state competition.
The throwing events were kind to the Centaurs.
Paula Hernandez (81-4), Rachel Salmon (76-8) and Sydney Couture (64-7) swept the top three spots in the javelin competition.
Chelsea Wise took second in both the shot put and discus while Hernandez and freshman Maggie Flynn took third in those events, respectively.
Boys fall short
The Centaurs boys’ track team put together five first-place finishes and a couple of state qualifying performances, but fell short on the scoreboard, losing its season-opener at Bacon Academy, 91-58, April 11.
“I am very pleased with the performances by our athletes at the first meet,” said boys’ track coach Peter Lusa. “Many athletes met or exceeded their meet goals. We had very few surprises.”
There was one pleasant addition – the sun.
“It was great to have decent weather for our first meet,” Lusa said.
Two athletes qualified for the Class M state championship meet in their events.
Senior Mark Dumas won the shot put with a toss of 42 feet, 11 ½ inches and classmate Connor Huda won the discus at 119-9 1/2 , both good enough to guarantee themselves a spot in the event at the state level.
Huda almost qualified in two events as his second-place finish in the shot was just under the qualifying mark.
The same could be said for Justin Wise who finished second in the 100-meter and Dan Crème who finished second in both the 110 and 300m hurdles, almost getting making the state qualifying number in the 110.
Other first-place finishers for the Centaurs included Natanael Colon in the 400m (56.3 seconds); Kyle Buell in the high jump (5-4) and Nathan Craig in the triple jump (34-2.5).
“The Bacon Academy put on a great meet with knowledgeable officials and wonderful athletes.
It was a great learning experience for our younger athletes,” Lusa said.
The Centaurs boys’ and girls’ teams return to the track during April vacation week when they play host to the Fitch Falcons at 11 a.m. April 18 on South Campus.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
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Norman R. Emond,
U.S. Marines vet
BROOKLYN — Norman R. Emond, 80, of Brooklyn, died April 13, 2018, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. He was the husband of Pauline (Roireau) Emond. They were married May 6, 1961, in Our Lady of LaSalette Church.
He was born Aug. 27, 1937, in Killingly, son of Theodore and Clara (Guay) Emond.
He was a 1956 graduate of the Putnam Technical School. He was a veteran serving with the U.S. Marines. Norman worked as a shipfitter at Electric Boat for more than 37 years retiring in 1995.
He was an expert woodworker and enjoyed caring for his gardens. He was a member of the Pomfret Rod and Gun Club, a communicant of Our Lady of LaSalette Church.
He leaves his wife Pauline; son Gary Emond of Dayville; daughter Debbie Brown of Danielson; grandchildren, Dennie, Jessica, Christina, and Matthew and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Thomas Emond in 1991 and his sister Beatrice.
Visitation is from 11 a.m. to noon April 21 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery with military honors.
Everett T. Harding,
Korean war vet
BROOKLYN --- Everett T. Harding, 87, of Brooklyn formerly of Hawkins Road, Woodstock Valley, died April 11, 2018 . He was the husband of Helen (Payson) Harding,. They were married July 22, 1951.
Everett was born on Oct. 15, 1930, in Madison, Maine, son of the late Daniel and Velma (Clark) Harding.
After many moves around the state of Maine, the family finally settled in Camden. He met the love of his life at Camden High School and graduated in 1949. In 1951 he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean war and was stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. After leaving the service he and Helen moved to Chicago where he attended DeVry Institute and received his associate's degree in engineering.
Everett and Helen moved to Eastford in 1956 where he began a career as a test engineer at Pratt and Whitney in E.Hartford. He retired in 1991 after 35 years. He was a 37-year member of the Putnam Lodge #46, a member of Trinity Chapter #9, Montgomery Council #2, and St. John’s Commandery #11 Knights Templar. He was also a member of Elks Lodge Willimantic #1311, American Legion Eastford Post #203, a 50-year member of the Eastford Independent Fire Company, Order of the Eastern Star Betty Putnam #106 and a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Woodstock Valley.
Everett loved the time he spent with his family and friends at his camp in Lincolnville, Maine, enjoying lobsters on the deck and playing cards at night. He was generous to a fault by making sure everyone was well fed. No one ever left hungry. He was kind and had the best sense of humor.
