Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Little League Day

The Ludlowe team with the FALL players postgame (Stacey Scruggs Photo)

It was the second annual Fairfield American Little League (FALL) Day at Kiwanis Field in Fairfield on Wednesday as the Ludlowe baseball team hosted Stamford. 

Prior to the game, the little leaguers joined the Ludlowe team on the field for the National Anthem. Additionally, Seamus O'Neill of the Fairfield American's Red Storm Challenger Division threw out the ceremonial first pitch, caught by Ludlowe's Ben Crawford. 

Seamus O'Neill throwing out the first pitch (Art Cockerham Photo)

Following the game, the little leaguers came onto the field and were able to run the bases and get autographs from the Ludlowe players. 

In addition, the little leaguers, along with the Ludlowe players, were given t-shirts. Multiple designs of "Future Falcon" and a co-branded FALL/Ludlowe Baseball shirt. 

Thank you to everyone who was involved making the day happen. From Phil Veas, who is both a Ludlowe parent and FALL parent and board member, to Ludlowe parents Amy Crawford, Stacey Scruggs, and Jennifer Gibson. Thank you to Brian Markham from FALL Red Storm as well. 

Shoutout as well to Ludlowe head coach Ken Geriak for all his involvement and thank you to Stuart Kagel on the PA announcing. Sorry if I am leaving anyone out. 

There was also the Fire Engine Food Truck which was enjoyed by many. 

On the field, Ludlowe picked up a 5-1 win behind solid pitching from Spencer Bradley and Cooper Seek. At the plate, Gavin McGuire had the game-tying hit in a five-run fifth. The aforementioned Ben Crawford was 2-2 including the go-ahead two-run single. Liam Grady also had a two-run double to give the Falcons some breathing room. 

A great day all around and a special community day! 

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Fairfield Baseball Showdown 2024 (One Town Classic)

This is rivalry week in the FCIAC for a lot of sports, including baseball. 

Well, Warde and Ludlowe faced off on Wednesday afternoon at Warde in their annual rivalry game. 

This rivalry has seen some great games the last couple of years and both teams came into the game in the midst of strong seasons. 

Warde came in with a record of 11-2, 6-2 in the FCIAC. Ludlowe was at 10-3, 5-3 in the league. 

Warde came away with a 4-0 victory in a game that was closer than that. 

Solid pitching from Austin Howard (6 1/3 shoutout innings with 10 strikeouts) and Grady Sshopps (2/3 of an inning) for the Mustangs. The Ludlowe pitching was strong as well with Luke Stasko allowing four runs, but only two earned, over 5.1 and Joe Calabro coming in for the final 2/3 of the sixth. 

Offensively for Warde, Schopps and Carson Swaim had RBI singles while Carson Dodder and Kyle Justo had RBI doubles. 

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I have a love/hate relationship with this game. I can't wait for it, but when it's here, I can't wait for it to be over. Every Ludlowe/Warde game is tough working at both schools. Baseball is different than any other sport for me (including boys' basketball) since I'm part of the Ludlowe coaching staff and I always consider baseball my number one sport. Lots of great kids on both sides and that's the most important thing. 

Credit to Warde on the win. Proud of how our guys battled. Lots of great baseball in the town. 

Maybe we see each other again (possibly more than once) in the playoffs. 

I'll always bleed Ludlowe and everyone knows where my heart is, but I work at Warde too and have tons of respect for that program and what they have done these past few years. 

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Nice job by Warde baseball honoring the 10-year anniversary of 2014 FCIAC Championship team prior to the game. Having those players and coaches come back and be recognized is very cool. I love it when teams honor their past and I wish more did. 

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Ludlowe and Warde also faced each other in softball this afternoon. Ludlowe came away with the 4-3 victory at Dougiello Field.

The two schools play in lacrosse on Saturday at Ludlowe. The girls' game is set for 3:30pm and the boys' game for 5:30pm 

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It was also the spring pep rally at Ludlowe today. Nice work by all the teams and a great job by the Nest leaders running/organizing another event. Their final big event as Nest leaders with the school year winding down. Still many games to go, but the last big non-game event for The Nest. 

They have done a very good job this year with different events. 

Friday, April 26, 2024

Buses, Battle and Baseball

I don't write about specific work items much, even though it is so much of my life, because there is a lot I can't write about. I write about the games that are work-related. 

