A New Home For Overtime

June 8th, 2009 | Posted in news | No Comments »

The Advocate is making a big push into the world of blogging, and because of it my blog is moving to a new site.

Hopefully a re-direct will be set up shortly. Until that time, you have several options.

Overtime can now be found at: http://blog.ctnews.com/overtime/

I hope you will bookmark it because all future updates will be made to that location.

If you want to check out the Advocate’s expanded supermarket of blogs on a wide array of topics, go to: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/blogs

You can also access the blogs through the Advocate web site.

I’m always looking for new ideas and feedback about the blog. The response has been overwhelmingly positive thus far and is greatly appreciated. If you have something you’d like to see feel free to email me at dave.ruden@scni.com

The Perfect Banquet

June 7th, 2009 | Posted in news | No Comments »

Anyone wondering how to throw the perfect sports banquet should show up at The Continental Manor in Norwalk on the first or second Sunday in June. That is the site of Staples High School’s annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet.

I attend many of these events each year and without a doubt this is my favorite one.

Full Disclosure No. 1: I am a Staples graduate.

Full Disclosure No. 2: I would feel the same way even if I wasn’t.

What makes this event so special is the format. A senior representing each of the school’s 33 sports is honored for accomplishments on and off the field.

After a few brief opening statements, the awarding of several scholarships and a buffet dinner, emcee Dan Woog brings up each recipient along with his or her coach. The honorees are told beforehand they are not allowed to thank their parents, coaches or anyone else — that is assumed as a given.

Instead, Woog, with some input from the coaches, asks each athlete a question. Alexandra Vornle Von Haagenfels, who was the girls skiing recipient, was not asked about the burden of having to fill out forms with a name that has 28 letters, but rather what was the best and worst part of being the fourth of five siblings.

Boys hockey honoree Adam Liu had to talk about his experience at Middlebury’s Chinese language program last summer, where students were not allowed to speak English, and whether he ever cheated.

Gymnast Ariel Steinglass, who is the school’s all-time record holder for points, was asked which of all the points she accumulated were most important and why.

The athletes are forced to think quickly. It works because Woog, a writer (and the boys soccer coach), is as witty in front of a microphone as he is putting words to paper. Mostly, it is because you get a much different insight into the student-athletes because of the totally original format.

It doesn’t hurt that each year’s group has diverse distinctions: the Class of 2009 is accomplished in the language arts, culinary arts, music, drama, active in groups like Habitat for Humanity and EMS, and find different ways to give back to the community.

And most impressive of all: the whole thing is over in about two hours. Short, sweet, and all the winners are given their proper due.

I’ve been to seven of the eight dinners and each year I leave the hall with the same two thoughts:

I’m proud to be from Westport.

And I’m proud to be a Staples graduate.

Double Chek: Looking Back on 4 Great Years

June 7th, 2009 | Posted in news | 1 Comment »

This is the latest in a series of entries by guest bloggers throughout the high school spring sports season. Sammi Nemchek is in her fourth-year as a starter on Trinity Catholic’s softball team. Her father, Mike, coached many of the city’s top players in youth leagues, including his daughter. Sammi and Mike explore the topical nature of the parent-athlete dynamic. This is Sammi’s final entry.)

By Sammi Nemchek

“You can learn little from victory. You can learn everything from defeat.”- Christy Matthewson

Today at noon I graduate from Trinity Catholic High School. As I reflect back on the past four years, I could not have had a better experience than I did playing softball for the Crusaders.

As an incoming freshman I was welcomed onto the team, and even though I was much younger than everyone else I felt a part of it and as I belonged.

Throughout the years I played with all different kinds of players with all different abilities. One thing we always shared in common, however, was the love of the game.

Each year it was hard to say goodbye, now I can’t believe I’m the one saying goodbye.

During my career I learned great work ethic and teamwork. Every year I improved, and the team improved together as well. I was taught leadership and was able to use this trait in my senior season. The lessons I’ve learned during softball I will carry with me through life.

This past season we lost a number of great players and the turnout at tryouts was not high. But the ones that wanted to play, really wanted to play, and gave it their absolute all, which made all the difference in the end.

We worked hard and got along great as a team. One lesson we were once given was to all form a circle with our arms around one another. This was to symbolize us as one and to not let anything from the inside or outside break us.

We supported each other through everything, good plays and bad plays, through triples and strikeouts. Whatever happened is what happened, and we carried on. I feel this helped a great deal; for example the team was really able to lift my spirits and confidence up when I was having an off game, and I could not thank them enough for that.

I could also not thank the coaches enough for all the dedication they gave to us, and our fans for their support and encouragement. It’s the little things you overlook until you realize you’re done.

Our biggest accomplishment, I feel, was making both FCIACs and States. As a senior it was nice to go out after our team had such a great season. We had nothing to lose, but everything to gain. And together I believe we gained a lot.

During an interview a reporter once asked how in a 1-1 game our team could play so relaxed in the 7^th inning? But that is exactly what Trinity softball is about. It is all about fun and trying your best.

