TOP STORIES.
As the year comes to a close, there have been many sports stories going on in Hamden. Here are my top of the year.
#1 - Hamden High football. Hamden high football "shocked the world "in 2008 after their one win season. Not even new head coach Scott Benoit, quoted before the season starts by saying he would be happy with an even season.
The Dragons won the first game against Cheshire and just kept rolling along. They kept winning until they were 7-0 They ended the regular season 9-2 and won a berth in the state tournament. Although they got beat by Cheshire in the semis, their story is an amazing one.
New coach Scott Benoit won nine games with a group of seniors who had only three wins in their first three seasons. Let us not forget that Hamden plays one of the toughest schedules in the state -- Cheshire West Haven, Hand, Xavier, Fairfield Prep, Wilbur Cross, Notre Dame and Shelton are some of the best programs in the state. Not only was this the top story of the year, I believe they may have been the top story in quite a few years.
#2 -, American Legion Post 88 baseball. Prospects were not bright for Hamden coach Frank DeLucia who has had several poor seasons as well as the fact that the high school team did not qualify for the state tournament. DeLucia challenged his charges and they came through with flying colors.
DeLucia added Dan "Big Country" Rhone (HHS ‘07) and John Powers (Hopkins ‘09) to the pitching staff. At the plate Powers and Kyle Cummings (HHS ‘08) were devastating aided by table setter Dante Blackmon (HHS ‘08). Greg Pacelli (HHS ‘07) added power at the plate. Hockey player Bill Findley (HHS ’08) led by his hitting and enthusiasm and catcher MJ Lombardozzi (HHS’08) helped the team with his quiet leadership.
The team came in second in the zone and won the first game in the state tournament before being eliminated.
#3 - Hamden High boys hockey. Although they came up a few games short in the state tournament, they had a great season. Playing hockey in Hamden is like playing sports in New York. Many Hamden hockey fans feel if you don't win a state title you have failed.
Coach Bill Verneris and his team had a great season. Halfway through the year it beat top rated South Windsor, and was ranked number one in the state. Despite the fact that eventual state champion Fairfield Prep was beaten by Hamden earlier in the year, they prevailed against Hamden in the semi-finals. Win or lose, it was a good season for the Dragons led by Anthony Avitable (HHS ’09) and a talented group of seniors.
FROEHLICH HONORED.
Maddie Froehlich (HHS ‘09) was selected to the All Area New Haven Register swim team. Froehlich placed second in the 200 IM and third in the backstroke at the SCC tournament. She qualified for the state open and broke the Hamden High School record in the backstroke.
MISSY MENDYGRAL OROSZ
Missy Mendygral Orosz (HHS’91) is a swim coach at Sacred Heart Academy and was named Coach of the year in the SCC by the New Haven Register. She led the Pacers to their first SCC Division II title. She is leaving with a 100-45-1 record. She will take a position as Associate Director of Recreation for the town of Seymour.
YOU'RE OUT.
Hamden firefighter John Grasso will spend the next five weeks in Florida at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpires. He will go to a regular rigorous training session and hopes to come out after the camp with an umpire job in the minor leagues. At 40 years old Grasso will be one of the oldest recruits in camp.
As the year comes to a close, there have been many sports stories going on in Hamden. Here are my top of the year.
#1 - Hamden High football. Hamden high football "shocked the world "in 2008 after their one win season. Not even new head coach Scott Benoit, quoted before the season starts by saying he would be happy with an even season.
The Dragons won the first game against Cheshire and just kept rolling along. They kept winning until they were 7-0 They ended the regular season 9-2 and won a berth in the state tournament. Although they got beat by Cheshire in the semis, their story is an amazing one.
New coach Scott Benoit won nine games with a group of seniors who had only three wins in their first three seasons. Let us not forget that Hamden plays one of the toughest schedules in the state -- Cheshire West Haven, Hand, Xavier, Fairfield Prep, Wilbur Cross, Notre Dame and Shelton are some of the best programs in the state. Not only was this the top story of the year, I believe they may have been the top story in quite a few years.
#2 -, American Legion Post 88 baseball. Prospects were not bright for Hamden coach Frank DeLucia who has had several poor seasons as well as the fact that the high school team did not qualify for the state tournament. DeLucia challenged his charges and they came through with flying colors.
DeLucia added Dan "Big Country" Rhone (HHS ‘07) and John Powers (Hopkins ‘09) to the pitching staff. At the plate Powers and Kyle Cummings (HHS ‘08) were devastating aided by table setter Dante Blackmon (HHS ‘08). Greg Pacelli (HHS ‘07) added power at the plate. Hockey player Bill Findley (HHS ’08) led by his hitting and enthusiasm and catcher MJ Lombardozzi (HHS’08) helped the team with his quiet leadership.
The team came in second in the zone and won the first game in the state tournament before being eliminated.
#3 - Hamden High boys hockey. Although they came up a few games short in the state tournament, they had a great season. Playing hockey in Hamden is like playing sports in New York. Many Hamden hockey fans feel if you don't win a state title you have failed.
Coach Bill Verneris and his team had a great season. Halfway through the year it beat top rated South Windsor, and was ranked number one in the state. Despite the fact that eventual state champion Fairfield Prep was beaten by Hamden earlier in the year, they prevailed against Hamden in the semi-finals. Win or lose, it was a good season for the Dragons led by Anthony Avitable (HHS ’09) and a talented group of seniors.
FROEHLICH HONORED.
Maddie Froehlich (HHS ‘09) was selected to the All Area New Haven Register swim team. Froehlich placed second in the 200 IM and third in the backstroke at the SCC tournament. She qualified for the state open and broke the Hamden High School record in the backstroke.
MISSY MENDYGRAL OROSZ
Missy Mendygral Orosz (HHS’91) is a swim coach at Sacred Heart Academy and was named Coach of the year in the SCC by the New Haven Register. She led the Pacers to their first SCC Division II title. She is leaving with a 100-45-1 record. She will take a position as Associate Director of Recreation for the town of Seymour.
YOU'RE OUT.
Hamden firefighter John Grasso will spend the next five weeks in Florida at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpires. He will go to a regular rigorous training session and hopes to come out after the camp with an umpire job in the minor leagues. At 40 years old Grasso will be one of the oldest recruits in camp.
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