However, it's pretty well known that there are bus problems. That being said, I think I am okay writing about this. It's definitely an issue in Fairfield County and Connecticut. I've heard of many towns having difficulties. 

It's also supposedly a national issue. The problem is that there are not enough drivers. 

This has been an issue since COVID, at least. 

The week, however, was really rough. 

That being said, great job by the transportation office working with the bus company. This is not a knock on either of those groups. I'm just talking about what we deal with. Great people working at both those places doing their best. 

This ends up being a large part of my workday. Figuring out what buses we can combine, what time buses can pick up, what games we have to postpone and more. 

We normally get most of it figured out, it's just not as simple as it may seem. It depends on what other routes for the schools the bus drivers have to do, the locations of the events, the number of people going, and so much more. 

The spring is also always the worst of the seasons because we have the most sports, there are a lot less programs who share buses (JV and varsity) and the weather moves games which impacts the number of buses on certain days. 

Hopefully next week will be better. Every week gets closer to the end of the season and the end of the school year. 

While dealing with buses today, it was Battle of the Houses at Warde. 

Each of the three houses at Warde, Pequot, Towsend and Fitts, compete against each other in a number of activities. 

I was asked to be a judge. This just means as they go through the events, make sure there is no cheating and for some events, keeping track of scores. 

The games/events range from sports like knockout and handball, to non-sporting events like relay races that include eating Jello and so much more. 

So, as I was helping judge Battle, I was also dealing with the bus issues. Multitasking at its finest. 

Congrats to Pequot House, which I guess I am technically a part of since that's where my office is located, even though we are considered part of the main office sometimes, on winning this years Battle of the Houses. 

Great job by Jeff Seganos, Matt Narwold, Joe Saad, Duncan Dellavolpe and everyone else who was involved in making it happen. 

After all that was done, for the most part, it was on to baseball. 

I had to fill in and coach the JV game. I did this once last year as well. 

Ironically, both games I coached were against Norwalk High School. 

I got over to Owen Fish and knew there were things I had to figure out and get myself settled to coach. That all went well.... for the most part. 

Although in the first inning, someone from Norwalk comes up to me and says there is a car that is going to be boxed in by the ground crew's truck. You guessed it...Mine. So, as the bottom of the first is happening, I run to the parking lot to move my car and ended up having to park in a tough spot on the edge of the lot/driveway.

It all worked out fine. Just another thing to have to deal with. Oh well. It's all part of the story. 

The game was a good one, as we got out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and ended up winning 5-2. 

It's definitely about the kids and they were great. Made my job easy. I will say, I think I improved as last year I got someone thrown out on the plate. That did not happen today. 

Once our game ended, I headed over to the varsity game at Kiwanis against Norwalk which was in extra innings, tied at one. I got their by the top of the tenth and we were trailing 3-1. Norwalk ended up coming away with a 5-1 victory in 10 innings. 

Long, crazy day to end a long, crazy week. 



Tuesday, April 16, 2024

April 16


Well, another birthday has come and gone (well, there are a few hours left as of starting this post). 

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes, whether in person, text, email, Facebook post or over the phone. Some people I see every day, others I haven't seen in a while. All the wishes are appreciated. 

It was a low-key day and that is good. Saw some great people but others I would have liked to see I did not. That's okay. 

I used to feel like you had to do something big or special on your birthday and I didn't want it to be just a normal day. I probably liked my birthday too much. But I am realizing it doesn't need to be anything crazy. There are more important things in life and special days can be any day, for a number of reasons. 

So today. 

Work and baseball. Then we did go out to dinner. 

I think it's only the second or third time I've ever had school/work on my birthday as tends to fall over the schools April Vacation. 

In fourth grade (I think it was fourth) I had school on my birthday as we had so many snow days that we lost some of April Break. It's elementary school so I am pretty sure my dad came in and we had cupcakes or some other treat. I remember walking around the school to share the treats with certain teachers after my class got them. 

In college, I remember having class one year and going to a seminar (for extra credit) with a guest speaker. 

Work today was quiet with there being no school and people away, but very productive. 

Baseball practice was also productive. That's most important. The players also sang happy birthday which was embarrassing but appreciated. It's a special group of young men. I keep saying that but it's true. 

