Team pg 1 7-26-12
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caption, page 9:
District Champs
The Putnam Junior Little League team celebrates winning the District title last week. Photo courtesy of Kathy Guertin.
Team takes
District title
After a tight 6-3 win July 14 against Killingly, Putnam prepared for a championship game at Murphy Park on July 16. It was the first championship baseball game for Putnam Little League and after many years of trying, they would not be denied. The team had reached many lofty heights along the way; A 10-0 season last year, 11-1 this year and 7-3 in the district tournament over the past few years.
None of those accolades proved enough and this year seemed no different as they dropped their first game in a double elimination-style tournament. Any more losses would have ended the season.
However, here they stood, 7 straight wins later, on the field of dreams.
Steven Dakai took the mound for Putnam and held the Killingly batters at bay, scattering two hits over four innings. Dakai also had an rbi single in the first driving in two runs, giving Putnam an early 2-0 lead. Killingly struck back in the third; scoring two unearned runs on a walk, an error and a sacrifice fly to center field.
Dakai’s triple in the Putnam half of the inning scored Josh Allard who went 2 for 4 on the day and scored two runs. Jon Luc Cournoyer singled to put runners at the corners. He was lifted for base stealing specialist Kristian Burke, who quickly swiped second. Dakai and Burke were driven in by Kyle Ciquera’s long single. Putnam now led 5-2.
After tacking on one more run for Putnam, Dakai seemed to tire and Killingly started to catch up to his fastball. Killingly pushed across another run by a hit batsmen and Steven was replaced on the mound by Josh Allard. Josh quickly ended the rally and kept the score 6-3.
Putnam added two more runs in the 5th by Kyle Loomis and Kristian Burke. Kristian pinch ran four times in the game, stole five bases and scored four runs. Kyle, the team’s catcher, went 3 for 4 with two runs scored.
Killingly was unwilling to go quietly and erased the two runs in the bottom of the 6th, making the score 8-5.
Putnam came up to bat in the top of the final inning clinging to a narrow three-run lead. Dakai (3-4,3B,BB,3R) led off with a walk, they were not going to let him hit again. He was followed by Jon Luc (2-5, 2R) who singled and Ciquera who drove in Steven and pinch runner Burke. Zack Cutler walked and was driven in with Ciquera on Kyle Loomis’ double. Shawn Audet singled to score Loomis and later scored on a passed ball. Putnam sent 9 batters to the plate and scored 6 times.
It took the whole game to have the big inning that they were looking for but it finally came and gave them a 14-6 lead.
As the sun was setting, the Putnam squad sped onto the field. Dakai re took the mound to close out the game. He requested no warm up pitches for fear of the game being called due to darkness.
The first pitch was a grounder to defensive stalwart Nick Foucault at shortstop and he made the easy throw to first. One out. The next batter did the same and Nick ranged to his left, picked the ball and threw to first. This time missing his mark and throwing a bit high. The Putnam first baseman, Jon Luc Cournoyer, leapt as high as his large framed, 6-foot tall body would go. It was high enough as he made the catch and landed on the base. Two out. The next batter walked giving Killingly its last hope, down to their final out. The next batter stepped in and swung at the first pitch, popping out to Foucault at shortstop. Nick recorded all three outs of the final inning! His teammates mobbed him and Dakai and started to celebrate their win, 14-6.
After years of chasing down the elusive championship, the boys were both elated and relieved.
In a ceremony after the game the Putnam boys were awarded their Championship pins and a District Championship banner. They took a victory lap around Murphy Park to the sounds of cheers from the large crowd at the park, holding the banner in front of the procession.
Steve Dakai said “I have been coaching these boys, along with Joe Loomis and John Foucault, since they were in TeeBall. I was asked what was it that made them play so well together. The answer was simple; they honestly care about each other and want to do well together. They are a group of 12 best buddies that are almost always found together. Their strength is in their solidarity.”
Putnam earned a berth into the State Sectional Tournament with the win over Killingly. The tournament, held in Burlington, would be short for the champs. They were eliminated on day three, going 1-2 in the tourney. The win came over Tolland in the first round. The State tournament was a great experience for them and will pay dividends in the coming years.
Closing Notes: Brevon Harmon went 3-5 in the nine hole for Putnam in the finals. He also pitched a game, played 2nd and right field. A true team player! Zack Cutler is the only 13 year old to make this team, most of the boys are 15… Remember that name, Zack Cutler. Putnam’s top player, Jacob Guertin was injured in the final week of the regular season. His name doesn’t appear in the stats for this championship but he still attended every practice and game. Jacob is their leader and stayed with them even though he couldn’t play.