News

‘One of the Best Moments of My Life’: New Canaan’s Casali Promoted to the Major Leagues

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Curt Casali’s dream of becoming a major league baseball player that began here in New Canaan became a reality Thursday when the Tampa Bay Rays promoted him from Triple-A to the big leagues. Casali’s call-up came after the Rays placed starting catcher Ryan Hanigan on the disabled list with a strained oblique. And although the promotion came as no surprise to many in the baseball world, the 2007 New Canaan High School grad never saw it coming. “Shock and awe were the emotions when I first found out,” Casali told NewCanaanite.com. “I’m so excited and thankful for the opportunity, and grateful to the Rays organization.”

If Casali continues to perform like he has in the minors, the Rays will be the grateful ones.

Sports

New Canaan Football’s Present and Future Connect at Rams Camp

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Perhaps the only thing more gratifying than connecting the past with the present is the connection between the present and the future. And if the New Canaan Rams youth football camp is any indication, the future looks very bright indeed. More than 90 future Rams gathered this past week at Water Tower turf field to receive instruction from current NCHS varsity football players at Rams Camp, a four day instructional program that teaches the basic principles of head coach Lou Marinelli’s system. “As the head coach I like to have a seamless program from third right up through twelfth grade,” Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “The terminology is the same.

Sports

Reilly Leads New Canaan Softball’s FCIAC Postseason Honors

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In a fitting coda to a brilliant four-year varsity softball career with the Rams, New Canaan’s Ali Reilly was selected to the All-FCIAC First Team. Reilly – who also made the First Team last year – had another outstanding season in the circle for New Canaan, striking out 114 batters in 95 1/3 innings pitched with an ERA of 3.23. The Babson-bound Reilly also helped herself at the plate, leading the team with a .361 batting average with 3 doubles, 3 triples and 16 RBI. Her performance in New Canaan’s 2-1 win over rival Darien was the highlight of New Canaan’s 11-11 season. “Ali worked hard and it’s another great accomplishment to add to her high school career,” New Canaan head coach Danielle Simoneau told NewCanaanite.com.

News

New Canaan Soccer Association U13 Girls Red Team Finishes 1st in CJSA Premier League

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[Editor’s Note: The following tournament information was supplied by the New Canaan Soccer Association.]

The U13 Girls Red team lead by UK Elite Coach, Barry Beattie, entered the Fall 2013 CJSA Travel Soccer playoffs as the No. 1 seed after an undefeated season. They defeated the Stamford Hurricanes 2-0 in the semifinals. The following day they faced Darien Blue in the Division A CT Junior Soccer Association’s Southwest District Championship, winning 2-1 and claiming victory in the Division A Southwest District Championship. New Canaan finished its Fall season by outscoring its opponents 30-5 without ever ceding more than one goal in any game.

Sports

New Canaan Youth Baseball Roundup: O’s, A’s Take Titles

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Last week was championship week for several New Canaan youth baseball teams as the spring season came to a close. Here’s a recap of the action from the Majors 70’s and AA title games. Majors 70’s

The Orioles, sponsored by SONO Fieldhouse, beat Norwalk Champion George Comfort 12-4 at Fox Run Field on Wednesday, to win the 2014 Majors Division World Series.  Max Plum hurled five dominant innings for the New Canaan champs before handing the ball off to Jack Lisecky, who pitched a scoreless sixth. Lisecky helped set the early offensive tone, leading off the game with a deep double to left.  The Orioles went on to plate three in the opening frame, getting RBI from Noah Jensen and Jack O’Donnell.  In the second, Charlie Tait opened with a walk and Walker Swindell drove him in with a big two-out double. The Orioles bats stayed hot in the third.