East Edition
May 2015
Serving South Windsor, Vernon, Ellington & Tolland
WHAT’S INSIDE? Bobcats Roaring into Postseason Photo by Tim Jensen
Fournier, Tufts Looking for a Three-peat By Tim Jensen The Sports Department The list of accolades accorded Tufts University softball pitcher Allyson Fournier could fill an entire wall. Honda Sports Award as the top Division III female athlete in the country in 2014. National Division III softball player of the year in 2013 and 2014. Recipient of the Hank O’Donnell Female Athlete of the Year Award from the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance at the 74th annual Gold Key Dinner in late April. In Fournier’s view, the most important accomplishments are none of the above, but rather the back-to-back Division III national championships won by the Jumbos the past two seasons. Team success, rather than individual honors, are what matter most to this remarkable young woman. “We just try to focus on the next game
and don’t think too much about the third straight championship,” she said. “We try to get better every day at something. Everyone’s doing their job. Early in the season, we overcame some sickness and a ton of snow, so overcoming those obstacles has been the definition of this team.” The hard-throwing righthander with the barely-hittable rise ball has helped put Tufts into the position to create history. No school has ever won three straight national softball championships. For the fourth straight year, the Jumbos will be playing in the NCAA Finals, beginning May 21 in Salem, Virginia. Tufts will be carrying a 48-game winning streak into the series, a Division III record, including a perfect 46-0 this season. The Jumbos qualified for the finals for the fourth straight year by sweeping WPI in a See “Fournier” Page 12
Check out our youth sports photos starting on page 6.
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The Sports Department P.O. Box 746, Ellington, CT 06029 860-872-0TSD (0873) • 860-614-5866 • thesportsdept.com Publisher: Kevin Hayes • kevin@thesportsdept.com Editor: Erin Quinlan • Production Manager: Patty Hunter Contributing Writers: Jon Buzby • Tom Powers • Reid L Walmark • Danny Atkinson • Brian Mazzone • Nate Owen • Amy Locandro • Bob Tedford • Julie Dutton • Kevin Hayes • Photography: Tom Powers • Kevin Hayes • Erika Studer • Alan Bastarache • Steve Smith • Andre Garant • Melanie Oliveira The Sports Department is published monthly, and is available free of charge, at display stands in approved private and public establishments, and through authorized distributors only. No part of this paper may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The Sports Department is not responsible for any editorial comment (other than its own), typographical errors from advertisements submitted as camera ready or any reproductions of advertisements submitted as camera ready. If an advertisement does not meet our standards of acceptance, we may revise or cancel it at any time, whether or not it has been already acknowledged and/or previously published. The advertiser assumes sole responsibility for all statements contained in submitted copy and will protect and indemnify The Sports Department, it owners, publishers, and employees
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go with our gut feeling and what we feel is the best decision for our child (not what another parent might do). There is no easy solution to this issue, just several scenarios to think about. That’s the rest of the team who is counting on him as well. By now, it has been a long season and it would be a shame for the team not to make the playoffs because your child is at a family picnic. That being said, I’ve always been a big supporter of youth sports not taking over family life. It is just a youth baseball game and family should always come before them when necessary. If this picnic is one of the few times you see your relatives and every other cousin will be there, then probably your child should be, too. That’s another thing I always ask myself when making these decisions: what would my brother or sister do if it was their child? And will the family really care if my son is at a baseball game? Sometimes as parents we think people care about our attendance at family functions when, in reality, they don’t if the absence is for a good reason. The bottom line is that as parents, like any decision we make, we have to sometimes
why I’ve started hosting the Memorial Day family picnic. Jon Buzby is a syndicated columnist. Reach him at jonbuzby@hotmail.com.
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For many, Memorial Day weekend is the official start to the summer. The only problem is, officially, summer is still almost a month away. Spring sports are still in full swing. There are regular-season games remaining in most leagues and travel tournaments over the holiday weekend in just about every spring sport. So, if your team is playing this holiday weekend and you have an out-of-town family picnic to attend, which do you choose? Your child is the star pitcher and the coach is counting on you to be there (as are the other parents). But your extended family, who you rarely ever see, is also expecting you at the annual picnic. Obviously, in an ideal world you’d love to be able to do both. Pitch a gem and show up just as the burgers are coming off the grill. But that’s not always possible, especially if the picnic is out of town. The first thing I’d do as a parent is evaluate the game. Is it just another regular-season game with no bearing on playoffs, etc.? If so, the picnic is probably the way to go. But if it’s a meaningful game, remember it’s not just your child who wants to play, but
May 2015
Should players attend games or picnics?
