Accredited

PUTNAM —  Putnam Science Academy (PSA) has been granted initial accreditation by the Commission on Independent Schools for the New England Association for Schools (NEASC). The Commission of Independent Schools reached its’ decision after reviewing a visiting committee’s report and Putnam Science Academy’s self-study.  Major commendations from the (NEASC) visiting team include “the service aspect” of the school’s mission, “the cultural footprint of the school”, and “the enthusiasm and pride that PSA enjoys with regard to extra-curricular programs.”

Putnam Science Academy is an all-boys’ international boarding school. Accreditation by NEASC means that Putnam Science Academy is committed to its’ mission, conducts programs that meet the goals of the school and fulfills all of the established standards of accreditation for the Commission for Independent Schools.

 

 

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Addresses

John Iovino ,former baseball coach at Norwich Free Academy, addresses the audience at the TriTown American Legion Baseball Post-Season Banquet. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

The TriTown American Legion Baseball teams and the more than 100 guest at the Post-Season Banquett received a firsthand understanding of the game of baseball from the event’s guest speaker John Iovino.  The 2008 Connecticut High School Coach of the Year shared his life philosophy July 25 at American Legion Post #67 in Thompson. 

Iovino, who lives in Norwich and is the director of Student Affairs at Norwich Free Academy, held the audience in the palm of his hands as he delivered a poignant message to the players and regaled the group with baseball stories normally reserved for the Hot Stove League.

For 28 years, from 1979 to 2007 Iovino was the varsity baseball coach at NFA, where he developed a cadre of talented players.  The culmination of Iovino’s coaching career occurred in 2003 when he and his assistant coach Duke Campbell guided the Wildcats to the Connecticut Class LL State Championship.  That team posted a near perfect 23-2 record.

“Early in our season the team travelled to Trumbull for a game that would prove to be the test we had to take to see if we were a legitimate contender.  Our kids put together a victory behind our number two pitcher, verifying the fact that we thought this team was legitimate,” said Iovino.

The proof that their assessment was correct is present today in professional baseball.  Four former Wildcats are either in the Major Leagues or just one step away.  Eric Campbell, a utility player with the New York Mets, has been proving his worth by his versatility and hitting prowess.  Campbell has played every infield position and in two outfield spots for Manager Terry Collins.  He’s currently hitting a lofty .324.

Dominic Leone is a relief pitcher with the Seattle Mariners.  Since being called up early in the season he’s been a valuable member of the Seattle pitching corps.  Leone has a 3-2 record and sports a minuscule 2.39 ERA.  He’s struck out 47 batters in 43 innings pitched.

Andrew Carignan is playing at Fresno in the AAA Pacific Coast League, where he is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA.  Carignan previously had a stint with the Oakland A’s before he was sidelined by arm trouble, which forced him to have Tommy John surgery.

The surprising player of the group is Zack Zaneski who was recently promoted to Salt Lake City of the Pacific Coast League.  He’s a former four-year player at the University of Rhode Island.  He was signed to a professional contract as a free agent by the parent organization Los Angeles Angels.

Iovino admits that one of the biggest thrills in his lifetime was watching Leone faceoff against Campbell in a televised game between Seattle and the Mets.  

“Think of that, a former high school coach watching two of his players on TV playing against each other.  How good does it get?” said Iovino.

The success that Ionino has experience in academia and in baseball can be attributed to the philosophy he espouses of “taking baseball one pitch, one out and one game at a time.”

He told the TriTown audience, “Remember you can’t do anything about yesterday.  Today is today and do the best you can and don’t worry about tomorrow.”

In baseball and in life living each day to its fullest is the route to success according to Iovino.  

 

By Ron P. Coderre

The Congregational Church of Putnam, which renamed its tourney a few years back to the PCC – Steve Bousquet Memorial Golf Tournament, held its annual event recently at The Raceway Golf Club in Thompson.  According to committee member Roger Franklin, there were many winners on and off the course again this year.