He leaves his wife Helen of Brooklyn; daughters, Doreen Harding Holt (Ken) of Putnam, Pamela Harding Kersh (John) of Virginia Beach, Vir.; grandchildren; Benjamin Shead (Kathryn) of Thompson, Alison Shead of Santa Ana, Calif., Ethan Kersh of Virginia Beach; great-grandchildren; Isabelle Shead, Zachary Shead, Samuel Shead; sister Barbara King of Gorham, Maine. He was predeceased by his son Scott E. Harding in 2004.
The Funeral was April 15 at the Church of the Good Shepherd with burial in the family lot in Maine with his son Scott, at a later date. Donations: Church of the Good Shepherd, PO Box 747, Woodstock, CT 06281. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Mary A. Benway
EASTFORD — Mary A. (Matwyko) Benway, 65, of Chaplin Rd., died March 24, 2018, at Day Kimball Hospital. She was the wife of the late Ronald L. Benway Sr.
Born in 1952 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Fries) Matwyko.
Mrs. Benway worked for many years at Spirol International in Danielson.
Mary leaves her son, Ronald L. Benway Jr., of Lyme; two brothers John D. Matwyko of Eastford and Robert T. Matwyko of Danielson; two grandchildren Ryan Green and Emilie Green both of Old Saybrook; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter Leeann Benway.
Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Gerald R. Dykstra
PUTNAM — Gerald R. Dykstra, 67, of Church St., died April 10, 2018, in Providence Hospital. He was the husband of Cathy L. (Bannister) Dykstra. They were united in marriage on July 18, 1987, in Southbridge.
Born in 1951 in Patterson, N.J., he was the son of the late Henry and Wilimina (Van DeSluys) Dykstra.
Mr. Dykstra worked as a parts clerk for Northeast Clark Lift and then went on to start his own business as an interior finish painter. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and skier.
In addition to his wife Cathy, he leaves his brothers, James Dykstra (Yolanda) of New Jersey, Kenneth Dykstra (Gladys) of New Jersey, and Kevin Dykstra (Holly) of New Jersey; his sisters, Jean Henniquin (Gerald) of Massachusetts, and Karen Fekete of South Carolina; his nieces and nephews, Ryan, Connor, Alyssa, Johnathan, Cherie, Lynn, Gregory and Kim. He was predeceased by his nieces and nephews, Robert, Laurie, and Laura.
Visitation was April 16 in Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
John ‘Nick’ Haines
DAYVILLE — John “Nick” Haines, 68, of Alexanders Lake, Dayville, died peacefully April 10, 2018.
Nick was born May 15, 1949, in Niagara Falls, N.Y., son of the late Ellis K. Haines and Natalie (Nana) Dean Haines.
Nick owned and operated Friendly Spirits in Danielson for 45 years. He greatly enjoyed interacting with customers and working with his son each day. He was a dedicated member of the community serving as past president of both the Killingly-Brooklyn Rotary and the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, among a variety of other community organizations. He loved days on the lake with his family since he was boy and even more so with his grandchildren.
He leaves his wife Judy; daughter Tracy (Vincent) DiProspero; son Rusty (Jamie); grandchildren Meadow, Summer, and Logan; sister Linda Beck; cousins, nephews, and extended family.
Visitation was April 14 at Tillinghast Funeral Home in Danielson. Donations: QVCC Foundation: 742 Upper Maple St., Danielson, 06239; or KB Rotary Dictionaries: PO Box 394, Danielson, 06239.
Theresa J. Mailloux
BROOKLYN — Theresa J. Mailloux, 92, of Brooklyn died April 7, 2018, at Davis Place in Danielson.
She was born Feb. 9, 1926, in Putnam, the daughter of Walter and Libbie (Plantier) Deviney Sr.
Theresa was the wife of Maurice Mailloux. He died March 6, 2006. Theresa was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson.
She enjoyed bowling in bowling leagues and was a great knitter, taking years to make some projects.
Theresa worked at DKH as a nurse.
She leaves her children Richard Mailloux (Marcia) of Moosup, David Mailloux (Janet) of Danielson, Michelle Pizzuti (James) of Guilford; her grandson Nate Pizzuti of Guilford; sister Madeleine Putnam of Venice, Fla.
She was predeceased by a brother Walter Deviney Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial was April 13 in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Wauregan.
Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
David H. Mullen III
WOODSTOCK — David H. Mullen III, 78, of Woodstock, died April 8, 2018, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, after a brief illness.
He was the husband of Phyllis McLarney. He was born Oct. 8, 1939, in Manchester, son of David H. and Louise (Saytrup) Mullen II.
