Knight Time

Fontana into AIC Hall of Fame

2012-01-06T06:35:00.000-05:00

Southington legend John Fontana (pictured) was among 14 new members recently inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at American International College in Springfield, Mass.

Fontana, a 1957 graduate of AIC, was honored during a formal ceremony held in the Butova Gymnasium.

A star baseball player at AIC, Fontana made his mark in baseball after leaving college as he went on to become one of the winningest high school coaches in America. During his 41-year tenure at Southington High School in Connecticut he won 669 games and finished his career fifth among high school baseball coaches in winning percentage with at least 600 wins, while leading his teams to two state titles and 40 state championship tournament appearances. A total of 192 of his former players went on to earn college scholarships, and in 1991 seven of his former players were playing in the NCAA Division I and Division II College World Series. He also had 17 former players sign Major League contracts.

Fontana was named the 1993 American Baseball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year and was named the 1996 recipient of the National High School Coaches Association’s (NHSCA) Dwight-Keith Award, which is the organization’s highest honor, and served as the organization’s President during the 1992-93 academic year.

Fontana was inducted into the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999 and was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000.

The Class of 2011 was the fifth to be inducted into the American International College Athletics Hall of Fame, which was first established in 2005, and brings the total number of honorees to 61.

Southington hires new girls tennis coach

2011-12-26T05:24:00.000-05:00

Southington High hires a new girls tennis coach for the departed Ed Kalat. The release from the high school follows:

Southington High School Athletics Department would like to announce the appointment of Robin Thompson as the head coach for girls tennis. Coach Thompson is a graduate of Southington High School, a former student-athlete/captain and a past recipient of the Val Leach Award. She has the experience and ability to lead the girls tennis program. Alexandra Garry will serve as her assistant coach. Coach Garry is a former student-athlete and past captain of the girls tennis team and is currently a teacher in the Southington public school system.

Southington Enters Week 1 Wrestling Poll

2011-12-21T03:24:00.006-05:00

Week 1, Dec. 19, Norwich Bulletin Coaches Wrestling Poll
Rec. Pts Prv Rank

1. Daniel Hand (6) 1-0 280 4

2. Danbury (5) 1-0 238 3

3. Xavier (3) 1-0 219 1

4. New Milford 1-0 211 5

5. Fair. Warde (1) 1-0 165 7

6. Ledyard 1-0 144 6

7. Farmington 1-0 136 t7

8. Southington 1-0 113 nr

9. Bristol Eastern 1-0 89 8

10. Windham High 1-0 83 10

(first place votes)

Others receiving votes: Greenwich (1-0) 56; Bacon Academy (1-0) 40, South Windsor (1-0) 26, Trumbull (1-0) 25; Haddam-Killingworth (1-0) 24; Montville (4-0) 11; Middletown (1-0) 7; Old Saybrook/Westbrook 7 (0-1)
-----------------------------------------
Coaches voting:
Brian Archibald, Bristol Central
Ricky Shook, Danbury
Joe Vano, Darien
Jason Shaughnessy, Fairfield Warde
Eric Misko, Farmington
Rich Bowen, Killingly
Gary Wilcox, Montville
Roy Wentworth, NFA
Derek Dion, Southington
Peter Veleas, Terryville
Charlie Anderson, Trumbull
Pat Risley, Windham
Mike Cunningham, Xavier
Mark Fong, Middletown
Matt Schoonmaker, Jonathan Law.
Votes tabulated on a 20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

Robarge to play baseball at UHart

2011-12-14T17:17:00.002-05:00

Southington High School's athletic department announced Wednesday that Sr. Justin Robarge will be signing a National Letter of Intent to attend Division I University of Hartford to play baseball on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 2:30 p.m. in the Athletic Office at Southington High School.

Robarge has been playing baseball all four years of his high school career. He contributed significantly to last year’s CIAC Class LL State Championship finalist. Baseball coach Charlie Lembo says, "The University of Hartford will be a great fit for Justin. With his skills and determination, I believe he will help the University of Hartford baseball program."

He was 1-1 last season in limited action on the mound, starting three games and throwing 17 1/3 innings, allowing 13 earned runs and striking out 14.

Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance HS Football Final Poll

2011-12-13T06:13:00.000-05:00

Final
Released December 12, 2011

Rank	Team (First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Prev. Rank
1.	Xavier (29)	13-0	435	1
2.	Daniel Hand	13-0	402	4
3.	Ansonia	13-0	380	3
4.	Staples	11-1	321	5
5.	Masuk	11-1	317	2
6.	New Canaan	11-2	302	7
7.	Windsor	11-1	247	6
8.	Holy Cross	12-1	201	NR
9.	New London	9-2	173	8
10.	Notre Dame-West Haven	8-3	140	9

Also Receiving Votes: Ledyard 11-2 114; Norwalk 9-2 106; Newtown 9-3 85; Cromwell 10-3 80; North Haven 9-2 60; Greenwich 8-2 32; Hall 9-2 21; Berlin 10-2 19; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 10-2 16; Shelton 8-2 8; Northwest Catholic 9-3 5; Conard 9-2 4; North Branford 4; Wolcott 8-4 3; Darien 2; Farmington 9-1 2; Bunnell 1

Voters: Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican-American), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Dave Greenleaf (Bristol Press), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (SE Conn Patch), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Robert Mayer (Berlin Patch), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Elliott Schickler (Westport News), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Times)

2011 Fall Southington All-Conference Selections

2011-12-05T19:43:00.001-05:00

Here's who was named All-Conference for this past fall:

Boys Soccer (CCC West)

Sr. G Bill Queen

Girls Soccer (CCC West)

Jr. F Erica Kosienski

Sr. D Allison Vachon

Sr. M Christie Freer

Football (Division I-CCC West)

Sr. RB/LB Matt O’Connor

Sr. TE/LB Andrew Walowski

Jr. OL/DL Travis Clark

Jr. S/RB/WR Corbin Garry

Girls Volleyball (CCC West)

Jr. OH Corinne Horanzy

Sr. OH Tory Broytman

Jr. S Danielle Kaminsky

Sr. MH Emily Durocher

Field Hockey (CCC East)

Sr. D Danielle Macioci

Sr. M Micaila Dean

Sr. F Sarah Collier

Sr. D Sarah Pelligrinell

Boys Cross Country (CCC West)

Sr. Kyle Hamel

Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance HS Football Final Regular Season Poll

2011-11-28T19:53:00.002-05:00

Week #11 (Regular Season Final)
Released November 28, 2011

Rank	Team (First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Prev. Rank
1.	Xavier (19)	10-0	396	1
2.	Masuk (8)	10-0	382	2
3.	Ansonia	10-0	327	3
4.	Daniel Hand	10-0	314	4
5.	Staples	9-0	296	5
6.	Windsor	10-0	291	6
7.	New Canaan	9-1	216	7
8.	New London	9-1	206	8
9.	Notre Dame-West Haven	8-2	170	9
10.	Hall	9-1	158	10

Also Receiving Votes: North Haven 9-1 112; Conard 9-1 105; Norwalk 8-1 53; Greenwich 8-2 42; Ledyard 9-1 31; Ellington/Somers 10-0 25; Berlin 9-1 23; Newtown 8-2 18; Darien 8-2 14; Capital Prep/Classical Magnet 10-0 12; Holy Cross 9-1 12; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 9-1 9; Farmington 9-1 7; North Branford 9-1 6; Ridgefield 8-2 6; Glastonbury 8-2 3; Bunnell 8-2 2; Coventry/Windham Tech 9-1 2; Haddam-Killingworth 8-2 2

Voters: Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican-American), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Ted Glanzer (The Granbys Patch), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Tim Jensen (Enfield Patch.), Pete Lamoureux (WCCC 1290 AM), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Times)

Powder Puff and Thanksgiving Day Tickets

2011-11-17T10:00:00.002-05:00

The Powder Puff football game between Cheshire High School and Southington High School will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Southington High. Tickets for the game will be on sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the athletic office at Southington High School. Student and senior citizen tickets are $5.00 and all other tickets $7.00. No passes will be accepted for this game. Tickets will be available at the gate.

The Powder Puff team will also play Monday, Nov. 21, on the road at New Britain High, also at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Thanksgiving Day football game between Cheshire High School and Southington High School will go on sale on Monday, Nov. 21, in the Athletic office at Southington High School between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The game is scheduled to be at Cheshire High School at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Advance tickets are $6 for students and senior citizens and $8 for all others. All tickets on the day of the game are $8.

VIDEO: Southington Slides Past Simsbury in Mud, 14-8

2011-11-16T21:16:00.000-05:00

VIDEO: Reaction to Southington's 17-8 win over Manchester

2011-11-11T22:05:00.000-05:00

Here's four videos from Southington's 17-8 at home Friday (Nov. 11) against Manchester.

Southington Tournament Pairings

2011-11-09T17:49:00.002-05:00

Finally, after everything, we are setup for high school tournament action. The CIAC postseason pairings were announced Wednesday. For a girls swimming and diving meet sheet, click here. For all other tournament-style sports, take a look at how Southington faired (for the full bracket, click the picture):

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

GIRLS SOCCER

FIELD HOCKEY

Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance HS Football Poll Week 6

2011-10-24T21:47:00.004-04:00

Week #6
Released October 24, 2011

Rank	Team (First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Prev. Rank
1.	Xavier (19)	6-0	425	1
2.	Masuk (10)	6-0	415	2
3.	Ansonia	6-0	346	3
4.	Daniel Hand	6-0	331	4
5.	New Canaan	6-0	323	5
6.	New London	5-0	277	6
7.	Windsor	6-0	275	7
8.	Staples	5-0	241	8
9.	Bunnell	6-0	213	9
10.	Darien	6-0	146	NR

Also Receiving Votes: Conard 6-0 143; West Haven 5-1 73; Norwich Free Academy 5-0 54; Greenwich 5-1 41; Notre Dame-West Haven 4-2 39; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 5-0 34; Northwest Catholic 5-1 20; Cromwell 6-0 17; North Haven 5-1 17; Pomperaug 5-1 13; Farmington 6-0 12; Newtown 5-1 5; Berlin 5-1 4; Fairfield Prep 4-2 4; Norwalk 5-1 4; Coventry/Windham Tech 5-0 2; Hall 5-1 2; Ledyard 4-1 2; Ellington/Somers 6-0 1; Holy Cross 5-1 1

Voters: Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Don Boyle (Sporting News CT), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican-American), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Ted Glanzer (The Granbys Patch), Dave Greenleaf (Bristol Press), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (SE Conn Patch), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Robert Mayer (Berlin Patch), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Times)

Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance HS Football Poll Week 5

2011-10-17T22:26:00.000-04:00

Week #5
Released October 17, 2011

Rank	Team (First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Prev. Rank
1.	Xavier (22)	5-0	456	1
2.	Masuk (9)	5-0	443	2
3.	Ansonia	5-0	373	3
4.	Daniel Hand	5-0	352	4
5.	New Canaan	5-0	334	5
6.	New London	4-0	307	6
7.	Windsor	5-0	273	7
8.	Staples	4-0	237	8
9.	Bunnell	5-0	228	9
10.	North Haven	5-0	175	10

Also Receiving Votes: Darien 5-0 151; Conard 4-0 102; West Haven 4-1 49; Norwich Free Academy 4-0 44; Greenwich 4-1 39; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 5-0 38; Northwest Catholic 4-1 23; Pomperaug 4-1 20; Cromwell 5-0 18; Farmington 5-0 9; Notre Dame-West Haven 3-2 8; Windham 1-4 8; Berlin 4-1 7; Cheshire 3-2 5; Montville 4-1 4; Ellington/Somers 5-0 3; Middletown 4-1 3; Newtown 4-1 3; Coventry/Windham Tech 4-0 2; Hall 4-1 2; Glastonbury 4-1 1; Housatonic/Wamogo 4-0 1; Norwalk 4-1 1; Ridgefield 4-1 1

Voters: Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Don Boyle (Sporting News CT), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican-American), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Ted Glanzer (The Granbys Patch), John Goralski (Southington Observer), Dave Greenleaf (Bristol Press), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (SE Conn Patch), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Robert Mayer (Berlin Patch), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Times)

VIDEO: Knights trounce Bobcats, 34-0

2011-10-15T00:36:00.001-04:00

The Southington Blue Knights football team bounced back from a tough loss with a 34-0 win over South Windsor on Friday night to improve to 4-1. For the full story, click here. In the beginning of the video, head coach Mike Drury talks about quarterback Andrew Walowski.

Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance HS Football Poll Week 4

2011-10-10T22:12:00.004-04:00

Week #4
Released October 10, 2011

Rank Team Record Points Prev. Rank
1. Xavier (18) 4-0 410 1
2. Masuk (10) 4-0 402 2
3. Ansonia 4-0 335 3
4. Daniel Hand 4-0 313 5
5. New Canaan 4-0 310 4
6. New London 4-0 283 6
7. Windsor 4-0 241 8
8. Staples 3-0 227 7
9. Bunnell 4-0 172 10
10. North Haven 4-0 117 NR
(First Place Votes)

Also Receiving Votes: Pomperaug 4-0 89; Darien 4-0 79; Middletown 4-0 76; Conard 4-0 72; West Haven 3-1 35; Berlin 4-0 32; Norwalk 4-0 29; Greenwich 3-1 25; Montville 4-0 25; Norwich Free Academy 3-0 22; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 4-0 14; Notre Dame-West Haven 3-1 11; Farmington 4-0 7; Bloomfield 4-0 6; Cromwell 4-0 6; Cheshire 2-2 5; Naugatuck 4-0 5; Trumbull 2-1 5; Ellington/Somers 4-0 2; Ridgefield 3-1 2; Coventry/Windham Tech 3-0 1; Fairfield Warde 2-2 1; Northwest Catholic 3-1 1

Voters: Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican-American), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Ted Glanzer (The Granbys Patch), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (SE Conn Patch), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Robert Mayer (Berlin Patch), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle)

VIDEO: Drury talks about 40-7 loss to Conard

2011-10-07T19:02:00.003-04:00

Southington football suffered its first loss Friday afternoon, being defeated by Conard 40-7. In the game, the Blue Knights lost sophomore quarterback Stephen Barmore to injury as he hurt his right shoulder diving into the endzone for a touchdown. Early prognosis on Barmore wasn't great, but only tests will actually reveal what happened. Freshman Connor John stepped in and played admirably. Southington turned the ball over too much and the score is not indicative of a game that featured a few big plays from Conard, but a more or less even match-up. Blue Knights head coach Mike Drury talked about the loss, that dropped Southington to 3-1. Conard improved to 4-0.

Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance HS Football Poll Week 3

2011-10-04T06:25:00.000-04:00

Released October 3, 2011

Rank Team Record Points Prev. Rank
1. Xavier (19) 3-0 452 1
2. Masuk (12) 3-0 446 2
3. Ansonia 3-0 374 4
4. New Canaan 3-0 359 3
5. Daniel Hand 3-0 315 T6
6. New London 3-0 298 9
7. Staples 3-0 261 5
8. Windsor 3-0 240 8
9. West Haven 3-0 151 10
10. Bunnell 3-0 120 NR
(First Place Votes)

Also Receiving Votes: Trumbull 2-0 108; Cheshire 2-1 106; North Haven 3-0 103; Middletown 3-0 72; Conard 3-0 57; Pomperaug 3-0 46; Montville 3-0 39; Darien 3-0 33; Berlin 3-0 30; Northwest Catholic 2-1 23; Norwich Free Academy 2-0 19; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 3-0 19; Southington 3-0 14; Farmington 3-0 7; Cromwell 3-0 6; Glastonbury 2-1 4; Naugatuck 3-0 4; Norwalk 3-0 4; Notre Dame-West Haven 2-1 4; Newtown 3-0 3; Hall 3-0 2; Coventry/Windham Tech 2-0 1

Voters: Marc Allard (Norwich Bulletin), Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Don Boyle (Sporting News CT), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican-American), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Ted Glanzer (The Granbys Patch), Dave Greenleaf (Bristol Press), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (SE Conn Patch), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Robert Mayer (Berlin Patch), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Times)

VIDEO: Blue Knights Beat Newington, 13-6

2011-10-02T16:59:00.000-04:00

Southington football got a 13-6 win over Newington Saturday night (Oct. 1), thanks to another great defensive effort and a couple of long touchdown runs. QB Stephen Barmore had one of the runs, going 80-yards for the first score of the game for either team. Barmore talks about that run and then Blue Knights head coach Mike Drury talks about the win as his team improved to 3-0.

Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance HS Football Poll Week 2

2011-09-26T22:00:00.000-04:00

Week #2
Released September 26, 2011

Rank Team Record Points Prev. Rank
1. Xavier (17) 2-0 435 2
2. Masuk (13) 2-0 433 1
3. New Canaan 2-0 375 3
4. Ansonia 2-0 331 4
5. Staples 2-0 273 5
T6. Cheshire 2-0 256 8
T6. Daniel Hand 2-0 256 6
8. Windsor 2-0 202 10
9. New London 1-0 182 7
10. West Haven 2-0 131 NR
(first place votes)

Also Receiving Votes: North Haven 2-0 128; Trumbull 1-0 113; Bunnell 2-0 90; Glastonbury 2-0 54; Middletown 2-0 53; Greenwich 2-0 39; Darien 2-0 37; Berlin 2-0 32; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 2-0 29; Pomperaug 2-0 27; Montville 2-0 25; Northwest Catholic 2-0 16; Norwich Free Academy 1-0 14; Conard 2-0 13; Bloomfield 2-0 10; Shelton 2-0 10; Southington 2-0 7; Cromwell 2-0 6; Norwalk 2-0 6; Hall 2-0 3; Ledyard 2-0 3; Naugatuck 2-0 3; Capital Prep/Classical Magnet 2-0 2; Farmington 2-0 2; Coventry/Windham Tech 2-0 1; St. Joseph 0-2 1; Torrington 1-1 1; Wilton 2-0 1

Voters: Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican-American), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Ted Glanzer (The Granbys Patch), John Goralski (Southington Observer), Dave Greenleaf (Bristol Press), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), Larry Kelley (SE Conn Patch), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Robert Mayer (Berlin Patch), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Times)

VIDEO: Southington football tops New Britain, 3-0

2011-09-24T22:13:00.001-04:00

In a defensive slugfest at Fontana Field in Southington, the Blue Knights beat New Britain 3-0 Saturday night (Sept. 24) when first-year senior kicker Sean Hammell knocked a 24-yard field goal through the uprights late in the fourth quarter. The field goal was keyed by an interception from Brian Kaminsky that he took back inside the 10 yard, a return of 40-plus yards. Both defenses were on their games, but Southington forced turnovers and game out on the winning end. Jared DeGumbia's pick with seconds remaining at the Southington goal line sealed the win for the Blue Knights. Below are three videos, first of Hammell's winning kick, then of Hammell reacting to the win and head coach Mike Drury talking about the victory.

Southington football vs. New Britain moved from Rentschler

2011-09-22T17:50:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: GAME MOVED FROM FRIDAY NIGHT IN SOUTHINGTON TO SATURDAY NIGHT IN SOUTHINGTON!!

The Southington football game scheduled for tomorrow night against New Britain has been moved from Rentschler Field in East Hartford to Fontana Field at Southington High School. Game time will still be at 7 p.m.

CSWA Football Poll: Week 1

2011-09-19T22:24:00.001-04:00

Week #1
Released September 19, 2011

Rank Team Record Points Prev. Rank
1. Masuk (16) 1-0 491 2
2. Xavier (18) 1-0 490 1
3. New Canaan 1-0 421 3
4. Ansonia 1-0 380 5
5. Staples 1-0 302 7
6. Daniel Hand 1-0 284 9
7. New London 1-0 265 8
8. Cheshire 1-0 241 10
9. North Haven 1-0 206 NR
10. Windsor 1-0 183 NR
(first place votes)

Also Receiving Votes: Trumbull 0-0 139; West Haven 1-0 133; Bunnell 1-0 78; Glastonbury 1-0 65; Hillhouse 0-1 64; Darien 1-0 41; Norwich Free Academy 1-0 36; Middletown 1-0 31; Berlin 1-0 27; Pomperaug 1-0 23; Southington 1-0 22; Greenwich 1-0 21; Montville 1-0 21; Conard 1-0 20; Northwest Catholic 1-0 19; Stamford 1-0 14; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 1-0 14; Shelton 1-0 11; Ridgefield 0-1 7; Ledyard 1-0 6; Cromwell 1-0 4; Fairfield Warde 1-0 4; Naugatuck 1-0 4; Avon 1-0 3; St. Joseph 0-1 3; Waterford 1-0 3; Torrington 0-1 2; Derby 1-0 1; RHAM 1-0 1

Voters: Marc Allard (Norwich Bulletin), Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Don Boyle (Sporting News CT), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican-American), Ray Curren (Elm City Newspapers), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Ted Glanzer (The Granbys Patch), John Goralski (Southington Observer), Dave Greenleaf (CCC website), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (SE Conn Patch), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Robert Mayer (Berlin Patch), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Times)

Ticket information for New Britain-Southington football

2011-09-19T14:11:00.000-04:00

On Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. the Blue Knights football team from Southington High School will be playing the Golden Hurricanes team from New Britain High School at Rentschler Field at 615 Silver Lane in East Hartford.

Tickets will be $10 per person (age 6 and under are free). No passes will be valid for this game.

Tickets for general admission will be available at the Southington High School Athletic Office starting Monday, Sept.19 until Friday, Sept. 23 (the day of the game) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the gate which open at 6 p.m.

Any questions, call the Southington High School Athletic Office at (860) 628-3229 ext. 425.

VIDEO: Drury on East Hartford Win

2011-09-17T05:55:00.001-04:00

Southington head football coach, Mike Drury, talks about the Blue Knights' opening day, 42-14 win over East Hartford on Sept. 16. It was Drury's first career win as a head coach.

Southington Blue Knights Football Preview

2011-09-14T00:24:00.001-04:00

HEAD COACH: Mike Drury — first year

RECORD LAST YEAR: 8-2, 6-1 CCC Division I (co-champs)

KEY LOSSES: QB Connor Butkiewicz, 72-for-134 passing for 1,012 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2010; WR/DB Tyler Dube, 902 yards receiving on 50 catches for 10 scores in 2010; seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries; RB/WR Zack Wholley, 38 rushes for 216 yards and two touchdowns and 16 catches for 228 yards and four scores; DB/WR Jordan Chapman, 29 catches for 362 yards and four touchdowns; five interceptions, 18 extra points; RB Matt Scarpati, 140 rushes for 604 yards and four touchdowns; RB/LB Joe Pesce, 21 rushes for 113 yards and three touchdowns; DB Mark Tellerico, three interceptions; S Nick Gothberg, second on team with 70 total tackles; DL/OL Enjan Mullaj, 30 total tackles; DL Jonathan Repollet, fourth on team with 40 total tackles and had 1.5 sacks; LB Dan Snyder, OL/DL Jaylon McKee, three sacks in 2010; OL Randall Ledet, Jr.

KEY RETURNEES: Sr. TE/LB (c) Andrew Walowski, 15 catches for 232 yards and three touchdowns, team leader on defense with 84 total tackles and three sacks; Sr. LB (c) Matt O’Connor, third on team in 2010 with 60 total tackles and 2.5 sacks; Sr. DE (c) Dan Manware, 36 total tackles in 2010; So. QB Stephen Barmore, 48-for-67 passing for 776 yards and 11 touchdowns, 33 rushes for 109 yards and a touchdown (only two interceptions); So. RB Jarrid Grimmett, 54 rushes for 262 yards and four touchdowns; Sr. LB Don Rinaldi, 22 total tackles in 2010; Sr. WR Bryan Kaminsky, 9 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown in 2010; Jr. OL Travis Clark.

KEY NEWCOMERS: Sr. (c) OL Ryan Hurley, Sr. WR/CB Jared DeGumbia, Sr. DL Johnny Gradante, 8 total tackles in 2010; Sr. DL Nick Mendez, Jr. OL/DL Travis Daly, Sr. SS Chris DePaolo, Jr. FS Corbin Garry, Jr. RB/LB Dave DiNeno, Jr. WR/CB Anthony Bonefant, Jr. WR/CB Nathan Bonefant, Jr. WR/LB Nick Spitz, Jr. OL/DL Josh Irizarry, Sr. OL Tyler Boudreau, So. LB/TE Zach Maxwell, So. WR Tyler Hyde.

KEY GAMES: 9/23 vs. New Britain, 10/22 @ Glastonbury, 11/4 vs. Simsbury, 11/11 vs. Manchester, 11/24 @ Cheshire.

OUTLOOK: Lots of new faces will adorn both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Twelve starters graduated, including playmakers on both sides of the ball in Dube, Chapman, Butkiewicz, Gothberg, Tellerico and more. However, a new coach, but a similar system should provide continuity for a talented young core led by quarterback Barmore and super-quick running back Grimmett. Expectations remain high even with a new cast of characters.

Southington football receives votes in CSWA pre-season poll

2011-09-13T14:28:00.004-04:00

The Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance pre-season football poll came out Monday night and the Southington Blue Knights, coming off an 8-2 season and with a new head coach, received 31 points and come in at No. 22. For a full preview of the football team, check back Friday prior to the opening contest against East Hartford.

Pre-Season Released September 12, 2011
Rank Team (First Place Votes); 2010-11 Record; Points

1. Xavier (15) 13-0 434
2. Masuk (15) 13-0 433
3. New Canaan 11-2 339
4. Hillhouse 10-3 308
5. Ansonia 11-2 289
6. Trumbull 11-2 187
7. Staples 9-2 176
8. New London 10-3 170
9. Daniel Hand 10-2 161
10. Cheshire 5-5 139

Also Receiving Votes: Windsor 8-2 133; West Haven 8-3 114; Glastonbury 10-2 69; North Haven 9-2 67; Brookfield 9-3 64; St. Joseph 10-3 61; Berlin 10-1 53; Bunnell 7-3 47; Darien 10-2 40; Montville 10-2 40; Greenwich 5-5 32; Southington 8-2 31; Torrington 7-3 30; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 11-1 27; Norwich Free Academy 11-1 23; Ledyard 7-3 19; Pomperaug 8-2 14; Notre Dame-West Haven 7-3 13; Northwest Catholic 4-6 12; Stamford 6-4 11; Naugatuck 9-2 10; Conard 8-3 9; Middletown 7-3 9; Cromwell 7-4 8; Shelton 6-4 7; Avon 8-2 6; Hyde Leadership 7-4 4; Fairfield Warde 5-5 2; Hall 8-3 2; Fitch 6-4 1; Gilbert/NW Regional 9-3 1; Maloney 8-2 1; Newtown 8-2 1; Plainville 8-3 1; Ridgefield 7-3 1; Waterford 7-3 1

Voters: Brian Barreto (NVL Blog), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Don Boyle (Sporting News CT), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican), Johnny Burnham (Bristol Press), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Ted Glanzer (The Granbys Patch), John Goralski (Southington Observer), Dave Greenleaf (CCC website), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (Niantic Patch), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Farmington/W. Hartford Patch), Robert Mayer (Berlin/Plainville/Southington Citizen), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Newspapers), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Elm City Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Times)

Southington's Davis throws shot put across Europe

2011-09-07T17:06:00.001-04:00

Cherraine Davis, who was the state open girls shot put champ in both the indoor and outdoor season, recently toured Europe and competed in the DN Galan Diamond League Youth World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.

While there, she finished third overall in the women's shot put in the Youth 17-under division. This was her first international competition representing the United States.

She's currently a senior at Southington High School.

For the story on how Davis became a shot put champ, click here.

Former Blue Knights return to The Rent

2011-08-31T15:52:00.006-04:00

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.”

Both players reported to school around the July 4 weekend. From there it was working out, taking a summer class for Chapman and preparing for camp which started Aug. 7.

“It’s been tough, but we’ve been working hard. We’ve got some people down, but a lot of people are stepping up,” explained Rodriques.

Life as a freshman has been even a little more difficult. After only one year of high school football, Chapman, a fantastic athlete, says there’s quite a learning curve.

“I think I’m adjusting pretty well to the speed of the game like learning the position and all of the reads I have to make and everything, but it’s still a lot to learn,” Chapman explained. “It’s definitely been tough at times because the only way to learn is by making mistakes so in practice I’m making mistakes all the time, but that’s the only way I can learn. It’s taken me a little bit of time to know everything.

“Compared to the other corners and players on the team, they’re a lot more experienced than I am, so I know I have a long way to go, but I think I’m getting there.”

As for playing time, Chapman hopes to get a couple of starts later in the season, but on opening day, he just wants to get out on the field.

“I’m not sure how much time I’m going to get, but from what I’ve been told, I should be getting in for a couple plays, at least,” he said.

And he plans on making the most of it.

“I hope I can soak it all in,” Chapman said. “Being at Rentschler Field again with all of those people – I don’t know how many people the stadium holds, but there’s going to be a lot of people – so just that moment when you go out on the field and the play’s about to start and you hear the crowd roaring, that’s something I want to remember for the rest of my life. But then I’m going to have to focus back up, do my assignment and get the job done.”

Beyond the experience, it’s a big game and a winnable game from the Rams’ perspective.

“Not only is it the first game, but it’s a game that we’re an underdog in so that just gives us all the more reason to want to win it,” commented Rodriques. “Everybody’s excited. Everybody’s going out there looking for a win. Nobody’s scared. We’re ready to go. We’re going out there like it’s a regular football game because it is. So we’re trying to get a win and get our season going.”

Chapman had a similar feeling.

“This game is absolutely huge for us. It’s our first game (since 1954) against a Division I-A, big-time school so that’s a pretty big deal. We also play Army later in the season, but I think UConn, it’s like the staple of our season, so it’s huge for us,” he said. “If we come out, if we run our assignments, if we do everything that we’re supposed to do, I think we can give UConn a run for their money.”

And with the dawning of September comes the dawning of a new football season and that’s what Rodriques is all about.

“I’m just looking forward to going out there and getting a win and getting the season started off right,” said the inside linebacker.

But Chapman knows it’s not just any other game.

“It’s definitely going to be a unique experience. The fact that we’re playing UConn, it still hasn’t set in yet,” he said excitedly. “I was talking to my roommate and we’re like, ‘We’re playing UConn. Like the University of Connecticut, who played in a Bowl Championship Series bowl game last season.’ It still hasn’t set in yet, so it’s a pretty big deal.”

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

2011-08-30T12:18:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-19T10:30:00.001-04:00

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

2011-08-18T13:19:00.009-04:00

video courtesy of myrecordjournal.com

Red Dawn: Romano makes it official Saturday morning

2011-08-13T15:59:00.001-04:00

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

2011-08-13T14:33:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-12T17:45:00.001-04:00

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?

2011-08-12T15:34:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-09T18:11:00.001-04:00

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

2011-08-08T17:00:00.001-04:00

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

2011-08-03T14:59:00.001-04:00

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

2011-08-02T16:05:00.002-04:00

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.

Lady Knights volleyball again recognized for academic excellence

2011-07-27T13:48:00.001-04:00

For the ninth consecutive year, the Southington High School girls volleyball team and head coach Richard Heitz were awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Across the nation, 178 girl’s high school programs were recognized with the honor. In Connecticut, besides Southington, only two other schools were recognized - Bloomfield High School and The Taft School in Watertown.

The award honors college and high school teams that have displayed excellence in the classroom.

In its most recent season last fall, the girls went 17-1 and earned the top seed in the CIAC Class LL tournament. After beating Stamford, the girls lost to Cheshire in five games in the quarterfinals.

Southington Shock end season 19-3, top seed in playoffs

2011-07-25T14:42:00.000-04:00

The Southington Shockers of the Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League finished the regular season with an astounding mark of 19-3 and enter the playoffs as the top team in the six-team league. The squad lost only once in July to finish another strong summer entering playoffs.

The Shock now receives an opening round bye and will start the playoffs in a best-of-three semifinal round that begins Wednesday at Fontana Field. They will ultimately play the lowest advancing team from the opening round play-in game. No. 4 Simsbury plays No. 5 Manchester and No. 6 West Hartford plays No. 3 Tobacco Valley. Game one Wednesday will start at 7 p.m. from Southington High School.

The group goes into the league's third ever playoffs as the two-time defending champ.

For more information, visit: http://ctcollegebaseballleague.org/

Southington Junior Legion team wins first ever Zone 1 title

2011-07-20T10:30:00.006-04:00

For the first time ever in Zone 1, the Southington Post 72 Junior American Legion baseball team was tops, going 20-4 in Zone 1, besting Bristol by one game (it was the first Junior Legion Zone Title since 2007). The team goes into the tournament as the No. 3 team in the state and will get a double bye. Its first game will be on Monday, July 25, against either No. 14 Branford (14-6, got an opening round bye), No. 30 Glastonbury (11-9) or No. 19 South Windsor (15-9). Monday's contest will be in Southington at 4 p.m. A win and the P72s advance to the eight-team single elimination round of the state tournament that takes place starting next Wednesday, July 27. For full details, visit http://ctalbb.com/.

UPDATE (7-26): The team defeated Branford, 5-2, Monday, July 25. They lost in the single-elimination Final 8 against Trumbull at Veteran's Field in Windsor Locks, 2-1 in eight innings, on July 28.

