Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, July 20, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame

1955 CHRONICLE YEARBOOK COURTESY OF THE SOUTHINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY The Southington High School football team went undefeated in 1954 and outscored opponents, 329-57. Front, from left, H. Ursone, D. Lachelt, R. Thorpe, T. Kirkland, J. Palmieri, J. Clements, J. Llodra, M. Terry, J. Lombardo, D. Perry, J. Flynn, and W. Zakrewski. Middle, P. Cassella, M. Rabis, J. Berg, D. Bender, M. Ungaro, J. Geloso, B. Ludecke, B. Stankowski, A. Meade, J. Porter, B. Celella, and A. Tarfano. Back, B. Shepard (mgr), Coach Joe Fontana, J. Orsene, D. Jones, D. Zdunczyk, E. Fish, R. Frain, B. Carruth, B. Flynn, C. Merriman, Coach Walt Lozoski, and F. Henderson (mgr). Southington Sports Gridiron greatness Hall of Fame 1954 football team was the best of the best 1954 SHS football team By JOHN GORALSKI anywhere. We had tremendous have it to carry us through a sea- SPORTS WRITER running backs. Ray Thorpe did a son.” Overall Record: 8-0 om Kirkland centered tremendous job passing. Jerry On opening day the joke was • Class B state champions. himself over the football Clements and our ends were out- finally revealed, and Southington • Three all-state players. T in 1954 like a con artist standing pass catchers. It was just a steamrolled East Haven, 32-13. • Outscored opponents, 329-57. combination of all the guys with Thorpe went 8-for-11 with a pair of with a handful of gullible tourists. • Outscored opponents in every quarter but one. Now you see it. Now you don’t. Jay Fontana, Walt Lozoski, and the touchdown passes. Joe “Bronco” • Averaged 41 points per game. Kirkland’s snap would disappear rest of our coaching staff. They Palmieri and Thorpe rushed in for into a swirl of Southington players. were determined. They worked us scores. Clements caught a pair of • Coach Jay Fontana’s final season and 4th undefeated The offensive line charged for- hard, and it paid off.” touchdown passes. Walt Zakrewski season of his career. ward. The quarterback swept out to Nowadays, Southington High returned an interception for a the flanks behind an all-state School is always in the conversa- score, and Meade completed a pair SEASON RESULTS guard, while a pair of banzai run- tion amongst the larger schools in of extra-point conversions. As it Date Opponent Site Score ning backs charged into the center the state, but the town looked turned out, Southington was just Sept. 25 East Haven Away W 32-13 of the defense. Receivers swept to much differently in the mid-1950s getting started. Oct. 2 Woodrow Wilson Home W 47-7 all corners of the field waiting for when the Knights were scrambling “We had a passing attack and Oct. 9 Darien Home W 33-6 their all-state passer to unleash his through programs two and three a real running game with Corky Oct. 16 Milford Prep Home W 39-6 cannon. times their size. Southington was a Cassella and [Mel] Terry,” said Oct. 23 Torrington Home W 40-7 small blue-collar community with Thorpe. “We had great runners like Nov. 6 Staples Away W 32-6 Hall of Fame big lineman and a precision attack. Bronco Palmieri. We had a tremen- Nov. 13 Plainville Away W 60-12 Even the city school coaches dous passing game, running game, Nov. 25 Meriden Home W 46-0 screened their calls when they and defense. We had guys like Joe Running plays and passing filled out their calendars. Nobody Llodra on the line. We had yards and passed for 106 on their interceptions returned for scores. plays looked the same. Every player wanted to add the “Fontanamen” Clements and other guys that just way to a 46-0 shutout that ended In the final state poll, seemed to be carrying the football to their schedule. dominated.” the holiday rivalry with Meriden. Southington received five first as he charged into the defense, and “One of Fontana’s motivations Each week, the team found “They came over with a big place votes but finished second to by the time that the defense figured for retiring was because he had different ways to score. team. When we got down to the Notre Dame-West Haven. Jerry things out…the official was already such a hard time finding teams to Cassella scored twice in week football field, they were already Clements (end), Joe Llodra (guard), signaling the score. play us because we had such a find two and added a pair of extra point warming up. They stretched from and Ray Thorpe (back) accounted This was the way that Coach tradition,” said Thorpe. “We had to conversions as Southington the 50 yard line to the end zone. for one quarter of the all-state ros- Jay Fontana envisioned the single play up, but we didn’t pay that cruised past Woodrow Wilson, 47-7. They must have had over 70 play- ter. The perfect 8-0 record was the wing offense when he brought it to much attention to it at the time. We Six different players scored and ers on the team, and we had fourth in Fontana’s career, but it the Southington High School grid- just went about and did our jobs. I another four scores were called maybe 30,” said Meade. “The place might have been the best. iron, but this was the team that can remember going out to warm back by penalties as Southington was just jammed with people, and That has sparked a debate that perfected it. They could run. They up, and he didn’t want us even began a four-game home stand we rolled right over them.” has spanned the last six decades. could pass. They kick and play looking at the other team because that carried them past Darien and The Thanksgiving game high- What is the best football team in defense. Maybe that was the real they always had more guys. And Milford Prep. It culminated in lighted Southington’s defense and Southington’s storied history? Most reason why the storied coach some of them were bigger than us.” Southington’s first Class A oppo- special teams as the locals scored historians say that it comes down decided to retire at the end of the Southington set out to fight for nent, a 40-7 win over Torrington in on a blocked kick, a kickoff return, to the 1949 and 1954 teams. 1954 season. Fontana knew that it the little guys with a schedule that late October that pushed and an interception. Fontana never said publically couldn’t be done any better. included a pair of Class A schools, a Southington into the second spot “One area that didn’t get which team was better, but it has “There was deception to it, list of perennial powers, and two in the state rankings. enough notoriety was our defense been a favorite topic amongst play- and with the quality of guys that we open dates. At early practices the “It was talked about all over and special teams,” said Thorpe. “I ers for either team. had, if the outside wasn’t working coach barely had enough players to the place,” said Meade. “I look back don’t know the actual numbers, but “There’s always been a debate the inside would open up,” said field both an offense and a defense, on it now, and it was such a good I’d say that one thing that allowed about which team was better. Was Ray Thorpe, one of three all-state and he used it as motivation with experience. Every game that we us to score as many points as we it the ‘49 team or the ‘54 team? That athletes in Southington’s arsenal. the press. With fewer than two played, the place was sold out. did was that our defense was so debate will go on forever,” said “We had options because we had dozen players at early practices, the Everywhere we went, we had a big effective.” Cassella. “I’ve always thought that the ability to run and throw. If the coach warned reporters that the following. Even when we went out This team was as close to per- we could have beaten them, but if block was in front of you, you’d program was in jeopardy. of town, everybody came with us.” fect as any in town history. With 10 you ask the players on the 49 team take off and run. If the offensive He even argued that the team The wins kept coming. different players scoring touch- they’d say that they would have line would break down, we had might have to abandon a varsity Palmieri kick-started November downs and five players combining won. I think that the true winner in Jerry Clements out there so we schedule and adopt an intramural with three scores in a 32-6 win over for 28 extra points, it was probably that debate is Southington High were able to throw the ball.” schedule if things didn’t change Staples. Thorpe ran into the end Southington’s deepest group of School.” Teams never knew what hit quickly. zone twice in the following game, skilled players. The team was able Now, both teams will be recog- them. “Don’t get me wrong,” he told passed for two more, and scored a to survive an early injury to nized by the Southington Sports “The caliber of players on that reporters at the Southington News 105-yard interception return and Cassella and a pair of serious Hall of Fame. On Thursday, Nov. 8, team was just outstanding,” said in early September. “The boys we six extra points during a 60-12 rout injuries to Terry and Zakrewski to the 1954 team was inducted in a Andy Meade, the team’s junior have are good, and I’m not worried against Plainville. finish with 31 rushing touchdowns, ceremony at the Aqua Turf Club in quarterback. “As far as I’m con- about our first team. But I want Then came Thanksgiving Day, 11 passing touchdowns, and six Plantsville. cerned, there wasn’t a weak link depth—got to have it. We’ve got to and Southington rushed for 156 Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, July 6, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Crushing the opposition ‘87 softball charged to a state title and a 52-game win streak By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER obody knows what the Danbury girls where N thinking when they stepped onto Falcon Field for the “ 1987 girls softball championship, There were but they couldn’t have been happy. an awful lot of Just a few months earlier Kris Mach had dashed the Hatters’ hopes for a questions girls basketball title with a last sec- ond basket, and there she was going into swinging her bat. Tracy Ciosek was that 87 season, on that hoops team, too, and there she was warming up as but they all got Southington’s ace. Sports fans love stories about answered.“ redemption. Movies have been made about comebacks and retri- bution. This story is not one of COURTESY OF JOE PIAZZA them. The 1987 Lady Knight softball team rallied to a perfect 24-0 record to claim the pro- Hall of Fame gram’s fifth consecutive state title and a state record with 52 consecutive wins. Front, from left, Cheryl Danko, Melodie Johnson, Kris Mach, Tracy Ciosek, Cheryl Bradley, Joe Piazza, Chris Zimmer. Middle, Colleen Steinnagel, Robbie Lipetz, Kristin Wilcox, Mary Former SHS girls softball coach Dwight Moore, a sports DeBisschop, Ann Bouchard, Dawn Lantiere, Andrea Gormley. Back, Coach Jim Lindsay, reporter for the Southington Coach Rob Brown, Manager Heidi Lindquist, Tami Soovajian, Kerry Sweezey, Chris Observer in 1987, remarked, “The Gombotz, Lisa DePaolo, Corrine Greco, Head Coach Joe Piazza, Coach Irene Mach, results turned out the same, with Coach Dan Dembinski. but one difference. There’d be no Dawn Lantiere (.410) each broke ning. Ciosek held the Hatters to close game…no last second hero- Southington Sports the .400 barrier. As a team, five hits with one walk and nine ics...and things would be decided Southington batted .340 with a strikeouts, including five strike- quickly, early, and decisively.” Hall of Fame slugging percentage approaching outs in the last two innings. This is a story about domi- .500. The girls combined for 191 Seven of Southington’s start- nance, winning streaks, and state hits and 60 were extra base hits. ing nine contributed to the lop- titles. This is a story about 1987 Lady Knight softball team “That 87 team stands out for sided win with Zimmer leading Southington softball in the middle me because of the way that they the way at 3-for-4. Mach, Lantiere, of its 1980s heyday. were able to regroup in the begin- Ciosek, and Bradley had two hits “We had a small group of kids Overall Record: 24-0 ning of the year,” Piazza said. “Kids apiece. Johnson had four RBI with on this team that played softball • Class LL state champions. were called upon to step up. The two sacrifice flies and a double. and basketball,” said former Lady • Outscored regular season opponents, 220-15. kid that was the second base on The Knights finished with 14 hits Knight softball coach and an assis- • Outscored postseason opponents, 47-5. the 86 team was moved to first in the game. tant coach Ron Piazza. “They were • Set a state record for consecutive victories (52) that was base. Our shortstop shifted to sec- When the dust had settled, a part of five state championships ond base and we brought in a broken by Seymour (78) in 2005-7. Southington had earned another in their six possible seasons. It was sophomore, Dawn Lantiere, to play state title. More impressive was a amazing.” shortstop. We brought in a sopho- REGULAR SEASON 52-game winning streak that In retrospect, nobody should more third baseman. They just stretched back to the 1985 state Date Opponent Site Score have been surprised. After all, the Friday, April 10 Norwalk Rec Park 9-0 gelled together and ran the table. tournament. It was a state record 1987 title was Southington’s third Tuesday, April 14 Platt Away 6-1 They made a consistent run and at the time, and one that would state championship in as many Thursday, April 16 New Britain Rec Park 10-0 never let down. They were a proud take 20 years to break. years and their eighth title in 11 Monday, April 20 Bulkeley Away 21-0 group of kids.” “It was amazing,” Piaza said. seasons, but it wasn’t a sure thing Thursday, April 23 Mercy Away 22-1 As it turns out the regular sea- “It only takes a ball hitting a peb- when practice began in mid- Saturday, April 25 Westhill Away 1-0 son was just a warmup for the ble. It takes a walk or an error to March. Tuesday, April 28 Bristol Central Rec Park 11-1 tournament because this may be break a streak like that. To have Wednesday, April 29 Maloney Rec Park 13-2 “We lost four seniors off the one of the most dominant post- one go that long was great for our Friday, May 01 Bristol Eastern Away 3-2 1986 team, and all four of them Friday, May 08 Platt Rec Park 5-3 season teams in Southington his- program. Every time we won, it were all-staters,” said Piazza. Monday, May 11 New Britain Away 16-0 tory. They beat Cheshire, 8-0, in was a headline. We got national “Those four accounted for 140 Tuesday, May 12 Newington Away 19-0 the second round. They surged attention. They started a national runs, 129 hits, 120 RBI. They had Thursday, May 14 Bulkeley Rec Park 20-0 past Holy Cross, 6-3, in the quar- women’s fastpitch magazine at the nine of our 12 homeruns and 65 of Friday, May 15 Berlin Rec Park 6-3 terfinals, and advanced to the time. It’s no longer in use, but they our 71 stolen bases. We lost a Monday, May 18 Maloney Away 10-0 championship game with a 24-1 featured us on the cover. “ lot…We knew that we were going Wednesday, May 20 Bristol Central Away 6-0 rout over Windham that quieted Once again, the Lady Knights Friday, May 22 Bristol Eastern Rec Park 3-0 to have to switch some people even the staunchest of critics. had raised the bar for future Tuesday, May 26 Newington Rec Park 20-0 around, and we were lucky that we Wednesday, May 27 Holy Cross Away 7-1 Colleen Steinnagel went 4- Southington teams, but Piazza got some young kids that stepped Monday, May 28 Cheshire Rec Park 12-1 for-5 with a homerun and five RBI said that their legacy was their up.” to pace Southington’s 16-hit resilience. This wasn’t a team that Of course it helped to have POSTSEASON attack, and Windham never knew was expected to race through the one of the most successful pitchers First Round Bye what hit them. schedule so easily. This wasn’t a in Southington history on the Second Round Cheshire 8-0 “Windham expected to win. A team that was expected to win, mound. Senior co-captain Tracy Quarterfinals Holy Cross 6-3 lot of people gave them a good but they did it with ease. Ciosek was a shortstop-turned- Semifinals Windham 24-1 chance to beat us, and I did too,” On Thursday, Nov. 8, the team pitching ace that was just as deadly Championship Game Danbury 9-1 Piazza said, “But after the second will finally be honored in an with her glove as she was with a no-hitters. The Knight knocked off the way, and it was those teams inning you could see that induction ceremony at the Aqua pitch. Behind her was an all-star a Norwalk powerhouse to start the that had pitchers that weren’t Windham was totally deflated. Turf Club in Plantsville. lineup, including seasoned seniors streak and dropped the No. 2 team throwing hard.” They were just going through the “The legacy of that team was like Melodie Johnson, Cheryl in the state with an 11-1 victory Southington never slowed and motion. Balls were dropping in their resilience. They put them- Danko, Cheryl Bradley, Chris over Bristol Central. they picked off opponents like a that they probably should have selves together at the beginning of Zimmer, and the one that really “There were an awful lot of marksman at the range. The team caught because they had just lost the year, not knowing what they upset Danbury—Mach. questions going into that 87 sea- rallied for 12 shutouts. They their drive. I almost felt bad for were going to do, and they got Still, Piazza had a lot of ques- son, but they all got answered,” outscored opponents, 220-15, and them because we never tried to better as the year went on,” said tions at the start. Those would be said Piazza. “When we beat finished the regular season with a run the score up. When you look Piazza. “We caught breaks. We answered early. Right out of the Norwalk, 9-0, in that first game, I perfect 20-0 record. at our scores that year and you see made breaks for ourselves. The gates, Southington batters took knew we were okay. Norwalk was The Knights had strong hitting a 29, it could have probably been pitching was good, but the charge. Southington outscored 80- always a really good team back throughout the lineup. Johnson led 40.” defense was just as good. The hit- 3 to race out to a quick 6-0 start. then. We were scoring runs. We had the attack with a .456 batting aver- That set up the rematch with ting—what can you say? They During that stretch, Ciosek book- a good group. Sure, there were age, but Kristin Wilcox (.444), Danbury in the finals. Once again, came through when we needed ended a perfect game with a pair of teams that gave us trouble along Zimmer (.430), Bradley (.405), and Southington hit the ground run- them to come through.” Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, August 31, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Representing the town Andy Meade was always the true team player By JOHN GORALSKI varsity roster. He earned nine varsi- SPORTS WRITER ty letters over three years at the high school, and spent most of his ifling through an old career in the starting lineup. picture album, Andy He was the quarterback for the Meade brushes past the R football team, a guard for the bas- SUBMITTED headlines to point out his team- ketball team, and a pitcher and mates. He brags about them one by fielder in the spring. As a junior, Former Blue Knight quarterback Andy Meade crashes through the defense during a one, and the list reads like a Who’s Meade helped his team secure the Southington home game in the mid-1950s. Who of Southington sports. Class B football title. That spring, the Class B state championship Of course, he fails to point out he helped lead the baseball team to game in 1955. that it’s his name that’s scrawled Southington Sports the championship game where Over the summers, he batted across the headslines. He looks they lost to Woodrow Wilson. over .400 in four seasons with the puzzled when asked about all-con- Hall of Fame “It was a dream for me to get local American Legion team. In ference and all-state nominations. up there and play,” he said. “There 1956, he was named as the out- Meade was never one to search out was a lot of pride and a lot of fight standing hitter for Southington the spotlight. Whether he was serv- Inside the Numbers for the reputation of Southington Post 72. In 1992, Meade was ing on the town council or on his no matter what sport you played. inducted into the Southington high school football team, Meade • Invited to try out with the Cincinatti Reds We were quite well known, and we High School baseball hall of fame. was a natural born leader that was and Philadelphia Phillies (1956). probably had the best coaches in “He was good at basketball as happy as a role player or a star. the state with Jay Fontana, Walt • Played baseball for Villanova University. and football, but baseball was Lozoski, and Joe Orsene. Those • Earned the Elks Award Scholarship for sports, probably his best sport,” said Hall of Fame coaches were great, and they didn’t leadership, and academic achievement (1956). Orsene. “He was a good hitter, a pull any punches. They were out to • Inducted into the Southington High School good fielder, and I really felt that win ball games.” was his best sport.” “Andy played all three sports— Meade’s football team in 1954 Baseball Hall of Fame (1986). Soon, scouts began to appear football, basketball, and baseball— is considered by many to be the on the sidelines. Meade received and he was good at every one of Football best in Southington’s history. As invitations to try out for both the them,” said former SHS coach Joe quarterback in the single-wing • Member of the SHS Class B championship team (1954). Cincinatti Reds and the Orsene. “He was a good athlete and offense, Meade was a blocker and • Captain (1955). Philadelphia Phillies, but his moth- a really nice fellow to begin with. runner. The Blue Knights knocked • 3 Varsity Letters (1953, 1954, 1955). er waved off both offers. Instead, He was a really nice fellow to off a pair of Class A schools on • Collected 8 career interceptions. the small town star went to coach. They really don’t come any their way to a perfect 8-0 record • Scored 6 touchdowns and 10 extra point conversions. Villanova University and he walked better than Andy.” and a Class B title. onto the baseball team to earn a The town looked much differ- • Captured 3 conference titles. “For me, it was more about trio of varsity letters. ent when Meade was growing up in being a team player than being out Basketball “There were a lot of scholar- the 1940s, and sports was a way of there for myself,” he said. “The ship players. I played, but those life for the young athlete. • Captain (1955-56). greatest thing was being a part of scholarship guys had preference Southington was a small town, • 3 Varsity Letters (1953-54, 1954-55, 1955-56). that team and going undefeated. over guys like me,” he said. “I did filled with open spaces and small • Averaged in double digits (1954-55, 1955-56). Even in our senior season, we did have three letters because I played neighborhoods. There were no • Captured 3 conference titles. pretty well even though we lost a varsity, and it was great. We played youth leagues, but Meade battled lot of players. It was a team effort. Navy. We went to Annapolis. We his neighbors in pick-up games or Baseball We were all friends, and everybody traveled all over,a nd it was a great played basketball and a make-shift • Member of the SHS Class M runner up team (1955). played their hardest.” experience.” baseball game in the YMCA gym. Meade managed to convert • 3 Varsity Letters (1954, 1955, 1956). After college, Meade returned It wasn’t until Meade was 10 seven extra point plays as a junior • Batted over .400 in 1955 and 1956. home to marry his high school years old that the town finally in 1954. He didn’t score a single • Captured 3 conference titles. sweetheart. He began a successful opened its doors to Little League offensive touchdown, but his • Batted over .400 with Southington Post 72 American business in town and served on the baseball, and Meade outlasted blocking and leadership helped set Legion baseball team (1952-1956). town council and a number of local dozens of hopefuls to earn a spot up a passing game that was ahead boards. He said that his experience on one of the Southington four • Named as the outstanding hitter for Post 72. of its time and a running game that in sports helped pave the way for teams. LITTLE LEAGUE dominated Southington’s competi- everything that followed. “At that time, Little League was • Lifetime batting average over .500. tion. “I told my own kids as they the only thing going,” he said. “We • Named as one of the best Little League players in CT. “He was an outstanding block- were growing up and now my didn’t have midget football. We er and an excellent defensive guy,” grandkids that you win some and didn’t have farm leagues, and we said Ray Thorpe, the top scorer on tion where you scored. I had some he led the offense at guard. Once you lose some,” he said. “There didn’t have anything else. Of the team. “He was a leader. He was plays where I ran, but I was prima- again, Meade wasn’t the top scorer isn’t any place better than sports to course, I played sandlot ball and level-headed, and he had the rily running pitchouts and passing. but he helped distribute the ball to teach you to be aggressive. It’s a everything, but it was Little League respect of everybody. He was the I was determined to do everything prolific scorers like Dick Lorenzo challenge. You’re out there to win, where I started to come into my commensurate player, and he I could because I didn’t want to let and Corky Casella, and but in the same token you take own.” could play any position in the those guys down.” Southington rallied for three con- your bumps and bruises.” Meade quickly rose to the top, backfield. He was the general, and His efforts helped him secure a secutive titles in the Central Valley It was no surprise that Meade hitting .571 in his second year. he was a mature guy at a young co-captain nomination as a senior. Conference and a trio of postsea- was selected to represent the town Over three seasons, he averaged age.” Southington returned just four sen- son appearances, including a rally in the Southington Sports Hall of over .500 at the plate and earned As good as Meade was on the iors from their state championship to the quarterfinals in 1955. Fame. On Thursday, Nov. 8, he was mention among sports writers as offensive side of the ball, it was his team, but Meade helped lead them “He was such a good athlete,” inducted in a ceremony at the one of the best young players in defense that helped secure his spot to a 5-2 record. Over three years, said Casella. “I’ve known him since Aqua Turf in Plantsville. the state. He was already beginning in the center of the lineup. He led Meade’s teams went 19-2. my sophomore year, and he’s “I consider it a real, real privi- to show signs of his versatility. In the team with three interceptions, “The quarterback was called always been a good athlete at lege. We’ve had so many good ball eighth grade, he joined a CYO bas- including a 60-yard touchdown the blocking back, and Andy did a everything. He was very competi- players, and I almost feel that there ketball team at St. Thomas and return during a 60-12 victory over great job as a blocker with that tive at everything.” are a lot of guys that deserve it helped them to the state semifi- Plainville. 1954 team. Then, he moved to tail- Of course, baseball was his before me,” he said. “We had a rep- nals. “I played offense and defense, back the next year, and that is a best sport. He dominated in Little utation to uphold, and I feel good Then came the high school, but I think I did even more on really key spot in the single wing,” League, and that carried over to the that I was a part of it. That’s one of and Meade jumped at a chance to defense because I was able to inter- Orsene said. “He played good high school. Meade alternated the reasons why, later on, I went on test his skills against the top ath- cept a pass or recover a fumble,” he defense and good offense. He really from pitcher to left fielder, but it to serve the town council. It was letes in a number of sports. In all said. “As a single wing quarterback, just did a solid job all around, but was his bat that really set him great to work for the town or play three seasons, Meade threw him- you work your butt off. You’re he was a great all-around athlete.” apart. In both his junior and senior for the town. I really owe so much self into competition. In all three either blocking or touching the After Thanksgiving, Meade seasons, Meade batted over .400, to this town, and I always felt good seasons, he fought his way to the ball, but it wasn’t the sort of posi- shifted his attention indoors where and he helped lead Southington to to represent them.” Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, July 13, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Open season Bill Lee was the first to capture the state crown By JOHN GORALSKI loss. He amassed an incredible SPORTS WRITER 122-6 record that still stands as No. video camera captured 17 on the all-time list of state Bill Lee in a close-up as wrestlers. He won 67 by pin and 15 A he walked off the by forfeit. Most of his matches were championship mat at the 1999 over in seconds. state open, and its grainy image “He wasn’t really one to make captured the key to the mistakes,” said Dion. “It was diffi- Southington grappler’s success. cult to get good matches for him Lee had just dismantled his because he was so dominant. opponent in the final bout to cap- Everyone just tried to get away ture his second consecutive divi- from him. Sometimes, I would try sion title. He scored his first points to weigh him in at a weight class in the opening moments and spent above and wrestle him up to the the next few minutes chasing his weight class above that just to try opponent around the mat like a to get him into a match that could kitten playing with a ball of yarn. get him ready for a state tourna- When the officials signaled the ment. He seemed to pin or tech fall end, Lee earned a 17-2 win and just about everyone he wrestled.” another state title, but he can be Lee credits his preparation seen on the video shaking his head and aggressive attack. He started FILE PHOTO in obvious frustration. his day with three-mile runs before Bill Lee wrestles New Fairfield wrestler Jeff McAveney on his way to capture the 152- school. He finished his practices pound title at the 1999 State Open championship. With the victory Lee became the first Hall of Fame with five-mile runs or long trips on Blue Knight to win at the open meet. the bike. Since most of his matches mat, nearly pinning him twice to finished so quickly, his drive had to earn an 11-5 win before he leapt “I just couldn’t finish him,” he come from within. Southington Sports into the arms of his coach. The said with a hint of disappointment “You have to be disciplined, state open title was the first by any more than one decade later. “I but that’s one of the things that’s Hall of Fame Southington wrestler. never let a guy off his back, but I great about wrestling,” he said. “We had worked together, just couldn’t pin that kid. It was “When everybody else is chowing one-on-one, quite a bit to try to weird. It took no effort to get him to down on garbage, you have to eat Inside the Numbers develop a shot to add to his upper his back, but as soon as his shoul- that salad. You might really want to body assault,” said Dion. “He went ders hit he was a wild man.” eat that cookie, but you can’t have Overall record 122-6 out there and hit it immediately. He Lee still remembers the match it. It takes discipline to go to bed at •Dual meet record 87-0 (Undefeated in the regular season). got him onto his back for five vividly. He can recall every play, 8:00 at night when your friends are •67 pins, 15 forfeits [points]. He did it again a few min- every move, and every point as if it going out, but that’s because you •Career winning pct. of .953 (School record, 17th in CT). utes later, and got him onto his was unfolding in front of him. He have to run at five in the morning. •Class LL champion (1998, 1999). back for five more and pretty much never trailed, and his opponent It’s all about discipline.” dominated from there on out. It never threatened. It capped an easy It paid off. His first varsity loss •State Open champion (1999). was a fun night. It was one of the run to his second straight division came in the Class LL quarterfinals •3 varsity letters (1997, 1998, 1999). best nights that we’ve ever had as a title, but he still seems haunted in his sophomore year. His second •All-Conference (1997, 1998, 1999). coaching staff.” about missing the pin. Perhaps it’s loss came at the state open in a 2-1 •All-State (1998, 1999). Lee was never able to dupli- because few wrestlers ever man- decision against an opponent that •All-New England (1998). cate that 1999 run. He was upset in aged to avoid one. went on to the finals of the New •Highest finish at New England meet for any Southington the opening round at the New “For my money he was the England championships. His third High School wrestler (2nd, 1999). England championship. He went best kid that I’ve ever seen wrestle,” loss came as a result of an injury on to Sacred Heart University, said Blue Knight wrestling coach default that ended his state open 1996-1997—(145 pounds). Went 40-3. worked his way on to the varsity Derek Dion. “He was just about as run. roster as a freshman, and battled to strong and fast a kid as I’ve ever Over his three year varsity Lost in Class LL quarterfinals, and 2nd round of state open. an early 5-5 record before ending had. Nobody with his size could career Lee’s only losses came in 1997-1998—(152 pounds). Went 44-2. his career with yet another concus- hang with his strength or his speed. postseason bouts even though he Won the Class LL title, placed 3rd at state open, 2nd in NE. sion on the mat. There were kids that went on to found himself battling against big- But he never strayed too far have better college careers, but ger wrestlers, state champions, and 1998-1999—(152 pounds). Went 38-1. from the sport. He returned to the we’ll never really know how his col- New England powers. Two losses Won the Class LL title, won the state open title, Southington High School gym as a lege career would have panned out were concussion-related. One was lost in the first round of the NE tournament. practice opponent and moved into [if he didn’t get injured]. When you a disqualification for an illegal slam the coaching ranks where he’s look at high school wrestlers, he’s in a bout that he was dominating. College served since 2002. Now, he tries to one of the best that I’ve ever seen.” One came against the eventual instill his sense of discipline and As the last century came to a state open champion. Another •Wrestled at Sacred Heart University. goal-setting to the next generation close Lee exploded onto the scene came against a New England final- •Went 5-5 as a freshmen but suffered career-ending injury. of Blue Knight wrestlers. but it was a long journey just to ist. It was only his last one—the “It doesn’t matter what kind of step onto the high school mat. Lee sixth one—that was avoidable. Coaching wrestler they become. It matters was a proven soccer player at a pri- “It’s very rare that you get a kid Assistant coach at Southington High School (2002-present). what kind of men they become,” vate school, but he longed to wres- that comes in and is that dominant said Lee. “I want them to have a tle. His father was Southington’s at such an early age, and he was good head on their shoulders and first captain in 1974 and 75. dominant all the way through,” decision. regional meet and his second place know how to work hard. That’s Lee switched to homeschool- said Dion. “It was a combination of “I wrestled him three times in finish still remains as the best for what I got out of this sport, and ing as a freshman to try to qualify strength or speed, but it was main- high school, and it was always at any Southington wrestler. that’s what I want for them.” for the high school team. When ly his positioning. You just couldn’t the state opens. He was the one Lee was just getting started. As Perhaps that’s why the that didn’t work because of new get him out of it. There are kids that that I lost my first match to, and it a senior, he dispatched his regular Southington Sports Hall of Fame rules changes, Lee convinced his are strong in the weight rooms, but was a close match in my junior season opponents with relative selection committee chose Lee as parents to enroll him in the public he wrestled strong. He did that year, too,” said Lee. “It was tied ease. He cruised through the brack- the youngest member to be inau- schools. It was his first win as a with good position.” with something like 40 seconds left ets to win his second straight Class gurated the local sports hall of high school wrestler. It also came from an iron will. in the third. I was on top, and I let LL title, and he zeroed in on fame. On Thursday, Nov. 8, he was “I knew that he was the type of As a junior Lee said that he was him up. I wanted to take him McAveney for their final match-up honored in an induction ceremony kid that you could build a program more tentative, consciously guard- down, but he was able to fight it in the state open championship at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. around, and we did that,” said ing his undefeated season, but he off.” bout. “I’m still excited about it Dion. “You make one kid better, managed to cruise into the post- McAveney and Lee remained “At that point, I didn’t think because it means something,” said and it seems to make everyone season as the No. 2 seed in the 152- as arch-rivals throughout their that my career meant anything Lee. “I’ve seen the guys and the around them better. They go on to pound weight class. He cruised to careers. Lee avenged the state open until I won the opens,” he said. teams that have been inducted make everyone else around them the finals and captured his first of loss with an overtime win in the “There were a lot of guys that fell in before me. You know the names. better, and it made us a pretty suc- two division titles with a 36-second New England tournament during a the finals. I wanted to be the first You know what they did. To have cessful program for a while.” pin in the championship round. He campaign that carried Lee into the one. I didn’t think it meant any- only two classes ahead of me, to be Lee was an instant hit as a went on to the semifinals at the final bout of the regional meet. At thing unless I did.” in the third one, is pretty incredi- sophomore, and finished his career state open, losing to New Fairfield the time, Lee was just the second This time, Lee left no question. ble. I’m extremely honored.” without a single regular season wrestler Jeff McAveney in a 6-5 Blue Knight to win a bout at the He tossed McAveney all over the Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, September 7, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Living here in ‘Allen’-town Cris Allen fought for respect and shattered records By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER Southington Sports hen a coach discov- ers an athlete with Hall of Fame W an extraordinary work ethic, it’s like striking gold. Finding an athlete with superior Inside the Numbers talent can be just as rare. Ask any coach what it’s like to find both in • Member of USA Pan-American Games Team (1987). the same player, and he’ll probably • Silver medalist with Team USA at the International Harbour shrug his shoulders and sigh. Tournament in Taiwan (1987). It’s a one-of-a-kind athlete for • Played in the Cape Cod Baseball League sure, and that’s how former • Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays (1985), the Baltimore Southington High School baseball Orioles (1988), and the California Angels (1989). coach John Fontana describes third • Signed with the Angels (1989). baseman Cris Allen. • Inducted into the SHS Baseball Hall of Fame (1992). Hall of Fame • Inducted into the FSC Athletics Hall of Fame (2006). SHS Baseball “Some people are born with it. • Earned 3 varsity letters (1983, 1984, 1985). Look at Carl Pavano. Nobody could • Captain and Team MVP (1985). have taught him to do what he did • All-conference (1984, 1985). for us. He came out of his mother’s • All-state (1984, 1985). womb being able to pitch,” he said. • All-American (1985). “Cris Allen was something else. He • Senior All Star Game (1985). had some God-given ability, but he • Batting average of .420 in 1984 and .443 in 1985. had an incredible work ethic, too. Nobody could have worked harder • Finished with 15 doubles, 7 home runs, and 136 runs. than he did.” • Holds SHS record for career RBIs (74). Allen arrived at the high school in the mid-1980s at a time Southern Florida College Baseball when Southington was changing • Earned 4 varsity letters (1986-1989). fast. It was no longer a small farm- • Member of 1988 NCAA Division II Championship team. ing community. Housing develop- • Sunshine State Conference Champs (1986, 1988, 1989). COURTESY OF FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE ments were already choking open • American Baseball Coaches Association spaces. Southington was becoming 3rd Team All-American (1987). Former Blue Knight standout Cris Allen still ranks a blue collar town, and Allen was • First team All-South Region (1986, 1987). among the top 10 in Florida Southern College history in the perfect blue collar Knight. 