Baseball Time!

Kiwanis prior to the first day of tryouts

It's baseball season! 

High school baseball season, that is. 

We are underway with practices and scrimmages with opening day this weekend. 

I'm looking forward to this season for Ludlowe baseball. I always look forward to the season, but this season especially. It's a special group. 

A fantastic group on the field and even better young men. I know that's cliche, but it really is true. 

A senior class we have talked about for at least a few years. 

Guys I have known since they are in elementary school, and I had them as campers in Parks and Rec camp. Others who I haven't known as long but have developed a bond with. 

I always talk about this, but the bond with these athletes goes beyond the sport. Yes, we are coaches, and they are student-athletes, but it's more than that. It's always being there for them and then becoming friends for life. That's what sports is about. 

I got to know the senior class well when they were freshman, and I was going to watch and help out at a bunch of their games. 

It goes beyond the seniors though. It takes everyone to be a special team. It's about the full program. Those juniors and sophomores on varsity as well as everyone on the JV and freshman team. 

A lot of the current varsity guys got experience last year and some even got varsity experience two years ago. Hopefully all that pays off. 

It's a terrific coaching staff to be a part of, led by Head Coach Ken Geriak. Then it's Jeff Love, Tommy Howell, Chris Howell, and Vin Riccio. 

It's a long season. 20 regular season games. Hopefully eight playoff games. Looking forward to it being a lot of fun. 

Take it a game at a time. 

Game one is Saturday at 11am at Lyman Hall. We will see what happens! 

What a Run

Another Ludlowe boys' basketball season is in the books. 

And what a season it was. 

12-8 regular season, with a state tournament and FCIAC tournament berth. 

This was the first playoff appearance since the 2020-2021 season, which was the COVID schedule/postseason. 

It was a tremendous run in the state tournament this season, advancing all the way to the Division III Final Four. 

Wins in the state tournament over Killingly, number three ranked Wilby in dramatic fashion and Waterford to get the chance to play Lewis Mills in the state semifinals in what was an exciting finish, coming up just a point short. 

Congratulations to all the players and coaches on a tremendous season. 

Tate Mahoney had an amazing season. He set a number of school records and put himself high on the list for others. A couple records that he set were points in a game with 39 and three-pointers in a game with eight. Both of those Tate set on February 14 in a win vs Darien on Senior Night. 

Tate was named All-FCIAC first team and Charlie Mahoney was named All-FCIAC third team. 

Head Coach John Dailey picked up his 100th career win on January 19 with a 49-29 victory over Westhill. 

There were so many other great accomplishments. 

However, it's about so much more than that. This was just a tremendous group of young men, both on and more importantly off the court. 

A senior group who cared about the entire team, from the freshman all the way up. To the seniors, Jake Medor, Luke Cristodoro, Porter Davis-Whatley and Tate Mahoney, Congrats on a tremendous season and careers and best of luck. 

A total group of kids who cared about each other and the program and were incredible fun to watch and be around. 

Besides the seniors, it was guys like juniors Charlie Jones, Charlie Mahoney, Ryan Torello, Juan Stcherbina Castro, Jack Short and Andrew Fraise. It's sophomores Brennan Martino, Arlo Sollinger, Devin Brenner. Finally, it's the freshman like Timmy O'Neill, Gavin Mertz, Tyler Geriak, Carlo Noecker and Johnny Stauss. And that's just the varsity and JV guys. Then you have the freshman team. Too many to name. Bright future for all. 

To the juniors, sophomores and freshman, use this run to feed into next season! 

Tremendous job by the coaching staff of John Dailey, Joe Bossio, Darren Lee, Marty Conlon and Earl Coleman. These guys put in so much time and effort and just want what is best for the kids. 

Always a pleasure to help out in any way I can. 

Looking forward to see what these guys do next season. 

What a season this was. 

Relationships Through Sports

Rob Adams and Mike Buswell interview Ludlowe Head Coach John Dailey following the Falcons win

In sports, there are so many relationships and friendships made. 

Between, players, coaches, fans, and so much more. It's part of the aspect of being part of a group. 

These relationships are between those on the same team, and those on opposite teams. 

There are also relationships formed between other people involved in sports. 

With all the different aspects of sports I am and have been involved with, I have made so many relationships. 

From playing to coaching to working in sports, to covering as a writer and broadcaster. 

Some of those relationships transcend through multiple teams and sports. 

Well, what I am getting at and burying the lede, was tonight Ludlowe hosted Waterford in the CIAC Division III quarterfinals. 

Where have we seen Waterford before? Well, in the Babe Ruth baseball coverage. 

That leads us to Matt Shampine and Colby Sheehan, who were a part of the Waterford Babe Ruth team that Rob Adams and I have seen and covered often as part of the Trumbull Babe Ruth coverage. 

Shampine, who we have gotten to know well, and Sheehan, are both a part of the Waterford boys' basketball team. 

When we saw the matchup last Thursday and I realized they were on the team, I mentioned it separately to Rob and Mike Buswell, who is the Trumbull Babe Ruth coach as well as a former FCIAC assistant boys basketball coach (including Ludlowe at one time.)

Well, that led to Rob and Mike deciding to call the game tonight. 

As Rob said, Matt Shampine, (Ludlowe Coach) John Dailey, and some other guy (me) all involved in the game, why not? 

It was great to chat with Shampine and Sheehan for a bit. Great young men and terrific multi-sport athletes as well. 

As for the game, it did not go in Waterford's favor, as Ludlowe came away with the 70-48 victory to advance to the state semifinals. The Falcons led 16-0 after the first quarter and never looked back. 

Ludlowe will play Lewis Mills on Wednesday at a time and site to be determined. 

A fun night of hoops and friendships.