P72s get by Moosup, onto Meriden tomorrow in Legion Tournament

2011-07-19T19:30:00.001-04:00

The Southington American Legion baseball team won a tightly-contested contest Tuesday, beating Moosup, 6-4. It was back-and-forth all game, but with a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the eighth, Jeff Mazzamurro got a leadoff triple and Kyle Lentini followed with a double to plate what proved to be the winning run. Lentini scored the insurance run to make it 6-4. Craig Frobel got the win in relief, pitching the seventh and eighth innings before Dylan Danko took over in the ninth for the save.

Trevor Dalia takes a hack in the Moosup game.
(Citizen photo by Michael Guerrera)

“They probably out-hit us, they probably out-pitched us, but we came through. I think the name of the game today was execution. We got the guys over with the bunts, we made the plays when we needed them, guys made the pitches when we needed them and we got the timely hits," said head coach Mark Verderame.

The No. 18 seed P72s move on to play at No. 15 Meriden tomorrow, game time scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Justin Robarge will get the nod on the mound for Southington.

Joe Sullivan got the start for Southington and was solid, throwing around 100 pitches over six innings in the scorching heat.

“Joe battles. It was hot out there in the first couple of innings and he was getting tired, his pitch count got up, they were hitting the ball," explained Verderame.

Southington had the early lead, 1-0, scoring a run without a hit. Moosup tied it at one and later led 3-2. Southington retook the lead, just to see Moosup tie it again at four in the top of the eighth. That's when Southington took it's final lead and held onto it. Lentini was not only big in the eighth, but the entire game.

“Kyle Lentini went 3-for-3 today, he’s the spark. He’s one of our core guys," Verderame said.

And as for the multiple comebacks, it was nothing new for a team that came back in every one of it's high school tournament wins.

“Coming through adversity is what we do and I’m proud of the guys today," said a happy Verderame.

Legion bracket announced, Southington No. 18 seed, opens at home

2011-07-18T14:36:00.002-04:00

The Connecticut American Legion Baseball seeds were announced this morning following the conclusion of the regular season Sunday. Southington Post 72 received the No. 18 seed and opens play in the play-in rounds, starting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 19. They'll play a home game, at Fontana Field in Southington, against No. 31 Moosup at 4:30 p.m.

Will Joe Sullivan get the start in the opener?

(Citizen photo by Michael Guerrera)

With a win, they'd play at No. 15 Meriden on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. With back-to-back victories, Post 72 would advance to the 16-team double-elimination tournament that is set to start this Saturday, July 23, at Muzzy Field in Bristol and Palmer Field in Middletown. For all the details, visit: http://ctalbb.com/.

Post 72 goes into the tournament with a solid 19-8 record in Zone I, finishing fourth in the standings, but has the experience and ability to make a postseason run.

"These kids know, they’ve been in the playoffs before, they’ve had the experience, and they’re starting to get that little swagger. We know we can go out and beat anybody," head coach Mark Verderame said. "We’ve beat Bristol, we’ve beat Unionville. We could have beat Bristol three times this year. We’re not afraid of anybody.
“I like our chances; I like our chances a lot."

As for the starter for Tuesday, it'll likely be Joe Sullivan, who was stellar during the high school postseason. He won two games during the Blue Knights championship game run, first against Simsbury and then against New Britain.

"Joe Sullivan is our anchor. He was so good during the high school season and he’s been great for us this summer," said Verderame.

If the Post 72ers can win, it might be Justin Robarge in the second game.

"Justin Robarge pitched great games. He threw a one-hitter against Bristol we ended up losing. He threw a one-hitter against Simsbury, we lost that game too. We haven’t been able to support him, but he’s been pitching real well," Verderame said of the senior-to-be.

However, the head coach says he's confident in his entire staff and that he's been using multiple pitchers in each game - the same scenario could happen during the tournament.

There shouldn't be any rust either. The team had a game scheduled every day for the final 19 days of the regular season, so they're battle tested and ready to go.

"Despite what our record says, I don’t think anybody wants to play Southington in the playoffs," Verderame said emphatically.

Shock once again dominating in CCBL

2011-07-14T13:58:00.000-04:00

It’s been a typical year for the Southington Shock. In the third year of the Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League, the two-time defending champions are coolly working their way to a possible third title.

In a league that features some of Connecticut’s best, smaller-college players, the Shock have been the epicenter for the championship trophy and starting 14-2 coming into the week with just over a half-dozen games left, the team was in good position come playoff time.

“We just play each day and when the playoffs come, maybe we tweak a couple of things,” said head coach Charlie Lembo.

Throughout the high school season, Lembo, like many coaches, preached one game at a time and he says it’s the same attitude during the summer.

“All we’re doing is just going out and letting the kids play ball,” explained Lembo.

The Shock, based in Southington, field more than half its roster from the town on the shirts.

“We’ve got a good number of Southington kids on the team and we’re giving them a chance to play competitive ball and stay home and work and that’s kind of what the league is all about,” commented Lembo.

The team also draws players from the surrounding areas, as far as Bridgeport and Uncasville.

The head coach says the key is to get guys playing time, because they’re all talented, and not to burn out pitchers, a promise he made to college coaches.

He even says that in a lot of games he was using up to three guys a game, to keep the pitch and innings count down and keep arms fresh.

“Everyone’s been doing a great job,” Lembo said. “It’s been going great other than the rainouts and trying to get in as many games as we can.”

And the record isn’t too shabby either. The team once again sits way atop the six-team league.

“Kids are having fun, getting everybody playing time. They’re a great group of kids, they’re a lot of fun to be around and we’re just playing it one game at a time like we always do,” said Lembo.

The season ends next Friday and then come the playoffs.

Post 72 looking to get on field and up the standings

2011-07-05T17:43:00.000-04:00

If you looked at the American Legion Baseball standings on Monday, you found the Southington P72s in fourth place in the 10-team Zone 1. This isn’t bad, but for a team with high expectations, expectations of a state title, the hopes were higher.

But then look a little closer and the team had the same amount of losses as the team at the top, Bristol. That number is just four. The Southington team came into the week with six less games played than their neighbors in Bristol. At 8-4, they were tied in the loss column and six games back in the win column.

They weren’t helped by a double-header that was rained out in Torrington this past Sunday. But recent success shows getting those 15 wins necessary to qualify for the state tournament should be a task the team can handle.

After losing the opening two games of the year, the team went 8-1 over their next nine before losing last Thursday to Simsbury. Still, 8-2 after an 0-2 finish is more than a positive streak.

“We’re running right now. [Eight out of nine] games winning, coming around. Seventeen hits in one game (against Unionville). We’re hitting the ball,” head coach Mark Verderame said after a 12-7 win over Unionville last Wednesday.

“We put up 12 runs tonight. I’m proud of the kids. We got down 4-1 early, it’s kind of like we had a lot of opportunities to give up the game – we had errors and walks – and the team fought back.”

Much like the high school team, the Legion squad carries with it the same resilience every game and the road contest against Unionville was a perfect example. Joe Sullivan struggled on the mound early for Southington, but the team never wavered and scored and scored and scored, rolling to a long, hard-fought win.

“I’m proud of the guys showing a lot of heart. Just coming out, scoring runs and it just goes to show you the heart this team has coming back from that,” Verderame explained.

With the pitching already clicking on all cylinders, it’s the bats that Verderame pointed to as the keys to the recent success.

“We put up nine against Avon, seven against Bristol. The bats are coming around. We’re hitting the tar off the ball, it’s as simple as that,” said the head coach. “I’ve got total faith in everybody on this team to get hits. (Jeff) Mazzamurro was struggling. Jeff battled back, he was going through a tough time (hitting), (Zack) Niles was going through a tough time (hitting), (Ben) Nichols was going through a tough time (hitting). Mazzamurro went 3-for-3, Nichols had that triple, Niles had two RBIs. Everybody’s coming around.”

So now the important thing for Southington is to just get out on the field. With only 12 games of a 27-game schedule played as of Monday, there’s still a lot of baseball to be played in a small window of time as the schedule is set to end next Friday. If all goes well, the P72s will find themselves higher up the standings going into the playoffs.

“We’ve got great players on this team. I think we’re the best team in this Zone and we’re showing it right now,” Verderame finished.

Southington's Sal Romano: Some clever photo-shopping

2011-07-01T18:03:00.001-04:00

Can't take credit for this, but came across it on the web at thewritersjourney.wordpress.com. Some cool photo-shopping by author JT, a big Reds fans, who did cards like this for many of the Cincinnati Reds' draft picks. Old school Topps rookies cards. As far as Romano's future with Reds, he's heading to Tennessee Monday and doesn't expect an offer from Cincy until August. Click the picture for the link to the page.

Governor's Cup reunites best friends on Fontana Field for first time

2011-06-27T20:25:00.003-04:00

Above, Ryan Peloquin, below, Tyler Dube.
(Photos by Matt Leidemer)

Last Saturday was a rather appropriate ending for two of the players on the Connecticut sideline during the annual Connecticut/Rhode Island Governor’s Cup football game, which pits the best seniors from both states against each other.

Two friends, who grew up inches apart but had yet to step on Southington High’s Fontana Field together, final got their first opportunity. Tyler Dube, the lone Southington High School representative, played wide receiver and Ryan Peloquin, a lifelong Southington kid who attended high school at St. Paul Catholic in Bristol, was on the offensive line.

The Nutmeg State once again dominated, winning 37-6, the squad’s ninth straight win, pushing the overall mark to 10-3 in the 13 contests since 1999.

But for Peloquin and Dube, at the end of the day, the win was nice, but more importantly, they finally got their first chance to compete together on Fontana Field.

“It’s great to finally be able to get out here on this field with Tyler Dube,” Peloquin explained. “He’s been my neighbor, he’s been one of my best friends my whole life. I didn’t get the chance to play with him in high school; it’s great to get to play now (with him). I wish we could have got a score for him, though.”

“We’ve been best friends since first grade,” said Dube, “just to be with him one last time,” and then he paused and corrected himself, “or one first time actually, it’s really fun.”

Both had wide grins when asked about the other. Growing up as neighbors, they’ve always been close and grew up together on the football field before Peloquin left for St. Paul.

For Dube, the Fontana Field experience was nothing new for him. Nor would have been the usual site, Rentschler Field, which was being renovated – he’d played at both places. But being in Southington earned him a nice ovation from the crowd when his name was introduced.

“Playing home – it wasn’t Rentschler, but it was a nice homecoming,” Dube explained.
When asked if it was emotional, the now former Blue Knight said, “A little bit; just coming out here for the last time. You never know when you’re last play is going to be. I had fun.”
The 6-foot-3, 290 pound Peloquin had a slightly different outlook to the game being played at Fontana Field.

“For me when I heard it, I had mixed feelings because obviously you want to play at Rentschler, but playing in Southington, I was probably the only guy happy at all to hear that. Everyone else was crying all two weeks practicing. I’m like, ‘I finally get to see what it’s like to play here.’ It was great,” he said.

And of course his family and friends came out because why not, “it’s a five minute drive” joked Peloquin.

In regards to the game, both said it was great to be playing football with some of the best.
“It was really fun to just come out here and get back on the field,” Dube said. “Hadn’t been out here in a while and just to play football again is amazing.”

“I didn’t really know what football was like outside of St. Paul, outside of the Naugatuck Valley League and outside of the Northwest Conference, my first year. You get to see players all over the state, see them compete on one team, I’m just hoping it gets me ready for next year,” Peloquin commented.

What Peloquin is referring to is Princeton University. He will go there this fall and plans to play football on the offensive line. He will be alongside a couple of his Connecticut teammates from this past Saturday’s game, Jon Esposito, from Conard, and Seth Devalve, from Manchester.

“I’m pumped to get up to the next level,” described Peloquin. “Play with some great guys up there and hopefully win a few Ivy League titles.”

Dube will also be heading off to play college football at Sacred Heart University. He reports Aug. 7.

“I’m really excited about Sacred Heart,” he said. “It’s going to be a good time.”

2011 Wayton Open Tournament brackets

2011-06-23T15:11:00.001-04:00

The 2011 Wayton Open Tennis Tournament kicks off this weekend in Southington and continues through Monday, pending weather. This will be the fourth year for the event that started in 2007 and skipped a year in 2008. The men's bracket is below, followed by the women's bracket (click to enlarge). Most of the tournament will take place at Panthorn Park with Southington High School being used as additional court space. This is the first year women are competing in a separate bracket. For all details on the event, photos, past results and live updates, check out http://www.waytonopen2011.com./

Men's Bracket

Women's Bracket

MLBer Denorfia part of second class for Southington Sports Hall of Fame

2011-06-23T12:12:00.001-04:00

RELEASE:

The Southington Sports Hall of Fame generated more excitement than anybody had hoped in 2010. Hundreds of former athletes, coaches, family, and fans packed the Aqua Turf in Plantsville, and officials expect that excitement to carry over to 2011.

“I think it's safe to say that last year's event was far more successful than even the most optimistic member of the selection committee could have expected,” said selection committee chairman Dennis J. Stanek, Jr. “It was a big success.”

Chris Denorfia is one of the 12 athletes to be inducted into the second

class of the Southington Sports Hall of Fame.

Photo UPI/Jim Bryant

The Southington Sports Hall of Fame selection committee recently announced their second class, and officials believe that it will be as good as the first. The list includes 12 athletes, a coach, a booster, two individual teams, and a pair of posthumous members. The group includes athletes, coaches, along with members of the press and community. Stanek said that the group is a great representation of Southington’s rich sports tradition.

“I think that this year's class is equally as impressive as the last one,” he said. “Someone can make the case that every single one of this year's inductees could have been put in the inaugural event. We're so happy that they were inducted into this class. I think it's a great honor, and they've all made such a great impact on sports in our community and their long overdue recognition is right in front of us.”

Longtime track coach Wayne Nakoneczny heads a list that includes current professional athletes and coaches. He will be joined by former athletes Jack Valentine, Chris Denorfia, Kelly Hart, Irene Mach, Gary Solomon, Joe DePaolo, Tom Poitras, Ray Thorpe, Ed Nardi, Dick Tully, Mike Raczka, and Corky Cassella.

In addition, the committee will recognize the accomplishments of Southington High School’s 1961 baseball team and 1982 girls basketball team. Joseph Abate will be honored for his behind-the-scenes contributions as a booster, while Dick Galiette and Charlie Klemovich will be honored posthumously for their efforts on and off the field and in the pressroom.

“I think this is a very good cross section,” said Stanek. “The committee took input from the fans, the communities, the supporters, and coaches. I think that this year has an even broader spectrum of athletes with men and women and team sports. We put a lot of time into selecting those athletes that truly deserve this.”

The class will be inducted on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at an award dinner at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. Tickets cost $50. Call Jim Verderame at (860) 628-7335 for tickets.

“It's going to be a lot of fun,” said Stanek. “We wanted to give back to this community by recognizing those athletes that have given so much to the town at a nice evening event at the Aqua Turf. Family and friends can come back to reminisce about the history of Southington sports and recognize those athletes that brought so many titles to Southington over the last 60 years or so.”

Southington High School ready for Governor's Cup on Saturday

2011-06-21T18:28:00.003-04:00

Not only are Southington High Athletic Director Eric Swallow and crew busy this week preparing Southington High’s Fontana Field for graduation, but also getting it ready for some football as the 13th Annual Governor’s Cup Connecticut/Rhode Island Senior All-State game will take place Saturday evening at the high school.

The game returns to the site of the very first game back in 1999. The head coach for that one was Hand-Madison head football coach Steve Filippone, who’s still involved in the game as the Chairman of the Connecticut Governor’s Cup Committee and an active member in the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA), the group that organizes the game.

Fontana Field primed and ready for the Governor's Cup.
(Citizen photo by Michael Guerrera)

“There’s something neat about going back to the roots of this game and playing it on that field again so I think it’s a great place,” explained Filippone. “I think it’s an optimum site for this game this year.”

Southington has pitched in big time, explained Filippone, as the Girdiron Club will be shouldering most of the duties such as running the concession and taking tickets.

“It’s been a great community effort to bring the game back here,” continued Filippone.

Back in 1999, Filippone recollected telling CHSCA President John Fontana, “We had a great crowd. The place was hopping. There were tons of people. It was a great environment; the kids had a wonderful experience.”

The game time was moved this year from a later start to now a 4:30 p.m. kickoff with introductions starting around 4 p.m. Two factors that might limit attendance are the weather and the Traveler’s Championship Golf Tournament drawing some people to Cromwell. Fontana hopes for the kids’ sake, that people come out.

“The kids work 10 days, from both states, work their buns off, you’d like to have some people in the stands,” he said.

Saturday's showcase will feature some of the best football players Connecticut has to offer, including one Southington athlete, wide receiver Tyler Dube, who had a big smile walking into practice Tuesday and said he was excited to be playing at home.

Not only is it a special event for the kids, but it’s also served as a springboard for many of them.