Dinner with the family was good. 

A good end to a low-key but good day. 

Thanks again to everyone. Onto tomorrow. 

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We also talk about dates often and I have a weird memory of remembering certain dates, often of bad events, either personal/family or more public/national events. 

Well, with it being my birthday, April 16 is also known for an awful memory. It happens to be the Virgina Tech shooting in 2007. 

We remember all the lives lost, 32 of them, on this date. 


Monday, April 15, 2024

John, Billy and Jackie

John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

I keep wanting to blog more but the topics I have thought about blogging about would either be overall themes and thoughts that might seem as too vague and inflict questions or just topics that nobody cares about. 

Then again, you likely don't care about the topics I am about to write about. Or you can find thoughts on all this elsewhere. 

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John Sterling, the voice of the Yankees on the radio, announced that he is retiring, effective immediately. 

It was first reported by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic and confirmed by both the Yankees and Sterling himself. 

Sterling will have a press conference on Friday and be honored on Saturday. 

The timing is interesting, and I wonder if we will hear more but he's doing what he feels is right for himself and you cannot fault that. 

For me, there were years of summers listening to John and Suzyn Waldman call Yankee games on WCBS 880 before the Yankees moved to 660 WFAN. 

I personally also think about listening to the end of game six of the 2009 ALCS as the Yankees won the pennant over the Angels and listening to John's call as I was in the car at the time. 

There are so many other great calls of Sterling's From the World Series, to other milestones, to no-hitters and perfect games, and so much more. 

So many iconic home run calls, and other calls with nicknames, from "Bern Baby Bern" to an "A-Bomb from A-Rod" to many others. 

We will all think of John as the Yankees radio voice, but he was more than that. 

Before John started with the Yankees, he broadcast the Islanders, Nets, Hawks and Braves. 

Just a tremendous career for John Sterling and a well-deserved retirement. 

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Let's get to the Billy Joel concert at MSG on CBS that took place on Sunday night. 

Yes, I actually watched and listened. Partly because it was on in my house, but I actually was interested and paid attention. 

There is certain music I like (mostly "oldies"), I just don't pay enough attention to it or know enough to really talk about it or anything. If only I paid attention to it the way I do sports. 

Lots of great songs played, and some that were not. 

Now, to get to the broadcast. 

First off, yes, a lot of people were not happy with it starting late due to The Master running long. 

During football season, this happens all the time with 60 minutes and other shows and broadcasts being delayed due to football games running longer than planned. 

Second, yes, the broadcast cut off when Joel was still playing "Piano Man." Someone at CBS likely had it set to cut away to commercial and the local news at a certain time and didn't make adjustments when the show ran late/long. 

Good to hear that CBS will re-run the show in full later this week. 

I also found it interesting that it was presented as Billy Joel being live when others were reporting that this was a show that happened a few weeks ago. 

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Lastly, it's Jackie Robinson Day around Major League Baseball. 

The league has done a good job of recognizing Jackie and what he did both on and off the field by retiring number 42 around the league and having everyone wear 42 on April 15 every year. That day is used because that is the day Jackie broke the color barrier in 1947. 

People have talked about different, and possibly better, ways to honor Jackie. We will see if baseball changes that one day. 

That's one thing sports does well, is honoring it's history. 

Monday, April 8, 2024

UConn....National Champions Again!

Photo: The Athletic

For the second year in a row, the UConn men's basketball team has won the National Championship! 

Another championship for Danny Hurley, and UConn finishes on top after being the best team basically all season. 

What Hurley has done for UConn is tremendous. As great as the team was under Jim Calhoun, they struggled under Kevin Ollie (despite the one championship in 2014) and Hurley brought them back to prominence. 

There is a reason his nickname is "The Carpenter." 

This is championship number six for the UConn men. 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023 and now 2024. 

Per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on Twitter, Hurley becomes just the fourth coach since 1965 to win back-to-back championships. The others: Billy Donovan, Mike Krzyzewski, and John Wooden. That's good.....actually great company. 

Also, from a local high school sports perspective, Donovan Clingan, who played at Bristol Central High School, gets his second National Championship. Unlike last year when he was a backup, Clingan played a major role in what UConn did. 

UConn, the capital of the basketball world again! 

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

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!