Former Blue Knights return to The Rent

For the University of Connecticut football program, a packed season opener at Rentschler Field has become the norm. Dampness in the air, the sun waning as the moon rises between the first couple of quarters; fans in prime condition enjoying their first tailgate of the year and filling the seats to the brim as the kicker places the ball down and signals the beginning of the season.

Chapman

That exhilarating feeling pours down on Rentschler Field, much like the scores seem to pour down on the Huskies’ opponents on opening day. And Saturday at noon, a pair of former Southington standouts gets to experience that feeling on the opposite sidelines as they take the field for Fordham University.

Southington’s Jake Rodriques and Jordan Chapman will return to Rentschler Field, where they played in high school, to play in Fordham’s first football game against a Division I-A program since 1954.

“It’s like coming home again, playing in front of a lot of people I know. It’s going to be fun, I’m excited for it. I’m ready to go; I think we’re all ready to go. It’s going to be a big game,” said sophomore inside linebacker Rodriques. “It’s going to be cool being back there, but it’s more about just getting a win.”

Southington is a lucky program, because since 2008 they’ve played a yearly game against New Britain on the Rentschler turf. This time, though, it will be a little bit different.

Rodriques

“I’m extremely excited,” said Chapman, a freshman defensive back. “Last year when we played New Britain, playing at Rentschler was – I don’t even know how to explain it – it was awesome. I think coming back this year, playing UConn, my hometown team, it’s going to be an amazing experience with all of those people there. It’s going to be awesome.”

Rodriques had a stellar first half of his senior season at linebacker for the Blue Knights in 2009 before getting hurt midway through the year and missing games the rest of the way. He entered Fordham last year as the first ever class to receive athletic scholarships in football and got some playing time, including a couple of starts.

“I feel like we’re a start of a new level of (Fordham) football,” he said about the scholarship class. “I think starting with my class we’re going to take it to a new level of competitiveness.”

This season, when the Rams take the field at Rentschler, Rodriques is expected to have his name called right off the bat as a starter at weak-side linebacker.

“I’m just trying to get into a rhythm and get some wins under my belt,” he said of the transition to the starting lineup. “I’ve been (at Rentschler) before so I know how it is. I know the field, I know the stadium and all of that, so I feel like I’m going to be pretty comfortable in there.”

While it will not be his first time on the green grass of Rentschler, it will be a new experience and he’ll have plenty of people supporting him.

“I have tons of people coming. I don’t even know the exact number right now, but it’s easily over 50,” explained Rodriques. Chapman concurred.

“I have a bunch of family going – my mom, my sister, my grandmother’s going – and a bunch of other people that are close family friends,” Chapman said.

“Then there’s the whole friend circle. I have friends that are actually going to UConn right now who I know are going to the game and then kids who aren’t going to UConn who are going to the game as well. So there’s going to be a pretty big support group not for just myself, but for Jake as well.”

Southington legend Fontana to throw out first pitch at Red Sox's CT Day

Superintendent of Southington Schools, Joseph Erardi, has announced that legendary Southington High School baseball coach, John Fontana, will represent the State of Connecticut on Sunday, Sept. 4, at Fenway Park, by throwing out the first pitch to officially kick-off Connecticut Day.

Coach Fontana remains as an inspiration and centerpiece in high school sports as the Executive Director of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.

In a press release, Eric Swallow, the Director of Athletics at Southington High School, said,

“John Fontana has been an exceptional leader for the development and promotion of interscholastic athletics throughout the United States, and the state of Connecticut. He has enhanced all aspects of Coaching Education through the CHSCA and continues to be proactive in this effort. His commitment to the development of the youth of Southington and furthering athletic/recreation opportunities exemplifies his character as a leader and educator in the community”

It's all in the family for Romano

Treading through life as a teenager is hard enough. Each high feels like a life-changing, “I’ll remember this forever,” kind of moment; each low makes it feel like, “Wow, life is just too hard and life is just not fair.”

The delicate balance between the two is an emotional juxtaposition that you aren’t able to fully grasp until a few years down the road, for some, or many more years down the road for others.

Like a seesaw, just when it seems like you’re at the top, there’s an innate force that somehow, someway, brings you down. And because of this seesaw battle of inner feelings, it is beyond critical to have some kind of support group, some kind of inner circle to keep you on an even path until a young adult can truly figure out the way to consistency.

Now let’s throw a life-changing decision into the mix; let’s throw thousands of dollars into the life of a teenager; and let’s throw the cutthroat business of professional sports as the Black Swan of decisions. Rare. Dignified. Terrifying. Exhilarating.

For Sal Romano, this was his life last week. He was just a regular teenager, returning home from college summer classes and baseball practices, excited to reunite with friends, family and the like before returning for that vital freshman year – that all-changing freshman year – in college.