“A lot of the kids that we’ve had in the last three or four years, some of the people in our group and coaches, after our game, have placed I betcha between 12, 13, 14 kids in junior colleges who were going nowhere, but because of the game and they were seen and they played so well that they got an opportunity to go (to junior college) and then from there they went on to college. So it’s helped out a lot of kids,” Fontana noted.

Connecticut will feature upwards of 60 kids and 12 coaches. Prior to the game, there will be a youth clinic run by Frank Stamilio and Mike Prairie on the Southington field hockey field, closest to Pleasant Street. Registration will start at the main gate by the fields at 11:30 a.m. with the clinic running form 1 to 3 p.m.

Check out Connecticut Post reporter Sean Patrick Bowley's High School Football blog for a full Connecticut Roster

Southington High baseball team not measured by one game

2011-06-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

If you’re in anyway associated with the Southington High baseball program, at first glance you may not bother to read this. But ask that you do, because this isn’t about a game, this is about a team and a special group of young men.

The Blue Knights’ hopes at a baseball state championship didn’t happen last weekend, but that by no means should diminish what this group did.

In high school sports, resiliency, perseverance, heart, desire – they’re words that get thrown around a lot, but often times are a fleeting thought.

The three captains, from left, Zack Niles, Alex
Roger and Sal Romano were critical in developing
the team's character. (Photo by Matt Leidemer)

For the 2011 version of Southington on the diamond, that was not the case. At this past Monday’s banquet, the memories were still most certainly sour and bitter – but someday, when the initial sting goes away and the wound heals up, those memories should be happy and joyful – fluffy cloud type of stuff, not dark and dreary skies.

Because victory as a team is not truly measured by championships – it’s measured by actions, how you show up in practice, what it’s like after practice and the rapport you build with each other.

And this team did all of those things with the utmost integrity and class.

Resiliency – in the four wins in the state tournament, this team won all coming from behind, three of which were won in the last at bat.

Perseverance – this team dealt with health issues and trying to fill holes all year and there was always someone there to step up.

Heart – like the previous two adjectives, this is connected to this team’s never-say-die attitude – it wasn’t always about winning, but it was about pulling for each other and pulling for success.

Desire – the only way a team can get so down after defeat is if they wanted it that bad and this team wanted everything real bad and worked every day for it.

Were there rifts? Probably, they’re high school boys and it’s a team; that happens.

But day in and out, head coach Charlie Lembo would say that his team continued to work, work, work on the things they struggled with as well as the things they were a little better at.

And that’s really the only way you get as far as they did.

This team had character – from the first player to the last – and glowing character at that. It was comprised of a group that not only was successful in 2011, but will likely be successful in the future.

When the team traveled to Cooperstown, only to have its game rained out, Lembo said the hotel manager said they have groups all the time and the Knights were one of the best to come through. The writing was on the wall then that this team was a championship group before they even played a game into June.

And if it’s facts you need for proof, consider this: Of the team’s six losses on the year, five of them came in the opponent’s last at bat. Only one game did a team maintain a lead over at least the final two innings.

That says it all. The fight, the heart, the desire and on – they had it all.

Sometimes, when it comes to wins and losses, yeah, you come up short, but when it comes to a championship team that carries themselves in the right way, this team was off the charts.

Rock Cats fill fireworks void in New Britain

2011-06-16T23:28:00.000-04:00

The New Britain Rock Cats, like the classy organization that they are, have decided to not let the Fourth of July pass in New Britain without fireworks. In response to the City of New Britain cancelling its annual Fourth of July fireworks display, the Cats, the AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins that calls New Britain its home, have decided to give New Britain residents a chance to "ooh" and "ahh" after all.

The Cats are inviting all New Britain residents to join them at New Britain Stadium Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2 - for $1 each evening. On July 1 the Cats will play Harrisburg at 7:05 p.m. and a Fireworks Show will follow the game.

On July 2, there will be an old fashion, single-admission double header starting at 5:05 p.m. At the conclusion of the second game, there were will a Pyroteknics Show.

For each game, all New Britain residents have to do is have a current license or other proof of identity/residency and pay the one buck for Friday or Saturday and you get baseball and fireworks.

"We completely understand the City's need to prioritize public expenditures," said Rock Cats’ CEO Bill Dowling in a statement, "times are tough everywhere. At the same time, the people of New Britain have been so supportive of us over the years that we want to do something to help – particularly for those families who were looking forward to taking their kids to see the fireworks. What we end up doing will not be nearly as expansive as what the City has done in the past – but we hope it will bring smiles to the faces of a lot of people who have been very good to the Rock Cats."

DiNello and Casner honored for outstanding character

2011-06-14T15:25:00.002-04:00

From the Southington High Athletic Department:

There are many important traditions at Southington High School. Good sportsmanship is one of those traditions, as is enthusiastic participation. School spirit has always been an important tradition in school and in the community.

With these values in mind, the Val Leach Memorial Trophy was established many years ago. The award is presented to the girl who embraces all these attributes.

This year, it is our with great pleasure that we award this trophy to Rebecca Casner for her participation in Unified Sports soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter and track in the spring seasons.

The Spirit Award is presented to the senior boy who has exhibited outstanding characteristics of enthusiastic participation, good sportsmanship and school spirit. Southington High School is proud to announce that this year’s recipient of the Spirit Award is James DiNello.

Southington/Newington by the numbers: Breaking down the Class LL baseball final

2011-06-09T18:00:00.000-04:00

So let's get right down to it - no quotes, no opinions, no nonsense, just numbers. No. 17 Newington will square off against No. 7 Southington Saturday in the winner-take-all CIAC Class LL Championship baseball game. And if these teams hadn't played twice this year, everything would be maybes, this and that. But since they have - Southington won 7-2 on May 11, Southington won 11-3 on May 25 - we can give you some cold, hard numbers that may help you when you're calling Vegas and putting some money down. OK, all kidding aside, here you go:

Offense

Southington's best performer with the aluminum over the two games was, shockingly, Sal Romano. He went 4-for-6 combined, scoring two runs, driving in three, had a double and a homerun.
Second best was Alex Roger. The senior co-captain, headed to play baesball at UConn-Avery Point, was 3-for-5 in the two games with three runs scored, an RBI, a walk and a double.
In the 11-3 win, Ben Nichols went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and Zack Niles was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Of note, in the May 11 game, Southington had seven hits against Newington pitching - the starter for that one was Saturday's probable, Newington ace and Southern Connecticut State University-bound Cole Bryant, he went five innings, allowing six earned runs and striking out eight, but walking six.
In the first game, May 11, Tyler Burns had the big smash, a grand slam off of Bryant.
On the flip side, the Newington offense mustered a total of seven hits in the two games, three in 12 innings against Romano and two in one inning against Roger and two in one inning against Tim Leahy.
All told, Southington out-hit Newington in the two games, 20-7.

Pitching

Romano really was the story, by the numbers, he pitched six innings in the first win and six in the second win combining for 12 innings, no runs (earned or unearned), three hits, 19 strikeouts and four walks (which all came in the 11-3 win).
Bryant is a very good pitcher who might have just had a bad day on May 11 giving up six earned runs in the five innings he pitched. Newington pitching has done all right, striking out 15 guys over the two contests, but walking 13 and allowing 10 earned runs. The Indians allowed eight unearned runs in the two games.

Defense

This is where Southington has struggled all season and where Newington had the edge in the two games. In the first game the Blue Knights made three errors and then two in the second game for a total of five. The Indians had one the first game, three the second, for a total of four.
On the year, the Knights have committed an astonishing 75 errors, which over 24 games is just over three a game. Their defense has been better lately.. Their opponents committed only 37 errors against them this season.
In the tournament, Southington has made nine errors in the four games, however, they made five against Pomperaug in an 11 inning contest, so subtract that and it's been a mostly well-played postseason, defensively.

So there you go. Those are the numbers that maybe give you a little insight on what has happened and what you can maybe expect. Then again, it's high school baseball, so they really mean nothing. We'll see you at the ballpark.

Reaction to Southington 2011-12 football schedule

2011-06-06T16:57:00.000-04:00

Here's a look at the 2011-12 Southington football schedule:

Southington 2011-12 Varsity Football Schedule
10 Events Listed \|\| Go Back \|\|
Date	Opponent	H/A-Facility	Time/Result	Bus Time	Note
Fri., 9/16	East Hartford	Home - Southington High School [Directions]	7:00 p.m.
Fri., 9/23	New Britain	Home - Southington High School [Directions]	7:00 p.m.
Sat., 10/1	Newington	Away - Alumni VAR Field on Alumni Road - LIGHTS [Directions]	6:00 p.m.	TBA
Fri., 10/7	Conard	Away - Conard HS Stadium [Directions]	3:00 p.m.	TBA
Fri., 10/14	South Windsor	Home - Southington High School [Directions]	7:00 p.m.
Sat., 10/22	Glastonbury	Away - Stadium Field (turf) [Directions]	1:00 p.m.	TBA
Sat., 10/29	Hall	Away - Hall HS Stadium (Turf Field) [Directions]	1:30 p.m.	TBA
Fri., 11/4	Simsbury	Home - Southington High School [Directions]	7:00 p.m.
Fri., 11/11	Manchester	Home - Southington High School [Directions]	7:00 p.m.
Thu., 11/24	Cheshire	Away - Cheshire High Main Game field [Directions]	10:00 a.m.	TBA

Quick thoughts on what the Blue Knights and new head coach Mike Drury will be dealing with:

For one, no cupcakes. Last year, there was a glaring soft spot on the schedule with East Catholic, a game Southington won 47-14 with a running second-half clock.
They'll see three teams that were in the Class LL playoffs last year - Glastonbury, Conard, Hall.
They won't face a team below Class LL, which means it'll be all big time teams that have the ability to compete.
They will compete in the realigned Division I-CCC West - in the West there is Conard, Hall, Simsbury and New Britain. The East has East Hartford, Glastonbury, Newington, South Windsor and Manchester. The only non-CCC Division I team is Cheshire - also Class LL.
Conard and Hall replace Windsor and East Catholic from last year.
A nice start with a down East Hartford program and a New Britain team with new head coach Tebucky Jones.
No game at Rentschler Field - five home games, all at Southington High.
And of course, we can't forget the Manchester game on Nov. 11, a re-match of the infamous Wristband game from last season.

Romano named Gatorade Connecticut Baseball Player of the Year

2011-06-01T14:08:00.001-04:00

Today (June 1), the Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE announced Southington's Sal Romano as the 2010-11 Gatorade Connecticut Baseball Player of the Year. Romano is the second Blue Knight to win the honor in the 26 year history of the award. Carl Pavano earned the honor in 1994. That year, Pavano led Southington baseball to a Class LL state championship.

Romano is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award announced later this month. Past various state winners of the award include Major Leaguers like Derek Jeter, Roy Halladay, David Price, Chipper Jones, Derek Lee, Jon Lester and Justin Upton.

Sal Romano pitches against Ridgfield
(credit: Citizen photo by Michael Guerrera)

Yesterday, Romano led the No. 7 Blue Knights to a 2-1 win over No. 26 Ridgefield in the opening round of the Class LL state tournament, twirling a five-hit gem, striking out 12 and walking one, while allowing just the one earned run. On the season, Romano's gaudy numbers read: 61 innings pitched, 103 strikeouts to 12 walks, only 32 hits allowed, while sporting a record of 9-1 with a 0.46 ERA. He has two complete games on the year as well as a shutout, which also was a no-hitter. Opponents are hitting a measly .144 against him and slugging .180.

The University of Tennessee-bound righthander, standing at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, also leads the Blue Knight offense. He's currently the top hitter on the squad, batting .439 and tied for the team lead in hits with 29. He's scored 17 runs, driven in 24 and has two homers and 10 doubles. He also has seven walks and four steals.

The award not only recognizes athletic excellence, but also high academic standards and exemplary character on and off the field. Romano has maintained an A-minus average in school, while volunteering locally on behalf of a mentoring program at a local elementary school and at the Mill Foundation for Kids, which benefits children suffering pediatric illnesses.

Romano was also an all-conference basketball player this season averaging 16 points, 12 rebounds, and just shy of two blocks a game. He joins past winners Colin O'Keefe (2009-10, Waterford), Matt Carasiti (2008-09, Berlin), Jason Esposito (2007-08, Amity) and Matt Harvey (2006-07, Fitch).

Romano reacted to winning the award after his team beat Simsbury 4-3 in eight innings Wednesday (June 1) in walk-off fashion to advance to the Class LL quarterfinals.

"It's a good accomplishment, but I'm more excited about this game that we won today. I put a lot of hard work in my whole life, so getting that award it's an honor," Romano said.

Romano was also asked about being named in the same breath as another Southington great, Carl Pavano.

"I'm trying to make a name for myself," Romano explained. "I don't want to be following in someone's shadows. I want to do this for me and for my team, but it's good if someone compares me to him."

Drury to lead Southington football into the future

2011-05-31T14:55:00.002-04:00

Like the Hall of Fame-baseball player Yogi Berra said, “It’s deja vu all over again.” And such was the case last week in Southington as for the second time in as many years Southington High introduced a new head football coach. Out with the old, D.J. Hernandez, in with the new, Mike Drury.

The Bristol Central alum and 2010 Blue Knight defensive coordinator was formally introduced as the new man at the helm of the Knights’ football program last Thursday.

“My goal in my life has been to be a high school head football coach, and a long term high school head football coach, so when I got that call (that said I got the job), I said, ‘Wow, I reached it,’ and I was extremely excited,” Drury said.

Athletic Director Eric Swallow said Drury was chosen out of a pool of 40-plus applicants, locally and nationally, by a large search committee that involved school administration, including principal Martin Semmel and assistant principal Brian Stranieri, community members, football alumni and even a student-athlete from this past year.

There were multiple rounds of interviews, which Drury said was one of the toughest processes he’s ever had to go through. From there, the decision was made.

“Michael presented exceptionally well,” said Swallow. “I think he provided great qualities in terms of leadership and character and I’m not just using those words.”

Drury came to Southington as part of Hernandez’s staff last year with experience coaching high school football in Connecticut at Cromwell, Oxford and Pomperaug. The year on staff as a Blue Knight aided in the final decision.

“Michael provided continuity and was one of the leading coaches within the framework of our staff,” Swallow said, speaking to last season’s success.

Inadvertently, Drury had something of a tryout last year, serving as the interim head coach for a game against East Hartford when Hernandez was suspended. Drury was poised, leading Southington to an easy victory.

“He stepped into a difficult situation where he had to step up and be the head coach and he did that without missing a beat,” Swallow said, praising Drury.

Questions at the press conference immediately arose about age. Drury, like Hernandez before him, is young, only 28, and after an inauspicious season last year that involved immaturity, Drury comes in also lacking head coaching experience. Different from Hernandez, though, is Drury’s Connecticut coaching background.

“I’ve been around some absolutely fantastic coaches,” Drury explained. “From when I was young, going through midget football, high school, fantastic coaches, coaches who are coaching at the high Division I level; college and obviously, being mentored by all of these coaches in all of these sports that I coached at, they’re some of the most respected coaches in the state, some of the most successful programs in the state so I kind of brought all that together and am looking to build my own brand here.”

Aside from football, Drury has coached wrestling at Bristol Central for five years as well as track for three years and when he was at Oxford, he was the head track coach.

Maybe the most important group in Drury’s corner during the decision process was the current players associated with Blue Knights football.

“The players and their parents were very vocal to have Coach Drury as the next head coach,” Stranieri said.

Drury vocalized what that relationship meant to him.

“I’m so proud to have been looked at by the players and parents that way and just thrilled to be able to bring this program and maintain and excel from the tradition that Southington has built over its long tenure,” he said.

An All-American linebacker at Marist College, Drury will also be a fulltime member of the Southington school system in the Special Education Department at the high school.

“I’m definitely humbled to become the head football coach for their school and also a teacher,” he said. “That’s a huge thing for me. I’m going to be in the building and I will be teaching special education here next year and I’m extremely thrilled for that because I love teaching, that’s another passion of mine, too.”

Before meeting with the media, the new head coach delivered a message to his new team.

“I said, ‘Thank you. The support you guys have given me has been unbelievable; I’m going to give you that support in return. One thing we’ve got to be able to do here is trust each other. I’m going trust you, you need to trust me and then we’re going to go forward,’” Drury recited.

Not too long after his introduction, it was confirmed that Drury’s dad Chuck, a coach at Pomperaug High School for 35 years, was stepping down to join his son’s staff to serve as not only a coach, but a key mentor.

On the field, Southington is coming off season where it fell one game shy of a state playoff berth, going 8-2 and is looking to build on that success.

“We’ve got a great bunch of student athletes coming back, so we’re looking to build off that success,” Drury said. “We set the bar at 8-2 and we don’t want to stop there. We want to maximize the academic and athletic potential of every member of the football program and that’s what we’re going to look to do as a staff.”

