Putnam pg 9 6-16-11
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- Category: Past Issues
By Doc Cody
Geno Auriemma and Bill Belichick know the feeling of having winning streaks or perfect seasons broken by a defeat quite intimately. Now Putnam Middle School baseball coach Derek Coderre can also say he’s weathered the same experience.
After going through the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record of and getting to the Quinebaug Valley Junior Conference championship game, Coderre and his Wolfpack players lost the postseason title to Lisbon Central School 10-6, spoiling their quest for perfection. Putnam had beaten the Cougars twice during the regular season, 9-8 at home and 12-3 on the road. However, in sports they say it’s difficult to turn the trifecta against the same opponent in one season.
“I’m disappointed with the result of the championship game. It was unfortunate for my players. But I’m very proud of the way they handled the adversity of the loss and all the adversity they faced throughout the season,” said coach Coderre.
In the title game, played at Murphy Park in front of an enthusiastic gathering of parents, students and friends, and in front of a live radio audience on WINY, Putnam jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after two innings. That may have been their downfall, as Lisbon rallied for 10 runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to put the contest out of reach. Much to the Wolfpack’s credit they didn’t throw in the towel, rallying for four runs in the fifth for the final margin.
Pete Whittaker of the Cougars was the winning pitcher. He outlasted Putnam’s Josh Allard, who pitched into the fifth inning before being relieved by Jacob Guertin. Kyle Ciquera with two hits and Ryan Renshaw and Jon Luc Cournoyer with two runs batted in apiece provided the Putnam offensive firepower.
The Wolfpack reached the championship game by besting Helen Baldwin School of Canterbury 18-8 in the semifinals behind the hurling of Guertin and the hitting of Nick Foucault, who had a bases loaded double to provide the offensive spark. In addition to the pair of regular season wins over Lisbon, Coderre’s club also had two wins each against Helen Baldwin, Pomfret Community School, Parish Hill and Eastford.
“We started our season outside on a soccer field with no mound and no infield in March with a group of kids that had unlimited potential. Our goal was to compete for a championship, which we did by staying focused on our goal through every game,” said coach Coderre.
Coderre, who graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University and is a 1987 Putnam High School grad, is in his fourth season as the team’s head coach. He previously served four years as the team’s volunteer assistant coach. The Putnam squad was composed of 11 players who will graduate this year and four who will return next season.
Handling the catching duties was Ciquera who hit .350. The infield around the horn featured Renshaw at first base, defensive stalwart Foucault at second, clean-up hitter Steven Dakai at the hot corner and leadoff hitter Guertin at shortstop. The fly chasing trio of Dan Lowell in left, Shawn Audet in center and Brevon Harmon in right patrolled the outfield.
The mound corps was made up primarily of the team’s ace Allard and its closer Guertin. Foucault and Audet saw pitching duty in spot starts. Providing support off the bench were outfielders Nate Lowell, Jordon Tetreault, Cody Corey and designated hitter/outfielder Chris Dundon. Kyle Loomis provide backup in the infield and behind the mask and pads.
“This is the best all around team I’ve seen at Putnam in my eight years on the sidelines. There were no super stars, but we were solid 1 through 15. The players received strong support from the parents who were with us home and away, said Coderre.
The performance of the Putnam Wolfpack 2011 diamond contingent bodes well for the future of Putnam Clipper baseball, which has experienced down seasons for some time.