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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Bethwood SportsBeat: Where Are They Now?

First installment on former great athletes from our area and what they're doing in their second careers.

[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethany and Woodbridge youth or recreational sports in featured on Bethwood Patch? Here's how!] MO VAUGHN (Norwalk) Known as "The Hit Dog" during his 12-year career in the Major Leagues, Vaughn lives in Solon, Ohio, where he owns and operates "Mo Vaughn Transport," which is a trucking company. The former first-round pick of the Boston Red Sox and the 1995 American League MVP also owns and operates OMNI New York LLC, which bought and rehabilitated more than 1,100 units of distressed housing in the New York metropolitan area. The company manages these properties to provide low-cost housing using government tax credits. RICH DIANA (Hamden) A graduate of Hamden High School, Diana was an All-…

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Senior Day Game Has Disappointing Outcome

Amity loses to Hand on the home field May 14.

  Amity Seniors were recognized at the home field in Woodbridge on Monday for the once in a lifetime Senior Day game. After being introduced to the fans and having their photos taken with their parents on the field they put on their game faces and prepared to win the SCC interdivision game against Daniel Hand High School. Things were looking good until the fifth inning when Ricky Spencer from Hand hit a three-run homer launching his team ahead of their hosts. Senior day had a disappointing outcome for the Spartans, who were defeated 6-5. Amity's record is now 12-5. Hand is at 9-8.

Jody Dietch

11:59 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Amity may have lost the game, but Ray Scheck showed what he can do for the team. Go Ray!   more ›

Bethwood SportsBeat: Things I'm Thinking ...

I'm thinking about all the great accomplishments by players and teams from our southwestern CT Patch towns.

[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethany and Woodbridge youth or recreational sports in featured on Bethwood Patch? Here's how!] I'm thinking the Cheshire boys volleyball team realizes they're on the verge of doing something special. A year ago, they had a perfect season, going 22-0 in route to a state championship. Behind 6'10" senior Nate Howard, the Rams haven't lost this year, increasing their winning streak to a remarkable 34 straight games. I'm thinking that Shayna Delaney of Pomperaug is authoring one of the best seasons of any player in the history of girls lacrosse in Connecticut. She scored a total of 20 goals in her first two games and still hasn't been stopped. Delaney has ripped the back of the net an incredible …

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Bethwood SportsBeat: Gunning for Lax Glory

Area players go after the NCAA Lacrosse championship.

[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethany and Woodbridge youth or recreational sports in featured on Bethwood Patch? Here's how!] The field of 16 has been reduced to eight teams after the first weekend of the NCAA men's lacrosse tournament. Several athletes from our Fairfield and New Haven County Patch towns are playing key roles in pursuit of a championship. ROBERT ROTANZ (Westport) Rotanz went to Fairfield Prep before heading south to Duke. The senior midfielder scored three goals in Saturday's win over Syracuse in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Rotanz ranks third on the team with 36 goals and 43 total points. He was an All-ACC Academic selection after his junior year. MATT WHITE (Ridgefield) A two-time All-…

Monday, May 14, 2012

Allison Barwise Qualifies for U.S. Olympic Trials in High Jump

Orange native hit a height of 1.87m, which is also the second-best mark in the NCAA

Junior Allison Barwise of the Boston University women’s track & field team qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the high jump on Sunday at the ECAC Championships held at Princeton University. Barwise obtained the “A” standard for the U.S. Olympic Trials and set the second-best mark in the nation with a leap of 1.87m (6 feet 1 5/8 inch), which was also good for first place at this weekend’s meet. Her mark was well clear of the second-place competitor — 1.75m (5 feet 9 inches)— and was just short of the school record. Barwise also helped guide BU to a 14th-place finish as a team (23 points). This weekend’s fantastic performance came just a week after Barwise was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer at the America East …

Greg

3:42 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012

Great Job Allison! You are leaps and bounds above the rest!   more ›

Bethwood SportsBeat: From CT to Stanley Cup?

Eyes of Connecticut are on Jonathan Quick as he tries to lead the LA Kings to the Stanley Cup.