(photo credit: Michael Guerrera/The Southington Citizen)

Southington playoff pairings

2011-05-27T11:52:00.004-04:00

The CIAC released the pairings Friday for all sports except boys golf and boys tennis. Outdoor track is not yet released, but the meet sheet will be available around 3:30 p.m. For all the brackets and information, click here.

Here's a breakdown:

No. 7 Southington baseball (15-5) plays No. 26 Ridgefield (9-11), Tuesday (5/31) at 3:30 p.m. in Southington. If they win, they'll play home again on Wednesday (6/1) against either No. 10 Naugatuck (14-6) or No. 23 Simsbury (10-10). They already beat Simsbury twice this season.

No. 2 Southington softball (17-2) gets a first round bye and will play Wednesday (6/1), at 4 p.m., against either No. 15 Fairfield Ludlowe (12-8) or No. 18 Staples (11-8), in Southington. If they win they'd play home again on Friday afternoon (6/3) in the quarterfinals. The only team they've faced on their side of the bracket is Conard - who they beat twice.

No. 2 Southington boys volleyball (16-2) gets a first round bye and will play its first game in the quarterfinals on Friday (6/3) at 7 p.m. in Southington. They play the winner of No. 7 Greenwich (9-5) or No. 10 Amity (9-7). If the boys win, it likely sets up a match with No. 3 Staples (15-3) in the semifinals on neutral court. Southington lost to Staples 3-0 on April 29. The top seed is Cheshire at 17-0.

No. 13 Southington boys lacrosse (10-6) will play No. 20 Westhill (6-9) in a qualifying round game tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Southington. If they win, they'll get to play one of Class L's best, No. 4 Fairfield Prep (12-4) on Wednesday afternoon (6/1), in Fairfield.

No. 20 Southington girls lacrosse (6-8) will play No. 13 Amity (9-7) in Woodbridge Tuesday (5/31) at 5 p.m. If they win they'd play No. 4 Staples (13-3) on Thursday (6/2) at 5 p.m. in Westport.

No. 12 Southington girls tennis (11-4) will play No. 21 Fitch (9-7) at North Haven on Tuesday (5/31) at 1 p.m. If they win, they'll play immediately after the conclusion of the previous match against No. 5 North Haven (14-2).

VIDEO: Drury introduced as new football coach

2011-05-27T00:56:00.000-04:00

Southington introduced its new head football coach, Mike Drury, at a press conference Thursday (May 26) afternoon. Here's a quick clip of him talking about the new position, followed by Athletic Director Eric Swallow talking about the hiring process. More to come in week or so here on Knight Time and in next week's Citizen.

Drury named new Southington football coach

2011-05-25T13:10:00.001-04:00

Mike Drury was named the new Southington High School head football coach in a release that came out Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. from the Southington Athletic Department. Drury filled in on an interim basis last year for one game when former head coach D.J. Hernandez was suspended for a game against East Hartford on Nov. 12. Southington won that one 52-13.

In 2010, Drury served as the defensive coordinator under Hernandez as the Blue Knights went 8-2 on the year, winning the CCC Division I, but just missing out on a Class LL playoff spot.

Before coming to Southington in 2010, Drury coached at Oxford High School, Pomperaug High School and Cromwell High School.

Here are some comments on Drury's hire.

“The search committee gave very careful consideration concerning the type of individual we want as head of the program,” said Athletic Director Eric Swallow. “We believe Coach Drury will provide consistency, stability and leadership to the Southington program as we build off the success of the 2010 season.”

“Mike has demonstrated that he is a skilled coach and an excellent teacher who not only cares about the development of young men as athletes but also concerned about their development as students and young adults,” said Southington High principal Dr. Martin Semmel.

Some more background, Drury, a special education teacher, is a graduate of Marist College, where he was captain of the football team and an All-American at linebacker. He has accepted a full-time teaching position at Southington High School starting in Aug. 2011.

In high school, he played alongside Hernandez at Bristol Central. He was all-state and all-conference in both football and wrestling. His father, Chuck, has been the head coach at Pomperaug High in Southbury for over 30 years.

Drury will meet with the media tomorrow afternoon.

(photo is from Drury when he played at Marist)

Three's Company: Cantone, Johnson, Patterson standout at next level

2011-05-18T13:40:00.001-04:00

In the past week, a trio of former Lady Knights have carried their softball success from high school to the next level with them.

It started with 2008 graduate Lena Cantone, a 5-foot-2 junior at Tufts University. This past spring, Cantone, a first baseman, was named the 2011 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Year.

Cantone

She had a standout third season with the Jumbos, leading the conference in almost every statistical offensive category. On the year, she hit .435 in starting all 41 games, getting 64 hits in 147 at bats, scoring 34 runs, knocking 14 doubles and collecting 34 RBIs. Maybe even more impressive, she only struck out eight times and stole 12 bases in 13 attempts.

Cantone told Sean Krofssik of the Record-Journal in an article published today (Wednesday, May 18) that winning the award, "...shows that all the work I did in the offseason has paid off. To be conference player of the year you have to have some of the best statistics in the entire conference. I had pretty good stats. It means a lot and it's something that just shows that I did everything I could."

On Monday, Cantone was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-New England Team for the second time in her career, as she also made the first team in 2009.

As a freshman in 2009, she told The Southington Citizen she chose Tufts because of the academics, realizing she wouldn't play softball forever and picked a school regardless of the softball. So far, it's turned out pretty well for Cantone.

*****

Meanwhile, 2009 graduate Kelly Patterson and 2010 graduate Steph Johnson have been key cogs in the Eastern Connecticut University's softball team heading back to the Division-III national tournament. The softball team at Eastern beat Rhode Island College 4-1 Monday in a winner-take-all Regional game to advance to the national tournament that begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Salem, Va.

In the championship game, Johnson had a big game, knocking in three of the team's four runs with a pair of singles, as part of a three-hit day, and scoring the fourth run.

"After Sunday’s loss, we knew that we had to move on," said Johnson, one of four freshman starters in the lineup, in a release following the win. "And we felt confident going into the game (Monday)."

The first of Johnson's RBIs was a second-inning single that scored Patterson, who had a one-out double in the inning. Johnson then singled and scored in the fifth and had a two-out, two-RBI single in sixth, scoring two, one of which was Patterson, who walked earlier in the game.

Eastern went 4-1 during the tournament as Johnson was named to the 15-person all-tournament team. She batted .400 in the tourney (6-for-15) with five RBIs. The Eastern women move on to the eight-team, double elimination tournament for the 13th time and second straight season.

As of Wednesday, Johnson was hitting at a .323 clip, starting 20 of the 33 games she played in - mostly as an outfielder. She had 14 runs scored and 13 RBIs. Patterson, the first baseman, was hitting .310, starting 38 of the team's 39 games with 16 runs scored and 14 RBIs.

The Warriors open play against Christopher Newport University.

Date set for 4th Annual Wayton Open

2011-05-16T14:33:00.000-04:00

The Fourth Annual Wayton Open Tennis Tournament is set for June 24 through June 27. The four-day tournament will be held jointly at Southington High School and the Panthorn Park tennis courts. Sponsors include: Florian Properties LLC, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Hallmark Framing & Art, Lake Compounce and Adams Advanced Retirement Planning.

"I am thrilled that the tournament has grown immensely in its fourth year," Matt Wayton, C.E.O. and Tournament Director, said in a release. "We have implanted many new and exciting additions for this year's tournament that will surely benefit our players and community supporters in a positive manner."

The event consists of separate men's and women's divisions and is open to all players with the exception of collegiate scholarship athletes past, present and future. Minimum age requirement is 14 years old. The cost of the tournament is $10 per division participant. The entry fee includes a t-shirt, tennis balls and refreshments.

Some proceeds raised from the event will be donated for a scholarship for a graduating senior on either the boys or girls Southington High School tennis teams in the name of the Wayton Open.

"We want to thank all of our sponsors for supporting this event," says Wayton. "Their partnership goes a long way in helping us provide refreshments, sustenance and resources for the competitors."

The Wayton Open has also been awarded a $250 grant from the new Activate Southington initiative. The Tournament has been recognized as an organization that promotes healthy living and exercise.

Interested persons wishing to sign-up for the tournament may do so at http://www.waytonopen2011.com./ They also are encouraged to follow the tournament on Facebook.com/TheWaytonOpen and on Twitter @2011waytonopen. In the event of rain the event will be moved back one day.

"I encourage everyone to come out to play or watch," Wayton said. "Not only will you have a great time, but you'll be helping strengthen the community by reconnecting with members and classmates."

(logo courtesy waytonopen2011.com)

Southington woman a Colonial cheer finalist

2011-05-10T18:00:00.002-04:00

Southington resident Danielle Schaare, who moved to town last September, is among the finalists for the 2011 Hartford Colonials cheerleading team after making it through the second round of preliminary auditions May 7. The first round was held April 30 at the Connecticut National Guard Armory in Southington.

The cheerleading squad will be chosen May 21, Saturday, at Black Bear Saloon in Hartford. The event, from 4-7 p.m., is open to the public.

"It's very exciting that I get to meet new girls and hopefully be part of a new team in my new hometown," Schaare said in a release. "I used to be on a few cheerleading teams in New York. I was a cheerleader for the Long Island Lizards lacrosse team. I also danced for the New York Titans at Madison Square Garden for two years."

photo and information courtesy of Hartford Colonials

Southington's Lentini helps lead MCC to NJCAA World Series

2011-05-09T13:59:00.001-04:00

Manchester Community College freshman and 2010 Southington High graduate Kyle Lentini scored the lone run during the Region 21 title game for the Cougars as they beat Northern Essex Community College 1-0 on their way to the National Junior College Atheletic Assiocation World Series for the fourth straight year. The event is held in Texas.

In the game, Lentini was 2-for-3 and was also hit by a pitch.

For a full recap of the game and reaction from head coach Chris Strahowski, click here.

Unified Sports Track and Field Meet at Southington

2011-05-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

The Unified Sports Track and Field meet will be held at Southington High School, 720 Pleasant St., on Wednesday, May 18 at 3 p.m. Over 200 student athletes and partners will be participating from schools across Connecticut. SHS students will be assisting as scorers, timers, hospitality, etc. This event is open to staff, students and the general public. Everyone is welcome to attend! There is no cost.

Colonials cheerleading tryouts in Southington

2011-04-25T15:19:00.000-04:00

The Hartford Colonials of the United Football League are seeking dancers and cheerleaders who are interested in auditioning for the 2011 cheerleading team.

There will be two rounds of preliminary auditions for the 32-member squad. The first audition will be held April 30 at the Southington Armory (590 Woodruff St, Southington). Registration begins promptly at 8 a.m. with auditions scheduled to start at 9. The second round is May 7 at the Hartford State Armory (360 Broad St., Hartford). Registration begins at 8 a.m. with auditions to follow. A registration fee is required for both sessions. Participants can pre-register online at www.hartfordcolonials.com and click on the cheerleader tab.

Individuals must be 18 years of age or older by May 21 and submit a non-returnable recent photograph and updated resume. Participants should wear workout attire and sneakers or dance shoes. Hair and makeup should be performance-ready.

The Colonials cheerleaders will perform at all four home games, starting in August, and serve as team ambassadors throughout the season.

"For anyone who's a fan of football and enjoys performance, this is a great opportunity," said Colonials cheerleader director Brittany Bonchuk. "I'm excited at the chance to create a diverse squad of talented and beautiful women who will entertain Colonials fans this season."

Both audition sessions are open to the public. For more information, email Brittany.Bonchuk@ufl-football.com.

Solomon, Twerago tabbed as CIAC Scholar-Athletes

2011-04-22T13:16:00.003-04:00

Southington seniors Kevin Twerago and Kristy Solomon were chosen to be honored at the annual CIAC High School Scholar-Athlete Banquet that will be Sunday, May 1, at 5 p.m. at the Aqua Turf in Southington.

The Scholar-Athlete Program annually recognizes two high school seniors - one boy and one girl - from each member high school whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary, personal standards and achievements are a model to others, and possess high levels of integrity, self-discipline and courage.

Twerago, a captain this spring on the golf team, is the squads lone returner with ample varsity experience and leads an inexperienced group on the links. Solomon (pictured during the Powder Puff game in the fall) was the lone captain of the girls soccer team that qualified for the state tournament. During the year, head coach Sal Penta called her the heart and soul of the team and said she'd be a big loss and a tough player to replace.

Approximately 1,700 people are expected to attend the event where a total of 346 students are being honored. The complete list of honorees by school can be found at: http://www.casciac.org/schath.shtml

In addition to the scholar athletes being honored Jamie Botteon, cancer survivor and All-Conference soccer goalie at Bristol Eastern High School, will receive the Michael Savage Spirit of Sport Award at the banquet. Dr. Richard Diana of Connecticut Orthopedic Specialists will be the keynote speaker.

photos courtesy myrecordjournal.com

Southington native Poitras tabbed as next men's soccer coach at UHart

2011-04-20T14:05:00.001-04:00

The University of Hartford and Director of Athletics Patricia H. Meiser announced Tuesday that Tom Poitras will be the ninth head coach in the 54-year history of the University of Hartford men's soccer program.

Poitras is a Southington native, graduating in 1986 as a Blue Knight. He attended St. Paul Catholic High School for his first two years before returning to Southington for his final two.

He went on to play college soccer at Southern Connecticut State University from 1987-91 and led the team to a Division II national championship in 1987.

Prior to the hire, Poitras had spent the last seven seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where he guided the Phoenix to a 72-46-18 record in his tenure.

On the University of Hartford Website, Meiser said, "In Tom, we have an individual who has been a head coach at three highly-respected institutions and comes to Hartford with a wealth of experience. In each case, he made significant impact on the success of the men's soccer programs. Not only has he established a winning tradition, but he has created a culture of excellence in the classroom as well. We are very pleased to welcome Tom back to the Nutmeg State and I am confident he will lead the Hawks to a bright future."

Prior to UWGB, Poitras coached at Southern New Hampshire and the University of New Haven.

For the full release, click the link above.

(photo courtesy of hartfordhawks.com)

Softball ace Davenport to miss month with torn meniscus

2011-04-19T17:41:00.000-04:00

Fresh off a 10-0 win last Thursday (April 14) against fellow 2010 Class LL semifinalist and CCC West foe Simsbury, things for the Lady Knights were at an early season high.

Then, like an avalanche, news quickly turned sour and emotions plummeted. Jessica Davenport, off another good performance, wasn’t 100 percent.

“(She) pitched the whole game, did an outstanding job and then she shared with me that she had hurt her knee,” head coach John Bores said. “She never told me until the end of the game and after I praised her she said, ‘Can I tell you a little secret,’ I says, ‘Yeah,’ she says, ‘I’m in a lot of pain and it’s swelling.’”

Initially, not a lot was thought of it.

“I just thought she tweaked it. She hit a double to the fence the other day and I figured she ran, pitched the whole game, I said, ‘Ah, can’t be that bad, she probably just tweaked it,’” said Bores.

But it was more.

“The next morning she called me and told me she wasn’t coming to school because it had really swollen up,” Bores explained. “Went to the doctor and they did an MRI, they didn’t know what it was, they knew there was a tear in there.”

According to the head coach, Davenport tore a little piece of the meniscus in her right knee while warming up prior to the Simsbury game. The right knee is the one she uses to push off of. The prognosis after surgery this past Monday is good.

“Surgery went really well. They thought it was going to be a couple of hours (of surgery); she was done in 25 minutes,” Bores said.

The doctors have given a timetable of about four weeks out of action before Davenport can return to the field, which would be right in time for the tournament.

“I’m hoping to get her maybe even a little before so she can get a couple of games under her belt,” Bores said going with the wait and see method.

All things considered, following Tuesday’s practice Bores said Davenport is handling things well.

“Her morale is good,” he said. “She was devastated, obviously, when she heard she had a tear and she had to get the MRI and she had to get surgery. It hit her like a ton of bricks. She goes from thinking, ‘I just have a little twist in the knee to I’m getting surgery that could be season ending.’

“I talked to her [Monday] and she was really upbeat, excited by the fact that it wasn’t as serious as they thought.”

Now the elephant in the room is who fills in for the all-state pitcher, who has committed to playing softball at Sacred Heart University.

Bores says sophomore Jordyn Moquin and senior Michelle Sirois will split the duties.

Berry makes it official, signs letter to Concordia

2011-04-14T16:07:00.000-04:00

Mariah Berry said she spent so much time playing the sport of basketball over the past few years that she had little time to socialize. But now, she can look back and know it all paid off.

Berry, who committed to playing girls basketball at Concordia College, N.Y, in the fall, signed her official Letter of Intent at Southington High School Thursday afternoon, accepting her full athletic scholarship to play hoops.

Mariah Berry signs her Letter of Intent to Concordia College.

