Knight Time will focus on giving you the inside information on sports in Southington (Connecticut), with the focus being the Southington Blue Knights. However, it will occasionally touch on various other issues around the sporting arena. It's meant to inform and entertain with both lightheartedness and news aspects. Leave comments!
On Friday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. the Blue Knights football team will be playing the New Britain High Golden Hurricanes at Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford.
Tickets will be $8 per person (Age 6 and under free). No passes will be valid for this game only.
Tickets for general admission will be available at the Southington High School Athletic Office starting Friday, Oct. 1 until Friday, Oct. 8 (the day of the game) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the gate.
Any questions, call the Southington High School Athletic Office at (860) 628-3229 ext. 425.
Senior right-handed pitcher Sal Romano has verbally committed to playing baseball at the University of Tennessee starting in the fall of 2011. The Record-Journal reported that the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder made the verbal in late August, after narrowing the schools down to UConn and Tennessee. Romano had his first full year of varsity work this past spring for Southington and performed well on the mound. He made 12 appearances (nine starts), throwing a total of 59 1/3 innings, including four complete games with a win-loss record of 7-3. He had a 51/16 K/BB ratio, allowing just about a hit per inning pitched. He only gave up 18 earned runs, sporting an ERA of 2.12, while hitters batted .253 against him, but only .171 with runners in scoring position. He did give up a team high five homers. In his senior year this spring, he'll look to fully cement himself as a Division I pitcher. He'll get a 50 percent ride to Tennessee. For the full story by the Record-Journal's Sean Krofssik, click here.
So everyone loves fantasy football, correct? And it's that time of the year again. I'm going to try and do little fantasy segments on this page from time to time. Wanted to show you the photo I'm using for one of my three teams. I've got Wes Welker on my squad and my team name is Wild Wild Wes, playing off the great film Wild Wild West starring Will Smith. Here's a look at the photo.
So you saw fantasy football...here's my fantasy basketball team photo. I've got Kevin Love on my team, who is an absolute monster, and I named my team after great sports movie, Love and Basketball, starring Omar Epps.
Here are photos that from the first week of fall sports that will be featured in Friday's edition of The Citizen (Sept. 24). (Citizen photos by Michael Guerrera, Cross Country photo courtesy of Annie Groom)
Sarah Collier vs. Mercy
Greg Smedberg vs. Manchester
Nichole Wershoven vs. Simsbury
Top: Tori Munson vs. Conard
Bottom: Alex Irace vs. Bristol Central
Jordan Chapman vs. South Windsor
Cross Country start vs. Newington, Glastonbury, Simsbury
Friday's Southington football home opener against Glastonbury starting at 7 p.m. will be re-broadcast on MyTV9 the following day, Saturday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. Along with being Blue Out night, Fontana Field will be the site of the second broadcast of the season. The broadcast will be taped Friday night and then re-broadcast live Saturday evening. MyTV9 is in conjunction with WTNH-TV, Channel 8.
The High School Football Game of the Week will be broadcast each week on MyTV9. Make sure to watch as members of Sports Team 8, host some of the biggest match-ups of the year in Connecticut football. Keep up with the latest news about the High School Football Game of the Week on the high school sports section of wtnh.com.
Southington went 3-0 on Friday...well, almost...make it 2-0-1 as the Blue Knights three teams in action all came away with positive results. The girls soccer team finished a great first week, beating Simsbury 1-0 after beating East Catholic 1-0. Michaela Melillo posted her second straight shutout, this time registering eight saves, and Erica Kosienski broke a few ankles (not literally) on her way to scoring the only goal with 13 minutes left. The sophomore showed the skills she possess and head coach Sal Penta said that while he was cautiously optimistic, he more than likely did not expect a 2-0 week. He said he would have been more than pleased with 1-0-1. 2-0, he's ecstatic.
Field hockey bounced back with a road win against Northwest Catholic and boys soccer got a real tough road tie against Simsbury, a great result in a tough CCC West battle. Greg Smedberg scored again, his third goal in two games and he has quickly put to rest any worries head coach Dave Yanosy may have had about his front-line scoring options.
HOWEVER, the shock of the day didn't come in Southington. How about New Britain boys soccer - NEW BRITAIN!!! - beating Farmington boys soccer 1-0...yes, that Farmington team...the one two years removed from a state title and the team that just beat Glastonbury, a perennial powerhouse, to open the season. Even worse, the 'Canes shutout the Indians. It may go unnoticed by many, but that is a big, big, big, big time upset.
The Southington Community YMCA will launch its 2010-2011 season on Tuesday Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. Under the direction of head coach Kristen Reeder and assistants Kevin Reeder, Kate Orefice and Karen Bertapelle.
The Stingrays attract athletes from all over the Greater Southington area, ranging in age from 5-18. The team practices at the Southington Community YMCA Monday through Friday.
The Stingrays participate in a 14-team Yankee Cluster League, competing with each team in a dual season. There is a league championship at the end of each dual season where all teams participate. The team is consistently well represented at the New England Championships held at Harvard University in Boston, Mass. in March. Qualifying athletes will also attend the YMCA Nationals held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in April.
New participants can try one free week. Note: Swimmers who are 8-years-old and younger do not begin until Sept. 28 at 4:45 p.m. If you are interested in joining the Southington Community YMCA Stingrays Swim Team, stop by the YMCA or call Barbara Glaude or Kristen Reeder at (860) 628-5597.
Tyle Dube and Jordan Chapman were the highlight-reel, spotlight-getting players on Wednesday as the Blue Knights looked unimpressive, yet still got a solid 19-8 win over South Windsor to start the year 1-0 and get the first win for rookie head coach D.J. Hernandez.