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By Reid L. Walmark The Sports Department Steve Krajewski of Vernon has spent 37 years in the Vernon Parks and Recreation Department as the assistant director with an understated but clear mission that has made him supremely effective in his professional capacity. Aside from the straight-forward communication with other agencies and groups with a stake in sports and recreational activities in town, Krejewski, a 1973 graduate of Rockville High School, does more than facilitate programming. He is an advocate for Vernon P&R offerings, and will do what needs to be done to solve any problem and to avoid the potential for any creeping up by preparing and really listening to the public’s concerns. But there’s no secret to his formula. Krajewski, 59, is passionate about Vernon, enjoys working with his colleagues and loves helping townsfolk appreciate all the sports and recreation activities that are available. He is genuinely happy when he reports to work. His easy-going and likable personality makes it a breeze to work smoothly with others and to assist the public by providing any details they need to know about
the department’s activities. Krajewski might be best known as the driving force behind adult softball and youth basketball in Vernon for the past 30-plus years. For helping Vernon Parks and Recreation not skip a beat despite some key personnel leaving the department recently and for connecting with the community on a highly-visible and personal level without interruption since 1977, Krajewski has been named Community MVP by The Sports Department for May. For Krajewski (pronounced Kray-eh-ski), a former basketball and baseball star at Rockville, there’s never any hesitation to take the extra steps if that’s what’s needed. ‘It’s what the public deserves,’ would be his motto. “I know what he’s done when there have been kids who have not been able to afford to play travel basketball or youth basketball,” said Bruce Dinnie, the department director and Krajewski’s immediate supervisor for 29 years. “He finds a way to find a sponsor for those kids and to get funds for them to be able to play. “Not many people know that about him.
He goes above and beyond.” Dianne Garnelis, who retired as the department’s administrative assistant earlier this month after 20 years working alongside Krajewski, says she has noticed his dedication to the town. “He’s been versatile with the way things have changed over the years, going from phones and mail to e-mails,” Garnelis said. “Communication is the key — getting back to people and getting answers. He has been hands on in the field. He has really helped the community; he’s very community-oriented.” Krajewski, who played baseball at Eastern Connecticut State University, from where he graduated in 1977, got involved in youth sports for nearly six years when his daughters Meagan, now 20, and Taylor, 17, started playing basketball and softball in Vernon. He also coach Vernon’s American Legion baseball team for a spell in the 1980s. He played for the Vernon Orioles of the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League from ages 13 to 40, and twice lost playoff finals. But when longtime manager Frank McCoy battled a serious illness for two
years, there was Krajewski to step in and manage. The Orioles won a league title earlier this century with him as the manager. “That was kind of bittersweet for me,” Krajewski said, pleased with the championship but disappointed he couldn’t taste the ultimate victory as a player. He was voted into the GHTBL Hall of Fame in 1995. Krajewski similarly was inducted into the ECSU Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Rockville High Hall of Fame in 2014. Krajewski is responsible for working with private sports leagues for field maintenance, Dinnie said. Krajewski speaks with pride about nearly all of the department’s programming. He is most pleased by helping to create then nurturing REK, Recreation Education for Kids, an afterschool activity at four of the town’s five elementary schools. Krajewski has had a major role in the parks and recreation column in local newspapers; the Summer Days Carnival; the fishing derby; Mother’s Day Dash road race; July in the Sky fireworks and the Arctic Splash in December to name a few. “It’s a very rewarding job,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun; it’s a lot of work. But it’s quite satisfying.”
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May 2015 ELLINGTON JR. BASEBALL
ELLINGTON TEE-BALL ELLINGTON SOFTBALL
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May 2015 Tim Jensen | Staff
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TOLLAND
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May 2015 TOLLAND JR. BASEBALL
VERNON JR. BASEBALL
VERNON-ROCKVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE
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ELLINGTON JR. BASEBALL
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Sarah Kline
Soccer, Basketball & Softball Sarah his a High Honor Roll student who is a member of the National Honors Society. She is also on the academic All-Conference team. On the field, she is a two-time CCC conference champion for softball.