(photo/Michael Guerrera)

She said she started getting serious about hoops playing AAU basketball for the Connecticut Starters and that peaked college interest. She considered Post Universty, Dean College, Fisher College and University of Southern Maine before deciding on Concordia, about an hour and 45 minutes from Southington.

As to why Concordia was the pick, she said one, because of her major, she plans to study business management, and two, because it’s far enough away that she can live the college experience, but still come home on a weekend or two.

Berry, a lengthy wing player who can play inside and out, credited defense as a main factor to her success.

“Defense is where it’s going to get you places, offense will come in time,” she said.

During her final year at Southington, the co-captain Berry had offensive bursts, but was the focal point of many defenses, along with co-captain Tori Munson. Still, the focus was rarely on individual performance.

“She’s really unselfish in many ways where she just wanted the team to do well,” said Southington girls basketball coach Mike Forgione, who was on hand at the signing.

Her freshman year, Berry attended St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol before returning to Southington for her final three years.

“To be able to come back it was great, I had all my friends, they were still kind to me, no jealousy, it was just the way it was and they were happy to have me back,” she said.

Concordia College, the Clippers, is a Division II basketball school that went 6-20 in 2010-11.

“I think her athleticism; her ability to play outside on the wing and hit that jump shot is going to be something that I think they’re going to utilize at Concordia,” Forgione said.

The former head coach said he believes Berry will have success, in due time, at the next level.

“It might be a progression, but I think she can definitely be a contributor at that level,” he explained. “I think she has the right attitude and the right work ethic so I think she can succeed.”

Southington's Sal Romano tosses no-hitter

2011-04-11T18:45:00.001-04:00

Southington's senior co-captain, Sal Romano, who's headed to the University of Tennessee to play baseball next year, was crisp Monday against Bristol Central, throwing a complete game no-hitter in a 5-0 win. Early in the game, there was a play where it was ruled an error on the field, but the scoreboard read a hit. The press box was informed of that but the change was not made until after the game. Here's some reaction from the game:

Head Coach Charlie Lembo

On Sal's performance: "Sal was fantastic on the mound; he really mixed things in well. I think when we get him into a rhythm of mixing his off-speed stuff, he's tough to hit."

On the scoreboard reading one hit: "It was kind of strange – I kept looking at the scoreboard seeing that one hit, but I knew it wasn’t a hit, but we didn't want to change it at that time so we made sure we got that final out before we had them change it on the scoreboard."

Sal Romano on the mound during his no-hitter.

(Lembo said the Bristol Coach also knew it was a no-hitter)

On the decision to leave him in: "If he didn't have the no-hitter going, we probably would have taken him out in the seventh, but he's a senior, it's a no-hitter, it's our opening home game, we kind of looked at each other and said, 'Yea, we've got to keep him in there.'"

On Ben Nichols' two-run homer: "That was a bomb. He just put a fantastic swing on that."

Sal Romano

On throwing a no-hitter: "I've thrown them in Little League, but it's been a really long time since I did that, so it was good to get one finally on the big diamond."

On how he felt: "All the pitches were working today, my fielders behind me were making all the plays and if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have thrown [the no-hitter]."

On whether he knew it was a no-hitter: "I knew in the back of my mind, but I was trying to focus on keep throwing strikes, let my fielders make the plays."

On the 10 or 12 pro. scouts at the game: "I just pretend they're not here. Pitch your game and whatever happens, happens."

On what he did between innings: "Just chilled."

3B Jr. Ben Nichols
(hit a two-run home run in game)

On the nerves playing the field during the no-hitter: "Yeah, well there wasn't many balls hit in the infield, but it's nerve-racking. A ball could be hit up the line where you have to dive for it."

On feeling in the dugout: "He kept his cool and so did everyone else."

Southington High to host 13th Annual Governor's Cup, Dube selected to team

2011-04-07T16:04:00.000-04:00

The 13th Annual Governor’s Cup Senior All-Star football game, presented by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association, will have a hometown feel in 2011 as it returns to the site where the first ever game was played back in 1999 – Southington High School.

This year the game leaves Rentschler Field, which is getting work done and is unavailable this summer, and returns to the home of the Blue Knights for the second time in the 13-year history.

In the game, Southington will be represented by All-State caliber wideout, Tyler Dube, who was the lone Blue Knight picked to the 55-man squad.

“The great thing about Tyler is I knew Tyler ahead of time because he was on an All-Star seven-on-seven team that I coached all last winter so I got to know him and see him play,” said Connecticut head coach John Murphy, the head football coach at Masuk High School in Monroe.

“But I didn’t workout the wideouts (at the combine), I was just hoping the guy who did (have hime) came back with his name and he was one of those guys.”

Dube had a spectacular senior season at wide receiver, even with a freshman quarterback for a majority of the year. He caught 50 passes for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games.

“Tyler’s one of those kids that if he just walks up to you in street clothes, he’s not going to impress you, but I’d seen enough of him in seven-on-seven and we scrimmaged them early in the year and he made a big play against us...” Murphy explained.

Murphy said the process of going from 160 kids at the combine to the final 55-man roster was a tough one and the focus was on talent, nothing else.

“We picked the best kids. We didn’t pick anyone based on anything other than what kind of player they were,” Murphy said.

In the past, Southington has always played host to the practices leading up to the game at Rentschler, but this year it will also play host to the actual a game.

“I think it’s a great way to give visibility to the school, as well as our football program and we have one of our athletes participating so it’s a win-win,” said Southington High Athletic Director Eric Swallow.

“On behalf of the Southington Board of Education we welcome and embrace such a prestigious sporting event to our community,” said Superintendent of Schools Joe Erardi, Jr. in a statement. “Personally, I am both pleased and excited to host a showcase of such talented student athletes.”

Of concern is the condition of the football field, which gets beat up in the fall.

“One of my main goals is we get [the field] ready for graduation and graduation is on (June) 23 and this game is on (June) 25, so the field will be in good shape and I don’t think we’ll have any issue with that,” Swallow said.

The field is closed now and being prepped, but according to Swallow, the football game will not affect the boys and girls lacrosse senior nights – both games, he said, should be played as scheduled under the lights at the end of May. Even better, this is economically-friendly for Southington.

“It’s not costing the Southington community any money,” Swallow said. “Connecticut High School Coaches Association will incur all costs and basically what we’re going to do is provide the facility and the logistics.”

Swallow continued saying all security and medical costs will not be Southington’s responsibility and made mention that the Southington Gridiron Club will certainly step up to the task of providing volunteer work and helping make the event a success.

Another change this year is that the game, on Saturday, June 25, will be moved up from 6:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Prior to game time, there will be a youth clinic on Southington’s soccer field that brings in about 500 kids and is run by Frank Stamilio, who was an assistance football coach at Southington for 18 years before leaving prior to the 2009 season.

“It’s always a pleasure to be a part of this great day in high school football,” said Stamilio, who will reunite with ex-Southington coach Jude Kelly at St. Paul Catholic High School, in Bristol, this fall, after a couple years at New Britain.

On the field Connecticut has dominated the game, going 9-3 in the series, the only losses coming from 2000-2002.

“Our talent pool is a lot larger,” Murphy said of why the record is lopsided. “We have a lot more schools and a lot more kids to pick from and anytime you have that situation, obviously that’s a little bit of a benefit so in that situation we have the advantage.”

Saucier having success at next level

2011-04-06T14:09:00.001-04:00

Southington's Erin Saucier, a freshman at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., had a golden debut at the Centennial Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Saucier cleared 10 1/2 feet to claim the conference pole vault championship. It marks the fifth consecutive year a Muhlenberg Mule has won the indoor pole vault title.

Southington's Cannata lifts Eastern with walk-off double

2011-04-01T15:39:00.000-04:00

Batting ninth in the lineup, senior catcher Chris Cannata, of Southington, doubled his season RBI total with a game-ending double that scored senior centerfielder Joe Cousineau (Newington) from first base with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and propelled the Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team to a 6-5 non-conference win over Roger Williams University Thursday, March 31, at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.

Cannata’s second RBI of the season capped a come-from-behind win for Eastern (13-3), which scored single runs in the final three innings to overcome a two-run deficit and defeat Roger Williams (9-11) for the seventh time in this eight-game series. Eastern is ranked No. 1 in New England No. 7 nationally in Division III.

In a tie game, Cousineau was hit on the first pitch from losing pitcher Chris Anderson (Westerly, RI) with one out in the ninth, and Cannata drove the first pitch he saw on one hop to the fence in left. The relay from leftfielder Zach Porter (Middleboro, MA) to shortstop Mike Thomas (Plainville) was dropped in shallow left field as Cousineau crossed the plate standing up.

Trailing 5-3 after the visitors scored four runs in the seventh on a walk and five consecutive hits, Eastern got one back in the seventh in driving freshman starting pitcher Chris Fumasoli (Rye, NY) from the box on sophomore third baseman Joe Balowski’s (Berlin) RBI single to right. The Warriors left the bases loaded in the inning but were able to tie the game in the eighth on junior rightfielder Steve Cammuso’s (Rutland, MA) two-out RBI single to left that sent home senior leftfielder Robert Perry (Manchester) from second.

Roger Williams wiped out a 3-1 deficit with four runs in the seventh on Porter’s two-run, game-tying single and back-to-back doubles from cleanup hitter Tony Trafecanty (Franklin, MA) and Thomas.

Of Eastern’s runs, three scored by batters who walked and another by a batter who was hit by pitch. Two Roger Williams pitchers threw six wild pitchers, walked seven and hit three batters and the Hawks also commited three errors and that led to an unearned run.

Cannata reached base four times in the game. He was hit by a pitch twice and singled in the fourth before sending home Cousineau with the winning run in the ninth.

A catcher by trade, Cammuso made his first career start in right field and senior Shane Kingsley (Beacon Falls) started his first career game at second base. Cammuso had two hits and his relay to Kingsley cut down a runner at the plate during the Hawks’ four-run seventh inning. Kingsley handled six chances in the field without an error.

Balowski joined Cammuso and Cannata with two hits each while Perry reached safely three times with two walks and an infield hit and scored two runs.

The top seven starters in the Roger Williams order hit safely, with leadoff hitter Mike Pascarella (Milford) singling in each of his final three at-bats, Porter driving in two runs and Trafecanty and DH Trevor Sybertz (Chestnut Hill, MA) also recording two hits each.

First-year sophomore transfer Mike Riemer (Ellington) won his second game in as many decisions by keeping the game scoreless in the top of the ninth. Pascarella singled to open the ninth, but Riemer got two ground balls and a foul out to end the inning. Freshman Greg Porter (Mystic) pitched 4 2/3 innings for the second time in two career starts but did not figure in the decision. Porter allowed only one run on five hits while fanning four and walking two. He was lifted with two out and a runner on third base and Eastern leading 2-1 in the fifth.

Senior first baseman Tyler Turgeon (Norwich) extended his hitting streak to 14 with third-inning infield single, and Balowski hit safely in his 12th straight.

Eastern opens Little East Conference play Saturday at noon when it hosts Plymouth State University in a doubleheader.

Sayonara D.J., Thanks for the Memories

2011-03-30T18:07:00.001-04:00

The announcement came on May 25 last year. Southington’s new head football coach was unproven, but well-known D.J. Hernandez. He’d been on staff for a year, he’d been a Connecticut kid his whole life and now he held the future of Southington football in the palm of his hand.

Almost 10 months to the date later, he firmly closed his hand, crushing any thoughts of him following through on this promise:

“Hopefully, and as I told the committee, this is going to be a lifelong commitment in the counseling department, community and as head coach,” Hernandez said during his introductory press conference last year.

It didn’t even take 12 months for him to jettison, heading to Brown University to be an assistant.

So what’s a town to think? What are the kids to think?

He called it “a lifelong commitment.” Maybe we should define ‘lifelong’ to him.

Yet, we’re really all to blame. Each one of us was fooled.

“Just from meeting with the community and being on staff last year,” said Hernandez last May, “being able to interact with some of the people was a great opportunity for myself and it was something that I wanted to be a part of.”

The words sounded true. They bled of substance – someone with energy, knowledge and passion.

Now, they seem as empty as a black hole. The carrot was dangled, and then it was ripped back away.

On that fateful day in May when all was bliss, the Bristol native said, “I’m going to do things the right way. The players can expect that, they can hold me to a higher standard on and off the field. I’m not going to embarrass the program, I’m always going to put the program ahead of myself; put the school and the community ahead of myself.”

Powerful words that were worth the paper they were typed on.

That previous statement was first discredited when Hernandez admitted to cheating in a game against Manchester back in October.

Do things the right way? Check minus. Hold yourself to a higher standard? Check minus. Not embarrass the program? Check minus.

As the great William Shakespeare said, “Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart.”

Nevertheless, the community, which he said, “he was honored to be a part of,” and that he was going to put ahead of himself, stood beside him.

In a statement from Principal Dr. Martin Semmel on Nov. 9, announcing the school investigation and ensuing punishment, Semmel finished by saying, “The Administration has complete confidence in Coach Hernandez and his ability to lead our football program now and in the future.”

Then in a Letter to the Editor on Nov. 22, days before Southington’s season (8-2) ended with a Thanksgiving Day loss, the Southington Girdiron Club said, “The Southington High School Blue Knights Gridiron Club, which is made up of primarily parents of football players, would like to publicly express our support for Coach D.J. Hernandez, who has apologized for the armband incident and who, in our opinion, has done an outstanding job in his first year as head coach. ... Coach Hernandez also spoke to us at the meeting and emotionally admitted he made an error in judgment. His heartfelt concern for his players was evident. Coach Hernandez has our complete confidence and support.”

After promising he’d do the right things, and subsequently failing, the parents of the athletes still supported Hernandez and even those at the highest levels of the education system were still willing to stick their necks out, expressing disappointment, but at the same time, support.

On March 29, Hernandez quickly exited without looking back at the community he said he was honored to be a part of and the same one that stood up for him while so many others were chastising him.

“I have my values, I have my beliefs and the student-athletes and the parents in the community are soon going to see that,” Hernandez said at the infamous first presser.

Values? Beliefs? We certainly saw what they were and weren’t over these 10 months.

In the end, Blue Knights football will be OK. But it’s not about football.

“Southington as a whole, the school, the athletics and the community is first class,” was what Hernandez said.

Southington proved that to be true. Hernandez proved one thing – it was just, “Words, words, mere words.”

Hernandez Resigns

2011-03-29T18:54:00.001-04:00

Southigton high school announced in the following press release around 5:50 Tuesday night that head football coach D.J Hernandez was stepping down. Here's the release:

The Southington Athletic Department is announcing that Dennis "D.J." Hernandez has resigned as head football coach for Southington High School. He has accepted a position as quarterback coach at Brown University. Coach Hernandez leaves after completing one year as head coach with an 8-2 record. The search for a replacement will begin immediately.

Magaro, Smigelski form winning tandem

2011-03-23T18:53:00.003-04:00

If you had shown up at one of the Blue Knights' swimming practices this winter, you'd likely see one obvious thing – a lot of swimmers all working really hard.

What you might see next is two swimmers, in the middle of the pool, working almost in a tug-of-war synchronization.

Those two are junior Michael Smigelski and senior Colin Magaro. Both are sprinters, both are leaders by example and both are two of the hardest workers on the team.

Michael Smigelski leads off the 200-free
relay at Class LL state finals. Colin Magaro
was the anchor.

"I owe a lot of my times to him and I guess he owes a lot of his times to me because we're always racing each other in practice and that’s how we get better," said the co-captain Magaro.

Smigelski is the born swimmer. He came in good and has continued to improve, but it's Magaro, who started in his sophomore year, that has an infectious personality and work ethic, that makes everyone better, including his in-practice competition, Smigelski.

And when egos seem to litter the sports landscape, neither is influenced negatively because of the other.

"I'm really proud of Mike," says Magaro. "I love watching Mike swim because I say, 'Oh, I practice with Mike, look at him go.'"

This selfless attitude between the two is what makes both better swimmers.

"He's the best captain I could ask for and he pushes everyone on this team, not just me," Smigelski said of Magaro. "I couldn’t ask for a better friend or teammate."

Magaro's work-at-all-costs attitude is what makes him special. He applied to the Naval Academy and says if he gets in, he'll go, and a perfect fit he’d be.

"Colin will be used as an example for myself for quite a long while," head coach Evan Tuttle said. "Freshman year, didn't swim, sophomore year, thought he'd give it a shot and something clicked in that kid's head and he’s gone for it ever since sophomore year, junior year, senior year, working around the clock, down at the pool and you're not going to turn in those kind of results if you don'’t work like that, so that's just a testament to his nature and his character and like I said, he'll be used as an example for many generations to come."

Tuttle, who always deflects credit, was praised by his dynamic duo for being a fantastic, youthful leader in his first season at the helm after being an assistant the previous few years.