16 different individual categories. When scouts called him slow • Second team All-South Region (1988, 1989). as a high school junior, he trained • First Team All-Sunshine State Conference (1986-1988). me that a small school was a good [California Polytechnic State as a sprinter. He spent the off-sea- • Second Team All-SSC conference (1989). thing, and I don’t think I would University]. They were a tough son running 80 yard sprints and • Holds the NCAA Division II record for walks (200). have done as well in one of those team, but we beat them to win the running up the hill on Lanning • Owned 10 school records at graduation. 30,000 or 40,000 student schools,” World Series,” he said. “It was a Street. He spent hours in the gym • Currently holds the career records for runs (258), he said. “When you look for great great moment that I’ll never forget. and practicing drills. doubles (67), triples (25), RBI (245), opportunities, this was one from It was probably one of the best When the scouts returned for total bases (483), and walks (200). the best baseball school in the sports moments I’ve ever experi- country. It was a small school, and enced.” his senior season, Allen had • Currently holds single game record for hits (6). chipped almost two seconds off his I wasn’t paying anything to go During the off-seasons, Allen time in the 60-yard dash. • Career Batting Average was .348. there. I didn’t need to look any fur- continued to hone his craft. In the “I struggled my whole life,” he ther.” summers, he played in the presti- said. “I did start as a sophomore at the outfield no matter who was “The worst thing about Cris Once again, Allen said that it gious Cape Cod Baseball League. Southington High School, but it pitching. He would line up behind Allen was that nobody wanted to didn’t come easily. Once again, he He was a member of the 1987 USA didn’t really come easy. I think that the grass at third base during field- pitch to him. Most of the time, he worked his way onto the varsity Pan-American Games baseball the hard work just started to pay ing warm-ups, and Fontana said would never see a fast ball, so lineup as a rookie. He led the team team and won a silver medal as a off for me.” that his throws to first base would sometimes he would have a ten- in hitting during his freshman pre- member of Team USA at the 1987 Few athletes trained as hard. whistle through the air. dency to go out of the strike zone season. On opening day, he was International Harbour Tournament Long before athletes started to “It was incredible,” he said. to try to get his pitch,” said named to the starting lineup. in Taiwan. focus year round on a sport, Allen “He would throw long toss with Fontana. “He’s the type of guy that, “You’re either 100 percent in, It was no surprise that he was turned his focus to baseball. He Rob Dibble when Dibble would if you got him out three times in a playing that sport and working drafted by the Orioles after his jun- gave up football after the midget come to town, and they would row, he’d get up there and hit the every day on it, or you’re just play- ior year. In fact, he was drafted leagues and gave up basketball stand with one on the left field foul fourth one 385 feet. He’d make you ing to have fun,” he said. “I think three times by a Major League when he left DePaolo Junior High pole and one on the right field foul pay for any mistake.” you’re born with some of the abili- Baseball organization. After high School. pole. They would throw the whole Allen shrugs off the compli- ties, but over a period of time you school, he was drafted by the For the next three years, Allen width of the field, and they would ment. Instead, he gives credit to his can work really hard to accomplish Toronto Blue Jays. After college, he became a fixture on the high throw bullets—no lobbing.” teammates. it. To make it at the next level, you was drafted by the California school diamond. He spent every Success came quickly. He “I can’t tell you anything about have to be beyond dedicated.” Angels. He signed with the Angels day honing his craft. His father, a earned a spot on the all-conference those records, other than the fact Once again, success came in 1989 before walking away from former minor league pitcher with roster in all three years with the that the first and second hitters quickly. Along the way Allen set 10 the game. the Boston Braves organization, Knights. He was named as an all- were doing their job,” he said. “I school records, and he still holds “I look back and, boy, when would throw batting practice until state infielder in his junior and can remember Mike Majeski was the program record for runs (258), things were going great in my jun- the shadows settled on the field. senior seasons and was named all- the first hitter, and he could fly. If doubles (67), triples (25), RBI (245), ior and senior years in high school “He’d come down with his American in 1985. he got a hit, I can bet that he was total bases (483), and walks (200). and through college, it was fun,” he father and they used to be in the “He was one of the bright on second or third by the time that He still holds a single game record said. “I would love to go back and batting cages all day. That kid used stars, for sure,” said Jim Senich, a I got up to bat. I don’t think that for hits (6), and his 200 career relive those five or six years. It was to wait all day for his father to former sports writer for The hurt a lot.” walks still stands as the the NCAA just a great time with the competi- come home,” Fontana said. “He Southington Observer. “He had a On the other hand, Allen was Division II record. tions and friendships. The coaches, was the only one that I ever gave a gun for an arm, and he could really so dominant it took just one call Along the way, Allen helped lift the recognition, and everything key to our shed because he used to hit the ball solid. He’d hit line from Fontana to secure a full schol- his team to three conference titles. else were something that I won’t come here every day with his drives in the gaps. He could run, arship at Florida Southern College. He was an all-conference selection forget.” father. They’d grab the baseballs too. He had the whole game.” The Moccasins were coming off of in each of his varsity seasons. Allen With his dominance in high and helmets, and they’d go right Allen batted .420 as a junior in an NCAA Division II national averaged .348 as a college player school and college, it was no sur- over to the batting cages for hours.” 1984, and went .443 at the plate as championship in 1985 and went and helped lift his team to national prise that Allen was selected to rep- Fontana wasn’t one to pro- a senior. He finished his high on to beat the division I champion title in 1988. resent the town in the Southington mote underclassmen to his varsity school career with 15 doubles, in a best-of-three series. Without “In the first two games, we Sports Hall of Fame. On Thursday, team, but it was impossible to seven home runs, and 136 runs even seeing him swing a bat, they pretty much conquered our com- Nov. 8, he was inducted in a cere- ignore Allen’s skills. As a sopho- scored. He still holds the Blue offered Allen a full scholarship. petition. Before you knew it, we mony at the Aqua Turf in more, he could drive rockets into Knight record with 74 career RBIs. “I remember my father telling were playing a team from Plantsville. Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, August 17, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Majestic Majeski Dave Majeski still loves the challenge By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER Southington Sports t’s been more than 25 years since Dave Majeski called Hall of Fame I John Fontana back to third base during a regular season game, but the former high school coach Inside the Numbers still smiles when he tells the story. Majeski topped a baseball but • Drafted by Clevelan Indians and Milwaukee Brewers. beat the throw to first base. On the • Signed to the Milwaukee Brewers (1992). next one, the sophomore stole sec- • SHS Baseball Hall of Fame (1994). ond. On the third pitch, he stole third. Fontana signaled timeout to SHS Baseball talk to his brash underclassman. “I • Three varsity letters (1985, 1986, 1987). told him to stay put at third base, • All-State (1988). but he called me back as I walked • All Conference (1987, 1988). back to the dugout,” said the coach. • Team MVP (1988). “‘What is it?’ I asked.” • Selected to the Senior All Star Game (1988). Majeski smiled a devilish grin. • Ranked 2nd in single season batting avg. (.560 in 1988). “Even a long fly ball for a base hit?” SET 4 SINGLE SEASON SCHOOL RECORDS Hall of Fame • Holds records in runs (42 in 1988), doubles (18 in 1988), total bases (218 in 1988), and stolen bases (30 in 1985). “That was him. He was a joker, SET 5 CAREER SCHOOL RECORDS but he was just a great athlete,” said COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Fontana. “People might dispel this, • Holds records in runs (80), doubles (28), total bases (442), but he was the only guy—the only stolen bases (63), and consecutive times on base (15) Since exploding onto the local scene as a sophomore in guy—that I never put a steal sign 1985, Dave Majeski, above with the University of Florida, out for. I let him decide for himself. SHS Basketball has never been too far from the diamond. I had a lot of good runners, but this • Three varsity letters (1984-1985, 1985-1986, 1986-1987) kid was something else.” • Led the team in offensive rebounds, steals, and turnovers in still ranks in the top 10 for games family but was called back to the Majeski remembers their rela- 1985-1986. played (242), hits (262), at bats diamond six months later when a tionship differently. Sure, his coach (812) , and runs (186). Each season, newspaper notice for a charity soft- allowed him to run. Why wouldn’t University of Florida Baseball his average improved from .258 in ball tournament caught his eye. he? Majeski set a single season 1989 to .314 as a sophomore, .333 The Gators were challenging • Four varsity letters (1989-1992). record with 30 stolen bases as a as a junior, and .342 as a senior. He local sportscasters and players to a sophomore and graduated with a • Member of the 1992 NCAA tournament runner up team. finished his college career with 90 celebrity game. Majeski registered record 63 steals, but Majeski does- • Ranked 5th in games played (242), 8th in at bats (812), RBI, 34 doubles, eight triples, 116 for the contest and settled himself n’t remember any freedom when it and 10th in runs scored (186). walks, and six home runs. into a spot late in the order to study came to stealing. • Career batting average of .323. He still holds three postseason the pitcher. He noticed that she “Sure, I had the green light to • Increased his batting average every season (.258 in 1989, records for the Gators with most made each batter swing foolishly at go haphazardly, but when I’d come .314 in 1990, .333 in 1991, and .342 in 1992). hits (21) and runs (13) in the SEC a few pitches before lobbing a hit- into the dugout Coach Fontana and • Second team all-conference in the SEC (1992). Tournament. His 7 scores in the table ball. By the time he stepped Coach [Joe] Daddio would be there • SEC all-tournament team selection (1992). 1991 SEC Tournament is still the to the plate, Majeski had a plan. asking me why I went on that most for a Florida player in a single He launched the first pitch • Holds the school record for most career hits in the SEC pitch,” he said. “They’d tell me if I year. It was no surprise that Majeski over the outfield fence and into a should have gone on another one. Tournament (21 from 1989-92). was drafted by the Cleveland distant lake. The coach invited him It was such a teaching situation • Tied for school record for most career runs in Indians and the Milwaukee to a practice and soon offered him even though I had a green light.” the SEC Tournament (13). Brewers in different Major League a position on her staff. From the start Majeski was a • Holds the school record for most runs in a single season of drafts, and it was no surprise that “I just jumped right in and student of the game, and Fontana the SEC Tournament (7 in 1991). he signed to a minor league con- taught the kids everything I know,” said he would have made a good tract with the Brewers in 1992. he said. “It didn’t take long for us to coach long before he graduated Coaching The surprise came when start seeing some results, and that’s high school. But Majeski wasn’t •Owner of the Sweet Spot Hitting Facility in Greenville, SC. Majeski—at the top of his game— how I got into it. It was the right ready to hang up his glove. He was • Gainesville Sun Coach of the Year (1998). decided to leave his playing days place at the right time I guess.” the rare mix of intensity, talent, 1995-1998—Baseball coach at Eastside HS, Gainesville, FL. behind him. He said it was a tough He spent a few years on the knowledge...and a good sense of 1998-2001—Baseball Coach at Santa Fe HS, Alachua, FL. decision, but he has never really Gator staff before a one-year stint humor. The 155-pounder might not questioned it. He chose family. in Memphis. In 2003, he was hired 2002—Volunteer Assistant/Interim Assistant Softball Coach have turned heads with his size, but “There were a couple of years as the head softball coach at facing him at the plate was like try- at the University of Florida. after I left that I’d be watching the Presbyterian College. He led the ing to stop a runaway train. 2001-2003—Assistant softball coach at the Univ. of Florida. pros and see some of the guys I team to a 30-16 record in his first “He could run. He could field, 2003-2011—Softball coach at Presbyterian College. played with or against,” he said. “I’d season and helped the team jump and he had just a hell of an arm think that I was better than that to NCAA Division I competition. from the outfield,” said Fontana. “On my lunch hour, I’d grab best by any Southington player guy. I worked harder than that one, Armed with his threefold “He was a guy that was so baseball the towel boy and have him put except for Mike Mauro (.567). or I could hit better than that one. coaching philosophy designed to knowledgeable that you never had balls on the tee for me for hours on It was no surprise that college But I didn’t really second guess help his players become better to tell him anything. If he came up end. On midnight study breaks, I’d coaches beat down the door. myself.” people, learn the game, and raise and there were no outs with a man got down to the field with my col- Fontana said more than 70 pro- Majeski didn’t really retire. This expectations, Majeski led the team on first and second, you would lege roommate and hit over and grams offered scholarships. The was the start of his second career to 21 wins in 2010 and eclipsed that never have to put a bunt on. He over,” he said. “It didn’t come easy, Gators won the bidding war, and that has carried him to the present. mark with a 28-20-1 record and an would bunt on his own because he but I wouldn’t change a thing. I was Majeski secured a rare five-year His high school coach said that overall record of 112-120-1 when he would do whatever he was sup- at a place where the weather was contract from a division one pro- Majeski was would have made a resigned from Presbyterian College posed to do to win a game. He great. You could play year-round, gram coming off the program’s first good coach as a teenager, and he at the end of the 2011 season. always made good decisions.” and Florida had the type of money College World Series appearance. was ready to fulfill that promise. He Since then, Majeski has In an era of upperclassmen, to provide everything you needed. I Once again, Majeski made a led Eastside High School to their switched his focus to his growing Majeski worked his way into the was always a skinny kid with some- quick rise to the top. In his fresh- best record in 12 years before mov- business, the Sweet Spot Hitting lineup as a sophomore. He worked thing to prove.” man year two senior outfielders left ing to Santa Fe High School and Facility in Greenville, S.C. his way into the University of His statistics serve as proof. In the field with injuries, and Majeski leading that program to district “It’s a lot of work, but there are Florida lineup as a freshman. He high school, Majeski set 4 single- was thrust into the upperclassman titles from 1998-2001. In 1998, a lot of kids that want to be good credits his ‘Little Man Syndrome.’ season records and 5 career marks. lineup. He held his own as Florida Majeski was selected as the coach hitters,” he said. “I’m having fun. Opponents credit his talent, but it He set the single season steals battled atop the NCAA rankings. of the year by the Gainesville Sun. Where else to you get to act like a came down to dedication. record as a sophomore. He set the “It was trial by fire. The seniors “I liked to help other kids two-year-old and kids keep coming As a kid, Majeski would play record for runs (42), doubles (18), were used to so much success, and develop and chase their dreams,” back? Life is good. The hours and pick-up games with his siblings. and total bases (218) as a senior. here comes this smiling kid from he said. “I was lucky enough to find money are good, but most impor- He’d travel to New Britain in the Nobody collected more total bases Connecticut,” he said. “I had to a new way to enjoy the sport.” tantly I get to see my girls play ball.” winter to take batting practice at (442), runs (80), doubles (28), or learn quickly and produce quickly.” Once again, Majeski’s star was It’s no surprise that Majeski the YMCA. In college, he would stolen bases. As a junior, he Majeski embraced the chal- on the rise. Once again, his strong was selected to be inducted into steal down to the field every chance reached base 15 consecutive lenge and worked his way up to commitment to family caused him the Southington Sports Hall of he got. His success in the steroid times—another record, and his bat- leadoff as a junior. He led Florida to reassess his goals. He left coach- Fame. He was inducted at the Aqua era was no accident. ting average in 1988 (.560) was the back to the NCAA tournament and ing to spend more time with his Turf on Nov. 8. Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, July 20, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Hall of Fame announces Class of 2012 Eleanor DellaVecchia will receive special recognition as a fan of the Knights By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER or more than a centu- ry, Eleanor F DellaVecchia followed We thought it would be a great way to her beloved Yankees as they col- “ lected 27 World Series titles, but recognize somebody outside family and friends find it more the normal scope of a hall of fame. than just a coincidence that the Bronx Bombers haven’t won a She was an unabashed fan—a true fan— single title since she passed away in 2009. that supported both men“ and women's If it wasn’t for fans, sports sports through thick and thin. couldn’t exist. Without their cheers, there’d be no home field advantage. That’s why members of the Southington Sports Hall of Fame committee decided to rec- ognize the efforts of the town’s Dennis J. Stanek, Jr., biggest supporters. Southington Sports Hall of Fame Chairman This is the third time that the committee will honor the town’s best athletes, coaches, media members, and boosters, but this to soccer to wrestling. She was an and women’s sports through will be the first time that they’ll avid fan during her childrens’ thick and thin. She supported give a special honor to a varsity careers but cheered just teams in good seasons and bad Southington fan. as loudly for her grandchildren, seasons. She wasn’t one of those her great grandchildren, and people that only came when a Hall of Fame their neighbors. She was a fixture team made a run at a title. I can in the crowd when she had no remember her back in the 1980s. relatives playing the game, and at She would come out to see field As much as DellaVecchia her funeral donations were made hockey when that was a new loved her Yankees, she loved her to the Eleanor DellaVecchia SHS sport. She was everywhere.” Knights even more. This fall, the Athletic Scholarship fund. DellaVecchia will join a list of committee will honor the town’s There was no question that eleven former athletes, a coach, a biggest supporter with a special she would be the first recipient booster, two teams, and a letter of recognition. for this special award. posthumous inductee when the “We have some committee committee inducts its third class members that are 15 years out of to the Southington Sports Hall of high school and others that are Fame. The list of athletes over 50 years out of high includes Jen Gombotz- school, and each one of us Mikowski, Tracy Ciosek- seems to have a story Beloin, Rob Thomson, about how we used to Andy Meade, Frazer see her on the side- Pehmoller, Bill Lee, lines,” said Dave Majeski, Chris SUBMITTED Southington Sports Allen, Rick Black, Joe Players came and went. Coaches arrived and retired, but Hall of Fame Llodra, Peter Gulli, Eleanor DellaVecchia was always there. The Southington Chairman Dennis and the late Phil Sports Hall of Fame would be incomplete without J. Stanek, Jr. “She D’Agostino. Joe Southington’s biggest fan. used to love to LaPorte will be rec- watch sports—all ognized for his off- sports across the field contributions. but we went through each sport to cheer for their favorite players. board in every sea- Former Southington and looked through the statistics Now, the players get to cheer for son—so we wanted High School softball to find those athletes, coaches, their favorite fan. to recognize the fact coach Joe Piazza will be boosters, and media members “This is a great thing and a that we appreciate the inducted along with his that are on the upper crust of great asset to the town,” said support that our fans 1987 championship team, local sports,” he said. “Because Stanek. “I’ve heard the comment have given us over the and the undefeated 1954 teams like football have a much many times that this is some- years. And we want that football team will become the longer history than other sports thing that’s long overdue with the recognition to be public.” second gridiron program to be like volleyball, we’re still playing rich history and tradition that DellaVecchia was born in entered into the hall of fame. catch-up with some of the ath- we’ve had over the decades. We Southington in 1908, passed Stanek said that this group letes from the last 50 years, and have people that have con- away at the age of 101, and fol- “We thought it would be a stacks up well with the last two that proves to be quite challeng- tributed in all aspects to our lowed athletics until the very great way to recognize somebody classes. ing.” town’s success. From starting end. She was a Blue Knight fan outside the normal scope of a “It might have been even The class was inducted on athletes to coaches or trainers or before they were even called the hall of fame,” said Stanek. “She more difficult to pare down the Thursday, Nov. 8 at an award din- fans, many people have con- Blue Knights. She was a fixture at was an unabashed fan—a true field this year because there are ner at the Aqua Turf Club in tributed to Southington sports.” sporting events from basketball fan—that supported both men still so many deserving people, Plantsville. Once again, fans get Even the fans. Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, September 28, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Southington’s strongest man Frazer Pehmoeller started with the shot put and finished with a stone By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER Southington Sports he thunder from 30,000 cheering fans seemed Hall of Fame T to fade into white noise as Frazer Pehmholler took his first step across the New Hampshire Inside the Numbers field. His arms strained from the 670-pound load that hung from his • 1979 graduate of Southington High School. clenched fists. His vision narrowed • Earned a full track & field scholarship to UConn. to his eldest daughter in the dis- • Won 2 gold medals in discus at tance as she waved him toward his the Empire State Games (2005, 2007). goal. The first step was for the doc- Southington High School Outdoor Track tors that helped him overcome a debilitating bone disease in his • Earned 3 varsity letters (1977, 1978, 1979). youth. The second was for his • Track Captain (1978, 1979). Southington coaches that nursed • Placed second at Class LL meet in shot put (1977). him back to health at Memorial • Won shot put at Class LL championships (1978, 1979). Pool. He took a steps for his high • Won discus at Class LL championships(1979). school teammates, his college • Owns the 2 oldest track records at SHS. teammates, his parents, his friends, • Holds the school record in discus (175'3" in 1979). and his daughters, but the last one • Holds the school record in shot put (60'10" in 1979). he took for the world. It was one small step for • Had state record in shot put in 1979 (since broken) mankind, but it was a giant step for Pehmoeller. With a 99-foot walk, Southington High School Basketball the boy that spent two years on • Earned 2 varsity letters (1976-77, 1977-78) crutches in elementary school had walked into a new world record at the Scottish Highland Games. UConn Track & Field • Earned 4 varsity letters in indoor track Hall of Fame (1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83). • Earned 4 varsity letters in outdoor track SUBMITTED (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). For a brief moment in the Frazer Pehmoeller climbed to No. 5 in the world in the • Won 4 gold medals at the Big East Championships. mid-1990s, Pehmoeller was the Scottish Games. Pehmoeller still owns the two oldest • Set a school record in shot put (since broken). strongest man on earth. track & field records at Southington High School. “If I knew that I was that close • Set the UConn squat record (1,250 lbs, since broken). to 100,” he said with a laugh, “I anything.” college ranks descended upon the would have probably broken a fin- At the time, Southington was Southington native. International Scottish Highland Games ger trying to make it there.” already known for their throwers “It was pretty cool. I grew up in • Held the American record in the Sheaf toss. Few athletes are as accom- with Dean and Danny Angels set- a family where my grandfather, my • Held the World record in the Strong man walk. plished or as relatively unknown as ting records at the high school father, and even my brothers were • Ranked No. 5 in the world in the overall competition (1995) Frazer Pehmoeller. He holds the while Pehmoeller was chasing their electrical contractors, so there was two oldest track & field records at records in the junior high. They a path set for me in the electrical the high school, but it’s only been a were approaching the 60-foot bar- business,” he said. “What throwing Coaching couple of years that his records rier, and Pehmoeller was closing in. allowed me to do is be the black • Arlington High School (NY) throwing coach (2003-2009). were displayed in the high school By the time he arrived at the sheep and go out to do what I • Coached two nationally ranked athletes (2004, 2005). cafeteria. His records at the junior high school, Pehmoeller was ready wanted to do.” high schools have been long lost in to challenge their standards. Pehmoeller took the process a school record in squats, and a an event that requires a pitchfork the decades since the 1970s. His “I just got through a good seriously, interviewing the coaches record in the shot put that stood to hurl a burlap bag stuffed with indoor track records at the high group of throwers that were throw- as much as they were interviewing for more than a decade. straw over a horizontal bar. He set school still eclipse the record hold- ing 58’8” and 57’7”,” said Sepko. “I him. He settled upon UConn “I had a great coach in college, the world record in the Strong Man ers by feet rather than inches, but remember thinking, ‘How am I because they offered him a course and he was a kinesiologist. He walk (99 feet) that shattered the his exploits aren’t official since they going to top that?’ In through the of studies that held his interest, would say that an event like the former record (80 feet). A few years predate the official varsity team. door walks Frazer Pehmoeller, and and the coaches stressed kinetic shot put had about 5,000 things later, he decided to retire. He set town records in discus he threw 60 feet within two or three training rather than chemical that you could do right or wrong “You were moving something and shot put. He set college records years of them.” shortcuts. on every single throw,” he said. like two tons of weight on any at UConn and set world records in Few athletes trained as hard as “One of the biggest concerns “The goal was to do more things given day,” he said. “It used to take the Scottish Highland Games. he did. Pehmoeller’s practices for me as a thrower was steroids,” right than wrong. If you did that, me two days to recover. Once it got Pehmoeller is in a class of his own. stretched until sunset. He spent the he said. “Back then, they were so you were a really good thrower.” to two weeks, I called it quits. I “He is the best kid ever,” said off-season in the gym and running prevalent in the college realm, and Pehmoeller didn’t quench his never had an injury, so I felt I was former Blue Knight track & field sprints on the track. As a sopho- I didn’t want to have anything to do thirst for competition by the end of pretty lucky. The younger guys coach Pete Sepko. “He is a really more, he caught the shot put com- with them. You really had to ques- his NCAA career, but it was a cou- were coming up with sponsors like nice human being. He’s a gentle- petition by surprise with a second tion coaches and feel them out ple of years later that he finally Power Bar. Here I was an executive man, and I’ve always been really place finish in the state competi- because there was a lot of pressure found a way to compete. His doing this as a weekend warrior.” proud of him as a kid and with tion. That was the start of his domi- if they took an athlete like me.” cousin told him about the Scottish Since his retirement, what he did. It didn’t come easy. He nance in the sport. It turned out to be a good Highland Games, and he packed Pehmoeller turned his attention to was such a hard worker, and he’s “We worked out a lot together decision. Pehmoeller went on to his car for a road trip to Loon coaching. With his daughter’s high the best thrower we’ve ever had.” in the weight room, and he kept letter eight times with four years on Mountain in New Hampshire. school track team, Pehmoeller Pehmoeller never set out to getting better,” said Sepko. “Every the indoor and outdoor teams. He “I had no idea what I was in developed a pair of nationally topple records. In fact, sports year he got stronger, and he got became one of the most versatile for. I didn’t even know what kind of ranked throwers. Between meets, weren’t a big part of his youth. faster. A lot of people think that you throwers in school history, compet- shoes to wear. I had never even he captured two gold medals at the Stricken by a rare bone marrow just have to be strong to throw that ing in all four throwing events. seen it before,” he said. “I showed Empire State Games, and he’s been condition in his youth, he spent his far, but you have to be fast, too. He “I ended up being more of a up and found out the first day was competing as a cyclist in races up time recuperating while his friends always took pride in bringing down jack-of-all-trades in college even for professionals and the second to 600 miles. were honing their skills in local his 50 yard dash time. He came though I wasn’t much of a javelin day was for amateurs. I was there It was no surprise that youth leagues. When he tried out down every year. He wasn’t just get- thrower in high school,” he said. for the first day with a borrowed Pehmoeller was selected to repre- for the junior high teams ting stronger. He was getting “Basically, with the shot you don’t kilt from my secretary.” sent the town in the Southington Pehmoeller didn’t make the cut, faster.” want to throw the javelin, but since In his first competition, Sports Hall of Fame. On Thursday, but he didn’t let that stop him. As a senior, Pehmoeller finally I had some decent throws in high Pehmoeller captured the stone Nov. 8, he was inducted in a cere- “I actually tried out for the broke through. He snapped the 60- school, they ended up having me throwing event, but he quickly mony at the Aqua Turf. baseball team but that didn’t go too foot barrier in the shot put. He throw it in college. I remember learned that the other six events “It’s totally humbling,” he said. successfully,” he said. “Then, I saw shattered the school records in being at a Big East championship were more of a challenge. Slowly “So many people had a lot invested these big guys running around the shot put (60’10”) and discus in Villanova, and I threw the shot but surely, he began to rise in the in me over the years. I’m sure old football field at DePaolo, and I (175’3”). When the smoke cleared, put, discus, hammer, and javelin.” rankings. By the mid-1990s, he was everybody says it, but I really mean figured I might as well try what he had earned two state titles in Along the way, Pehmoeller col- ranked fifth in the world. it. You can’t get to a point where they were doing. I had no idea shot put and one in discus. lected four Big East titles in the Along the way, he set a new you’re recognized like this without what a shot put was or a discus or Suddenly, scouts from across the throws. In the training room, he set American record in the Sheaf toss, a lot of help and support.” Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, October 26, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Southington Sports A league of her own Hall of Fame Jen Gombotz-Mikowski raised the bar for Inside the Numbers every athlete at Southington High School • Named as the CT Athlete of the Year (1997). • Earned a full scholarship to Providence College By JOHN GORALSKI for women’s -basketball. SPORTS WRITER oach Joe Piazza will Southington High School Volleyball never forget Jen • Member of the Class L runner up volleyball team (1995). Gombotz-Mikowski’s C • All-Conference (1994, 1995, 1996). first at bat against varsity pitching. It came in the mid-1980s during a • All-State (1995, 1996). summer travel game. With only eight players, he scanned the side- Southington High School Basketball lines for a volunteer. • Recognized by Street & Smith as a pre-season “There was no way that we all-American basketball player (1996-1997). were going to forfeit that game,” • Member of the Class LL runner up basketball team (1996). said the former Lady Knight coach. • All-Conference (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97). “I said, ‘Come on, Jen. You’re play- • All-State (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97). ing’ We put her in the outfield, and • Team MVP (1995-96, 1996-97). she was only about five years old.” In the bottom of the inning, • Captain (1995-96, 1996-97). the terrified toddler stepped to the • Scored 1,135 points (15.9 ppg) for her career. plate and fouled off a pitch or two • Set school records for rebounds (514), steals (234), and before striking out against a varsity blocked shots (92). pitcher. “I knew right then that she was going to be good,” said Piazza. Southington High School Softball • Pitcher for the Class LL champion softball team (1997). Hall of Fame • All-Conference (1995, 1996, 1997). • All-State (1995, 1996, 1997). • Team MVP (1996, 1997). For fans, that was a fitting start to one of Southington’s most sto- • Captain (1996, 1997). ried sports careers because, right • Went 56-5 from 1995-1997 and went 24-0 in 1997. from the start, she was ahead of her time. By the time she arrived at Providence College Basketball the high school, the Lady Knights • Big East all-rookie basketball team (1997-98). had already established a long line • Started in all but 2 varsity contests (1997-2001). of female pioneers, but nothing • Scored 1,133 points (10.4 points per game). could have prepared them for what COURTESY OF PROVIDENCE COLLEGE • Earned four varsity letters. was going to come next. “She’s probably one of the top Jen Gombotz-Mikowski earned all-state honors in eight CAREER STATISTICS YEAR G/GS FG PCT 3P PCT FT/FTA PCT A B S RB PTS five athletes to ever go through that of nine varsity seasons before earning all-rookie honors 1997-98 27/27 119 0.405 33 0.32 47/67 0.701 33 13 45 138 318 high school, without a doubt— in Big East basketball at Providence College. 