TOLLAND
Student Athlete of the Month
Ben Clough
Basketball & Baseball Ben is ranked in the top 20 of his class and has been on the Honor Roll every semester. Last year, Ben was a CCC All-Conference player in baseball, and his freshman year, Tolland won the CCC East Conference championship in baseball. He’s been on the varsity baseball team since his freshman year and the varsity basketball team since his sophomore year. How Ben prepares for a game: I always try to get plenty of sleep the night before
and I always make sure I’m locked in and ready to go before game time. On a superstitious level, I always wear my baseball socks to school on game days, and I don’t ever wear my jersey to school. I’ve recently discovered that to be bad luck. What Ben is most excited about this season: Just simply getting the opportunity to play with a group of really great guys around me. I couldn’t ask for a better group to be around, and it makes playing baseball that much more enjoyable. Ben’s most memorable moment as a high school athlete: Definitely winning the CCC East Conference championship my freshman year. What Ben hopes to accomplish this season: We want to get right back to that top spot in the conference, and we’d also like to make a nice run in the playoffs. If we continue to work hard and get better every day, I think these are two very reachable goals. Ben’s favorite pro or college athlete: I’m a big fan of Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ben’s college plans: Next year I will be attending the Rochester Institute of Technology
How Sarah prepares for a game: I usually prepare for a game by loosening up with teammates and listening to some upbeat music. What Sarah is most excited about this season: I am most excited about the potential our team has and how good we can do in the state tournament. Sarah’s most memorable moment as a high school athlete: My most memorable moment would be hitting my first homerun ever against our biggest rival Rocky Hill and eventually beating them 5-2. What Sarah hopes to accomplish this season: I hope to accomplish another conference champion title and to go far into the state tournament. Sarah’s favorite pro or college athlete: My favorite pro athlete would have to be Natasha Watley. Sarah’s college plans: I plan to go to a small school to study criminal justice and possible play softball while I’m there.
EAST CATHOLIC Student Athlete of the Month
Logan French Golf & Soccer
Logan has made the Honor Roll and the All-Academic team. On the links, he was part of the 2014 golf State Championship team and has made the All-Conference team twice.
How Logan prepares for a game/match: I have a playlist I like to listen to before matches to get myself mentally prepared. What Logan is most excited about this season: I can’t wait for the state tournament this year. Our team has four out of our five players from last year returning, so hopefully we can bring home another title. Logan’s most memorable moment as a high school athlete: Winning the state tournament last year or scoring the winning goal against Glastonbury this past soccer season. What Logan hopes to accomplish this season: As a team I would love to have an undefeated season and another title. For myself, I want to make All-State and play well in states and the Wildcat Invitational. Logan’s favorite pro or college athlete: Rory McIlroy Logan’s college plans: Bentley University
May 2015
Student Athlete of the Month
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May 2015
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Local Digest Dominant from start to finish Ellington New and returning soccer and basketball coaches are welcome to register for Fall 2015 coaching clinics in an effort to prepare for the 2015-16 seasons. Two separate clinics will be offered. One for the ‘relatively’ new coach and a second for the ‘experienced’ coach. Please e-mail rtedford@ellington-ct.gov if you wish to be included on the contact list. Individuals 14 years of age or older who wish to participate in a fall (basketball or soccer) officiating clinic should contact Bob Tedford at rtedford@ellington-ct.gov. AED/CPR/First aid training will be offered free of charge to town of Ellington volunteers, coaches, instructors, and officials. The training will be held on June 30 (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.), June 30 (5 p.m. - 10 p.m.), July 8 (5 p.m. - 10 p.m.), and July 25 (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.). E-mail Ellington.safety@yahoo.com with your name and phone, the sport you are coaching, teaching, or officiating, and the date you have chosen to attend.
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best-of-three series in the Super Regionals. The other seven finalists had yet to be determined at press time. Fournier’s eye-popping statistics are a major reason for the program’s success. This season, she is 30-0 with a microscopic 0.12 earned-run average, allowing just three earned runs in 175.2 innings. She has struck out 380 batters while allowing just 49 hits and 16 walks. Comparing those numbers to the past two season when she was voted the top D-3 softball player in the country, Fournier seems a shoo-in to capture that award for the third straight time. In 2014, she was 28-1 with a 0.49 ERA and 314 strikeouts, while in her national athlete of the year campaign in 2013, she was 25-1 with a 0.59 ERA and 272 whiffs. “She is getting better, and I think she has the mindset of being so competitive out there and has a great balance of being a great team player,” Tufts head coach Cheryl Milligan said. “She doesn’t care about umpire’s calls, the strike zone, the pitch calling – just give her the ball and put a batter in the box. She goes out there and does
ELLINGTON
Student Athlete of the Month
Kevin Sisco
Soccer & Tennis Kevin has achieved high honors and honors all four years, and is in the top 10 percent of his class. He has also been a scholar athlete every season. Kevin has played varsity soccer for three years and is a Class M soccer State Champion. In tennis, he was an All-Conference player his junior year and a captain his junior and senior year.