I’m really going to miss all the fun that came with it, especially the bus rides and good friendships that developed.

To anyone who’s ever on the fence about playing, play. Get involved and have some school spirit. You’ll be missing out on a lot and will definitely regret passing up the opportunity.

Nothing is better than playing in front of your family, with all your closest friends, in the Stamford community.

Congratulations and good luck to the class of 2009!

Westhill Softball Team Headed to Yankee Stadium

June 5th, 2009 | Posted in news | 1 Comment »

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who lives in Darien, has always been a class act, and he showed it again today.

Cashman read in the Advocate about the Westhill softball team having its season ended after its successful protest was overruled and its 4-3 loss to Norwich Free Academy in the second round of the CIAC Class LL Tournament upheld.

Cashman has invited the team to be the guest of the Yankees for their June 18th afternoon game against the Nationals, though that date is subject to change. Each Westhill player will get to accompany a Yankee player onto the field for the National Anthem.

It was a terrific gesture by Cashman to a group of girls who became role models for young softball players with the noble way they handled a difficult situation.

The Final Word on “Westhill-gate”

June 4th, 2009 | Posted in news | 5 Comments »

I am working on a Westhill softball column for tomorrow’s paper — and I am happy to say it is on pitcher Jen Joseph, whose outstanding season has gone somewhat overlooked, not the events of this week.

Before closing the book on what I will call, for lack of a better term, “Westhill-gate,” I want to address what I find to be the most troubling part of this entire episode.

First a little background: Michael Savage, the executive director of the CIAC, called me yesterday to comment on the incident, but first wanted to know if I was the writer who said in the paper that “the CIAC had no brains.” I let him know that I had written that “I didn’t believe that anyone in the CIAC had an IQ above single digits” for its many ridiculous policies, in this case the decision to have the first two rounds of the state baseball tournament on consecutive days. Savage then asked for the name and phone number of my editor.

When I asked Savage about the CIAC’s policy of not allowing protests in the state baseball and softball tournaments, this is what he said, ”A lot of times there is not enough time to handle protests, or back up tournaments because of specific dates and times for sites. We don’t feel we have the resources.”

This is just another of the many reasons why I consider the CIAC the General Motors of high school sports.

The state feels it is more important to stick to a schedule than it is to correct errors that are not judgment calls. It is more important, in this case, that Westhill not have a chance to fairly finish its game with Norwich Free Academy after an umpire’s mistake put it in a disadvantageous position because it might throw the Class LL Tournament off schedule.

This is wrong on so many levels it is mindboggling. Savage made it sound like the protestors would be lining up at the CIAC’s front door. How many protests did you hear of this season? It is not like you could contest an umpire’s call on, say, a play at the plate.

The two-week tournaments would provide plenty of time to properly hear and rule on a protest, and many of them could be decided either after a game or the following day. Protests can be made during the regular season. Why not the postseason, when seasons hang in the balance?

An argument that Savage did not bring up, but an area athletic director who I greatly respect did, is that it would end up creating a possible financial burden for schools. NFA would have had to pay several hundred dollars to bus its players back to Stamford.

I still think the bottom line is the most important consideration is to make the right call. And before you accuse me of being biased toward Westhill, I would make the same argument if the roles were reversed. It is about an absurd policy that should not be in the rule book to begin with.

I have a reputation for being one of the most outspoken critics of the CIAC, which seems to make the wrong call at every crossroad. Let’s just say this the state’s rule on protests is not going to silence me anytime soon.

FCIAC Going Back to Old Format for Baseball Tournament

June 4th, 2009 | Posted in news | 1 Comment »

It seems like we have been in a never-ending cycle of controversy in high school sports the last two weeks.

Finally, we have someone doing something right, and not surprisingly it is the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference. Executive secretary John Kuczo just told me that the conference baseball tournament will be going to a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday format next year.

This year the league scheduled its final for Saturday, but because of rain the semifinals were played on Saturday and the final on Sunday. With the CIAC playing the first two rounds of the state tournament on Monday and Tuesday, the two teams that reached the league final, Staples and Westhill, were forced to play three games in three days. Not surprisingly, both were bounced in the first round of the CIAC Tournament after having to use their No. 3 starters.

Kuczo admitted that the use of Harbor Yard had been the tail wagging the dog, taking priority over giving its member schools the best chance to succeed.

Many other leagues end their conference tournaments on Thursday to ensure teams are rested for the CIAC playoffs.

The FCIAC Tournament will have to use back to back days in the first two rounds, but teams that get to the finals will be able to get away with using their top two starting pitchers to try and win the title.

In what has seemed like a period of insanity the last fortnight, credit the FCIAC for recognizing an error and correcting it.

Westhill’s Loss Turns Into An Unofficial W

June 3rd, 2009 | Posted in news | 4 Comments »

The Westhill softball team heads to the field for a final intrasquad game after learning that its season had ended. Kathleen O’Rourke/Staff Photographer

The Westhill High School softball team won its second straight Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship Saturday afternoon.