1998-99 27/25 78 0.299 18 0.217 46/65 0.708 49 13 39 137 220 1999-00 27/27 108 0.331 33 0.287 41/62 0.661 70 10 42 193 290 man or woman,” said Lady Knight 2000-01 28/28 108 0.352 25 0.225 64/97 0.66 63 15 49 124 305 softball coach John Bores. “How “She was just a winner,” said a run in the state tournament. First Total 109/107 413 0.347 109 0.265 198/291 0.68 215 51 175 592 1133 many people make all-state eight Piazza. “She had a natural ability round or second round wasn’t Coaching times? And she would have done it and a competitive mindset. She acceptable. You had to get to the more but the freshmen weren’t at always wanted to be the best at semifinals and finals.” VOLLEYBALL the high school yet. Every now and everything she did, and she worked It’s no surprise that college 2001-2003—Plainville High School (Varsity). then you hear about someone who as hard as anybody else during that scouts began to appear on the 2004-2011—Newington High School (Varsity). excels at two sports, but three season. Really the only sport that sidelines and offers poured in from BASKETBALL sports? She was unbelievable.” she put work into during the off- as far away as Hawaii. She pared 2001-2009—Plainville High School (Freshman). The young superstar was in a season was basketball.” her choice to Providence College 2009-PRESENT—Plainville High School (Varsity). league of her own. In elementary As a freshman, she quickly and chose basketball as her sport. SOFTBALL school she was driven away from leapfrogged upperclassmen for She stormed into the NCAA 2002-2007—Southington High School (Junior Varsity). the local softball league for being starting positions. She quickly rose division one community. Once 2008-PRESENT—Plainville High School (Varsity). too good. She threw so fast that to the top of scouting reports and again, she fought her way to the parents worried about the safety of the accolades came quickly. top as a freshman. other players. In her first winter season, she “College basketball is a job. training the day after the basketball can see that they either don’t know “I think it worked out to my was all-state in basketball. That They controlled everything in my season came to a close. the game or they don’t have confi- advantage because I ended up spring, she was an all-state pitcher. life from what I ate to what I did,” “That’s probably my biggest dence in themselves. Then, by the playing baseball all the way up In her nine high school season, she she said. “They weighed me in regret that I didn’t try to play two time they’re a senior, you’ve through the town leagues,” she was all state in all but one. She did every week. They took body fat sports,” she said. “In my junior watched them get awards like all- said. “Until softball was offered at it twice in volleyball and three measurements every week. We had year, I had an opportunity to walk Conference. It’s almost more DePaolo, I played baseball with the times in basketball and softball. 4 o’clock in the morning workouts, on to the volleyball team and I rewarding to see your athletes do it boys.” After graduation, she was rec- and I’m not joking. If you wanted came this close to trying it. I don’t than by doing it yourself.” She still worked on her pitch- ognized by the State of Connecticut to be a guard, you had to run the regret not trying to play profession- It comes as no surprise to ing in the basement, throwing to as the Athlete of the Year because mile under five minutes. That’s ally. After four years, I was pretty Bores. “She’s a really good teacher. her father and her siblings with nobody—male or female—had tough when you’re six feet tall. I much done psychologically with In Plainville, she didn’t always have wild pitches ricocheting through ever received eight all-state awards. had to train an extra hour and a basketball. I still enjoyed it, but not the best talent, but she was always the rafters. “I was surprised when they half each day before my team- as much as I did when I went into patient and ready to teach them “I broke many lights in that contacted me that first time,” she mates showed up on the track.” it. I was happy to be done and start fundamentals,” said Bores. “You basement, but that was my par- said. “Then, it set the goal for the Once again, she embraced the teaching and coaching.” would think that a kid with so ents,” she said. “They made sure next two years. How could you not challenge. Once again, it didn’t take More than a decade has much success as an athlete would that I could do whatever I wanted.” be there the next year? You had to long for her to claw her way to the passed, and Gombotz-Mikowski is not be able to lose. I give her a lot It wasn’t just softball. In the make sure you kept your numbers top. As a freshman, she led the still active as a coach in multiple of credit. She’s very, very patient.” winters, she worked her way up up. You didn’t want to be the per- team in four categories, including sports. She began her career coach- With her career in high school, through the town basketball son that got it two years and were points (308), rebounds (134), field ing volleyball at Plainville after college, and coaching, Gombotz- leagues to earn a place on the elite left off on their senior year.” goal attempts (283), and steals (44) graduation before moving on to Mikowski was an easy choice for AAU rosters before picking up vol- The only thing that eluded her on her way to being named to the coach at Newington through the the Southington Sports Hall of leyball in junior high and returning was a state title. Volleyball fell short Big East all-rookie team. end of last season. She worked as Fame. On Thursday, Nov. 8, she will to the softball circle. in the 1995 state championship Over her four-year career, she an assistant softball coach at be honored in a ceremony at the “She’s got just an incredible game. The 1996 Lady Knight bas- averaged 10.4 points per game, 5.4 Southington High School for five Aqua Turf. will to win, and she’s just very ketball team came within one vic- rebounds and just under two years before taking over the reigns “It’s a great honor because you determined,” said Bores. “Back tory of the state title. It wasn’t until assists per game. as head coach in Plainville. She still grow up in a town with such a great then they didn’t have all those the spring of her senior year that “Sometimes, I can’t believe I coaches basketball and softball at traditions past. You get to hear pitches like curveballs, drop Gombotz-Mikowski finally broke actually played,” she said. Plainville, and it probably won’t be about all the athletes that came curves, sliders, or screwballs. It was through with a 24-0 record on the “Sometimes, it feels like it was so long before she returns to the side- before you that have made such an just fastballs spotted—high inside, mound and a Class LL softball title. long ago. Other times, it feels like it lines in volleyball. impact. To be listed with some of low inside, outside. She was very “That was the level of expecta- was yesterday.” “I love coaching because you them is just a great honor,” she powerful. There was no finesse. She tion. Nothing less was accepted,” She even had chances to play can see an athlete struggling with said. “I was crying when they came just blew it by them.” she said. “The coaches instilled multiple sports at the top collegiate something, and you can help them and told me. It was such a big part At the end of each season, she that in you, too. You weren’t going levels. For her first two years at to overcome it,” she said. “You get of my life, so it’s nice to be recog- moved on to the next one. She did- to just win a game. You were going Providence, the softball coach an athlete as a freshman, and you nized for it.” n’t need to specialize. to dominate a conference or make offered to fly her down to spring Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, August 10, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame If he builds it, they will come Joe LaPorte has spent 4 decades building youth sports By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER Southington Sports ne question can change your life. Just Hall of Fame O ask Joe LaPorte. In the late 1960s, he was standing in the shadows at Memorial Park, mind- Inside the Numbers ing his own business while his son Dan raced around the bases during • Southington Board of Park Commissioners a Little League tryout. The coach (1979-1984, 1989-present). sidled up to LaPorte with a devilish grin. “Can you help out?” he asked. • Chairman of the Board of Park Commissioners LaPorte watched the two (2000-2009). dozen boys running around the • Town Council (1985-1989). field. Did he know what he was • Recipient of a CT General Assembly citation getting himself into? Probably not, for his public service work (June 18, 2012). but he rolled up his sleeves and jumped in. • UNICO Gold Letter recipient. “I said that I wasn’t going to be • YMCA Person of the Year recipient. one of those fathers that gets all • First Annual Southington Chamber of Commerce involved, but then Danny got Public Service Award (2009). picked as a nine-year old,” said LaPorte. “I didn’t even want to get Coaching involved.” • Northern Little League coach and manager SUBMITTED (Grey Sox, 1969). Hall of Fame For the past 40 years, Joe LaPorte has been orchestrating • Served as manager of the Rotary Club Little League team. building projects and starting up leagues. • Coached the Rangers Babe Ruth baseball team. Two weeks later the coach was • Served as President of the Western Little League. reassigned to second shift, LaPorte time to do it, but every afternoon shift fields behind Derynoski • President of the Southington Youth Soccer League (1975). was thrust into the head coaching he was there working,” said Elementary School. The first year role, and it set in motion a career DellaVecchia. “What can you say attracted almost 180 kids, aged 9- Projects that has changed the town’s land- about Joe? When he gets into 14. The next year, the league scape with countless construction something, he’s totally involved. swelled to more than 300 boys and • Construction of the Western Little League sports complex. projects, hundreds of fundraising That’s what makes him what he is. girls. The next year drew 400 kids. • Construction of the Recreation Park soccer complex. drives, and thousands of meetings. When he takes on something, he The fourth year drew more than • Construction of the all-purpose field at the drive-in site He’s spent 30 years on the Board of doesn’t do it half. He’s 100 percent 600 boys and girls. which serves as an additional field for the Park Commissioners and two no matter what it is.” “I never expected it to grow to Southington Valley Midget Football League. terms on the Town Council. It quickly became clear that the extent that it did, but I knew That coaching job set the LaPorte was a great organizer, an that it would grow because we had Leagues/Clubs foundation for thousands of local excellent motivator, and wasn’t girls playing and a lot of other athletes, and it all started with a afraid to jump in to any project. leagues didn’t allow that yet,” he • Co-founded the Western Little League (1970). simple question posed by his son’s When his sons reached the high said. “Football was the only game • Co-founded the Southington Youth Soccer League (1975). coach. school, they turned to soccer. Once in town, but this allowed our kids • Founded the Southington Soccer Association (SSA) “Joe’s the most amazing per- again, LaPorte saw a need for another outlet. You didn’t really which now serves as the booster club for son that I’ve ever seen in the com- Southington’s kids, and he began need to know a lot. If you were the high school soccer team. munity. He’s always giving of him- to talk about it with anyone who’d willing to run and put in the effort, • Co-founded Southington Youth Wrestling (1985). self, and he’s never afraid to chal- listen. you could play soccer.” lenge you,” said John Fontana, a “I saw how far behind we were It didn’t take long for the start- former classmate, teammate, and in soccer because we had no feed- up league to outgrow the small costs kind of thing. They don’t have When the town purchased the fellow park board member. “If he er program,” he said. “Al Lederman facility. On Sundays, it was stand- to worry about titles or all-star former drive-in site, town officials thinks that it’s good for the kids of was the Superintendent of Schools, ing room only from dawn to dusk. teams or anything like that. He just turned to LaPorte once again. He this town, he’ll go to bat for them. and he had a kid growing up. He Once again, LaPorte’s league need- wanted to form a program where spearheaded the project to create You just can’t stop him.” said that we should start a youth ed a new home. Once again, he they could learn to play soccer. If an all-purpose field to be used as LaPorte quickly looked past league. We went to West Hartford rolled up his sleeves. This time, he they got to a point where they an additional field for one of the his own players to the many other and sat in on some of their soccer was able to secure an old dumping wanted to go further, that’s where town’s midget football leagues. Last local kids that didn’t have a chance league meetings. We got some ground at the back of Recreation the travel club came in.” June he was awarded a CT General to play Little League. With just two ideas, and we started a soccer Park. With that project finished, Assembly citation for his public local programs, the competition league in 1975.” “It was just a big pile of junk, LaPorte turned his sights to some- service. for positions was fierce. Cutting It didn’t bother LaPorte that he but we got it all removed. We got it thing new. Dave Kanute envi- “I just want to be remembered players was heartbreaking, so wasn’t an expert at soccer or any graded, seeded, and developed,” sioned a wrestling program as a as a guy that really loved this town, LaPorte did what any good volun- other sport for that matter. He still said LaPorte. “The cost to the town feeder program for Southington’s loved the people that were working teer would do. He started another champions himself as an all-con- was only $20,000, but it took a lot youth, so he turned to LaPorte. for it, and did the best I could to league. ference batting practice catcher for of work. Jiggy Egidio helped me Once again, there was no hesita- make it better,” he said. “I’ve never He joined forces with Don his two years as a backup to the out. Gene DeRosa lent us a bull- tion. been one to attend a meeting once Stepanek and Bill DellaVecchia. A backup catcher in the early 1950s. dozer, and we did it. The engineer- “He’s probably one of the best a month and approve the minutes. small baseball field became avail- It didn’t matter that his sons were ing department would come down supporters of sports, especially I’ve always been involved. Maybe able on Mill Street, and the trio too old to benefit from a feeder and give us the grades. Everyone since it’s all been volunteerism,” that’s one reason why I’ve been scrambled to form a third local program. It was a good idea, and helped out.” said Kanute. “He didn’t run paid around for so long. I’ve been reap- Little League. In 1970, the Western that’s all that mattered to LaPorte. Soon a soccer complex took clinics. It was never to further his pointed by Democrats, Little League opened its doors to “Our rules were meant to get shape with four playing fields with kids or anything else. It’s easy to Republicans. It doesn’t matter.” create even more opportunities for everyone involved,” he said. “We parking and room for spectators. get volunteers in kids sports when It was no surprise that com- Southington’s kids. shortened the fields because they Bob Swanson was one of the their kids are involved, but to have mittee members selected LaPorte Soon, the league outgrew their were kids. We had substitutions, league’s first coaches before he parents stay after they leave is into the Southington Sports Hall of small field. LaPorte and and we played quarters. Everybody took over the reigns years later. unusual. That’s Joe. He’s a tireless Fame as a booster. He was induct- DellaVecchia spearheaded a cam- had to play at least half the game He’s seen the local soccer program worker. It doesn’t matter if it’s ed during a ceremony at the Aqua paign to acquire a parcel of town provided that they went to the continue to grow with a club physical work, organization, or Turf on Thursday, Nov. 8. land on Spring Street to develop a practice. There were no champi- house, more fields, a travel soccer helping to raise some money. “I’m sort of disappointed that state-of-the-art complex. Armed onships. There were no standings. league, and a feeder program that When you talk about it and it I didn’t make it on my athletic abil- with just $6,000, the pair began the There were no all-star games and helped lift the Lady Knights to a needs to be done, there’s Joe.” ity,” he said with a laugh. “I’m hon- process of raising funds, gathering no banquets. We got criticized. state championship in 2002. That’s one reason why LaPorte ored. It puts me in with a lot of volunteers, and building the facili- Some people told us that the kids Swanson credits LaPorte as was drawn into local government. really great athletes, and I never ty that houses the league today. deserved trophies, but what kind the catalyst for all that followed. He served his first stint with the was a great athlete. Being associat- LaPorte rolled up his sleeves and of trophy did they deserve? They “He was the godfather,” he park board from 1979-1984. He ed with them is a great honor for led the crusade. deserve to play, have a good time, said. “He’s just a great guy, and he’s took a five year break before he me.” “I thought he was retired back and have good coaching. That’s very interested in kids. He wants was pulled in again, and he contin- Of course, without his contri- in those days because he was what’s important.” them to have fun and learn how to ues to serve through the present. butions, many of the other hall of always around. I found out later The recreational league grew play a sport. They don’t have to be LaPorte was appointed as chair- fame honorees might never have that he was in sales, so he had the by leaps and bounds on five make- involved in a having-to-win-at-all- man from 2000-2009. had the opportunity. Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, October 19, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Follow the Lleader Joe Llodra went from the O-line to the sideline