[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethany and Woodbridge youth or recreational sports in featured on Bethwood Patch? Here's how!] Jonathan Quick was born in Milford and played scholastically in Hamden and Avon, but the eyes of the entire state of Connecticut are now squarely focused on the 25-year old goalie of the Los Angeles Kings. Quick has led his team to the Western Conference finals and on the brink of playing for the Stanley Cup. "We are so proud so of Jonathan," said Bill Verneris, head coach of the Hamden High School hockey team. "I get so mad when the announcers talk about him being from Milford and Avon and don't mention us. We're really proud of him and helped steer his career in the right direction." Verneris took …

Friday, May 11, 2012

SportsBeat: Bethwood

Bethwood SportsBeat: Down on the Farm

Matt Barnes of Bethel earns promotion with Red Sox and several other players from the area continue to make major gains in the minor leagues.

[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethany and Woodbridge youth or recreational sports in featured on Bethwood Patch? Here's how!] Matt Barnes of Bethel appears to be on the fast track to Boston. The first-round pick of the Red Sox in last summer's MLB draft has earned a promotion to the team's Class A affiliate of the Carolina League. Barnes, who received a $1.5 million dollar signing bonus, made five starts for Greenville (S.C) in the South Atlantic League, going 2-0 with a 0.34 ERA. The right-handed pitcher out of UConn told the Boston Globe that he was elated with the promotion. “I was extremely happy and, obviously, it happened pretty quick, so I can’t complain about that,’’ said Barnes.“Everybody wants to move up as fast …

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Bethwood SportsBeat: NFL, Concussions and Death

Former NFL players from the area talk about Junior Seau's death and life after football.

[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethany and Woodbridge youth or recreational sports in featured on Bethwood Patch? Here's how!] The death of Junior Seau, a former All-Pro linebacker who spent 20 years in the NFL, sent shockwaves through the football world, from Pop Warner leagues to the professional ranks. Seau appeared to be to too young, too wealthy and just too happy to take his own life. "It's sad and shocking," said Todd Philcox, a 1984 graduate of Norwalk High School who was a back-up quarterback in the NFL for three teams during a career that lasted five years. "I played with Junior for two months when I was in San Diego. He was a great leader and had an infectious personality. It's really sad what happened." What …

Cynthia Vassilowitch Accountant- Tax Consultant

10:15 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012

All Traumatic Brain Injuries, whether sustained on the football field, a car accident or a fall have long term affects. Mental illness is one of the many long term affects. Suicide is a byproduct of mental illness -- it's sad, it's tragic, and we have so much to learn. We can fix the bones, the muscles and our bodies mend but not all of it heals.   more ›

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Bethwood SportsBeat: Most Dynamic Duos

The most dynamic duos who give opponents a double dose of trouble.

[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethany and Woodbridge youth or recreational sports in featured on Bethwood Patch? Here's how!] 10. KYLE HART-MIKE FORGIONE (North Branford) Hart and Forgione are the thunder and lightning of the Thunderbirds line-up. Hart is hitting a blistering .543 while Forgione is right behind his teammate with a .522 average. This dynamic duo is a big reason why North Branford is 13-2 in 2012. 9. KYLE DUNSTER-CASEY GAYNOR (Greenwich) There are many reasons why Greenwich is the number one team in the state in baseball and Dunster and Gaynor are two of them. Gaynor, the ace of the Cardinals staff, is 6-0 with a minuscule 1.65 ERA. Dunster, who is just a sophomore, is usually the pitcher who puts the …

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Bethwood SportsBeat: Best Girls' Pitching Performances

Some of the best pitching performances by girls in Patch area.

[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethany and Woodbridge youth or recreational sports in featured on Bethwood Patch? Here's how!] 10. LAUREN REILLY (Pomperaug) Ace of the Panthers staff fired a 2-hit shutout and struck out eight hitters in a key 5-0 victory over Bunnell High School.   9. JENNA BRAND (Law) Brand has been brilliant for the Milford-based school this season, but she was never better than she was on April 28. Brand twirled a no-hitter on April 28 over Career High School.  8. JESSICA DEMAIO (Darien) On April 18, the senior pitcher extinguished rival New Canaan's five-game winning streak when she fired a no-hitter. She struck out 10 and just missed the perfect game when she walked a  batter in the sixth inning. Demaio…

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