It was a sloppy game, as the teams combined for 30 penalties. Southington led that stat with 17-for-155 penalty yards. Nevertheless, there was an obvious sense of relief on Hernandez's face after the game and the smile showed that he was certainly happy to get the first victory.
Dube (7) caught nine passes, all in the first half, for a total of 98 yards and a touchdown. Pictured is him stretching across the goal line for six...video follows of the TD celebration, the only one the offense got all game.
Jordan Chapman, who also had three catches for 35 yards, sealed the win with a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 77-yard pick-six. The 15-yarder was especially important because it came after Southington had a Dube TD called back and then were stopped on the inch line, going for the touchdown.
Stat Leaders:
RUSHING: Matt Scarpati, 30-for-11
RECEIVING: Dube, 9-for-98
PASSING: Connor Butkiewicz, 20-for35, 185 yards, no INTS.
Let me start off by saying I'm super excited that the fall season is back. To have sports up and running with the weather almost at a perfect temperature is superb.
Running down the slate from Tuesday, a good start for boys soccer who played a less-than-thrilling game against Manchester, but still won 4-1. Sign of a good team: when you win games by a lot and know that you didn't play great. They could go a long way this year and it was a good sign seeing both Greg Smedberg (two goals - at left) and Alec Wasserman step in and score goals as they'll be counted on a ton. Joe Gianatti, the leader, scored the fourth. Of Smedberg, Yanosy said, "His height, speed and direct style makes him difficult to defend." More from Yanosy on some of the lesser known guys that impressed him in the win.
Girls volleyball was, well, girls volleyball, rolling calmly past Simsbury. Positives, Tori Munson had a great game with 13 kills and new setter Danielle Kaminsky had 29 assists. Have to be really, really happy about that. Natasha Carlbert was the usual, with 11 kills and oddly enough, this team, although they lost four all-state caliber starters, may find themselves back in the title game come November.
Really happy for girls soccer as Sal Penta's bunch got a road win against East Catholic to start the year 1-0. It's never an easy task on the road and that was a big confidence booster for a young team looking to return to the state tournament.
Sleeper team of the fall - keep an eye on girls swimming. They already started showing signs of how bright the future really can be as their youngsters showed up big time in their opening meet of the season, a road victory against Woodland, 103.5-79.5. Sophomore Melanie Mongillo was her sprint events in some really fast times for the opening meet of the season for a girl not even 16. Good times of 27.04 and 1:00.01 in the 50- and 100-free, respectively. The girls also swept the relays and got a win from freshman Laurel Dean in the 100-breast. Head coach Jay Dubinsky expects Dean to make a certain impact this year as a freshman.
Field hockey struggled against Mercy (at right), losing 2-0, but leader Erin Luddy said some of the new rules are difficult to adjust to in the beginning and that she was very happy with the defensive's effort and expects the D to be the strong suit all year, especially Melissa Muroski in goal. Head coach Erin Luddy on her team's game one performance.
Cross country had a good day, still waiting on full results, but we know the boys beat Glastonbury and Newington, but fell to Simsbury. In the bigger picture, there is a great deal of focus on the state level this year and while individual conference meets count hugely, this team could be very good on the big stage. (More on the girls results as they come our way.)
Oh right, and the one team not to compete Tuesday gets underway tonight. Football is back!! The Blue Knights play what on the schedule is a road game, but will virtually be a home game as they travel to Veteran's Stadium in New Britain to take on South Windsor. South Windsor got bumped up to Division I this year and is playing with the big boys after a 7-3 season last year. Um, but Conard is still playing down in Division II of the CCC when they dominated opponents? Not really sure about that decision at all, I probably don't agree with it, but is what it is. The Knights should be able to control this game and put points on the board, but the real excitement is seeing what the team does in the coaching debut of former UConn/Bristol Central star, D.J. Hernandez. Should be a lot of fun.
Explanation on why the game is in New Britain? Well, kind of long, confusing story. South Windsor's field doesn't have lights, so Friday night games were out of the question. So why couldn't the game be played Saturday afternoon? Because of Jewish holidays, this weekend was out of the question. Southington facilities were nixed because of an open house Thursday night, so instead of playing the game right after school at say 3 p.m., the game got moved to Veteran's Stadium and played on Wednesday night.
Good karma - last year's season opener was played on a Wednesday against Hall and Connor Butkiewicz tied a state record by throwing for seven touchdown passes. Deja vu, maybe not, but expect some offensive fireworks for sure.
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @MichaelGuerrera for live updates from Veteran's Stadium and Wednesday's game.
I talked with first-year head coach D.J. Hernandez about how his rookie season at the helm of the Blue Knights football program is going after a couple weeks of camp.
I talked with Blue Knights starting QB Connor Butkiewicz last week about how the summer went, as well as how camp is going under a new coaching regime.
Tickets will be $8 per person (Age 6 and under free). No passes will be valid for this game only.
Friday's Southington football home opener against Glastonbury starting at 7 p.m. will be re-broadcast on MyTV9 the following day, Saturday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. Along with being Blue Out night, Fontana Field will be the site of the second broadcast of the season. The broadcast will be taped Friday night and then re-broadcast live Saturday evening. MyTV9 is in conjunction with WTNH-TV, Channel 8. 
Explanation on why the game is in New Britain? Well, kind of long, confusing story. South Windsor's field doesn't have lights, so Friday night games were out of the question. So why couldn't the game be played Saturday afternoon? Because of Jewish holidays, this weekend was out of the question. Southington facilities were nixed because of an open house Thursday night, so instead of playing the game right after school at say 3 p.m., the game got moved to Veteran's Stadium and played on Wednesday night. 
