News

New Canaan’s Bentley and Silvestri: A Diamond Reunion

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The New Canaan Rams baseball team has something special going this season, with a deep and balanced roster that has them sitting near the top of the FCIAC. What many may not know is that there’s also something special within head coach Mitch Hoffman’s staff in 2014, as longtime assistant coach Ron Bentley has been reunited with an old friend: first-year assistant baseball coach Chris Silvestri. “It’s nice to see Ron every day,” Silvestri told NewCanaanite.com. “A lot of memories come back when I’m with him.”

The memories stretch back about 30 years, when the two first became childhood pals at East School. The bond grew stronger as Bentley and Silvestri progressed through Saxe Middle School and on the youth baseball and football playing fields, with both blossoming into excellent–but very different–athletes at New Canaan High School.

Sports

New Canaan Youth Baseball Roundup: May 3

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April showers bring May flowers…and lots of rainouts. Mother Nature took a toll on the New Canaan Baseball schedule this past week, although several teams were able to play through the raindrops. Here is a recap of the action:

 

AA Division

A’s – 5; Angels – 4

In a rain-soaked AA division battle, the Stamford Insurance Group Athletics defeated the Mellick and Sexton Angels by a score of 5-4.  The A’s attack was led by the solid hitting of Jared Kramer. Defensive stars were catcher Henry Sokolowski and first baseman Phillip Etergino. Edward Gentner and Stephen Riccardi were solid hurlers for the Angels, who mounted a late-inning comeback when Ryan Anderson and Colton Howe raced around to score on a Colin Tiscornia base hit.

News

New Canaan Youth Baseball Roundup: April 26

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The familiar crack of the bat and resulting cheers from the stands swept across Mellick and Gamble Fields as New Canaan’s boys and girls of spring, sprung into action this past week. Here are the recaps of Opening Week action:

Majors (70’s)

Yankees-5; Terzian – 3

James Singer and Ryan Higgins each pitched 2 scoreless innings as the South End Yankees traveled to Norwalk to beat Terzian 5-3.  Nick Visconsi, Jack Ellis, Will Cosco, Dylan Shane and Noah Quinn each knocked in a run for the Yanks in the season opener. AA Division

Athletics – 8; Orioles – 5

The Stamford Insurance Group Athletics beat the Express Orioles 8-5 on a chilly Tuesday night.  The A’s were aided by timely hits from Ty Groff and Brendan Holahan.  The Orioles’ defense was anchored by infielders Robbie Hellman and Robert Harris. The Orioles’ offense was powered by hits from Jack Lenihan and Andrew Mackenzie.  The Athletics pitching staff included a stellar outing from Cooper Dinan with top notch fielding from Phillip Etergino. A Division

Cardinals – 5; Mets – 4

The Montanaro Orthodontics Mets and Apple Cart Food Co.

Around Town

New Canaan Rams Baseball Defeats Norwalk

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It might be taking a while for the weather to warm up, but even Mother Nature can’t cool off the New Canaan Rams baseball team. Led by an offensive attack that pounded out 11 hits, including a double and home run by senior captain Nick Cascione, the Rams beat Norwalk High School 7-2 Friday night at City Hall Field. The win was New Canaan’s 6th in a row as they improved to 8-1 (6-1 FCIAC) on the season. “The depth of this lineup is good, because we’re not relying on just one or two,” New Canaan head coach Mitch Hoffman told NewCanaanite.com. “It’s nice to see each guy picking each other up.”

Seven Rams batters had at least one hit with senior captain Matt Toth leading the way with 3 singles and a run.

News

Mesh Windscreens Coming to Little League Baseball Fences at Gamble, Mellick

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The little league baseball fields at Mead Park are getting a privately funded upgrade that advocates say will create a more attractive, stadium-like setting. New Canaan Baseball will spend about $3,600 of its own money for top-of-the-line mesh windscreens that soon will drape the outfield fences at Mellick and Gamble Fields. The Park & Recreation Commission unanimously approved the measure at its April 9 meeting, held in Lapham Community Center. When a fellow commissioner asked if the height of the fences would be raised as a result of the project, Richard Kilbride said with a smile: “Only when the visiting team bats.”

In truth, the fences themselves will stay the same, said Brian Rogers, a New Canaan Baseball board member who presented the project. “The fences, some of the areas are beat-up and unsightly,” he said.