Around Town

Young and Hungry: 2015 New Canaan Rams Softball Preview

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As recently as a couple weeks ago, Waveny’s Orchard Field was covered by snow. In just a few days it will be covered by the New Canaan Rams softball team. 2014 was seen by most outsiders as a rebuilding year as New Canaan lost seven starters to graduation. Even so, Rams head coach Danielle Simoneau saw it as an opportunity to both develop talent and win at the same time. The Rams made both the conference and state tournaments in 2014, finishing with an FCIAC record of 11-7 (11-11 overall). The 2015 squad is looking to take that experience and continue to grow in order to get back to both tournaments and possibly go even further into the postseason.

News

Expanding, Popular Youth Sports Programs Vie for Time on Lighted Fields

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So many sports teams in New Canaan use the town’s playing fields—including increasingly diversified and popular rec, private and multi-town travel programs—that it’s hard to accommodate every group seeking time under the lights in the evening, officials say. The difficulty is exacerbated with shorter days in the fall, according to members of a Board of Selectmen-appointed panel responsible for oversight of youth sports in town. For example, the dads who coach in the youth football and flag football programs often can’t get to New Canaan High School’s fields until after work, about 6 p.m., less than one hour before sunset, Recreation Director Steve Benko said during Monday’s meeting of the Youth Sports Committee. That its coaches are dads gives a football program less flexibility than, say, the New Canaan Soccer Association teams, which are coached by professionals with more availability earlier in the day, Benko said. “We cannot accommodate their [the NCSA’s] whole program” after dark, Benko said during the meeting, held in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department.

News

New Canaan Girls Softball All-Stars Advance to Little League District Finals

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[Editor’s Note: The following information is supplied by Rob Moore.]

The New Canaan 9-10 year old girls softball all-star team advanced all the way to the Little District Finals this past weekend. The team beat rival Darien two times in pool play, the second of which was a tightly contested pitchers’ duel with New Canaan ultimately persevering 5-4 in six innings. Carolina Welch pitched a complete game and went 3 for 4 in the victory. Darien rallied down 5-0 and scored 2 runs in the 6th to get the game within a run but came up short as New Canaan defense was strong and Welch got the final out via strikeout with runners on second and third. Unity Lee and Paige Davis connected for key hits in the Darien games.

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.

Sports

Wild Wednesday: New Canaan Baseball, Softball Notch Dramatic Wins

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Video by SportsFairfield, New Canaan High School junior Alex LaPolice walk off home run May 21, 2014
[Editor’s Note: The video above is courtesy of SportsFairfield—follow them here on Twitter, covering Fairfield, Trumbull Westport and Wilton.]

In one of the most dramatic days on the diamond in recent memory, the New Canaan Rams baseball and softball teams each pulled off improbable–and important–victories over Trumbull High School Wednesday night. Alex LaPolice’s walkoff grand slam capped off an amazing comeback for New Canaan, who entered the 7th and final inning down 4-0. The Rams seemingly had no answers for Trumbull starter Avery Santos, who went into the seventh inning looking to close out the game having given up just five runs through the first six innings. Santos, however, seemed to suddenly tire in the seventh and lose command of his pitches. Two New Canaan hits, a fielder’s choice, and a hit batter closed the gap to 4-1, loaded the bases and brought the potential winning run to the plate.