"He's been phenomenal," Smigelski said of Tuttle. "His guidance is awesome and he has so much energy with him and I just love it."

Magaro said that he feels because Tuttle is younger, he can more closely relate with the swimmers and that makes him more engaging.

"Just the excitement he shows, he really, really cares about every single swimmer and the times they do," says Magaro.

What the end of this year has even done is encourage Magaro to continue to swim. He said going into the postseason, he was unsure about his future in swimming, but now, after the success the team and him had, he says, wherever he ends up, he'll try to walk on to a team.

"I was planning on not swimming, but now I think I really want to continue with this because it’s awesome," he said.

According to Magaro, other than the Naval Academy in Annapolis, he also is looking at University of Maryland and University of Connecticut, both places he said he'd try and swim.

published in the March 25 edition of The Southington citizen

Meet the Knights pasta supper

2011-03-21T17:12:00.000-04:00

The Southington High Baseball program would like to invite the community to their annual Pasta Supper to “Meet the Knights.” This will be an opportunity for you to interact with the 2011 baseball players and coaches in an informal setting. There will also be vendors selling Blue Knights and other baseball products.

This year there will be a clinic for Little League and middle school players between the ages of 8 and 14 prior to the dinner. The clinic will take place on the high school field from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Afterward, the kids are encouraged to attend the supper where each child will be given a ticket for a raffle in which they could be the Bat Person of the Game for a home game or win Southington High baseball apparel.

Tickets are different costs for parents/friends and middle school or Little League players. Tickets will be available at the door.

It will take place at the Southington High cafeteria on April 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Contact Melissa Robarge at michaelrobarge@cox.net if you have any questions.

Notes from Class LL Swimming Finals

2011-03-16T01:09:00.002-04:00

Notes from a spectacular performance from the Southington Blue Knights swim and dive team following Class LL finals.

200-medley relay finished eighth overall with a time of 1:43.79 (Jr. Jesse Cooney, Jr. Mike Smigelski, So. Vlad Kiveliyk, Sr. Colin Magaro).
200-freestyle relay finished seventh overall with a time of 1:31.01 (Smigelski, Cooney, Jr. Dylan Figuieredo, Magaro).
400-freestyle relay finished 12th overall with a time of 1:38.08 (Fr. Joe Taglia, Sr. Niels Thomsen, So. Bryan Adie, So. Kiveliyk).
Magaro finished 12th overall in the 50-free (22.58) and 13th-overall in the 100-free (49.99).
Smigelski (pictured) finished third overall in the 50-free (21.63) and second overall in the 100-free (47.36).
Cooney finished 21st overall in the 200-individual medley (2:09.51) and 24th overall in the 100-backstroke (1:05.53).
Sr. Ryan Connors was 19th in diving.
As a team, Southington finished ninth out of 21 teams (196 points). It was the team's best finish since 2005 (seventh).
According to the CIAC, Smigelski qualified for Open's in both of his events. Also, the 200-medley and the 200-free relays qualified for Opens.
As far as seeds at the Open, Smigelski is third in the 50-free, fourth in the 100-free.
The medley relay is seeded 23rd, the 200-free relay is seeded 17th.

Photo courtesy of Jack Adie

Crusade moves on as Knights fall

2011-03-09T21:18:00.000-05:00

The Southington Blue Knights boys basketball team gave it all they had Wednesday night in Waterbury, but the Holy Cross Crusaders proved to be just four points better on this evening, winning 72-68 in the second round of the CIAC Class LL tournament game. The No. 13-ranked Blue Knights struggled to keep up early against fourth-ranked Cross as the home team led 24-16 after eight minutes thanks to 11 points from star guard Mike Mallory, who was just getting started.

But Southington didn't go away as they rallied in the second quarter thanks to the prolific shooting of Jordan Chapman. The senior swingman had the first 15 Southington points of the quarter including four straight 3-pointers on four consecutive tries from long range. Tyler Dube then hit a three followed up by another basket to bring the score to 38-36 Cross, before a last second shot put the Crusaders up by four at the break. Mallory finished the half with 15 points, Chapman had 17. From the field at the half, Holy Cross was a impressive 18-34, Southington was 15-32.

In the third stanza of this incredible performance from both teams, Southington continued to charge ahead thanks to powerful play from Sal Romano, who was a force inside the entire night. Following a Dube free throw, Southington gained its first and only lead of the night at 52-51 with 1:27 to play in the third. Then both Romano and Dube came out and Cross went on a 9-2 run to finish the quarter and lead 60-54.

The final frame saw high octane play and high drama. Back and forth it went as the Blue Knights came back to tie it at 66 with 2:35 to play in the game. But then Mallory converted from the field and Trevon Perry (nine points) slammed home a dunk to electrify the crowd and push the lead back to 70-66. Southington got it back to 70-68 when Romano stole the ball in the backcourt and laid it in, but two free throws from Cross put the final touches on the win. Mallory finished with a game-high 31 for Cross. On the Southington side, Chapman had 27, followed by Dube with 18 and Romano, who registered another double-double, had 17 points.

Southington finishes the season 16-8 (counting postseason), the most wins for head coach Bob Lasbury in a single season.

NOTE: During the game, Southington had a spectacular alley-oop from Drew Aylett to Jordan Chapman.

Knights top Rams

2011-03-07T21:51:00.004-05:00

Trailing 34-26 at half, the No. 13 seed Southington Blue Knights boys basketball team (14-6) bounced back to outscore No. 20 seed Cheshire (12-8) 31-19 in the second half to win, 57-53. Here are full stats from the game, click on the image to enlarge.

The Blue Knights go on the road to one of the state's best Wednesday to play No. 4 seed Holy Cross (18-1) at 7 p.m. We'll be there with live updates as it happens. Follow on Twitter @MichaelGuerrera.To view the Class LL bracket, click here.

Thanksgiving Day rivalry renewed: Southington draws Cheshire in first round

2011-03-02T15:49:00.001-05:00

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) released the brackets for the four boys basketball state tournaments today and the Southington boys basketball (14-6) team earned the No. 13 seed and will play host to No. 20 seed and neighboring rival, Cheshire (12-8), in Class LL. Southington comes into the game off a 1-1 record in two games in the Central Connecticut Conference tournament. After beating Manchester, the guys lost to Hartford Public. Similarly, Cheshire comes in off an upset win over Branford in the Southern Connecticut Conference tournament before losing to Hillhouse. Both teams had similar years record-wise and this game will surely be entertaining and see a packed gym thanks to the the schools being connected by Route 10 (more or less). The winner gets the lucky fortune of playing No. 4 seed Holy Cross-Waterbury (18-1). The Cross is never an easy match-up and the game will be in Waterbury. Interesting note that really does not pertain at all to the games, but Southington head coach Bob Lasbury is a Holy Cross graduate and was a talented basketball player. Not all that relevant, just interesting.

2011 Division LL Boys Basketball

First Round		Second Round		Quarterfinal		Semifinal		Final
1 Windsor Bye		Windsor (19-1) @Windsor	3/9 7:00	@Higher Seed	3/11 7:00	@Site TBA	3/15 Time TBA	@Mohegan Sun Arena	3/18-19 Time TBA
16 Manchester (13-7) 17 Xavier (13-7) @Manchester	3/7 7:00
8 Crosby (16-4) 25 Hamden (10-10) @Crosby	3/7 7:00		3/9 7:00
9 Fairfield Prep (15-5) 24 East Hartford (10-10) @Fairfield Prep	3/7 7:00
4 Holy Cross Bye		Holy Cross (18-1) @Holy Cross	3/9 7:00	@Higher Seed	3/11 7:00
13 Southington (14-6) 20 Cheshire (12-8) @Southington	3/7 7:00
5 Ridgefield (18-2) 28 Simsbury (9-11) @Ridgefield	3/7 7:00		3/9 7:00
12 Staples (15-5) 21 Amity (12-8) @Staples	3/7 7:00
2 St. Joseph Bye		St. Joseph (19-1) @St. Joseph	3/9 7:00	@Higher Seed	3/11 7:00	@Site TBA	3/15 Time TBA
15 Norwich Free Academy (13-6) 18 Stamford (13-7) @Norwich Free Academy	3/7 6:00
7 Brien McMahon (16-4) 26 Newtown (10-10) @Brien McMahon	3/7 7:00		3/9 7:00
10 Wilbur Cross (15-5) 23 Notre Dame-West Haven (10-10) @Wilbur Cross	3/7 7:00
3 Hartford Public Bye		Hartford Public (19-1) @Hartford Public	3/9 7:00	@Higher Seed	3/11 7:00
14 Glastonbury (14-6) 19 Hall (13-7) @Glastonbury	3/7 7:00
6 Hillhouse (17-2) 27 Harding (10-10) @Hillhouse	3/7 7:00		3/9 7:00
11 Westhill (15-5) 22 Newington (11-9) @Westhill	3/7 7:00

Some thoughts on the LL bracket:

The two best teams, in my opinion, are Windsor (19-1) - No.1 - and Hillhouse (17-2) - No. 6. Both teams are on opposite sides of the bracket - that's my favorite for the Class LL final. Windsor proved themselves by advancing past Northwest Catholic into the CCC Tourney final, while Hillhouse once again is in the SCC final.
In losing to Maloney in overtime, No. 3 Hartford Public showed they're good, but maybe not as good as the 19-1 may lead some to believe. I'd expect them to lose to Hillhouse in the quarterfinals.
I think Southington, with three really talented players, can get hot and maybe, just maybe sneak by Holy Cross (if they get by Cheshire). They put up 90 against Wilby. If they did it again, they'll win some games. If their three stars aren't on, a first-round loss isn't out of the question. No. 5 Ridgefield, if they make it to the quarters, presents a tough match-up for whoever.
Never, ever, ever discount No. 8 seed Crosby (16-4). The Bulldogs are always good in basketball and always seem to find a way to turn it up in the postseason. No matter what seed they are, they always seem to go far. How about a quarterfinal match-up between them and Windsor? Wow, wee, that'd be fun.

Dube and Lasbury to represent Southington at All-Star game

2011-02-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

Reported this a couple of weeks back on Twitter, but Southington released a statement earlier today officially stating that Sr. guard Tyler Dube has been named to the Class L/LL East team to play in the 36th Annual Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Star Basketball Festival on Thursday, March 24, at 8 p.m. The game will be played at Maloney High School in Meriden. It will take place the Thursday after state finals conclude. On the year, Dube is averaging 19.1 points, 3.9 steals, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He's also made a team-high 38 threes.

Coaching the East All-Stars will be Southington's head coach, Bob Lasbury.

In other Southington boys hoops news, three members of the team were named to the Central Connecticut Conference's All-CCC West team. Dube, Sr. forward Sal Romano and Sr. guard Jordan Chapman. On the season, Romano is averaging 16 points and just over 12 rebounds along with 1.7 blocks; Chapman's per game averages are 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, one steal and 1.6 assists. He's second to Dube with 29 threes.

On the collegiate level, Dube will play football at Sacred Heart University (Milford, Conn.), Chapman will play football at Fordham University (Bronx, N.Y.) and Romano is playing baseball at the University of Tennessee.

Gymnasts go into states ranked second

2011-02-23T13:58:00.001-05:00

The Southington gymnasts will travel to New Milford this weekend for the Class L competition with a lot of confidence. Even after losing handily to Glastonbury last week, head coach Byron Knox says, "I think we have the advantage this weekend."

The team goes in ranked second in team scoring average, right behind Glastonbury. Here's a peak at the rankings.

Qualifying Teams	Number of Scores Reported	Avg. of Top Six
Glastonbury	9	143.542
Southington	7	140.933
Conard	9	138.583
New Milford	9	130.775
Norwich Free Academy	8	127.708
Trumbull	9	127.292
Staples	9	125.025
Greenwich	10	115.383

Things will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Southington looks to repeat as champs. Glastonbury hasn't won a state title since 1995. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights have won five of the last six.

Lady Knights garner No. 22 seed, travel to Danbury in first round

2011-02-23T13:50:00.000-05:00

The Lady Knights girls basketball team (11-9) will be the No. 22 seed in the Class LL girls basketball tournament. The tournament starts next Tuesday as Southington will travel to No. 11 Danbury (15-5) to play a 7 p.m. game. Strangely enough, the girls were also the No. 22 seed last year and beat No. 11 seed Hall, 41-39, before losing to No. 6 Ridgefield, 42-27. The full bracket can be found here. For a look at the bracket, here it is:

2011 Class LL Girls Basketball

First Round		Second Round		Quarterfinal		Semifinal		Final
1 Trumbull Bye		Trumbull (19-1) @Trumbull	3/4 7:00	@Higher Seed	3/10 7:00	@Site TBA	3/14 Time TBA	@Mohegan Sun Arena	3/18-19 Time TBA
16 Shelton (14-6) 17 Norwich Free Academy (14-6) @Shelton	3/1 7:00
8 Ridgefield (16-4) 25 Cheshire (10-10) @Ridgefield	3/1 7:00		3/4 7:00
9 Career Magnet (16-4) 24 Amity (11-9) @Career Magnet	3/1 7:00
4 Holy Cross Bye		Holy Cross (19-1) @Holy Cross	3/4 7:00	@Higher Seed	3/10 7:00
13 Pomperaug (15-5) 20 Westhill (12-8) @Pomperaug	3/1 7:00
5 Hall (18-2) 28 Staples (8-12) @Hall	3/1 7:00		3/4 7:00
12 Sacred Heart Academy (15-5) 21 Newington (11-9) @Sacred Heart Academy	3/1 7:00
2 Mercy Bye		Mercy (19-1) @Mercy	3/4 7:00	@Higher Seed	3/10 7:00	@Site TBA	3/14 Time TBA
15 East Catholic (14-6) 18 Norwalk (13-7) @East Catholic	3/1 7:00
7 Newtown (17-3) 26 South Windsor (9-11) @Newtown	3/1 7:00		3/4 7:00
10 Lauralton Hall (16-4) 23 New Britain (11-9) @Lauralton Hall	3/1 7:00
3 Manchester Bye		Manchester (19-1) @Manchester	3/4 7:00	@Higher Seed	3/10 7:00
14 St. Joseph (14-6) 19 Wilbur Cross (13-7) @St. Joseph	3/1 7:00
6 Glastonbury (18-2) 27 Stamford (8-10) @Glastonbury	3/1 7:00		3/4 7:00
11 Danbury (15-5) 22 Southington (11-9) @Danbury	3/1 7:00

Shot put's Justin Bieber: Southington girl uses YouTube to become state champ

2011-02-17T18:31:00.005-05:00

YouTube has been a generational phenomenon. It's turned funny people into famous comedians, turned bedroom video junkies into rich online TV stars, in Connecticut, it made a mediocre quarterback a regular guest on every news/celeb show imaginable and most of all, it gave the world Justin Bieber. What the Internet mogul is not known for is taking a regular high school kid and turning them into an All-American caliber athlete - in the shot put. That is, until now.

Cherraine Davis
(Citizen photo by Michael Guerrera)

Meet Southington's Cherraine Davis, a junior, most recently the Class LL shot put champion when she reached a distance of 42-feet, nine and one-quarter inches last weekend to beat the second place finisher in Class LL by almost eight feet. She goes into this weekend's state open as the No. 1 seed with a distance four feet better than No. 2. Needless to say, she's the favorite to win. But most intriguing about this story is not the overwhelming talent, but more so how Davis came from somewhat obscurity to be one of the nation's best shot putters at her age.

She started her high school career at Miss Porter's School, an all-girls institution, in Farmington. While there she discovered the shot put, but had limited resources to hone her craft as there was no indoor track program of any kind. So she logged onto the Internet and started watching videos of shot put on YouTube. She says that it helped her figure out the technique and learn more about the sport. Then she says she attended an Olympic Clinic in Westpoint, N.Y.

"My coach now saw me and he was like, 'Do you want to be a part of this club, USAT Elite Track?' Davis said she was asked.

She said yes and she says, "that club has changed my life."

"They've got me from 32-feet to 42-feet," she explained.

The club is separate from the high school program and her coach at the club level is also different. There, she trains, works on conditioning, technique, but then goes on her way. She explained that competition is not part of the club - it is more to do with training, and then using that training for outside competitions.

Recently, as she became better, Davis made the decision it was time to leave Porter's and return to Southington, a town that she's lived in since fourth grade.

"I didn’t have enough time to do what I wanted to do and the box was too small, so I needed a larger box," she said about her decision to leave Porter's to become a Blue Knight.

She returned in early January and made an impact only a few days into her return. Coach Scott Ottochian, the head track coach for the indoor season at Southington High, said she was doing power cleans with a football player, lifting about 65 pounds of weight on both sides (not including the bar) and she was keeping up with one of the bigger guys.

"We were lifting the same weight," Davis recalled.

"We walked in, the other coach and myself, and just kind of our mouths dropped open and said, ‘Wow, she’s very strong and powerful,’" Ottochian explained.