By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER Southington Sports efenders knew that Southington would Hall of Fame D come out throwing in the mid-1950s, but nobody could stop them. Opponents knew that Inside the Numbers Southington’s runners would be circling around the off-balanced Southington High School Football line, but no one could contain • Member of the Southington High School them. Southington’s opponents Class B champion team (1954). knew who they had to reach to • Earned 4 varsity letters (191954). stop the single-wing offense. The • Co-captain (1954). question was, how to do it? • All-State (1954). Joe Llodra was always in the way. He led the rush as the pulling Southington High School Track & Field guard and rolled over defenseman • Earned 3 varsity letters (1953, 1954, 1955). as running backs sprinted into the open field. He battered back blitzes UConn Football to free up the pass, but his name • Earned 3 varsity letters (1957, 1958, 1959). never graced a headline. • Went undefeated in the Yankee Conference (1957-1959). Llodra was Southington’s secret weapon. • Co-captain (1959). • All-Conference (1958). Hall of Fame Coaching • Western Massachussets State Champion (1973). “If he didn’t make a play, any •Retired on December 31, 2000. run to the outside was not going to 1960—UConn freshman line coach (football). be successful,” said former 1961—Southington High School assistant football coach. COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Southington High School standout 1962-1964—Greenwich High School varsity football, Joe Llodra’s career at Southington High School earned Ray Thorpe. “That pulling guard JV basketball, varsity baseball. position was probably the most him a scholarship to UConn which led to a coaching 1965—Adams High School (MA) football coach. career that spanned four decades. significant position in the single 1966—Drury High School (MA) football coach. wing, especially with our unbal- anced line. We always favored run- 1967-1969—Columbia University defensive line coach. that.” stepped in to save it. ning to the right.” 1970-1980—Chicopee Comp High School (MA) By the mid-1960s, “They were going under water. Joe Llodra was the key to Head football coach (10 years), Massachusetts lured the I think we only had something like everything that happened on the Girls track & field coach (6 years), Southington native across the bor- three swimmers, but we knew that field. An all-state guard on offense Swimming coach (6 years). der. He served as head football once you lost a program you’d and defense, Llodra was the 1990-1995—Faculty Manager at Chicopee HS. coach at Adams High School for never get it back,” he said. “I had unsung hero on every single play. 1995-2000—Athletic Director for Chicopee public schools. one season. He served as the coach them work hard, and we kept Southington went undefeated in at Drury High School in North attracting other kids. We even won 1954, and Llodra was the reason. Adams the following year. Soon, the division a couple of times— His teammates knew it. The fans freshman, and I think that speaks battled his way into the starting college coaches came calling again, both the boys and the girls, and knew it, and by the end of each volumes about him,” said Thorpe. lineup as UConn rallied for three and Llodra left the high school that was neat. It’s really all about game the losing team would know “He was a pretty big guy, but he undefeated seasons in the old ranks to try his hand at college the kids. They keep you young. You it. had a great understanding of the Yankee Conference. Once again, football. develop relationships, and that’s “Joe was a real leader,” said fundamentals. He was a tough Llodra blocked for the skill players. “I really wanted to be a college the best part about it.” Andy Meade, the quarterback on player, and he was strong. Then, he Once again, he rose past them to coach. That way, I could spend all Llodra spent six years as the Southington’s 1954 team. “Whether was a smart player and a good be named captain. Along the way, of my time on football. That was swimming coach at Chicopee it was practice, a game, or whatev- leader.” he continued to study the game of my love. It was the other woman in Comp. He spent six years with the er, he would just play his heart out. Llodra didn’t care what he had football from his perspective on the my life, but once I got up there I girls track team and 10 years with He was very vocal to stir the team to do. He just wanted to play. As a offensive line. When his playing hated it,” he said. “You couldn’t the football team. His reputation as on. It was constant. He played hard sophomore he served as quarter- time came to an end, Llodra wasn’t have warm feelings for a kid that a jack-of-all-trades helped open in practice and the game. He was back, a blocking position in the ready to walk away. couldn’t help you to win because, if the door for Llodra’s next career— just dominant.” single wing offense. As a junior, he “I liked football. I loved sports, you didn’t win, you’d get fired. In administration. Llodra said that he fell in love moved up to center because he so I thought I’d become a teacher my third year, I knew that some- Llodra moved across town to with the game of football long could spiral the ball better than any and a coach,” he said. “I thought thing was wrong. I mean, I love serve as faculty manager at before he arrived at the high blocker in the shotgun-style that coaching would be a neat football, but I hated that job. I was Chicopee High School from 1990 to school. He remembers scrambling offense, but it was his senior sea- thing to do. It was something I so unhappy that I decided to go 1995 and rose up to the level of through a make-shift game with his son as captain and pulling guard liked to do. I always figured that I back to high school.” athletic director for both Chicopee childhood friends using a potato that drew scouts to the small, blue- should do what I loved and love Once again, he packed up his programs in 1995. for a ball. He dreamed of playing at collar community. what I do. And I did.” family and returned to “The interesting part of Joe is the high school, and he still At 5 foot, 10 inches and In 1960, Llodra was named as Massachusetts. In 1970, he was how he changed with the times,” remembers fighting for the right to approaching 200 pounds, Llodra the freshman line coach at UConn hired as the varsity coach at said Chimelis. “As years passed, he play at his very first high school was the perfect size and speed for under former head coach Bob Chicopee Comprehensive High became more accepting of a differ- practice. most college programs. An assis- Engels. Over the next five years, he School, and he served with the ent philosophy among his kids— “Every day Jay Fontana would tant coach from Boston University coached at Southington High Chicopee school system through hair length is one example that open a bag and dumped a bunch showed interest. He was contacted School, Greenwich High School, his retirement in December 2000. comes to mind—yet without sacri- of helmets out on the ground, and by alumni from Brown and Holy and eventually moved to Boston Red Sox sports writer ficing the values of hard work and all the freshmen went in and start- Cross. Llodra had never considered Massachusetts when a head foot- Ron Chimelis was a student at the expectation of commitment. ed fighting for them,” he said. going to college, so the upperclass- ball coaching position opened up Chicopee Comp in 1970. “He came From an ‘old school’’ coach, he “There weren’t enough helmets for men threw himself into freshman at Adams High School, but Llodra in with a tough, no-nonsense, but became a respected modern coach, the freshmen, so if you got a hel- classes just to catch up. He attend- began to stretch his skills beyond fair reputation that under the cir- not an easy transition to make.” met you got to play at practice that ed morning and afternoon classes the gridiron. At Greenwich, he cumstances was very well It’s no surprise that the selec- day. At the end of the day, you put during Southington’s split sessions, coached the baseball team to their received,” he said. “Llodra built a tion committee chose Llodra for it back in the bag. There was a mes- and earned himself a scholarship first and only state title. In the win- winning attitude at Comp and induction into the Southington’s sage there. If you wanted to play, to Fordham University in New York. ters, he coached their freshman encouraged quality athletes to play Sports Hall of Fame. you had to be hungry.” “Rose Hill is a neat looking basketball team. the sport. In the early 1970s, he “Once you’re a Blue Knight, Llodra rarely missed a prac- campus in the middle of the Bronx. It didn’t matter what sports he reached one high school Super you’re always a Blue Knight,” said tice. By mid-season, he had worked You’d never know that you were in embraced, Llodra had a knack for Bowl and nearly another, and also Llodra. “It feels very good to be his way into the starting lineup as a a borough of the city, and I said coaching. “It’s how you relate to defeated Chicopee High twice after inducted into the hall of fame, but special team player. At the end of that this was where I wanted to go,” people,” he said. “Whether it’s Comp had lost to its cross town I’m really honored that they’re his freshman season, he had he said. “Shortly after that, they coaching or being an athletic direc- rival seven years in a row,” inducting the 1954 football team. already earned his first varsity let- dropped football. Where the heck tor, if people you are working with Once again, Llodra stretched That was certainly a special year in ter. was I supposed to go? I decided to know that you’re sincere and really his coaching skills beyond the foot- all of our lives.” “To my knowledge, he was the go to UConn.” care about them, you are going to ball field. When school officials On Thursday, Nov. 8, he will be only four-year letter guy at the It was a decision that changed have some success. IF you’re a threatened to disband the floun- honored in a ceremony at the Aqua time. He won a starting spot as a Llodra’s life. As a sophomore, he phony baloney, people will see dering swimming program, Llodra Turf. Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, October 12, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Southington Sports All in the family Hall of Fame John Fontana’s legacy goes beyond the wins Inside the Numbers By JOHN GORALSKI Coaching (Baseball) SPORTS WRITER • SHS varsity baseball coach (1962-2003). ohn Fontana voice caught • Overall record was 668-157. in his throat as he began • Ranked 20th nationally for career victories. J to talk about his first heart • Was ranked 5th nationally for winning percentage (.810). surgery and the overwhelming • Qualified for the state tournament 40 times. helplessness he felt as he scanned • 24 conference titles, state championship appearances. the channels on his tv. But a loud • 2 state titles (1994, 1999). knocking at his front door drew his • 192 players received college scholarships. attention, and he craned his neck to see who was visiting. • 24 conference titles. Into the room stepped Carl • Had seven former players competing in the National Division Pavano. Just a few hours earlier the I & II College World Series (1991). former Blue Knight was pitching on a Florida mound, yet here he Professional Affiliations was in the living room of his high • National HS Coaches Assoc. (President from 1992-1993, school coach. Fontana’s eyes welled Chairman in 1988, 1996, 2002-2004). up as he recalled that day. • CT HS Coaches Association(president from 1978-1979, “His mother told him that I Executive Board from 1966-1988, was sick, so he flew up,” Fontana Executive Director since 1988). said. “He stayed with me for two • CT High School Basketball Referees Assoc. and a half hours, and we talked • Chairman of CHSCA All-State baseball/softball (since 1980). baseball. Then, he had to hurry back to the airport for a 5:00 flight. • Collegiate Basketball Official Association. People can talk about Pavano all • Southington Park & Recreation Commission (Since 2008). they want. He was great to me.” • Co-chairman for the CT Special Olympics (1974-1979). • Muscular Dystrophy Fund Raising Drive for CT (1962-1969). Hall of Fame SUBMITTED John Fontana still ranks among the top 20 in the nation Honors for wins as a baseball coach. • CT Jaycees State PHycial Fitness Award (1969). He’s gruff. He’s opinionated, • CT Umpires Association Award (1974). and he’s stern. He’s been criticized, had a chance to play in other areas. his first days on the job. It was his • CT High School Coach of the Year (1975). battled, and revered. Critics have I think it helped give our kids the uncle, a legendary coach in football • American Assoc of College Baseball Coaches Association charged that the former Blue perspective of looking at other and baseball. The rest of the coach- Coach of the Year (1976). Knight was only concerned about schools,” said Lantiere. “We used to es in the high school had resumes • Outstanding Service Award CT Basketball Officials winning, but his players tell a dif- draw coaches from colleges in the that listed multiple state titles and Association (1980). ferent story. Record books are filled area like Florida Southern, Tampa, coaching honors, but the young with his accomplishments on the and others. They’d come to watch Fontana threw down the gauntlet. • District and National HS Baseball Coach of the Year (1983). field, but it’s the ones that hap- us practice and talk about some of He remembers boasting that • Coached Team USA vs. Japan (1987). pened behind closed doors that he his players. Even some professional people were going to forget about • CT High School Coaches Hall of Fame (1987). cherishes. scouts would come out to see peo- football in this town now that he • SHS Baseball Hall of Fame (1988). When asked about his legacy, ple like Carl Pavano and Rob was the king of the diamond. • Gold Key Award from the CT Sports Writers Alliance (1989). Fontana shrugged off his record. Dibble. He gave the kids a great Baseball would be No. 1. A smile • Gatorade Coaches Care Award (1992). He waved off his state titles, hon- opportunity to show what they spread across his uncle’s face, but • Outstanding Contributions to HS Baseball Award ors, and designations. Fontana had. Immeasurable good was Fontana remembers a brusque from MLB scouts (1990). pointed to a small array of photo- done, and it was all for the kids.” compliment hurled his way in a car • American Baseball Coaches Association National graphs that line the wall of his It didn’t matter if it was his ride a few years later. basement of former players player or not. Other coaches would The baseball team had just Coach of the Year (1993). dressed in college uniforms and call for help. Parents would seek enjoyed a huge crowd for a night • NHSCA Dwight Keith Award (1996). major league attire. Not a single him out, and opponents would call game. The stands were packed. • American Baseball coaches Association one of them is wearing the familiar him up between seasons. Concessions were jumping, and Hall of Fame (1999). Southington blue and white. “People didn’t know that he the parking lot was full. • CIAC Merit Award (2003). It’s what they did after gradua- spent just as much time with kids “I never thought I’d see it,” his • NHSCA citation for contribution to HS sports (2007). tion that Fontana is most proud that weren’t his players, particularly uncle started… • CIAC baseball tournament dedicated to him (2008). about. In his 41-year career, with girls softball,” said Lantiere. Fontana always gave his critics • American International College Sports Hall of Fame (2011). Fontana secured scholarships for “All you had to do was go to him reasons to condemn him. From the 192 Southington players. In 1991, and ask for help. He had contacts brash boast to his uncle to his he watched seven former Knights everywhere. He even helped my quotes in the press, Fontana would team. I suspended them, and did Those aren’t second class pro- competing in college world series daughter to get into college to play ruffle feathers, but he always everything else. On the other side grams.” games. Former players like Rob softball. If you were an athlete, he seemed to back it ups. When Tom of the coin, when you came to our Fontana approached the game Dibble and Carl Pavano have knew somebody you could talk to.” Garry pitched a perfect game in his practices we’d have more laughs as if it was a puzzle that only he become household names, but “John has connections all over coaching debut, Fontana was quot- than anybody else,” he said. “I could solve. He took risks in the Fontana points out that 17 of his the country. He knows everybody. I ed as saying, “What’s so tough think that if I needed help, 99 per- outfield to give his teams a chance Knights went on to compete in the mean everybody,” said Jim Senich, about this?” When his team failed cent of my ballplayers would be to throw out runners on the bases. professional ranks with four former sports writer and editor at to make the tournament the fol- here tomorrow. I believe that. I He drew up trick plays with misdi- advancing to the major leagues. The Southington Observer. “He lowing year, he answered that with have faith in them. I had faith in rection that caught runners in their “That lets me know that we could call any school, and they’d a streak of 39 straight postseason them then, and I still do now.” tracks. They’d practice until it did something right,” he said. “I listen to him. He had connections appearances that continued Like him or not, you didn’t became second nature. On game know that there are people out with major league scouts. He through his retirement in 2003. want to face his teams. That’s day, they’d execute to perfection. there that think that I would have knows every reporter from around “When John took over the because few teams were as prac- At retirement, Fontana had a done anything for a win, but I hope the state. He knows their home baseball team it didn’t take him ticed on game day. They ran trick career winning percentage (.810) that there are people that will phone numbers. He knows their long to get it going, but it took him plays. They hit in pressure situa- that was ranked fifth in the nation. remember me as a guy that cared extensions, and he’s always on a long time to win a state title and tions, and they rarely made mis- He still ranks in the top 20 for wins about my kids—all of them. Did I good terms. Everybody knew about people held that against him,” said takes. That’s one reason why col- as a varsity baseball coach (668) have some guys that were upset Southington. In New London, they Senich. “I remember that there was lege coaches flocked to his prac- with 24 conference championships with me? Yeah, but I hope the knew about Southington. In a luncheonette downtown with a tices just to get a look at his up- and a pair of state titles. majority of them think that I was Greenwich, they knew about real wise guy. Every time I’d go and-coming talent. He was an easy choice for the there to make them better as men. Southington. He was an expert, down there for breakfast he’d ask “I got to Florida Southern selection committee for We tried to stress the right things to and he’s still going today like nuts.” me, ‘How’s that great coach doing? without them even having a Southington’s Sports Hall of Fame. do, and that was more important Of course, none of that mar- How many state titles has he won?’ chance to see me play, and to get On Thursday, Nov. 8, he was than the victories.” keting would matter if Fontana John said that it didn’t bother him, the kind of scholarship that I got inducted at the Aqua Turf. Mike Lantiere worked as an wasn’t a winning coach, and but it had to.” was a tribute to how great he really “When I get awards, it’s unpaid assistant to Fontana for Fontana seemed to back up every Fontana said that it never was as a coach,” said former Blue because somebody recognized that almost half his career, and he said outlandish boast. Right from the crossed his mind. He was only wor- Knight Cris Allen. “If he said that a we did something right,” he said. that Southington’s success at the start, his cockiness raised eye- ried about his players. He commit- guy was good, they took it to heart. “That’s why I worked so hard to get next level was no surprise. Nobody brows. Even the established coach- ted himself to being demanding Either things have changed really kids into college. Those kids played worked harder to promote their es at Southington High School but fair. He made them sign dramatically, or we’re talking about for me. They gave it their all kids. Fontana distributed almost raised eyebrows at their young hot- responsibility contracts in the start one of the greatest high school because, to play for me, you had to 300 Blue Knight programs to col- shot newcomer. of the season, and he would kick icons in the country. I believe that work your tail off. We drilled the leges across the nation. Each But Fontana’s biggest accom- his best player off the team if they because of what he did for me and hell out of them seven days a week. spring, he orchestrated trips to plishment was his ability to turn didn’t behave well off the field. some of the other players that I I appreciated all of it.” Florida to showcase his talent. critics into fans. He remembers “Nobody was stricter disci- played with. We had one kid go to Now they get to return the “He did it all just so the kids addressing the athletic director in pline-wise. I threw kids off the LSU. One went to South Carolina. favor. Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, November 2, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Chief of the diamond Phil D’Agostino set the standard for Southington baseball