Then he got a call that probably went something like this – “We want you to play baseball with the Cincinnati Reds and here’s what we want to offer you.”

And oh how the next three days would change his life. As you noticed, Romano is a Red. You can read the other story for that information. But what you may not fully grasp from that story is the impact that aforementioned support group had on Romano.

As I watched the signing process Saturday morning, many things popped into my head. Wow, what an opportunity. Geeze, that’s a lot of money. You know, I’m really happy for a great kid who will represent Southington well. Boy, I’m a little sleepy – did I leave my windows down?

But while soaking in every moment as simply a fly on the wall, I noticed one more thing: No matter how much money and no matter what kind of fame may be achieved someday, the way Romano got there was not because he throws a lightning fastball, or a knee-buckling curve, or that he’s 6-foot-4 and still growing. It’s because of that support group, which starts with mom and dad.

Every step of the way in the signing process, Romano would turn to mom, Lynne, (Sal, his father, joked when it comes to signing stuff, that’s mom’s job), and he would look at her like, “What does this piece of paper mean,” or “Wow, this is kind of crazy and overwhelming,” and each time mom would look back with a kind smile or a reassuring, “Don’t worry,” and everything seemed like it’d be OK. And don’t worry, dad was there too to lend a comforting pat on the back.

So often in professional sports we see oodles of talent wasted, thrown away, money squandered. Just Google “professional athletes” and “broke” and you’re sure to come up with quite a few hits. While there are a lot of reasons bad things happen sometime, a lot is because there just always isn’t a support group there.

On Romano’s side, greater than the $450,000 bonus, greater than the fastball, curve, slider or change, bigger than the 6-foot-4 frame and 16 size shoe, is the support group around him. Mom and dad and don’t forget brother and sister, Vin and Maryssa.

Holding his hand, figuratively or literally, they are there for him. If all else fails, they’re still there for him. If success comes like a final lap at the Indy 500, they’ll still be there.

And for a kid that doesn’t turn 18 until October, that’s really more important to his chances than anything else.
While the support group for some may be a different combination, the key is that it’s there. Some people don’t have it and for many, it’s not their fault. But in Romano’s case, he’s got it.

Both parents believe in their son like nothing else and said in five years, they have visions of him pitching in Ohio, with the Reds.

But last Saturday, as the older Sal put it, “He still needs a little help from his mother.”

And for the younger Sal, that was probably the best help he could get.

VIDEO: Meet the Drurys, Southington football's new coaching tandem

video courtesy of myrecordjournal.com

Red Dawn: Romano makes it official Saturday morning

Sal Romano made it official Saturday morning. Not long after 10 a.m., he put pen to paper and signed a contract to play professional baseball for the Cincinnati Reds.

“I don’t have words for it,” said an ecstatic Romano afterwards. “A couple of days ago I was ready to go to Tennessee and then all this stuff happened with Major League Baseball and I’m just so honored to represent the Reds.”

Sal Romano (middle) with Lee Seras (right), dad Sal (left)
Mom Lynne (second from left) and sister Maryssa (far left).
(Citizen photo by Michael Guerrera) 

The contract came with a signing bonus of $450,000, the second largest bonus handed out by the Reds to date (the club gave its second round pick a reported $500,000 to sign). Along with the bonus, Romano will get $75,000 towards a college education to any Connecticut public institution if he were to go that route at some point. The third monetary piece of the contract is an $1,100 per month salary for Romano, which is the minor league norm. However, all his expenses are paid for by the organization, so the money, more or less, goes into the pocket.

“They were actually willing to give more of a bonus and take away the school and we said, ‘No, school’s got to be there,’” said Romano’s father, who’s also a Sal.

The entire process happened over a 48-hour span from Wednesday to Friday. Romano got home from summer classes and workouts at Tennessee Tuesday night, then heard an offer from the Reds Wednesday. The initial bonus they threw his way was $400,000.

“He was very excited that the first offer was $400,000,” said mom Lynne, as well as dad.

'Little' Sal returned the call asking for a little more, the Reds said they wouldn't go as high as $500,000 and so they settled on $450,000.

“It was like two, three times just went back and forth and finally we just came to an agreement that, ‘All right, that’s what I’m looking for and I’ll sign,” explained Romano. “I guess they knew what they were planning to do the whole time and it worked out in theirs and my favor.”

Prior to Wednesday, the thought amongst the Romano household was that Sal would be heading back to Tennessee Monday ... for good and not just to pack up his things.

“Thursday I thought he was going back to Tennessee," said his father. Both parents concurred that they believed Sal would play professionally, just not yet, but instead after three years of baseball at Tennessee.

Romano was joined at his house by Lee Seras, the Reds' Northeast Supervisor of Scouting, to sign the deal. Seras had been following Romano's path much of the way and was crucial in the entire process.