David was employed for 17 years at the Pomfret School as head carpenter, he retired in 2002. He had made his home in Woodstock for the last 47 years. He was a fiddler, a member of The CT Bristol Old Time Fiddlers Club and the Old Time Fiddlers of Rhode Island. David enjoyed riding his Triumph motorcycle. He was a horseman and enjoyed competitive riding. He raised draft horses and field plowed with them.
He leaves his wife Phyllis; his sons: David Mullen IV (Kerri) of Woodstock, Daniel Mullen (Kristine) of Willington; his daughter Jenifer King of Virginia Beach, Va.; his brothers Jon Mullen, Bruce Mullen, his twin Guy Mullen; sisters Leanne Mullen, Dale Dunfield; grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Kevin Mullen.
A casual attire Celebration of David’s Life will be from 1 to 4 p.m. April 22 at the Putnam Masonic Lodge, Rt. 169, Woodstock. Donations: Mustang Heritage Foundation, PO Box 979, Georgetown, Texas 78627. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Jessica A. Peters
WORCESTER — Jessica A. Peters, 39, died March 28, 2018, at St. Vincent Hospital.
She was born on May 19, 1978, in Lynn, Mass., to K. Bennett “Ben” and Ann (Hazuka) Howe.
Jess graduated from Woodstock Academy of Connecticut in 1996 and received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Simmons College in 2000.
She married Timothy Peters on Oct. 24, 2009.
Jess was an accomplished writer of science fiction and fantasy, with numerous stories of vibrant worlds to her pen name of JA Howe, and also a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism best known as Brigit of Longwood.
She was a woman of abundant integrity, wit, and compassion who embraced nature and life itself.
She leaves her husband, Timothy; her brother, Justin; her parents, Ben and Ann; cousins and friends.
A memorial ceremony will be at 11:30 a.m. April 21 at the Heritage Tree in Elm Park, across from St. Spyridon’s Cathedral in Worcester.
All her friends and family are invited to celebrate her life and spirit. Interment and the planting of a tree in her honor will take place in a private ceremony to be held at a later date.
Donations: The Worcester Tree Initiative. “The Road goes ever ever on...” — J.R.R. Tolkien
Joseph C. Scanlon Jr.
WOODSTOCK — Joseph C. Scanlon Jr., 73, of Woodstock, died April 8, 2018. He was born March 29, 1945, in Worcester, son of the late Dr. Joseph C. and Rita H. (Fleming) Scanlon.
He attended St. John’s High School, graduated from West Boylston High School, and attended the Franklin Institute of Boston.
Joseph was employed for more than 40 years at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam as the Blood Bank manager and laboratory technician.
A long-time resident of Woodstock, he leaves his children: Bryan K. Scanlon (Stacy) of Walnut Creek, Calif.., David P. Scanlon of Dennis, Mass., Andrew P. Scanlon (Jeanne) of Putnam, Dennis M. Scanlon of Grosvenordale, and Katherine E. Scanlon and her partner Dylan of Newark, Vt.; his grandchildren Molly and Samantha Scanlon; godson Sean Scanlon of Mendon, Mass.; brothers Thomas Scanlon of Sutton, Mass., Michael Scanlon of Littleton, N.H., and William Scanlon of Worcester. Also Sharon Uguccioni of Woodstock and family. He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers John and Timothy Scanlon. A graveside service was April 14 at Center Cemetery, Woodstock. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: East Coast Canine Rescue, in Pomfret, CT at http://www.eastcoastcaninerescue.org/
Gerald A. LaPointe
PUTNAM — Gerald A. LaPointe, born Sept. 19, 1934 in Webster, died April 14, 2018, at home.
He was the son of Henry and Cecile Alarie LaPointe, both deceased.
He is a 1954 graduate of Putnam High School. Gerry was a native of Putnam and owned and operated Gerry’s Western Auto in Putnam for many years. He also worked at Rotman’s Furniture in Worcester as a sales associate and a manager in the bedroom department. He was a past president of the Putnam Jaycees and a member of the Putnam Chamber of Commerce. Gerry enjoyed gardening, traveling, fishing and cycling.
He leaves a son Stephen LaPointe (Donna) of Pomfret Center; a son John LaPointe of Putnam; a grandson Dustin Curtis of Pomfret; two great-grandsons. He was predeceased by his son Michael LaPointe in 1994, his brother Richard LaPointe in 2016 and his former wife and lifetime friend Roberta Barlow LaPointe in 2017.
A Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. May 12 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
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