By JOHN GORALSKI could go to his left and his SPORTS WRITER Southington Sports right. He could hit and run t 16 years old, the bases. It was no sur- Phil D’Agostino Hall of Fame prise that the Brooklyn A sat on his front Dodgers wanted to snatch porch and cried as two men up the Southington phe- destined to be major league Inside the Numbers nom. D’Agostino was one general managers walked of the best in the state. away with his dreams. January 16, 1929 - January 1, 2008 “Phil D’Agostino could D’Agostino’s mother still do it all,” former Lewis stood guard at the front • Offered major league contract by the High School coach Joe door, and his father never Fontana told The left the kitchen table. Brooklyn Dodgers. Southington Observer The scouts had come • Inducted into the Southington High School when D’Agostino was with a contract for Baseball Hall of Fame (1983). inducted to the high school Southington’s future chief • Founder and player for the Southington baseball hall of fame in of police, but D’Agostino’s 1983. “He could hit, field parents never let them in Sotons in the 1940s. and run. We had some the door. great teams in those years, SHS Baseball and Phil was a major rea- Hall of Fame • Earned 4 varsity letters son.” (1944, 1945, 1946, 1947) Nobody would have • Career batting average over .350. known if to speak to him. “I remember her D’Agostino built a baseball standing in the doorway, SHS Football diamond in the back of his and saying, ‘No. No way. He • Earned 2 varsity letters (1945, 1946). parent’s house. He taught can’t play. He’s got to all three of his sons to play work,’” said Lou DePaolo, a the game and sat quietly on childhood friend. “That was the sidelines as they fought COURTESY OF THE SOUTHINGTON POLICE DEPT the immigrant style. You their way onto all-star Long before Phil D’Agostino worked his way up had to work, and baseball teams. He loved to watch to Southington’s police chief, he earned inter- was just a game. It just the game. He could quote est from Major League Baseball scouts. broke him up. I sat with Phil D’Agostino could do it all. statistics on almost any him on his outside steps. I “ player in the major leagues, Yankees, but he never really Even today, the former He could hit, field and run. tried to comfort him, but he but D’Agostino rarely spoke pushed us to go out for the Chief of Police is known just cried…” We had some great teams about his own days on the team or anything. He never more for his stolen bases It might seem ludi- diamond. bragged about himself.” than for catching people crous by today’s standards in those years, His sons learned about “ D’Agostino let every- stealing. That’s why it’s no to let a major league con- and Phil was a major reason. their father when old body else do the bragging, surprise that members of tract slip from your fingers. timers would approach and he let his own perform- the selection committee But as young men traveled them in town. ance do the talking. He was selected D’Agostino to be overseas to fight in World Pat D’Agostino remem- known from driving long inducted into the War II, it was a decision bers hearing the compar- homeruns onto the house Southington Sports Hall of that D’Agostino’s parents isons each time he drove a at the back of Pexto Field Fame. never questioned. Since it long ball past the outfield- Jay Fontana, during Southington pick- He was inducted took both of their signa- ers at Recreation Park. “I’d Former Lewis HS up games. He batted over posthumously in a ceremo- tures to enroll their son in hit one all the way to the baseball coach .300 in each of his seasons ny at the Aqua Turf on the minor leagues, the trees, and I remember peo- at the high school, although Thursday, Nov. 8. scouts were forced to return ple saying, ‘You hit like most of his exploits are lost “He would have liked D’Agostino grew up in was a football powerhouse, to Brooklyn empty handed. your dad,” he said. “I never to history because coverage this. It would have brought the 1930s, and Southington knocking off big schools as Baseball’s loss was knew how good he was, but of the war and rationing of a smile to his face,” said his was yet to be known for if they were midget teams. Southington’s gain. After I can remember him hitting resources made high school son, Pete. “My mother’s anything other than base- Local sports fans champi- trying his hand at construc- that ball in the back yard. It baseball articles scarce in really excited about it. It’s ball. These days, the town oned NFL players like Jack tion and other pursuits, the would go way, way out to the 1940s. an honor.” boasts the distinction of Zilly, but D’Agostino began young D’Agostino traded the outfield.” Still, his legend grew. his baseball mitt for a being the only community to turn the conversation. Pete D’Agostino badge, and the rest was his- in the state to graduate a “In that era, it was all remembers searching tory. pair of World Series cham- about football,” said through old scorebooks Still, the debate lingers pions. Last year, Secondo. “Everybody would from the Southington on… Southington was the only talk about the football play- Police Department’s soft- In that era, it was all about football. “Had he had the town in Connecticut to ers. Nothing else really mat- ball teams, and his father’s opportunity, I think he boast two players in the tered, but Phil was an statistics were always some Everybody“ would talk would have been a very major leagues. exception. He came before of the best. It was D’Agostino that Mike Mauro and all the rest about the football players. good ballplayer,” said “My father never “ DePaolo. “How great I don’t set that standard in the of those great guys in base- bragged or told us any big Nothing else really mattered, know, but I’m sure that he 1940s. ball. He was the first to get stories about how he hit,” would have been good. Former sports writer a lot of attention for base- said Pete. “We’d always hear but Phil was an exception. Whenever you matched and Southington native Art ball, and everybody used to from some of the coaches him up against the teams Secondo remembers over- say that he was such a nat- or the older guys about he played, he was outstand- hearing conversations as a ural athlete.” how good our dad was. ing. The guys that he played child, and D’Agostino’s The Southington short- They’d always tell us how Art Secondo, with were all good ballplay- name was always mingled stop was described as a good of a shortstop he was. Former Southington sports writer ers, but he always stood amidst a long list of football jackrabbit on the bases They’d always say that he out.” stars. Lewis High School with a shotgun arm. He could have played for the Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, September 21, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Southington Sports The Leader of the Pack Hall of Fame Rick Black set the pace for a cross country title Inside the Numbers By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER Cross Country he Greek god • Class LL Cross Country Champion (1983, 1984) Hermes was said • Member of the 1984 Southington High School to streak across T Class LL championship team. the heavens in a barely visi- I“ hope ble blur. The Romans called • Member of the 1984 Southington High School him Mercury and lent his kids say that, state open championship team. name to our fastest planet. • Earned 3 varsity letters (1982, 1983, 1984). In paintings and sculptures, if I could rise up • All Conference (1982, 1983, 1984) he’s shown with wings upon to those levels • All State (1982, 1983, 1984) his feet. In myths and • Set home course record (15:35) in 1983. poems, he’s described as and reach • Competed at the Kinney Cross Country having the wind at his heels. regional championship (1984). Southington’s version outside myself, • Competed at the Cross Country national was Rick Black, and his sto- they can“ ries are just as legendary. He championship (1984). blew through town in the do it too. early 1980s, collecting four Outdoor Track & Field varsity letters when track • Holds the SHS record in the 3200m (9:12.5). was a three year varsity pro- • Set the state record in the 1500m (3:54.08) gram. He captured two Class in the last year the distance was run (1984). LL titles in cross country and • Earned 4 varsity letters. paced his teammates to Rick Black, • Captured Class LL titles in the 1500m (1983) Southington’s only state title 2012 Hall of Fame and the 3000m (1984). as a long distance team. inductee • All Conference (1983, 1984, 1985) Wings on his feet? Not quite. Legend has it that Rick • All State (1983, 1984, 1985). Black didn’t need them. Northeastern University distance dreams. For two Hall of Fame years, he competed with the • Earned 4 varsity letters in cross country Patriots until the town (1984, 1986, 1987, 1988). slashed the junior high • Earned 4 varsity letters in indoor track “He was just a great kid, school program at the start (1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89). and it was almost pathetic of his ninth grade season. • Earned 4 varsity letters in outdoor track he was so easy to coach. He Not one to give up, (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989). was serious about what he Black petitioned the school • Finished 3rd overall at the 1989 Amerca East was doing, and it was his board to be allowed to com- Conference Championship (25:23). passion,” said former Blue pete with the high school • America East Indoor Track & Field champion Knight track and cross coun- team. He begged them try coach Wayne through the fall and pleaded in the 1500m (3:56.09 in 1989). FILE PHOTO Nakoneczny. “There’s no his case all winter. Finally, • Qualified for 2 NCAA Division I finals question that he was talent- they relented. In the spring Rick Black paced the Blue Knights to their only in cross country (1987, 1988). ed. He couldn’t have done of his freshman year, Black cross country state championship in 1984. what he did without the joined the Blue Knights one beat a person that you might cross country, indoor track, physical ability, but he year ahead of schedule. As a sophomore he won paced a group of runners to have thought was untouch- and outdoor track. In 1989, would have probably just That was the spring the Class LL title in the the top of the state rankings. able before. That was my his team was devastated by been an average runner if it where he met his cross 1500m (4:09.8) and as a As a sophomore, Black biggest challenge.” injuries. Despite the chal- wasn’t for his diligent work. country teammates, a group member of the 4x100m relay broke into the top 20 at the Barriers never stopped lenge, he narrowly missed He worked so hard.” of long distance runners team. As a junior he cap- Class LL championships and Black. As a senior, he paced qualifying for his third In fact, Nakoneczny from St. Thomas Junior High tured the Class LL title in the pushed past a big field of his teammates to national championship, said that Black was one of School. They had risen to the 3000m (8:43.24) and eclipsed upperclassmen to claim 13th Southington’s first and only missing the cutoff for the the only athletes that he ever top of the Catholic school his winning time in the at the state open. As a junior, team championship at the finals by less than one sec- had to send home to rest. ranks, and Black was the 1500m by nearly 30 seconds Black captured the Class LL Class LL race. He continued ond. Black had just tied a state final piece of the puzzle. It (3:54.08) to set a new state cross country title (15:27). In into the state open, where “I had a good college record at the Class LL meet set the stage for their rise to record in the final year of his senior season, Black won he led them to the Blue career,” he said. “It wasn’t as a junior, and he showed the top of the varsity ranks. that event. As a senior, Black the Class LL race again, par- Knights’ only cross country great. It wasn’t as good as I up on the track the following “I actually got to meet fought off early season ing almost 30 seconds off his state title. When the dust wanted, but I ran some good Monday to prepare for the the coach and train with him injuries to place second in time (15:01) to claim back- had settled on his high races. I ran some bad races, state open race. The heat in ninth grade, so when I the 3200m in both the Class to-back titles. school career, Black’s teams and I ran everything in continued to build, but actually went up to the high LL and state open races. He finished in the top had earned an impressive between. It was a good expe- Black wouldn’t quit. school we already had the Almost three decades five at the state open in each 39-1 record in dual meets rience. I finished my eligibil- Nakoneczny remembers same core of runners—the later, his time in the 3200m of his last two seasons. and finished as No. 1 in the ity. It was pretty grueling, but throwing in the towel on that Cavaliers, the Theriaults, and (9:12.5) is still the school “I think what some- state. I did it.” Memorial Day practice. Marty Burns,” Black said. record. times happens with runners “People said that we With his long distance “I actually told him that “We had run together as “Set your goals high. is that you get into the off- were the best team in about success in high school and he had to back off a little freshmen even though they Break down your goals into season, and you kind of get 20 years. Our score was a 99, college, it was no surprise bit,” the coach remembered. had gone to St. Thomas small steps, and do it,” he lazy or lackadaisical after a and that was unheard of at that Black was selected to “It was a hot day. It was a Junior High School, and I said. “Stay focused because, good season,” Nakoneczny the time,” said Black. “It was represent the town in the tough workout. We were on went to DePaolo. They were if I can do it, there are plenty said. “He wasn’t like that. He a great team. In fact, I would Southington Sports Hall of the track, and it was right actually faster than I was, so of kids that can do it. That’s just kept running. He argue that I wasn’t the best Fame. On Thursday, Nov. 8, before the outdoor state I was lucky that they didn’t they key thing. I hope kids trained, and he had a great runner on the team. I ran he was inducted in a cere- meet. He did some reps, and really run my event. Had I say that, if I could rise up to attitude. He wanted to work, the fastest, but there were mony at the Aqua Turf in I’m talking about half mile ran the distance races they those levels and reach out- and he did it.” some really talented guys on Plantsville. reps that were incredible. He did, they would have proba- side myself, they can do it Black said that he was that team. There were a cou- “I was kind of surprised. was sucking eggs at the end bly beaten me.” too. That’s the most impor- surprised by his success, ple of them with more raw My first thought was that I of the workout, but he was Even if that was true, it tant thing that coach taught especially in his first season talent than I had.” wish my legs were in as good eating it up. He wouldn’t didn’t take long for Black to us. He taught us to set goals, when he overtook runners Black wasn’t done after shape as the memories of quit.” rise to the top. He earned a dig deep, and strive for that he had looked up to for graduation. The Southington the guys on the committee,” Black was a runner. He varsity letter in the 1500m as things that are bigger than years. harrier earned a scholarship he said. “I hope that people wasn’t interested in anything a freshman and swept into ourselves.” “One of the trickiest to Northeastern University respected me as a competi- else. As a kid he played base- the lead by start of his soph- Black graduated as one things to do is to beat people where he collected 12 varsity tor. As an athlete, I gave it all ball and tried soccer, but it omore season. Black cap- of the most accomplished that are heroes for you,” he letters over his college I could. I would have always was the running that really tured all-conference titles in track runners in school his- said. “It takes a certain career. An injury sidelined loved to have done better, captured his imagination. By each of the next three sea- tory, but it was his cross mindset, and it’s as much him as a sophomore, but but I put all that I had into it. the time he reached DePaolo sons and claimed all-state country accomplishments mental as it is physical. You Black made up that season I don’t have any regrets. I’m Junior High School, Black titles as a sophomore, a jun- that really pushed him over have to overcome the barri- in his fifth year at school to just amazed that people had committed to his long ior, and a senior. the top. For three years, he er, so that you can actually finish with four letters in remember it.” Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, August 3, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Blitzing Bobby Rob Thomson was always hard to stop By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER Southington Sports t’s hard to believe, but the Knights had gone almost a Hall of Fame I full decade without back- to-back winning seasons when coaches welcomed the sophomore Inside the Numbers class in 1983. That didn’t escape the notice of coaches as they surveyed •Earned a free agent tryout with the NE Patriots (1991). prospects in the preseason. Suddenly, a deafening crash Southington High School echoed across the field, and former Football assistant coach Brian Stranieri still remembers seeing Rob Thomson •Member of the SHS Class L-I runner up team (1984). hovering over a fallen teammate. •3 varsity letters (1983, 1984, 1985). •Captain (1985). Hall of Fame •All-conference (1984, 1985). •Scholar Athlete Award (1985). •Most Valuable Player (1985). “We were doing a defensive drill, and here was this skinny Career (1983-85)—136 points (22 TDs). 