But its finest moment came today, just minutes after the players learned that 2 1/2 hours earlier, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference had ended their season, overturning a successful protest the Vikings had made the day before after a 4-3 loss to Norwich Free Academy in the second round of the state tournament.

The details have been well-documented — there is a follow-up story in tomorrow’s Advocate.

And because of article 6.3 in the CIAC guidelines, which does not allow for protests in state playoff games, the correct call was made.

We will save for another day the CIAC’s ridiculous policy, which can be filed under article 63 of why it is one of the most feckless organizations in the country.

The bottom line is the CIAC does not deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as the Westhill softball team.

Few do.

After 20 players learned their year had ended and seven seniors — Brittany Longo, Kylee Ruther, Lynette Martinez, Hannah Goldstone, Julie Osipow, Taylor Kurtz and Nicole Memale — discovered their careers were over, everyone was crestfallen. There were many tears and hugs as the team’s coach, Tom Pia, and the school’s athletic director, Mike King, who had relayed the news, stood silently and watched.

But like a rainbow after a storm, 10 minutes later the players were laughing and smiling. They arrived at the field in their uniforms — King and Pia had decided earlier to wait and tell the team together of the ruling — and no matter what there was going to be one last game.

Players were out of position — Longo was in center field, Osipow pitched, Julianne Vincent was at catcher and Martinez was at first base.

It was softball at its most basic, salve to a deep wound.

“No matter what happens, we’re one big family,” Ruther said.

Defending champions are often cast as enemies by virtue of their status, but there were no ill words spoken about the Vikings, largely because of the popularity of their players.

Today’s display was one of the more inspirational moments in high school sports I have witnessed in recent memory.

The standings may say that the Vikings’ final game was a loss.

But to anyone who was at their field yesterday, it was a great big W.

Vikings’ Season Over

June 3rd, 2009 | Posted in news | No Comments »

The Westhill High School softball team’s season ended today — with the players taking part in an intrasquad scrimmage. Moments earlier, coach Tom Pia had to tell his team that Norwich Free Academy’s 4-3 victory stands because according to CIAC rules, schools are not allowed to stage protests in state tournament games.

There were numerous mistakes made yesterday that contributed to an emotional rollercoaster for a team that went through a season of ups and downs.

There will be a complete story in tomorrow’s Advocate and a commentary about what makes this Westhill team so special posted here tonight.

Westhill’s Season Over?

June 3rd, 2009 | Posted in news | 2 Comments »

Unless its gets an 11th hour reprieve, the Westhill High School softball team’s season is over. According to Vikings coach Tom Pia, the CIAC has upheld NFA’s protest this morning and told the team not to make the trip to Stamford.

Pia said in the state tournament packet it states that even if an umpire makes a mistake, the results on the field stand.

Pia said the CIAC is getting hold of the official who upheld the Vikings’ protest yesterday. A final decision is supposed to be made by 1 p.m.

I will stay on top of this story and post an update as soon as I have it.

NFA Appealing CIAC’s Ruling

June 3rd, 2009 | Posted in news | No Comments »

The saga following yesterday’s Westhill-NFA state tournament softball game continues. Westhill coach Tom Pia just called: NFA is appealing to the CIAC the protest that the Vikings won and does not want to come back to Stamford today to complete the game. Westhill is awaiting a ruling and I will post the outcome as soon as I have it.

The fallout from the successful protest after its apparent 4-3 loss in the second round is the talk of the local sports community this morning. Right now the game story is No. 1 on the most e-mailed list on the Advocate web site.

Rather than rehash what happened, here is the link to the story: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localsports/ci_12505487

A couple of points before we see what happens with today’s possible compelling continuation of the game:

* A lot is being made of Westhill coach Tom Pia using the word “pinch” runner instead of “courtesy” runner when he inserted Cassandra Kish into the game after Jen Joseph’s single, and then failed to re-enter her. While it certainly appears to be getting into picky semantics, Pia did open up a technicality by using the wrong term.

* The person who comes out the worst in all of this is NFA coach Bryan Burdick, who outsmarted himself by waiting over an inning before contesting that Joseph should not have been allowed to continue to pitch. Burdick should have protested as soon as Joseph came out to pitch the seventh inning. By waiting until a situation where he could rattle the Vikings, he did not exactly come out as a role model for sportsmanship to his players. His comment to me about the delay — ”I’m a forgetful individual sometimes” — is most telling.

* A lot of people are criticizing home plate umpire Tommy Oliver for not knowing the rules. Oliver is a good umpire with a strong reputation, and the fact that it took a 20-minute conference call with a CIAC official, who had to bring in a rules interpreter, tells you what an unusual situation this was.

If Oliver did anything wrong, he should have allowed Joseph to continue pitching and then let NFA make the protest.

Now we await the next chapter in one of the most bizarre stories I have ever covered.