The Romanos are one happy Reds family.
From left, Sal (dad), Vin, Sal (son), Lynne and Maryssa.
(Citizen photo by Michael Guerrera)

He said that the reason Romano got picked later than expected had nothing to do with ability, but more to do with sign-ability.

“Especially up in the Northeast, a lot of kids are going to go to school unless they get significant money,” explained Seras. “So it’s tough to sign a lot of kids in the Northeast so they’ll take kids later in the rounds, even though he might be like a fourth or third round-type of guy.”

Even with the 23rd round selection, Seras said that multiple Reds scouts saw him and all said the same thing, “He’s really a fourth, third round-type of kid.”

Romano will drive down to Knoxville, Tenn., with his mom Monday night to pack up. From there, he'll return to Connecticut, then head out to Arizona Friday for a two-week throwing program. He'll come back home until the fall when he's back out to the Instructional League. After that, it's home in Connecticut until spring training.

“I’m excited to get started,” Romano explained. “All of the guys that I’ve met in the organization, I’m very excited to get acquainted with them and meet all the coaches in all of the systems and hopefully one day get to the top.

“I’ve always had to work my way up to the top, so I’m ready for the challenge.”

Though on Saturday, it was about soaking everything in as a 17-year-old professional athlete (he turns 18 Oct. 12).

“Right now it’s basically the excitement of being here with all my family,” he said with a Major League smile. “I’m just enjoying it.”

SLIDESHOW: Sal Romano Signs with Cincinnati Reds

Sal Romano, in shirt and tie, sat down with Reds scout Lee Seras, in black, along with many family and friends at his home, dressed in Reds shirts that they made themselves the night before as they watched Romano's Major League Baseball dream come true.


(all photos by Michael Guerrera)

Sal Romano to sign offer with Reds

Shortly after 5:30 p.m. Friday evening, Sal Romano called and said, "I'm going to be a Red."

Just a couple of hours after talking with Romano and being told he'd have an answer as to 'yes' or 'no'  by Sunday or Monday, he said that he came to terms in the negotiation with the team and that he was going to be a Cincinnati Red.

Romano said he's meeting with Lee Seras, who was the main scout following Romano, on Saturday (Aug. 13) to sign the contract.

Monday he will return to Tennessee to pack up his things and then it's off to the Reds' organization. We'll have more in the coming days.

Congrats to Romano.

Romano Update: The Decision?

Talked with Southington pitcher Sal Romano today, who was drafted in the 23rd round (715) of June's Major League Baseball Amateur Player Draft. He said he's gotten an offer from the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted him, and he's currently negotiating with the team. He hopes to have an answer by Sunday night. Monday (Aug. 15) is the final day for Major League clubs to sign their draft picks.

Romano got home this week after taking summer classes at the University of Tennessee and working out with the baseball team. Last fall, he committed to playing baseball there. He will return to Tennessee if he cannot come to terms with the Reds.

In case you forgot, Romano, Connecticut's Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year, had a remarkable senior year, going 10-2 and striking out 121 batters of 81 innings, while walking only 17. He had an ERA of .35, allowing only four earned runs all spring and opponents batted a measly .144 against him.Offensively, he hit .407 with 19 runs scored and 25 RBIs.

More to come at the beginning of next week. 

With Aug. 15 MLB signing date looming, Romano's future remains a mystery

August 15 is officially the last day for teams in Major League Baseball to sign players taken in the June First Year Amateur Player Draft. If you're not signed by midnight, it's back to college (if you have eligibility left).

And Southington's Sal Romano, the only Connecticut high school player drafted in any of the 50 rounds, remains a mystery. After being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds with the 715th selection in the 23rd round, the right-handed hurler got a visit from the Reds' National Scouting Director during a legion game. From there they said he'd be receiving their offer in early August.

Early August has come and with Monday's deadline now just a handful of days away, an offer is likely on the table or will be coming Romano's way sooner than later.

Meanwhile, the 17-year-old left for summer classes and workouts at the University of Tennessee on July 4. He'll return home this week for a short time before heading south again. He's committed to playing baseball for the Volunteers.

And while there's no word yet on what offer Romano will get, there's some useful information provided by Perfect Game USA and their Draft Signee Database.

According to the site, in Round 23, where Romano was drafted, only eight players have yet to sign with the club that drafted them, Romano being one of them. In fact, he's the latest pick in that round not to sign. The final six players of the round drafted after him have all signed.

As for a possible signing bonus, the New York Mets inked catcher Jeffrey Diehl, pick No. 702 (just 13 slots ahead of Romano) to a deal with a $130,000 bonus.

As for Cincinnati, of the 50 picks the team made, 28 are still unsigned as of Tuesday, Aug. 9. However, of the top half of the draft (Rounds 1-25), only nine of the Reds' draft picks remained unsigned.