How Kevin prepares for a game/ match: I like to listen to music before the game and make sure to get a solid warm up. I try to stay as loose as possible and remain focused on the task at hand. What Kevin is most excited about this season: I’m looking forward to a competitive season and hopefully have a chance to win the conference after being runners up last season. Kevin’s most memorable moment as a high school athlete: Definitely winning the state tournament for soccer. It’ll be something I never forget and get the chills just thinking about. What Kevin hopes to accomplish this season: I hope to make another deep run in the state doubles tournament with my partner, Micah. After making it to the semifinals last year, we hope to do even better this year. Kevin’s favorite pro or college athlete: Kemba Walker Kevin’s college plans: I will be attending the University of Connecticut and plan on majoring in Engineering.
her job, and is such a pleasure to coach. She is a great inspiration and a great person to look up to.” Fournier, a South Windsor resident who graduated from East Catholic High School in 2001, declined several Division I offers to play softball in order to enroll at Tufts,
where she is majoring in chemical engineering. She said she plans to play a second season this summer with the Stratford Brakettes, a top-flight softball program, then will look to begin her chosen career.
Tim Jensen | Staff
Allyson Fournier and her Tufts teammates have thus far been perfect in their quest for a third straight Division III national softball title.
SOUTH WINDSOR Student Athlete of the Month
Peter Mao Tennis
Peter is a High Honors student with a 4.0 GPA. On the tennis court, he is a two-time All-Conference player.
How Peter prepares for a match/game: I try to mentally prepare for the game, get in the right mindset, and block out other distractions and stuff from the school day. What Peter is most excited about this season: I look forward to playing competitive matches throughout the regular season, and playing in the state tournament. Peter’s most memorable moment as a high school athlete: Freshman year, I lost to an opponent in a close three set match. Sophomore year, I got him back, beating him in another close three set match. What Peter hopes to accomplish this season: I hope that our team finishes the season with a better record than the past two years, and potentially place at the state tournament, as well as individually earning All-State awards. Peter’s favorite pro or college athlete: Roger Federer Peter’s college plans: Undecided
May 2015 ROCKVILLE
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July 15
SOUTH WINDSOR
ROCKVILLE
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May 2015 ELLINGTON
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College Corner Staff Reports Corey Keane, from Tolland, has been named to the All-Little East Conference baseball team for 2015. Keane becomes the program’s first first-team All-Conference second baseman in 12 years. A third-year varsity letterwinner at Eastern after transferring in in 2013, Keane started all 40 games for Eastern in 2015. He started 32 games at second base and seven at first base and spent time batting in each of the top five spots in the order, primarily at No. 5. He batted .302, shared the team lead with 20 extra-base hits – including a team-high 13 doubles – equaled his 2014 total of 48 hits, and was second on the team with 79 assists. His 16-game hitting streak beginning in early April was the longest by an Eastern player this year. His final hit in his final at-bat was the 100th of his Eastern career. Tufts University senior pitcher Allyson Fournier, from South Windsor, has earned her fourth straight Pitcher of the Year honor and has been named to the NESCAC All-Conference first team. Fournier is having the best season of her illustrious career with a 25-0 record and
0.05 earned run average in 142.1 innings. She’s allowed just 28 hits and 16 walks while striking out 323 batters. The fourtime All-Conference first team pick threw five no-hitters including three perfect games this season including one against Bates on April 12 and a no-hitter versus Colby on April 25. She did not allow a run in 38 NESCAC East innings while going 7-0. Earlier this month, Fournier was named the NESCAC’s Pitcher of the Week. She earned all three wins in the pitcher’s circle and did not allow a run in 19 innings as her team won the conference championship. She entered the Middlebury game in relief after the Panthers loaded the bases with no outs in the third. She retired three straight to douse the threat. She had a one-hit shutout in the first Williams game before throwing a two-hit shutout in the final, during which she retired 14 straight to end the game. She struck out 38 and walked just one during the weekend. This is the fifth NESCAC Pitcher of the Week award this season for Fournier and 16th of her career.