The mission of the tournament is to raise funds to provide scholarships for local high school students who are heading off to college.  Thanks to a full field of golfers and the support of sponsors this year’s tourney awarded four scholarships.  Devon Parker and Emma Guillot, two students from Killingly High School who have excelled in the classroom and on the athletic field were two of the recipients.  The other two recipients were Dana Petre and Olivia Arsenault of Tourtellotte Memorial High School.

“These four students were not only outstanding scholars but they all demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.  We’re very proud to be able to support their academic endeavors as they move on to college,” said Franklin. On the course there was the usual battle for first place, which went to the foursome of Bob Hastings Sr. and Jr., Bob Logan and Mike Daley who carded a 12 under par score of 60 to take a one-stroke victory over the second-place foursome of Duke and Matt Parziale, Neil Bernier and Franklin.  They came home with a card of 61.  The show place went to the group of George Amenabar, Artie “Pina” Collada and Garro and Corey Coffin, who finished with a minus 10 score of 62.  The consolation prize was awarded to the foursome of Tom and Mike LePine and Joe and Jay Matriani with a two over par 74.

Susan Malizia and Guy Lahaie were crowned female and male long drive champions.  Closest-to-the–pin winners were Steve Finnegan (4th hole); Jeff Paglione (#9); Paul Balka (#14); and George Figerle (#17).  Figerle was not only close to the hole, he actually watched his shot trickle into the cup for a hole-in-one, which won him an I-Pad Mini.  All he could say was, “Wow.”

Richard Dalpe won the Par-3 Challenge on the 4th hole, while Tyler Gaudreau was the winner on the 9th and Bill Gardner and Bob Hastings Sr. were the winners on #14 and #17 respectively.

Franklin and his co-chairman Charlie Leach were very pleased with the results of this year’s tournament and are already looking forward to and planning for the 2015 tourney.

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

The 2014 American Legion baseball season officially came to a close for all the local entries as two local teams were eliminated from postseason play.  Moosup and Danielson, which finished fourth and fifth in Zone VI respectively, were eliminated in American Legion Senior State Tournament in early round play.

Moosup managed to get by its opening game prior to exiting and Danielson lost a heartbreaker in its opening contest.

The TriTown Junior Legion team finished its season on a disappointing note, dropping its final two games of the regular season.  The losses eliminated the Jr. Towners from any postseason consideration.

Moosup Advances Then Falls

It took 12 innings for #9 seed Moosup to get past its first round opponent, 16th-seed Newington, but Post #91 prevailed 3-2 over the visitors.  Jeff Nicolosi’s walkoff single drove home Jason Biesadecki with the winning run to give Ryan Pambuku the victory.  Garet Griffin had four hits for Moosup.

Next up for Moosup was #8 seed Windsor Locks, who proved to be too much for Post #91 as they won 8-1.  A five-run, eighth-inning uprising by Windsor Locks broke open a close game and was Moosup’s undoing.  Kyle Boarman absorbed the loss for Moosup, which closes the season at 22-10.

In another first round game Danielson lost to Enfield 2-1 to close out its season at 18-13.

TriTown Juniors Go Out on Losing Note

The TriTown Junior American Legion Baseball team lost its final two games of the season, much the way many of their defeats went throughout the 20-game regular season.  The Jr. Towners were shut out by Ledyard-Pawcatuck 2-0 to open the week.  Despite striking out 10 opposing hitters, losing pitcher Nick Foucault couldn’t catch a break.  A fluke L-P hit off the lip of the infield grass proved to be the difference, scoring the only two runs of the game.

In the finale of the season Jewett City bested TriTown 5-4 in eight innings.  Rookie Tyler Shanley pitched six terrific innings.  Alex Leveille was 2-for-3 and Ryan Gadoury contributed a double to the TriTown offense.

Coach Dan Durand’s Junior unit finished the season at 8-12 and just out of contention for the postseason.