The lowest reported signing bonus given out by the Reds was $90,000 to the ninth-round selection, RHP Cole Green. The Reds' 11th round pick, RHP Vaughn Covington, signed a bonus of $150,000 and the team's 31st round pick, RHP Erik Miller, signed for a bonus of $100,000. Romano was drafted right in the middle as far as rounds go so if he were to sign, a bonus would probably be in a similar range. (There were no reported bonuses from the Reds between round 11 and round 31.)

A factor that can't hurt Romano's offer is that it's looking more and more like the Reds might not sign their top overall pick, RHP Robert Stephenson. In a pair of tweets yesterday (Aug. 8), Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogersPG), of Perfect Game USA, tweeted the following:

• @KendallRogersPG/Kendall Rogers: "Didn't expect this, but was told today greater than 50% chance #Reds first-round pick Robert Stephenson goes to #Washington. #mlbdraft #MLB"
• @KendallRogersPG/Kendall Rogers: "Sounds like Stephenson will need to get a ton of love from the #Reds at the deadline to spurn the #Huskies. He's an academic type."

Rogers is referring to the University of Washington.

While six days is still a whopping amount of time for things to get done, especially in Major League Baseball, next Monday will come sooner than later. For now, it's just the waiting game.

Southington High Fall Sports practice dates

SOUTHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL FALL SPORTS PRACTICE SCHEDULE 2011

No student athlete will be allowed to participate in any sport without proper medical documentation; i.e. parent permission form, and physical examination form which will generate a YELLOW CARD for participation. The high school nurse will be available from Aug. 15 to 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to process forms for yellow cards. Info: (860)628-3229 ext. 255. School starts August 29.

• XC Boys Saturday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. Where: SHS track Bring: running YELLOW CARD and parent permission forms, shoes and water
• XC Girls Saturday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. Where: SHS track Bring: YELLOW CARD and parent permission form, running shoes and water
• Football Wednesday, Aug. 17 Where: High school Bring: YELLOW CARD and parent permission and anything else the coaches have told you to bring.
• Field Hockey V & JV 10th-12th grades, Saturday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. Where: Varsity Field Hockey Field Bring: YELLOW CARD, parent permission, shin guards, mouth guard, stick and goggles. Field Hockey-FR Monday, Aug. 29, Right after school at 2:20 p.m. Where: Main Cafeteria Bring: YELLOW CARD, parent permission, change of clothes, sneakers, cleats, stick, mouth guard and goggles.
• Boys Soccer Saturday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. Where: High school, soccer fields Bring: YELLOW CARD, parent permission form.
• Girls Soccer Saturday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m Where: Upper Soccer Field Bring: YELLOW CARD, water, soccer ball, shin guards, and cleats.
• Girls Volleyball Saturday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Meet at West Gym Bring: YELLOW CARD and parent permission form, shorts, sneakers and water bottle.

Southington Shock to defend title

After rolling to a 19-3 record during the Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League regular season, the Southington Shockers quietly dispatched the Manchester Mavericks in the best-of-three semifinals (after receiving a first round bye) winning game one 6-1 in Southington and winning on the road in game two, 4-0. In the game two victory, Southington resident and UConn-Avery Point pitcher Kyle Florio dominated the opponent, throwing the complete game shutout, allowing only five hits and never allowing more than one hit in an inning.

Offensively, Conor Bierfeldt, from Torrington, was 2-for-3 with a big two-run double that extended Southington's lead in the sixth to the final mark of 4-0. Bierfeldt plays at Western Connecticut State University.

The back-to-back champion Shockers look to defend its title for the third straight year, in only the third year of existence for the CCBL. This year's final will be a rematch of last year's as Southington will play the Tobacco Valley Renegades (Windsor Locks) for the title. Tobacco Valley swept Glastonbury in its semifinal series.

Game one is tonight at Fontana Field starting at 7 p.m., followed by game two on the road Thursday and a possible game three on Friday back in Southington (all weather pending).

"I like this team. I like the fact that each year, kids from different schools that maybe played against each other in high school or even against each other in college, come together and form one team with us and I've always been happy with that," Lembo said.

And when asked whether the three-peat was in the cards, Lembo said, sure.

"I go into every game thinking we have a shot," he said. "I am happy with the way we've been playing because our pitchers are giving us opportunities to win the games and our hitters have been coming through in some big spots."

2012 Southington High girls tennis captains

Courtney Race (left) and Andrea Rasimas

Last week, Southington High School girls tennis head coach Ed Kalat announced that the captains for the 2012 spring season will be seniors Courtney Race and Andrea Rasimas.

In a statement Kalat said, "They were chosen based on enthusiasm, dedication, a positive attitude, match attendance and ability to lead the 2012 team by example."

Congrats to them.