It's State Tournament Time

It's that time of the year again - the State Tournament - everyone starts 0-0, 1 loss and you're done, so every team must play flawlessly or they are sent packing. The only thing I don't like is having to play a team in your own conference in the first round. If there is a tie between 2 teams, I'd like to see the CIAC make sure that they don't play another team that they have already played once, sometimes twice and somtimes even a third time in the first round. After that, in my mind, all bets are off.

I always wonder what surprises will occur in the early rounds of the tournament. Unexpected upsets, high  seeds getting bounced - look it will happen but when and to whom?

But when the dust settles, there will be 8 teams playing for 4 Titles. Skills , luck - it's all part of the deal - which teams will put together a winning streak and survive - we'll know in 2 weeks.

                                     Winding Down the Regular Season

It's hard to believe the regular season in softball is already winding down. I mean the day after Memorial Day is the first day of the CIAC State Tournament. But hold it, there will be some Conference Tournaments before that. It would be nice if the weather cooperated from now until June 8 to get all the games and Championships played on time. But we know, that will not happen. So we go with the flow and get the games in. The undefeated teams are dwindling, the parity this year is amazing. Don't be shocked if there are surprises in not only the Conference Tournaments, but also the State Tournament. This year, there is new blood among the usual top teams and I like it.

So as the regular season winds down, teams are still scrambling to punch their ticket into the State Tournament while others have already secured spots and are fine tuning their team. It is again an excitng time of the year - which teams have a post season and which will not. Either way, let's just enjoy the games - I know I will.

                                             A Fast Season

The Softball season is a very quick one. Teams usually play 3 games a week and if games get postponed by weather, they might play 4 or even 5 a week. Before you know it, the regular season is over and Conference Tournaments begin.

The CIAC State Tournament follows and by June 8(hopefully) the season is over. I love this season even though it is short. It means good weather, great games, championships - inotherwards it doesn't get any better.

The season is young and still wide open. Many teams scrambling to make the State Tournament and in some cases their Conference Tournaments. For some teams, they are still trying to find that winning solution. Hopefully it will come.

See you at the games.

                                             Wide Open Already

The Softball season is underway and already some surprises have taken place. I'm not sure if there is truly a clear cut #1 team in the state. But that is how the Softball season is most of the time - wide open. You just don't know. A pitcher has a great game and can knock off a Top Ten team - even #1. I've been to a lot of preseason scrimmages and now regular season games. Clear cut favorites - I think not - at least not right now. But that can change over the next few weeks. The weather will get warmer, pitchers arms stronger, bats will come alive and maybe some teams will emerge. But for now, no team has wowed me - but you never know.

                                   I'm Ready For a New Season

After a very exciting and successful Winter Season, it's time to begin a new season and quite frankly, I'm ready for it. After the huge amounts of snow the area received and the rescheduling of so many games, how about giving us a break as the Spring Season is about to begin.

Time for warmer weather, time for the bats and balls to come out, time for Play Ball, peanuts, sunflower seeds, ah sitting on my bucket, my boy Wally(my angel dog) next to me - yes I'm ready.

The Spring Season is a short one. The games come fast and furious and rainouts mean sometimes playing everyday and it passes quickly. But trust me, I'm not rushing it. I relish this time of the year. I've always liked warm weather. Baseball was my favorite sport growing up. I could play it for hours.

So let's get started. Every team is 0-0. But soon that will all change and when the dust clears, we will emerge with State Champions. Yes -  I'm ready.

                                 Banner Championship Games at the Ingalls

All 3 Championship Games this year at the Ingalls Rink were fantastic. All 3 were exciting from start to finish. Great goaltending, pinpoint passing, phenomenal scoring plays highlighted the games, PLUS the crowds were huge and intense. The games had to be moved this year because Yale was home during the ECAC Hockey Tournament, Instead of playing games on Friday and Saturday, the games were played on 3 different days. Saturday afternoon's Div. 3 Champoionship started things off and this one was a dandy. Newington/Berlin/Manchester won the game 1-0 but was exciting from start to finish. Division 3 hockey has come a long way and I like the wide open style of play, plus the crowd was the biggest one for a D3 Championship to date.

The Division 1 Game came next and the Ingalls was sold out - usually is for this game - and this year it was the 4th meeting between the 2 teams - and the same team had won the first 3 - make it 4 as Fairfield Prep won the Title again.

And finally it was time for the Division 2 Game - I mean playing this game after the D1 game - who would come or who would care. But the parents and students did come - a huge crowd and they were treated to a Classic. The 2 teams left it all on the ice. Again the wide open style of play made for yet another exciting game. The game was tied as the final seconds ticked off. Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe was buzzing around the net. The Mustangs thought they had scored the game winner but the goal was waved off after a discussion by the officials as time had expired before the puck went in. The call was indeed correct as the green light came on which meant time had expired. The red light, which indicates a goal, cannot come on if the green light goes on. So all was well.

But in the OT, Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe came out flying, buzzing around the net, and then after a scramble in front, it happened! The official awarded a Penalty Shot because someone covered up the puck with their glove in the crease.

So the D2 Championship came down to 1 shot! Warde/Ludlowe, the 13th seed, scored the game winning goal on a Penalty Shot.

I wonder if the CIAC might think to play the Championships on separate days again.