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The Elbows of Spring Sports Americo Rodrigues PT, OCS, Cert. MDT, CMP, CIDN For many of us, warm weather heralds a return to playing tennis or golf and we often jump into these spring activities without proper preparation. In our excitement, we do too much too soon in the pursuit of the perfect tennis match or the perfect round of golf. The end result is nagging elbow pain - either tennis elbow on the outside part of the elbow (i.e., lateral epicondylalgia) or golfer’s elbow on the inside part of the elbow (i.e., medial epicondylalgia). Either condition can be suffered by any athlete whether you play golf or tennis and either one can hamper performance and keep us from the sports we love to play. Be Proactive to Avoid Common Elbow Injuries Playing tennis and/or golf also requires a tremendous amount of flexibility, strength and coordination in the upper body. So, before you pick up your racquet and head to the courts or clean off your golf clubs and head out for a round of golf, you’ll want to follow our four “readiness” tips: •Have your MECHANICS evaluated by a teaching professional. Elbow issues arise from forceful wrist or
forearm movements that are often a result of compensation in your swing or stroke. Have a professional assess your swing to learn what you can do to improve your form and reduce risk of injury. Golf incorporates a tremendous amount of hip and trunk flexibility as well as core strength to decrease the stress on the smaller more vulnerable muscles in the wrist and elbow. Because of the complex nature of the swing, a number of swing faults can result in excessive elbow and wrist stress. Common breaks in Golf Swing form that lead to elbow pain include: •Hitting the ground, obstruction, excessively fast shots •Decelerating the club •Gripping the club too tightly •Changing/adjusting your grip •Throwing the club downward rather than pulling through Tennis requires different shots that rely upon the wrist for spin and control. Evaluation of each type of shot is crucial in understanding how to keep the stress off the wrist and elbow. Common breaks in Tennis Stroke form that lead to elbow pain include: •One-handed backhand shot with the
shoulder tipped up •Late forearm swing that bends the hand back to prepare for the ball •Hitting with excessive spin or snap on the serve •Excessive bend in the elbow during “cocking” of the serve •Get the right EQUIPMENT. Properly fitted equipment can reduce stress on the elbow. Make sure your clubs and racquet are the right length, the racquet and clubs grips are the right size, and the string and shafts have the appropriate tension for your body type. • ..... Build your ENDURANCE slowly. Playing 36 holes of golf right out of the box can be a recipe for disaster. Start playing by hitting the golf range to get your swing in order. Then begin by playing nine holes once a week and add another day of 9 holes until you feel you can complete 18 holes without fatigue.. Playing more full rounds per week will depend on your conditioning level and, of course, time! The same goes for tennis. Don’t expect to be able to begin the season with a five-set match. This will only increase the risk of injury to the elbow as well as other parts of your body. •Perform a DYNAMIC WARM UP prior to
playing. Dynamic stretching has been shown to be an effective method of warm up and decreases your risk of injury. Walking lunges, trunk twists, and light forward and back, side to side jogging on the court can help loosen you up for play. Static stretching of the muscles prior to playing has actually been shown to reduce power. Warning Signs If you are experiencing pain and/or joint tenderness on the inside (“golfer’s elbow”) or the outside of the elbow (“tennis elbow”), you may be overusing the muscles in your elbow which over time produces very small tears (microtears) in the tendon commonly referred to as epicondylosis. Other symptoms include pain radiating from the elbow to the wrist that is typically worse after activity or weakness of the elbow, wrist, and hand. When proper treatment and care is delayed, healing time can be extremely slow. Be sure to stay ahead of your symptoms and contact a physical therapist who can assess your condition at the first sign of injury to avoid being kept off the court or off the links this summer.
Town Website Click on www.Ellington-ct.gov, town services, and click on Parks and Recreation. A list of current activities are available to town residents and pre-registration is required. A new and informative website is now in place and the recreation department has a Facebook page, too.The summer program brochure is available for review and the Ellington Connection will carry the updated programming schedules. Fall Soccer Fall soccer registrations will be accepted at either the recreation office or via active-net starting May 18. Check the updated Parks and Recreation page for the recreation and travel division evaluation dates and timeframes. Recreation division teams will
participate in practices and games within Ellington only, while ‘travel’ teams will compete in both home and away matches, at either the Division 3, 4, or 5 levels. Summer activities The summer day camp (Center School) and waterfront (Sandy Beach/Crystal Lake) are available and open until Aug. 14 and Aug. 16, respectively. Sprint Triathlon Another sprint triathlon will be held at Sandy Beach (Crystal Lake) on July 12 (rain date: July 26). Please register via active-net by June 15. The triathlon format includes a quarter-mile swim, 12-mile bicycle ride through Ellington and Stafford, and finally a 3.2 mile run around the Crystal Lake. ImPACT Test The Parks and Recreation Department implemented the ImPACT test program in the Spring 2012, targeting all youth programs. ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and cognitive testing) is the first, most-widely used, and most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system.
