New football

coach at WA

WOODSTOCK— Woodstock Academy announced Daryl Daleen will be the new head football coach.

Daleen will be leaving his position as the assistant football coach and Special Teams coordinator at Division I (DI) Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) to join The Woodstock Academy Football program. “I could not be more excited about my new position,” Daleen said. “Very few times in your life are you blindsided by an opportunity such as this; my family and I are very grateful. There are so many opportunities to make The Academy into a football program that reflects the school’s beauty and stellar academic reputation. I am excited to take this program into championship caliber.”

Daleen started his coaching career in 2004 as a position coach at DII Newberry College in South Carolina where the team went from 5 wins to 11 wins and won their first South Atlantic Conference Championship in a three-year span. Daleen also worked with DII schools Pikeville College and University of New Haven prior to heading to CCSU. He has been the number one recruiter for the Blue Devils and has a strong background in alumni relations and fund-raising.

“We are fortunate to have Daryl join our Athletics department and know his talent and experience will take our Football team to the next level,” said Headmaster Chris Sandford. “The Woodstock Academy Board of Trustees and Administration are committed to our football program as it’s a vital component of our athletic department and mirrors our mission of developing leaders who demonstrate outstanding character and integrity. Daryl joining our coaching staff will provide our surrounding community members with new opportunities, including summer clinics and camps. Additionally, we are excited that Daryl will represent The Academy while working with many of our community partners.”

“We are thrilled to have found someone with the background and experience as that of Daryl Daleen,” said Director of Athletics Aaron Patterson. “Daryl is an enthusiastic and passionate coach who has a proven track record of success. His background in DI and DII college athletics will help our players, who aspire to play football at that level. Daryl has been a critical part in transforming several struggling programs into winning teams; we are looking forward to him doing the same here. He will be a tremendous asset to our players, our program, and our community. We are very excited to welcome him to The Woodstock Academy family.”

Daleen will relocate his family from Central Connecticut this spring and will begin practice for return players in June. Additional information on the tryout and pre-season schedules will be provided by The Academy’s Athletic department prior to summer break.

 

Softball Wrap-up

Putnam, 

Tourtellotte,

Ellis Tech 

enjoy perfect

weeks

By Ron P. Coderre

Two teams, the Tourtellotte Tigers and Ellis Tech Golden Eagles were on the winning side of all their games last week, as combined they were a perfect 7-0.  Tourtellotte was 4-0 and Ellis Tech was 3-0.

Killingly was 1-2, while Pomfret School lost its only game of the week to Williston-Northhampton.  Plainfield traveled all the way to Orlando, Florida but only experienced futility, losing both games it played in the Sunshine State and then lost its first game at home upon return.  Putnam had a good week going 2-1

Perfection the Word of the Week

Ellis Tech rode the strong arm of Kristin Light to three wins in a perfect week for the 6-2 Golden Eagles.  The team opened with a “mercy rule” 16-1 five-inning affair over University High School-Classical.  Sydney Tetreault with a 3-for-4 hitting performance led the way offensively for the Lady Techsters.

ET followed the win with a doubleheader win at home over Prince Tech.  Light was the winning pitcher in each game.  Ellis Tech took the opener 12-3 and the nightcap 20-7.  Both games were five-inning contests.

Tourtellotte proved it was for real, winning four big games last week.  The Lady Tigers opened with a five-inning “mercy rule” 16-0 whitewashing of Windham High School.  Crystal Daly went the distance for the victory, with hitting support from Emily Vincent who was 3-for-4.

Next up the Lady Tigers beat Montville 8-3 as Vincent (3-for-3 and two RBI) and Abby Poirier (2-for-3) along with Christina Kopacz, who contribute a double and triple paced the offense.  Tourtellotte’s final victory of the week came at the expense of the Killingly Redgals, who were beaten 7-4.  Carinne Sosnowski belted a home run in a three-hit performance to lead the way for the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Tigers closed out the week easily beating Putnam 15-4 behind the hitting of Daly who was 4-for-5.  Grace Denault chipped in a big home run for 6-2 Tourtellotte. 

Killingly, enjoying a good season at 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference- Medium Division beat Lyman Memorial 8-4 as they scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh.  Ashley Veillette (3-for-4 and three RBI) and Madison Weaver (three hits and two runs) along with Cara Mayhew’s two hits and three runs provided the fireworks for the Redgals of coach Lance Leduc.  In their only other game the Redgals were shutout by Waterford 11-0.

Putnam extended its winning streak to four games with a pair of “mercy rule” wins last week before losing to Tourtellotte.  The Lady Clippers beat Grasso Tech 18-3 as Mackenzie Livingston struck out seven Tech hitters.  Ashley Burke and Livingston drove in four runs apiece in the win.  Prince Tech was next for Putnam and it fell 21-4 as Livingston picked up another pitching win.  Jill Loomis and Livingston each had three hits and three RBI for the 5-3 overall and 3-1 Constitution State Conference-East Lady Clippers.

Plainfield took a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla.,  The Lady Panthers had more fun off the field than on the diamond as they lost to Chariho (Rhode Island) High School 12-2 and 13-7  at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.  Plainfield is 3-5 on the season.

Returning to the Northeast, the Lady Panthers received a rude welcome home.  Woodstock Academy and Rylee Hehir disposed if the Lady Panthers 13-0, limiting them to one hit.  Hehir helped her own cause with a home run, two doubles and four runs scored.  The Lady Centaurs, who also spent a week in Florida are 5-4 on the season.

Pomfret School fell to 1-1 on the year when it was beaten 16-1 by Williston-Northhampton.

 

..

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

Putnam High School athletics, which are struggling with numbers, took a severe blow last week when sophomore basketball standout Dan Porcic announced he would be attending Putnam Science Academy beginning in September.

The 6-foot, 3-inch guard has been an integral component of the Putnam Clippers since his freshman year.  In moving across town to Putnam Science Academy, Porcic is headed toward much stronger competition.  The Clippers, who finished 11-10 this season, compete in the Constitution State Conference – East where the teams are generally composed of technical schools.

Putnam Science Academy has been on a basketball upswing since the program was established under coach Tom Espinosa.  Last season the Mustangs finished 37-4.  They reached the National Prep School Championship semifinals, where they lost by two points to perennial power St. Thomas More.  They play a strong independent schedule, traveling throughout New England and the East coast.

Under a new administrative regime, led by Dr. Tieqiang Ding, Putnam Science Academy will maintain its postgraduate basketball program but is planning on establishing a varsity program for younger talented players.  It’s conceivable that’s where Porcic will ply his trade in the upcoming season.  He’ll enroll and reclassify into the Class of 2019.  

Porcic comes to PSA with solid credentials.  As a Clipper last season he averaged 20.3 points per contest including scoring 30 or more points in three games.  He was also one of the team’s leading rebounders, corralling 5.4 caroms per game to go along with 2.1 steals and 1.5 assists per contest.

According to coach Espinosa, the Porcic family is very familiar with Putnam Science Academy and its basketball program.

“Dan wanted more of a basketball challenge.  The family made inquiries regarding admittance and came to the conclusion that this was the route they wanted for their son.  Dan will be part of a very talented varsity team,” said Espinosa.

Porcic was named to the Constitution State Conference first team during the two seasons he played at Putnam High School.