2022 in Review - Thoughts and Games of the Year

So how to recap 2022. 

In was a pretty average year personally, but like every year, there are plenty of ups and downs. 

Work, which involves sports, coaching, and watching sports. Yeah, that's basically my life. 

I keep saying I am going to or at least want to blog more, but do you really care that I went to work, then likely went to a game or practice for a team? I'll answer that. No, you don't. So I need to find more interesting items to blog about. There's also certain work related items that I am just not going to write about. 

In professional local sports, Aaron Judge's homerun chase had to be the biggest story of 2022. It was both a Yankees and American League record that captivated the entire baseball world. 

For professional sports, there were not a lot of other highlights for 2022. At least there aren't a lot of highlights that come to my mind. We want drama in sports and that often brings us memories. Drama and history. 

On the downside for the year, there are many people I know who lost loved ones this year. There are many people dealing with many different life issues as well, who we think about. 

We are still dealing with COVID, although to a much less degree, thankfully. 

Hope everyone has a great New Years and a tremendous 2023. 

People talk about how things will change and hope they hope for things, but it really is just another day. It's a different year, but nothing will change unless you can make an effort. Just because the year changes, it doesn't automatically mean things will change. Actions are needed if you want things to change. Those actions don't have to happen just because the year is changing, they can happen any time. Yes, I realize how cliché this all sounds, but it is true. 

As is often the case, friendships were created and strengthened. 

On to 2023, but first, we look back at 2022....

We've done this on this blog before. I list/rank my top local sports moments of the year. This list below is only games I was in attendance for, in one form of another. 

I limited the list to 10 games, although I am sure there are games and moments I am missing. For example, I have nothing from the summer which consisted of Legion, Babe Ruth and Little League baseball. 

These are in no particular order. 

Vivona/Ludlowe baseball top Warde - May 9 

Ludlowe baseball comes from behind to defeat Warde 3-1 with Matt Vivona picking up a two-out bases clearing double in the sixth inning as the Falcons knocked off the Mustangs. You can hear Rob Adams's call of the game here. 

Cooper Dailey 38 to set Ludlowe school points record vs Maloney - February 26

In the final regular season game, Ludlowe's Cooper Dailey scored 38 points, including 20 in the first half, to set a new school record for points in a game. The previous high was 35 set by Kevin Bentivegna in 2011. 

Ryan Presiano buzzer-beater to help Prep beat NFA in state quarterfinals - March 14

Fairfield Prep's Ryan Presiano hit a buzzer beater to lift the Jesuits to a win over Norwich Free Academy. The play, and the call by Rob Adams on Local Live, as well as video's by Justin Devellis of News12 and Dan Gardella of GameTimeCT made it on ESPN's SportsCenter Top Plays. 

Warde baseball wins FCIAC Championship - May 26

Warde baseball repeated as the FCIAC Champion, as they defeated Westhill 4-1. 

Warde baseball wins state championship - June 11

After winning the FCIAC Championship, the Warde baseball team kept up their winning ways through the state playoffs and held on to defeat Southington 7-5 to capture the state title. 

Masuk vs Barlow in the SWC Semis - May 23

Getting a chance to see Matt Scott pitch in person, who was terrific, was awesome. A wild pitch was the difference as Musuk defeated Scott and Barlow to advance to the SWC Championship. Tremendous baseball game to watch and it was fun to go outside of the FCIAC. 

Warde vs Westhill baseball regular season game at Cubeta - April 29

It was one of the most hyped regular season games in recent memory. Kyle Kipp for Westhill vs Zach Broderick for Warde. The game more than lived up to the hype as it went nine innings with Warde coming away with a 2-1 win on a Griffin Polley bunt single that pushed across the tie-breaking run in the top of the ninth. 

*Wow, I have a lot of Warde baseball in here. As a Ludlowe baseball coach, not sure how I feel about this. 

Ludlowe softball wins FCIAC Championship - May 25 

Much like Warde baseball, the Ludlowe softball team won the FCIAC championship for the second year in a row. The Falcons defeated Danbury 2-0 in the championship. 

Greenwich football wins state championship - December 10

The Greenwich football team defeated Fairfield Prep 37-17 behind a strong effort on both sides of the ball from Charlie Dixon. Hear how Rob Adams and Chris Erway called it as heard on WGCH Radio. 

Ludlowe girls soccer defeats Warde in PK's in the FCIAC quarterfinals - October 28

After Warde defeated Ludlowe 4-0 in the regular season matchup, the Falcons got their revenge in the postseason. The game was tied at two through regulation and overtime, and then Ludlowe edged Warde 4-3 in penalty kicks to advance to the FCIAC semifinals. 

All Rise for 62

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Even non-baseball fans are aware of what Aaron Judge is doing. 

Well tonight, at 8:08pm on October, 4, 2022, Judge hit home run number 62 to pass Roger Maris and set the single season Yankees and American League home run record. 

Sixty-one years after Maris hit 61, Judge hits 62. 

It was almost a week between Judge hitting number 61 and number 62. But in the end, he got it done. You could see the pressure getting to him and the frustration mounting. 

The YES Network cameras even showed Judge slamming his helmet against the bat rack in Game one of Tuesday's doubleheader. 

Classy by Boone to let Judge take the field and then take him out to get the standing ovation from the fans in Texas and his teammates that he deserves. 

There has been much debate over the Major League home run record. 62 is now the "clean" record, but the overall record is Barry Bonds with 73. 

In fact, there are six seasons in which a single player has hit more than 62 home runs. Those were by Bonds, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. 

Look, we all know those others were not clean, however, that is still the Major League record. 

I am not saying what any of them, and others, have done, is right. It's still what that Major League Baseball says is the record. 

What Judge has done this season is incredible. It's not just the home runs, even though those are super impressive. 

He is currently (and will likely finish) second in the American League in batting average. He also leads the AL in runs batted in and is just behind Pete Alonso of the Mets for the RBI lead in all of baseball, as of Tuesday night. 

You add in the fact that he is a solid defender and has a terrifc arm, that just adds to his accomplishments. He has also shown the ability to play both right field and center field and make the back-and forth transition with ease. That's not easy for someone 6-7. 

He has also managed to stay healthy, which has allowed him to accomplish this feat. 

For me, this is the most impressive season I have ever seen. 

Yes, I was alive for Bonds, McGuire and Sosa but I was way too young to know what was going on or pay attention. It is must watch television when Judge comes up to the plate, especially as he got closer to number 60, then 61 and now 62. 

The other debate is Judge vs Shohei Ohtani for MVP. Some people say that because Ohtani pitches and hits and is having a very impressive season, he should be the MVP. 

However, Judge is having a historic season that we may never see again. 

Plus, it depends how you define MVP. Where would the Yankees be without Judge? Probably not winning the American League East. The Angels would still be a below .500 team with or without Ohtani. 

Ohtani is very special in his own right, as a dual-threat, but Judge is the most valuable. 

This is one of the moments where you will remember where you were were and who you were watching win. Sitting on my couch with my dad to my left. When Judge hit it, I raised my left arm and pumped my fist. 

No scream. 

No "Let's Go"!

Shocking calm. 

Excited, but calm. 

The home run chase has overshadowed what the Yankees were doing as a team and everything else that was going on, on the field. 

Hopefully, now that it's over, Judge can relax and help the Yankees make a postseason run and maybe even bring home championship number 28.