19 rushing TDs, young man sneaking into the line 2 blocked punts returned for TDs, 1 interception for a TD, to make hits,” said Stranieri. “A few 2 extra-point conversions, 9 TD passes. minutes later, he gets a hit again. A few minutes later, he did it again. Basketball That’s when I started thinking, how • Varsity letter (1983). COURTESY OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY does a skinny kid like that keep get- • Starting forward as a sophomore (1983). Former Blue Knight football player Rob Thomson leads a ting to the line?” Syracuse blitz during his All-American season in 1989. Southington was in transition Outdoor Track when Thomson arrived at the high • Varsity letter (1983). history of football just like team to a 7-4 record and another school in the mid 1980s. Memories • All-conference (1983). Southington High School did. I bowl appearance. Thomson gradu- of the storied teams of the 40s and • Qualified for state meet in 100m, 200m (1983). really wanted to be a part of that as ated as the first Orangeman to the 50s were fading, and the small, they tried to rebuild.” compete in four bowl games. blue collar town was expanding by Syracuse University Football At the time, the Orangemen “We went 3-0-1,” he said. “We leaps and bounds. Practice fields •4-year varsity player (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990). were at a low spot with nine losing only had that one tie in my sopho- were disappearing with housing records over the last 15 seasons and more year. We capped it off by beat- •Captain (1990). developments taking their place. just two bowl appearances in 20 ing Arizona, 28-0, in the Aloha Then came Thomson. •Defensive MVP of East-West years, so Thomson was the perfect Bowl, and that was pretty special.” “Rob had a drive right from Shrine Game (1990). fit. Once again, he would help a With his dominance at that first day in preseason camp. •UPI All-America Honorable Mention (1989). team return to prominence. Syracuse, it was no surprise that He was the consummate student- •District II Academic All-American (1989). He worked his way into the Thomson was recruited to many of athlete. He was great at academics, •Ranked 10th nationally with interceptions (7 in 1989). lineup as a freshman and Syracuse the top senior bowl games. He a great athlete, and a great human •Walter Camp CT College Player of the Year (1990). rallied to an 11-0 regular season played in the Japan Bowl and was being,” said Stranieri. “When I look and a tie against Auburn in the crowned as the Defensive MVP in back at the student-athletes we’ve CAREER STATISTICS Sugar Bowl. As a sophomore, he the East-West Shrine Game. Brett had over the last 30 years at 1987—1 tackle, 2 assists, 3 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, helped the team rally to a 10-2 Favre was the offensive MVP. Southington High School, Rob 1 fumble recovery. record and a win over Louisiana “It was fun. Every four players Thomson is one of the best.” 1988—7 tackles, 4 assists, 11 total tackles. State in the Hall of Fame Bowl. shared a rental car for the week, That doesn’t come as a sur- 1989—46 tackles, 34 assists, 80 total tackles, Thomson wasn’t a star yet, but he and I shared my car with Brett prise to his teammates. Few players 7 interceptions, one forced fumble, one blocked kick. earned a varsity letters both years. Favre, Browning Nagle—a guy that have matched Thomson’s success 1990—50 tackles, 29 assists, 79 total tackles,1 interception, “I played behind an All- played for the Jets—and John at any level, and success seemed to American, Markus Paul, but I was Flannery who played in the NFL for 3 recovered fumbles, 1 blocked field goal. follow him from the start. His able to get enough playing time to a long time,” he said. “It was great. I midget teams won. He led a string Coaching (Football) letter all four years,” he said. “That got to hang out with those guys all of hard-hitting squads at DePaolo doesn’t happen too much up week.” Junior High School as the quarter- 1992-1993—Univ. New Haven. Regular season record 20-0. there.” His performance earned him a back and the leading the blitzer. Postseason record 3-2. 2 undefeated seasons (1992, 1993). Once again, Thomson’s broke tryout with the New England Others switched sports with the 1994-2001—Bristol Central. Head coach for 4 seasons, out as a junior. In 1989, he finished Patriots, but he was cut as a free changing seasons, but Thomson Assistant coach for 3 seasons. fourth on the team with 80 tackles agent at the start of the season. never strayed far from the gridiron. 2010-Present—Southington High School Assistant Coach and was ranked 10th nationally Rather than give up on the sport, “I think it was a lot different with 7 interceptions. Syracuse ral- Thomson turned to coaching. He than it is today. We just seemed to straight shutouts at the start of a 10-0 record, but they were outlast- lied to an 8-4 record and a victory led the University of New Haven play the three main sports—foot- season, but Thomson’s defense ed by Glastonbury in the state over Georgia in the Peach Bowl on football team to a pair of undefeat- ball, basketball, and baseball,” he started with five. With a 27-6 win championship game. New Year’s Day. Thomson was ed seasons before taking the helm said. “When I got older there was over Maloney in week six, they “I’ve often wondered if we named as a UPI All-America at Bristol Central where he helped track, but my focus was always moved to No. 1 in the state polls. would have won if Rob Thomson Honorable Mention and was a develop Tim Washington into a football. The other sports were real- Once again, Thomson was the was able to play defensive back that District II Academic All-American. record setting rusher. ly just something to do in the off- starting quarterback and the one day,” said Stranieri. “He was always Suddenly, he was thrust into Thomson coached Mike Drury season to help me train. Football leading the blitz. in on the tackle. If anybody got past the spotlight with postgame inter- during his high school tenure, and was always my primary sport.” “We were very aggressive, and our front seven, I was always confi- views and magazine covers, but the that was one reason why Drury It didn’t take long for the lanky we blitzed a lot. We put a lot of dent that Rob would make the play. Southington native took it all in recruited his former coach to the sophomore to earn his starting pressure on teams. We had a pretty I think we could have won.” stride. He spent his mornings in sidelines last year when he took spot, and by the end of his sopho- good secondary, so we were able to Southington wasn’t able to get class, his afternoons working out in over the Blue Knight football pro- more year Thomson was already a man-up teams to send the pres- back to that level the following year, the weight room and the practice gram. Now Thomson has come full crucial part of an emerging sure,” he said. “We had good speed, but the 6-5 record finally broke the field, and his evenings watching circle. defense. The team struggled to a 3- and guys just flew around to the drought with Southington’s first films and going to study hall. “One of the things that makes 6-1 record, but they’d already football. It was fun. We created a lot back-to-back winning season in 10 “I think that your first couple him such a great coach is that he turned the corner. of turnovers and sacks, and we years and started a new winning of years sort of preps you for it. You has the ability to find ways to do “It was almost all seniors on weren’t on the field too long.” era that continues today. With suc- see the other guys going through it, things that are intricate but easy for offense and all underclassmen on Then, it all came crashing to a cess came the scouts, and it didn’t and you learn from them,” he said. a high school kid to understand,” defense,” he said. “That really set halt. In a match-up against Bristol take long for the 6-foot-3 senior to “There is so much game prepara- said Drury. “He came in during the the stage for our defense in my jun- Central, Thomson was twisted up announce his decision to play for tion at that level that people don’t preseason of my junior year, and he ior year. We all sort of went both on an offensive play. He ran up the Syracuse in a year that saw only really understand it. We were work- installed an offense in something ways that year, and we had a very, middle, fell back on his hand, and three other Connecticut players ing six days a week in the off-sea- like three days. It was so intricate, very dominant defense.” left the game with a dislocated and recruited to a division I program. son. During the regular season, and we had a 3,000 yard rusher. All It didn’t take long for the press fractured wrist. At the time, he “It’s a really tiring process. You you’re working seven days a week.” the blocking schemes and every- to start making comparisons to accounted for 50 percent of the want to talk to all the schools. I Thomson was now a leader. As thing were put in over just three Southington’s storied teams of the team’s offense, and the Knights even got involved with the Ivy a senior, he was the one calling out days, and that was incredible.” past. The Knights opened the sea- never recovered from the loss. League schools even though they the checks and formations in a Thomson was an easy choice son with shutouts over Rockville, Southington held on for the didn’t offer scholarships,” he said. “I sophisticated defensive scheme. He for the Southington Sports Hall of Bulkeley, Fermi, Newington, and win against Bristol. They over- really wanted to challenge myself didn’t match his interception total Fame selection committee. He was Bristol Eastern. No previous team whelmed a pair of lesser opponents to go to a division one school, and from his junior season, but he col- inducted at the Aqua Turf on thurs- had been able to collect three to finish the season with a perfect Syracuse had such a phenomenal lected 79 tackles to help lead the day, Nov. 8. Reprinted from The Southington Observer Friday, August 24, 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Pitching Perfection Tracy Ciosek-Beloin never lost as a Knight By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER Southington Sports racy Beloin—or Tracy Ciosek as she’s remem- Hall of Fame Tbered by Lady Knight fans—almost missed the 1986 championship basketball game Inside the Numbers with a severe back problem, so nobody expected her to carry the Southington High School team on her shoulders. Rockville’s game plan was Softball working. A box-and-one defense • Member of 3 Class LL championship teams (1985-87). held Tracy to just one basket in the • Three varsity letters (1985, 1986, 1987). opening quarter. A relentless attack • All-conference (1985, 1986, 1987). held her to just three scores in the • All-state (1986, 1987). opening half, but Southington opened an almost insurmountable PITCHING STATISTICS lead by the break. • Overall record, 48-0. Nobody thought they needed CAREER—0.39 ERA, 10 no-hitters, 30 shutouts, 2 perfect her scoring until Southington’s col- games, 10 no-hitters, 329 strikeouts, 320 innings pitched. lapse after the break. The lopsided Tracy Ciosek-Beloin still ranks among the top five at the lead shrank to just three points. BATTING STATISTICS University of Hartford in two single season categories Coaches screamed for Ciosek. Fans 1985—.386 average, 44 at bats, 17 runs, and six career categories. screeched for their junior scorer, 13 hits, 2 doubles, 3 strikeouts, 14 walks. ball, and softball. It was here that a great hitting team. My parents and her teammates begged her to 1986—.333 batting average, 34 RBI. score. Ciosek called for the ball. she began to mingle with other were very supportive, and we had 1987—.286 batting average, 77 at bats, 37 runs, 22 hits, female athletes to lay the f tion for great coaches. It wasn’t just me.” 4 doubles, 6 triples, 2 homeruns, 8 strikeouts, 16 walks, their high school dominance. Scouts began to appear in the Hall of Fame 4-for-4 stolent bases. “She didn’t really get a lot of crowd as Tracy continued to man- Girls Basketball instruction,” said Piazza. “There handle opponents. She worked her “She fired four times. Bang. wasn’t a lot of summer activity back way into a pair of all-state rosters in • Member of 2 Class LL championship teams (1986, 1987) Bang. Bang. Bang,” wrote former then, and kids like Tracy were basketball and a pair of all-state ros- Southington Observer sports writer • Captain (1986-1987). involved in two or three sports. ters in softball. Ciosek-Beloin could Jim Senich. “Rockville was history. • Class LL Tournament MVP (1986). Tracy was the type of kid that would have her pick of division one pro- Southington High School’s girls bas- • All-state (1987). play basketball during basketball grams, but she settled on the ketball team was a state champion • All-state honorable mention (1986). season, play softball during softball University of Hartford. The Hawks in the Class LL division.” • All conference (1986, 1987). season, and if she decided to play were a struggling division one pro- Tracy was crowned as the tour- volleyball, that’s all she would do gram at the time, but Tracy chose it nament’s MVP. Her photo was during volleyball season. She didn’t for academic reasons. University of Hartford do all that extra work. She was just a “Do I regret not going to splashed across the state’s media, • Hartford Hawks Athletic Hall of Fame (2008). and her name was scrawled across natural athlete, but you’d never UConn or one of the schools down the headlines. SHS coach Joe Softball know it by looking at her.” south? Yeah, a little bit,” she said. “I Daddio bragged about his star. • Captain (1990). When she arrived at the high wish I had a little bit more of that “The girls sensed right away • 4 varsity letters (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991). school, Tracy quickly rose to the top athletic experience, but I never once again. She battled her way regretted going to the University of Tracy would win the game for them TOP 5 IN 2 SINGLE SEASON CATEGORIES when she hit her first shot,” he told onto the varsity basketball roster as Hartford. It’s a great school, and I • Ranked 2nd in shutouts (24 in 1989). a sophomore and worked her way ended up getting a full scholarship. reporters as she climbed the ladder • Ranked 4th in games started (24 in 1989). to cut down the net. “Hey, we have into the main rotation by the end of I didn’t have to pay a dime and I got TOP 5 IN 6 CAREER CATEGORIES so much confidence in Tracy, we the season. Piazza shuffled her a great job and great career out of had a play where we set a pick for • Ranked 4th in starts (58) and shutouts (11). throughout the infield in the spring it.” her 18 feet from the hoop. And she • Ranked 5th in triples (6), appearances (63), innings pitched to get her into his softball lineup, Although her statistics never hit it. Beautiful.” (385.2), K/BB ratio (2.63). and she settled into the shortstop matched her high school career, her Most athletes would champion position during her first of three impact might have been greater. a moment like this when they start Golf title runs. She joined teammates in an effort to weave stories about their glory • 1 varsity letter (1990). She shifted to pitcher as a jun- to attract anybody with playing days as an athlete. Actually, most ior, and that catapulted her to a dif- experience just to field a competi- would have to choose a moment but with the students and all our to say that they won 48 games in a ferent level. In the days before tive team, and she went on to lead much smaller than Ciosek’s buzzer- friends. Everybody used to come row is something, but for Tracy to opening day, doctors cleared her them into a competitive program beating performance in a champi- out to watch Southington,” she said. say that she never lost is incredible. from back injuries from the winter despite their lack of talent. onship game, but Tracy never men- “The gym was filled. We used to That means that she didn’t have a season, but Piazza said he still didn’t Tracy still ranks among the top tioned it during a 45-minute inter- play softball, and all of our home bad day. Even if she had an off-day, believe them. He sent her to prac- five in eight different categories view about one of Southington’s games were under the lights at she pitched well enough to win.” tice against the wall of the school including a pair of single season greatest female careers. Recreation Park. I can remember For Tracy, it was just about the and returned to his infielders. lists and six career categories. She is More than a quarter century having huge crowds cheering for us, competition. She grew up at a time “I kept hearing, ‘Ba-boom. Ba- ranked second in single season has passed since her last-second and that was amazing. We had such when there were no girls softball boom.’ I looked over, and she was shutouts (24 in 1989) and fourth in heroics, but it’s the loss in 1985’s huge support, and I guess I thought leagues. There were no girls travel throwing like she had been throw- games started (24 in 1989). She championship game that Tracy that everybody had that. I kind of teams or summer camps at the high ing all year,” said Piazza. ranks fourth in starts (58) and remembered the most. took it for granted.” school. If she wanted to compete, “She just kept getting better shutouts (11) over her career. She is “It still irks me today that we For fans, it was worth the price she had to beat the boys. And that’s and better and better. Defensively, still ranked fifth in triples (6), only won five of our six state cham- of admission. Tracy was among a exactly what she did. Tracy joined there wasn’t anybody better. She appearances (63), innings pitched pionships,” she said about the Lady list of multiple sports athletes that pick-up games in the neighbor- was a shortstop, and you don’t get a (385.2), and strikeouts-to-walks Knight storied runs in softball and raised the bar, even for hood. She practiced with her father lot of shortstops that pitch at the ratio (2.63). basketball in the mid-1980s. “We Southington’s expectations. To this in the back yard and earned her high school level. It gives you a lot Tracy still shies away from tak- should have won. We were winning day, there are very few athletes that way onto the Northern Little of leeway. You can play your third ing credit for all of her accomplish- the whole game and killing them in can compare to Southington’s suc- League Braves where she out- baseman back a little bit. You can ments. the state championship game at cess when Tracy was at the center. played the boys to earn a starting keep your first baseman back a little “You can’t say that I was a great halftime, but we lost by two points. She was a guard/forward on a position as a shortstop. bit. It allowed us to do different pitcher, and I have the stats to prove That was disgusting. I really think team that rallied for back-to-back “I was the only girl on the things because Tracy could cover so it. You have to have a good team that was the best team we had, and titles. She was a shortstop during team, and I think I may have been much ground and throw overhand.” around you,” she said. “If routine we didn’t win…We should have her a title run in her sophomore the only girl in the league,” she said. Nobody could stop the Knights balls aren’t caught and routine been 6-for-6.” year, and stepped to the mound to “I actually had to purchase my own with Tracy on the mound. The Lady ground balls are not fielded and you The sports landscape was lead them back for two more titles pants because I was the tallest on Knights already had a 4-0 winning can’t score runs, you aren’t going to much different when Tracy arrived during a pair of undefeated state the team. The boys pants weren’t streak from their championship run win. No matter how good the pitch- at the high school before Title IX title runs. Tracy seemed to excel long enough. They wouldn’t have in 1985, and Tracy added 48 straight er is. You can’t strike everybody out, forced schools to catch up to when the game was on the line. gone past my knees. I still laugh victories to the rally. Her teams won and you can’t do it with one person. Southington’s lead. Some schools “She was just a great athlete. when I see the old pictures. My two more state titles and the win- It takes a team. That’s what didn’t even offer high school sports Tracy was a natural, and she pants are a slightly different color ning streak set a new state record. Southington softball is all about. It to their girls, but Southington was seemed to enjoy everything about and I’m the tallest one.” “We had a lot of great teams, was never about just one person.” already a state power. Wins and her high school experience,” said It wasn’t until seventh grade and I had a lot of good friends on Tracy was an easy choice for titles were expected, and players former Lady Knight coach Joe that Tracy was able to compete as a the team,” she said. “We had a lot of the selection committee to be almost felt like rock stars as they Piazza. “I don’t think you’re ever part of a girls team, but the results fun playing, and that’s what it was inducted into the 2012 Southington stepped onto the field. going to find another pitcher that were the same. She quickly rose to about. I had a lot of help. Melinda Sports Hall of Fame. She was hon- “I can remember our gym started 48 games and won 48 games prominence at St. Thomas Junior [Silva] helped me behind the plate. ored at a ceremony at the Aqua Turf being filled, not only with parents in her career. For a high school kid High School in volleyball, basket- We had a great defensive team and on Nov. 8.