WATERBURY — Benjamin Shadeck just wanted to keep fighting. Even though Cheshire’s comfortable three-run lead had evaporated with one thunderous swing from Will Lucas, the senior left-hander knew he had no choice but to dig in and keep fighting. The Rams’ season and championship hopes depended on it. That attitude proved vital for Cheshire in […]
Gell leads Trumbull past Newtown advance to Class LL softball semifinals
TRUMBULL — The situation called for reinforcements, leaving Trumbull softball coach Jacqui Sheftz with only one choice. It was time for Sheftz to turn to her star pitcher Emily Gell, who had been sidelined with a stress fracture in her leg. Sporting a light brace on her right ankle and a noticeable grimace on her […]
Fairfield Prep halts Cheshire rally, wins third straight SCC lacrosse title, 14th overall
WEST HAVEN — The sight was all too familiar to Cheshire and anyone else who has played in the SCC boys lacrosse final in recent memory. SCC Co-Player of the Year Mason Reale and the rest of the Jesuits sprinted across the Ken Strong Stadium turf, looking for the closest teammate to hug. It was […]
St. Joseph’s QB Summers commits to Maryland
David Summers is bound for the Big 10. The all-state quarterback from St. Joseph announced late Monday on Twitter that he has committed to the University of Maryland. “First of all, I would like to thank God for the opportunities that have been presented to me. I would also like to thank my family for […]
Baseball: Chiappetta powers Eagles
TRUMBULL — It was the kind of day when someone, just anyone, needed to step up and support a pitching staff that was off its game. Through five innings against Danbury, three Trumbull pitchers had walked six batters and hit two more. Pitch cou…
Hand deals No. 4-ranked Fairfield Prep first SCC loss since 2015
FAIRFIELD — The weather might as well have matched the mood along Fairfield Prep’s sidelines Wednesday. On a wet, dreary evening at Rafferty Stadium, it was Hand that outplayed one of the state’s premier boys lacrosse programs from start to finish. The Tigers stunned No. 4 Prep 9-6 on Senior Night, handing the Jesuits their […]
Baseball: Newtown beats Stratford, wins ninth straight
STRATFORD — Newtown shortstop Todd Petersen found a way to make Penders Field look small, ripping an inside-the-park home run off Stratford left-hander Zack Fedak to lead off Monday’s game. It wasn’t long before Petersen’s teammates joined in on the fun. The red-hot Nighthawks enjoyed a big night at the plate, extending their winning streak […]
Football: Bullard-Havens hires Chris Pace as coach
When Chris Pace resigned as the head football coach at Weston late in the 2016 season, he wondered if and when he’d land another job just like it. Pace, it turns out, can now leaving the guessing aside. Pace, who coached the Trojans from 2014-16, has been hired to fill the same position at Bullard-Havens […]
Football: Clemson commit, Stratford native Taisun Phommachanh passing all the tests at QB
Derrick Lewis vividly remembers the first football game he coached at Jonathan Law — and not solely for the reasons one might think. On paper, the 2014 season opener wasn’t much of a game. The final score — Harding 38, Law 10 — might’ve elicited a few oohs and aahs, but it wasn’t one that […]
Football: Former Harding and current Avon Old Farms QB Phommachanh commits to Clemson
Former Harding and current Avon Old Farms quarterback Taisun Phommachanh announced Saturday his commitment to play at Clemson University. Phommachanh, who is considered the country’s No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and No. 88 prospect overall in the Class of 2019 by recruiting site 247 Sports, chose Clemson over offers from several other major programs including Florida, […]
Baseball: Stratford’s Duffy shuts down Bunnell
STRATFORD — What Stratford coach Mick Buckmir liked about Friday was that temperatures rose above 70 degrees for the first time this spring for baseball. As for his team’s game against town rival Bunnell, that, too, brought a smile to Buckmir’s face. Stratford had its ace, Brendan Duffy, on the hill, and the right-hander stymied […]
Baseball: Notre Dame-Fairfield rallies past Bunnell
STRATFORD — Richard Kerstetter made himself available to pitch out of the bullpen during Wednesday’s game against Bunnell. Little did Kerstetter know his coach would call upon him in the first inning after starter Tyler Romano managed to record just one out. As it turned out, bringing in Kerstetter proved to be a wise move […]
Football: Masuk’s Roberge transferring to Cheshire Academy
Star running back Jack Roberge is transferring from Masuk to Cheshire Academy, his father, Chris, confirmed to Hearst Connecticut Media on Monday. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Roberge rushed for 1,299 yards and 13 touchdowns on 161 carries last year, helping lead Masuk to an 11-2 record and the program’s first appearance in the state finals since […]
Girls Basketball: RHAM tops CCC rival Farmington in Class L for first title
UNCASVILLE — The wait is over for the RHAM girls basketball program. The top-ranked Sachems won their first state title Sunday afternoon, defeating third-seeded Farmington 58-35 in the Class L final at Mohegan Sun Arena. Jaclyn Santella scored a game-high 20 points, and Gretchen Kron added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists for the […]
Boys Basketball: Bassick’s Virginia road trip postponed to Feb 3 — same day as Middletown matchup