So far, less than two months at the high school and she says things couldn't be better.

"Everybody’s really, really nice. The boys respect me and obviously I respect them because they’re amazing athletes," she said. "I have great support here. My counselor, Ms. Viens is awesome, I have great coaches, I have great friends, the support is just wonderful here and it’s like a home."

Not only has her school support been fantastic, but at home, Davis points to both of her parents, Carlton and Carine, as being critical in her development. She says her mom Carine, a school administrator in New York City, taxis her around and takes her to a lot of her meets. Her dad, a champion discus thrower in high school in Jamaica, where both of Davis' parents are from, is her personal, personal trainer, she explains.
"Both of them are equally awesome, they’ve supported me through everything - downs and ups - and I’m really honored to have them as my parents," Davis explained.

Though, all this didn't happen overnight. It took time. Davis said, "At first, I was really frustrated. Getting the technique down alone is really, really frustrating."

But she said once she started figuring it out, it was if Cupid had struck her and the shot put with an arrow - they'd became an unmistakable combination.

"As time went on I loved it more and more and more and I realized that I'm actually pretty good. At first I didn’t understand how good I was, but as time went on and I started making nationals and getting third place at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Nationals this past summer, I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, I can go far in this,'" she recollected. "I'm kind of surprised at the fact of how I've learned to love it as time went on."

But it might be what's not seen on the stat sheet that makes Davis special.

"She's a super nice person, a great person, she's the kind of kid you want on your team. You can’t say enough good things about her, she's just a great kid," Ottochian said.

Crazy enough, this is only the beginning for Davis, whose ceiling continues to rise. If all goes as planned in state opens this weekend, she'll head to New England's to compete in the beginning of March. Once the high school indoor season has ended, she'll continue to compete in national meets with a June date at the USA Youth Trials circled on the calendar. That meet feeds into the Youth World Games, which will be held in France in 2012. Think Olympics, but for 16- and 17-year-olds. Right now, the top thrower in the nation, according to Davis, has a distance of about 47-feet. No. 2 is right around 44-feet; Davis says she's set her goal for 45-feet by June.

"I think if I throw 45, over 45, by June, I have a great chance of wearing the U.S.A. (jersey)," she said with a beaming smile.

Davis will also be competing in the outdoor season for Southington High and shot put won't be her only event on the list. Ottochian says they're going to get her involved in the discus and possibly the javelin, although Davis only partially agreed.

"I’m already a discus thrower, I’m really, really good at discus. Javelin, not my forte," she said laughing. "Hopefully I’m able to do what I do in shot put in discus as well."

"She’s so positive, I think she'll have a very easy time picking it up," Ottochian explained.

As a junior, college is a major thought and Davis listed some prospective schools she hoped to further her shot put career at on the collegiate level: Miami University (Fla.), Stanford, USC, UCLA, Harvard. Some heavy hitters. She said she's interested in the medical field. "Some kind of doctor," she described.

Naturally, the next question was, "So you must do pretty well in school?"

She answered shyly and as humble as can be, "Yeah, I have a 3.9 GPA."

Davis might not be a YouTube sensation, but it's pretty clear, YouTube or not, she's sensational.

CIAC to offer online ticketing for state tournaments

2011-02-17T15:31:00.000-05:00

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) announced Thursday, Feb. 17, that they will be partnering with TicketLeap (www.ticketleap.com) to sell advance tickets for state tournament events online, beginning with select events this winter. TicketLeap, a leading online ticketing platform, has partnered with a number of state associations to offer online ticket purchase options for their events. This is the first time the CIAC will begin offering this option. Information on the specific events, and links to purchase tickets, will be available shortly at ciacsports.com.

Cheerleaders repeat as CCC West Champs!

2011-02-15T15:44:00.001-05:00

By Matt Leidemer

It didn't take long for the Southington High School cheerleaders to start a winning streak.

After winning their first conference-level championship last year, the Blue Knights repeated as West Division champions at the Central Connecticut Conference Championships last weekend, which were hosted at Southington High in a 15-team competition.

Jenalee Bruneau (flying, left) and Angela Beaupre (flying, right),
Becky Klem (center), Lindsay Clavette (base, left). (photo by Matt Leidemer)

Southington was not the only team to repeat as division winners. Berlin (South) and East Hartford (North) also retained their titles, as Tolland edged defending champion Rocky Hill to claim the East Division. Berlin knocked off two-time defending champion East Hartford to claim their first Conference Grand Champion title, which goes to the highest score of all division winners.

Megan Cerreta, a senior and three-year varsity cheerleader for the Knights, felt the result showed the effort her team put into preparation.

“We worked so hard, we practice 12 hours a week to get to where we are. We went through snowstorms and we came out today fully prepared and ready to go, through the challenges we had the past couple weeks,” said Cerreta.

For the Knights, the victory comes after a disappointing performance two weeks earlier at the Connecticut Classic competition, held at Wolcott High School.

“We were upset about [Wolcott], but we definitely came through today,” said senior Jenalee Bruneau. “There’s no better feeling than today. After going through that, we still made it to the top. It’s the best feeling ever.”

Head coach Heather Allenback hopes that the championship will show her younger cheerleaders the results that can come from hard work.

“Our first competition was not the best, but we’ve had some difficulties in practice, so this does boost their confidence and their focus. Half of our team is young, they’re tenth-graders, so I think this is going to be good for them, to emphasize how important it is to work hard, practice hard, and take this very seriously to get that recognition,” Allenback said.

Southington was well-represented on the All-Conference team. Seniors Angela Beaupre, Bruneau and Cerreta, and sophomore Becky Klem were selected by the coaches to the West Division’s 10-cheerleader team. Cheerleaders tried out for a panel of judges, showing off a variety of skills including jumps, tumbling and cheers, with the 10 highest scorers from each division being named to the All-Conference team.

As added entertainment during the competition, Southington's three partner stunt groups performed exhibitions throughout the day, as did team performances from Bristol Central junior varsity, Hartford Public High School and Central Connecticut State University. The CCSU Blue Devils team boasts a pair of Allenback’s alumni, Jessica Baillargeon and Brianna Bruneau, both 2009 graduates of Southington High.

The Blue Knights will be competing at the Windsor Warrior Cheerleading Challenge this Saturday at Windsor High School.

VIDEO: Jordan Chapman talks about decision to play football at Fordham

2011-02-04T14:55:00.000-05:00

Senior defensive back Jordan Chapman officially signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play football at Fordham University in the Bronx next fall. On Friday, Feb. 4, at a press conference attended by family and friends, including classmates Zach Wholley, playing lacrosse at University of Maryland, and Sal Romano, playing baseball at University of Tennessee, Chapman put on his Fordham hat and talked about his decision.

Head coach D.J. Hernandez was not able to attend as he was at a Nike Football Clinic, but he issued a statement saying thus:

"Jordan Chapman is a great athlete but most importantly a very special young man. The amount of energy and enthusiasm he brought to practice and games will be missed. I am really looking forward to watching Jordan develop into the player I know he can be. The thing that impresses me the most is how much better Jordan can become with time. I know Jordan will succeed in all walks of life because of his work ethic and character. He is a class act who has a very bright future at Fordham University."

Lackluster Signing Day, Dube still undecided

2011-02-03T17:02:00.000-05:00

Photo by Matt Leidemer

Twenty-four hours after National Signing Day and football-frenzy Southington is all quiet on the western front. The one big announcement came last week when Jordan Chapman said he plans to attend Division I Fordham University in the Bronx. He will officially sign his letter at a presser at Southington High tomorrow afternoon. But of all the talent on the Southington team this past fall that went 8-2 under rookie head coach D.J. Hernandez, there has only been one big signing.

A number of the athletes are pursuing football in college, but at smaller schools. I've been in talks with Coach Hernandez and we're working on putting together a full list of who's going where, hopefully within the next week.

But really, the big question now remains where All-State caliber wide receiver Tyler Dube will go? The numbers this past fall speak for themselves: 50 catches, 902 yards, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and one interception returned for a touchdown. Even with a freshman quarterback for half the season, Dube had a fantastic senior campaign, following up what was a phenomenal junior season. He possesses all the skills to play at a high level in college, so now it's just about making that decision.

I've heard that he's looked and been in talks with a bunch of schools in the area including Fordham, Sacred Heart and went on an unofficial visit at Holy Cross, to name a few. The issue that has cropped up seems to be athleticism - if you've watched Dube play, you know he is a tremendous receiver, runs great routes, adjusts well, can control his body in the air and has good hands on the outside, all things you look for in big time guys. Problem is when you haven't seen him play everyday and you look at the "combine-type numbers," you might not be blown away in that sense. Still, that doesn't mean Dube doesn't warrant a full ride to play football somewhere.

He's a good kid, very respectful, a good interview and has a steady head on his shoulders. He plays within the moment, has a lot of passion, but doesn't let that passion control him. Also a hard-worker and an asset wherever he ends up - and he will end up somewhere.

Aside from football, Dube is also a very good basketball player who has garnered looks from other, smaller schools in state, like Western and Eastern, naming a couple, but football is where he will likely end up - the question now remains, where? We'll try to get that question answered soon enough.

Lembo hired as new baseball coach

2011-01-31T14:22:00.004-05:00

The Southington High School Athletic Department announced at 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 31, that Charlie Lembo will be the next varsity baseball coach of the Blue Knights. Lembo was the junior varsity coach and an active assistant for the varsity team prior to this appointment.

The release states:

Coach Lembo brings a wealth of experience having coached at the college level at Quinnipiac University, as well as serving as the JV baseball coach at Southington High School, and has been active in every level of youth baseball from college, American Legion, to all levels of youth/amateur baseball.

Lembo is a graduate of Providence College where he played Division I baseball as both a pitcher and an infielder for the Friars.

Most recently, Lembo has added head coach of the Southington Shock to his coaching resume. He has lead the Shock, part of the start-up Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League, to back-to-back titles in the first two seasons of the league.

On a personal note, Lembo is a fantastic guy to deal with, respectful and a great role model for the kids. Beyond his personal traits, he is a terrific baseball guy who knows the game front to back and will certainly be able to continue to lead Southington baseball into the future as one of the hallmark sports in town.

Lembo was undoubtedly on the short list of candidates and was one of two, along with Dave Yanosy, that were most likely being considered going into the search. This was a slam dunk choice by AD Eric Swallow and everyone involved in the process. More excitingly, Southington and Lembo have a lot to look forward to this season with Tennessee-bound pitcher Sal Romano (7-3, 2.12 ERA, 51 Ks), as well as good, experienced players, some coming off very good summer seasons. Junior shortstop Matt Spruill (21 hitts, 17 runs), who came from down south, returns with a year in Connecticut under his belt, as do some other big bats, including Zack Niles (.357 avg., 20 hits, 9 runs) and Alex Roger (.300, 10 runs), and some solid pitchers, such as Joe Sullivan (3.75 ERA).

Lembo knows the kids and will not miss a beat in replacing Steve Matyczyk. Even better is he knows the JV kids coming up so he will be able to put kids in the right places, giving him a jump start on things. Good move for Southington and definitely the right one.

**stats from 2010 baseball season

Hernandez to run February football camp

2011-01-28T16:42:00.001-05:00

D.J. Hernandez, head coach of the Southington football team, will hold a weekly camp in February for prospective football players in grades three to eight, teaching the fundamentals and techniques to achieve success. The camp is called the Blue Knights Game Plan Youth Football Camp. It is designed to give the participating athletes "a great deal of instruction while participating in competitive and exciting drills."

Most exciting for the attendees is that Aaron Hernandez, D.J.'s younger brother and tight end for the New England Patriots, will speak on one of the dates.

There is limited space and the first 100 campers will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The dates are as follows: Sundays, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27. It will be one hour each week, from 11 a.m. to noon and will take place in the Southington High gym. You can participate in all four sessions for a set fee, participate in a single session, or participate in multiple single sessions. Day-of registration on each Sunday will be at 10:30 a.m. in the Southington High cafeteria, which is adjacent to the gymnasium. Participants will also receive a free camp t-shirt.

To register or for more information regarding camp fees or other questions, contact D.J. Hernandez at (860) 628-3229, ext. 260, or via e-mail at dennis.hernandez3411@southingtonfootball.com.

Chapman commits to Fordham

2011-01-26T12:59:00.003-05:00

Jordan Chapman hadn't played football since he was a little kid in midgets. But for his senior year, his friends told him, 'Come out and play football with us senior year.' Chapman, a fantastic athlete, decided he would. He ended up being a difference-maker on a Southington team that fell one game shy of a state playoff spot. He played both defensive back, where he was named All-CCC West, as well as receiver and ended up being Southington's best option at kicker, becoming the steady extra point guy and he even kicked a field goal.

Turns out all Chapman needed was the one year to turn it into a chance to play at the next level as the Southington High School Athletic Department announced Wednesday that Chapman has committed to play football at Fordham University in the fall, likely at defensive back. He will sign his National Letter of Intent on National Signing Day next Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. at the high school.

Head coach D.J. Hernandez commented in a release from the high school that Jordan Chapman, "is a special athlete, but most importantly a very special person. He is a great team player who will be missed next season. Jordan has a lot of potential and I am very excited to see how he develops at Fordham University."

Chapman is a three-sport star at Southington, currently one of the leaders of the basketball team and a main scoring threat on the lacrosse team. He's averaging 13 points per game so far this hoops season. Chapman will join Jake Rodrigues at Fordham, a 2010 graduate of Southington. Classmate Tyler Dube has been rumored to be looking at Fordham as well.

Following the signing of the National Letter of Intent, there will be a brief press conference.

Staples' Betts retires, opens door for Southington-Staples rivalry?

2011-01-25T17:45:00.000-05:00

Staples is no doubt the home of the premier boys volleyball program in Connecticut, right now, bar none. A close second and maybe now a 1A is Southington High, which beat Staples last season in the Class L finals for the first time ever - it was the fourth try.

After that state finals match, coach Lou Gianacopolos said he would love to have the match-up be an annual, regular season rivalry. As reported on Knight Time back on June 14, 2010:

"I would love (it) and I've asked for the last three years. After our first loss to Staples, I wanted to toughen our competition and there's only one way to get tougher, it's just to go right at them during the regular season," Gianacopolos said.
Gianacopolos also makes the claim that he's more than willing to try and find a workable date.
"I've asked [Bruce Betts] at the end of the regular season, before I book any of my other [games], I ask him what's good for him," Gianacopolos said of the scheduling issue.
He says, though, that he "Never got calls back," from Betts. Gianacopolos says the agendas might be slightly different.
"I'm not looking for the 100 wins," he said.

Staples coach Bruce Betts, never rude, totally respectful, said it's tough to squeeze Southington into an 18-game schedule when 15 of those games are must-play conference matches. Gianacopolos seemed willing to negotiate, but it never happened.

However, with the reported announced retirement of Betts (click here for more) on Tuesday, this opens the door for the next coach to step in at Staples and quite possibly get this rivalry going.

Every year, the hope is that these two premier programs play in the state championship game so we can see who truly is No. 1. To see these juggernauts now play during regular season play would be something special. And granted, there might not be 101-match win streaks like Staples had snapped last year, but it would continue to help elevate the sport of boys volleyball in Connecticut. It's slowly growing and pitting two of the top programs in recent history, if not the two best, against each other would be a delicious regular season subplot.

Whether that happens or not, probably not this year, maybe next, but with Betts stepping down, it could be more likely. It remains to be seen.

Southington Friday postponements and rescheduled dates

2011-01-21T13:38:00.000-05:00

Here's your Friday list of postponements:

Boys Basketball vs. New Britain changed to tomorrow, 1/22, at 4:30 p.m. in Southington

Girls Basketball at New Britain changed to Monday, 1/24, at 5:30 p.m. in New Britain

Gymnastics vs. Conard changed to tomorrow, 1/22, at 7 p.m. at CATS (Cheshire)

Boys Swimming at Manchester changed to Monday, 1/24, at 4 p.m. in Manchester

Blue Knight Fall All-Conference Selections

2011-01-12T14:59:00.000-05:00

Here's the long overdue list of the Southington athletes that were named All-Conference this past Fall (2010).

Football
Enjan Mullaj, Andrew Walowski, Tyler Dube, Jordan Chapman, Mark Tellerico, Nick Gothberg, Matt Scarpati, Dan Manware and Matt O’Connor

Boys Cross Country
Bryan Wilcox, Tim Brown, Kyle Hamel and Matt Walker

Field Hockey
Gretchen Egan, Colleen Girouard, Micaila Dean and Mel Muroski

Boys Soccer
Joe Gianatti, Greg Smedberg and Tyler Moss

Girls Soccer
Erica Kosienski and Kristy Solomon

Girls Volleyball
Elsie Bernaiche, Tory Broytman, Natasha Carlbert and Victoria Munson