Vernon Parks and Rec Gators Swim Team Make new friends and improve your technique while having fun under the sun. All swimmers must be proficient in one or more strokes and have the endurance to swim a full practice. The team season runs from June 22 through early August. Practices will be weekday evenings Monday-Thursday at the Horowitz Pool at Henry Park. There will also be weekly competitions in the Central CT Swim League. All team members will receive an individual Vernon Aquatics pool pass for the 2015 season and a Gators’ swim cap. Non-residents please note that league policy states that you can only join another town’s team if your town does not offer a team already in the league. Eligible towns are Ellington, Manchester, and Bolton. Zumba Fitness For Kids Zumba for Kids is a fun, healthy program for children using the ZUMBA Fitness concept. It’s a dance-fitness class specially adapted for kids that incorporate music and dance movements which creates an exciting, fun and effective exercise. Zumba Kids Jr. (ages 4-7) and Zumba Kids (ages 8-12) are available.
Swim Lessons Swim lessons are available at Horowitz and Community pools in the mornings and evenings. Lessons are held Monday-Thursday and consist of two weeks of 45-minute instruction. Fridays will be reserved for make-up lessons in the case that we need to cancel swim lessons. Swim lessons will not be cancelled if it rains, but will be cancelled in the case of thunder and lightning (please call ahead to see if classes will be cancelled due to weather), and in the case that there is a home swim meet for the Vernon Gators Swim Team. Goggles are recommended for levels two and up. Zumba Fitness Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health. The exercises include music with fast and slow rhythms, as well as resistance training. Mondays in June and then continue August 17. Weeks in between will be the Land & Sea class.
The Spring/Summer version of Parks & Recreation Magazine is out and delivered to all South Windsor mailing addresses. The magazine details upcoming programs for April 1 to Sept. 1, including VMP pool, summer camps, concerts, etc. In addition, recreation.southwindsor.org will be continuously updated with the same program information. Tennis Lessons Tennis lessons are conducted at the Wapping tennis courts on Ayers Road. Each student is responsible for providing his or her own racquet. All classes are taught by Todd Custer. Check the website for levels, times, and fees. Bobcat Volleyball Academy For grades 6-8. This is a tremendous opportunity to improve your child’s volleyball skills for the 2015-16 season. We are pleased to have SWHS Volleyball Coach Tina Holt, along with some of her staff,
running this volleyball clinic. The clinic will focus on skills and drills that will help your child improve as a volleyball player. Come have fun, improve your skills, and meet the high school coaching staff. Chris Corkum’s Baseball Camp For ages 7-13. The summer camp programs and private lessons are geared for baseball and softball players from Pee-Wee League up to high school age and are designed to emphasize skill development. With fun and fitness as the operatives, there is in-depth work in fielding, throwing, hitting, pitching, catching, base running, and game play. Programs include lectures, demonstrations, physical conditioning, knowledge of rules and regulations, and the importance of good sportsmanship. Campers receive both individual and small group instruction from college and professional level coaches. The player coach ratio never exceeds 8:1.
Tolland Parks and Rec The Tolland High School Department of Athletics, in conjunction with the Town of Tolland Recreation Department, is excited to announce the inaugural Tolland Athletics Hall of Fame induction breakfast. The event will be held at Tolland High School on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. Following the awards breakfast, the first annual Tolland Athletics Hall of Fame Golf Classic will be held at Blackledge Country Club in Hebron, CT. Nominees shall be considered who excelled in their respective sports or coaching/support roles and who helped to bring
honor, recognition, distinction, and excellence to Tolland High School and/or the Town of Tolland. Nominees become eligible five five years after their high school class graduation or two years after their retirement as a coach/administrator. The Hall of Fame Committee is actively seeking nominations for this year’s inaugural class. The nominations process is open, with anyone eligible to submit a candidate for consideration. Please submit your letter of nomination, with as much detail as possible, toTollandHOF@leahymg.com by June 5.
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May 2015
May and spring have arrived and the athletic fields continue to receive maximum use, so please be extra careful as you navigate your vehicle in the parking lot. We ask that you follow the town ordinances that prohibit smoking, alcohol, and animals from being brought to any town athletic park/location. Golf is not allowed either.
S. Windsor Parks and Rec
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Ellington Parks and Rec
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May 2015