Bassick’s boys basketball team was supposed to compete Saturday in the Hornet Tip-Off Classic in Chesapeake, Va., but Mother Nature had other ideas. The latest winter storm to wreak havoc on the East Coast has forced the Lions’ game against Salem (Va.) to be put on hold. The game is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 3, […]
Football: Summers rallies St. Joseph past Dobbs, Ansonia to win Class S championship, 13th title
CHESHIRE — Seven years to the day his brother carved up the St. Joseph defense in the Class S final — albeit in a losing effort — Markell Dobbs drew Hogs coach Joe Della Vecchia crazy by ripping off one highlight-reel run after another. Unfortunately for the Chargers, both games must feel all too similar. […]
Football: Breaking down the 2017 CIAC football semifinals
2017 CIAC Playoff Scoreboard One playoff round is down, two remain. The CIAC football semifinals will take place Sunday at the sites of the higher seeds at 12:30 p.m. The finals — Classes LL, L, M and S — will be held one week from Saturday at sites and times to be announced. Before the […]
Football: The 2017 CIAC Playoffs In a Nutshell
We’ve made it. The long, grueling grind that is the regular season is finally over. All 12 weeks are in the books — so is Thanksgiving. The playoffs are here. The quarterfinals begin Tuesday at the sites of the higher seeds at 6:30 p.m. The 2017 CIAC Football Playoff Schedule The semifinals, however, have been […]
Football: Madison, Bunnell bulldoze Stratford but fall short of playoff berth
STRATFORD — Bunnell did all it could do Thanksgiving morning to put itself in reach of the postseason. Unfortunately, simply winning was not enough. The Bulldogs did their part in beating Stratford 46-6 at Penders Field, however, the eighth and final playoff spot in Class L went to four-time defending champion New Canaan, which beat […]
Boys Soccer: Hodska, 4th-seeded Masuk stun unbeaten E.O. Smith, advance to L championship
MERIDEN — E.O. Smith boys soccer coach John Blomstrann didn’t think there was any way his team could be shut out. Masuk proved him wrong. The fourth-seeded Panthers had all the answers for the high-powered juggernaut that was E.O. Smith, upsetting the top seed in Class L 1-0 on Monday at Falcon Field to punch […]
Football: Carr, No. 7 Shelton grind out victory over pesky Amity
SHELTON — Shelton had hoped that quarterback Jake Roberts would be healthy enough to play all four quarters against Amity after spraining his knee last week in a win over West Haven. But when it turned out that he wasn’t, the Gaels turned …
Girls Soccer: Oko, Shelton turn back Lauralton Hall to keep pace for SCC top seed
SHELTON — The Shelton High girls soccer team graduated 14 seniors, but goalkeeper Courtney Litts didn’t come into this season thinking it would be a rebuilding year. It’s turned out to be just the opposite. The Gaels defeated Lauralton Hall 2-0 at Finn Stadium on Wednesday to keep pace in the hunt for the top […]
Football: Roberts stakes Shelton to big lead, Gaels hold off Newtown
NEWTOWN — Jake Roberts was too young to roam the sidelines himself, so he had to stay home while his dad, Ken, coached football at Newtown High. “I was sitting at home, watching the game on TV,” he recalled. Friday night, Jake, who is now the starting quarterback for Shelton, created many more memories of […]
Football: Arganese, Trumbull hold off Trinity Catholic rally
TRUMBULL — Trinity Catholic’s Sam Adolf and Anthony Anderson teamed up to give Trumbull a scare when they connected for a long touchdown early in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s FCIAC showdown. But the Eagles’ much-maligned defense stepped up when it mattered most. Junior defensive back Daniel Arganese intercepted Adolf near midfield with 3:42 remaining […]
Football: Hersch, Masuk rout Bunnell to open season
MONROE — The first 13 seconds of the season couldn’t have gone much better for Bunnell. The next 47 minutes and 47 seconds, however, couldn’t have gone much worse. Tyreek Smith gave the Bulldogs an early jolt against Masuk Friday, returning the opening kickoff 81 yards for a touchdowns. But the Panthers responded by reeling […]
Football 2017: Five-minute guide to the SWC
Is Newtown in danger of losing its grip on SWC football supremacy? The Nighthawks have won the conference four out of the last five years, but rival Masuk may be ready to dethrone them. The Panthers return the bulk of talent from a team that went 7-4 and made the playoffs. New Fairfield won the […]
Football 2017: Roberts ready to carry on QB tradition at Shelton
SHELTON — Some schools would find constant turnover at the quarterback position to be a significant roadblock to success. Shelton isn’t one of those schools. Jake Roberts is slated to be the fourth different Week 1 starter in as many years for the Gaels, who visit Cheshire on Friday. The three quarterbacks before him combined […]
SWC football: Masuk looking to rejoin ranks of elite
MONROE — A program with a long, rich history generally doesn’t put much stock into moral victories, but that didn’t stop Joe Lato from insisting there was more for Masuk to gain from its near upset of powerhouse New Canaan. The Panthers took the Rams down to the wire in last year’s Class L quarterfinals, […]
Football: Harding ready for opening year in SCC
BRIDGEPORT — Eddie Santiago has never been the type to shy away from competition. He embraces challenges, like the one his football team will soon be facing. After beating up on the Constitution State Conference for two seasons, Harding is ready to test its might against a far more imposing foe. The Presidents will begin […]