RHAM High School senior Holden Sullivan, center, won the first individual state golfing championship in school history on June 6 in Harwinton. Sullivan is flanked by Max Baldwin of Tolland to his left and Kasimir Lesnik of Daniel Hand to his right.  

Senior golfer Holden Sullivan is leaving RHAM High School as a state champion.

Sullivan won the Division II State Championship, shooting an even-par 72 at Fairfield Farm Golf Course in Harwinton on June 6.

It marked the first individual golf championship in the history of the school. 

“It was a great feeling; I had a lot of fun out there,” stated Sullivan, “It’s always nice to play a course that is in such conditions. Shout out to the course for making it so nice, It was really enjoyable.” 

Sullivan shot birdies on three of the last five holes, separating himself from a strong field to win by three strokes, holding off Kasimir Lesnik of Daniel Hand and Max Baldwin of Tolland — who each shot a 75 to tie for second.

After shooting a double bogey to start the back-nine and posting a bogey on the 13th hole, Sullivan said that he began to let it rip, a plan that yielded championship results.  

“I was down and I knew I had to make a run in order to win,” recalled Sullivan, who added he has trusted his driver more this spring. “When you get in that mindset where you have to start making birdies, it frees you up a little to be more aggressive and that helped me there.”

The result was a three-under during the final handful of holes, rallying to win a state title that was nearly a dozen years in the making for the seasoned golfer. 

At the age of six, Sullivan began playing with the encouragement of his father and he recalled quickly falling in love with the game.

After losing his freshman high school season because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sullivan began to make his name on the local links. 

As a junior, he finished atop the leaderboards the most times of anyone on the team and tied for seventh at the state finals as the Raptors won the 2022 Division II state championships — the program’s first ever.   

This year he again led a deep team that included sophomore sensation Conner Rabbitt and fellow senior standouts Presten Duprey, Carson Waddell, Jack Luby. 

Sullivan said that the competition in practice allowed the team to thrive. 

“Obviously you don’t want to lose to your teammates because you won’t hear the end of it,” joked Sullivan. “So there is some pressure out there and it gives us some extra motivation. It definitely does help.”

On June 1, the Raptors won the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) title, holding off runner-up Bristol Central by three strokes. 
Sullivan also led the way in the conference finals, shooting a (-1) 70 to place third overall.

Rabbitt, who shot a 74 to finish sixth in the conference championship, closed the Raptors’ season with a team-best 73 at the State Open on June 10. Rabbitt sank a clutch birdie shot on the 18th hole to secure the top-three finish. 

With a few team titles and individual championship under his belt, Sullivan said his time on the links at RHAM has been “pretty awesome.”  

“The team is great and I have some great teammates,” said Sullivan, who graduated Thursday.  “We have a lot of fun in practice. It’s got a good community feel to it and whenever we play well, it’s really exciting. 

Sullivan will attend the University of Connecticut where he plans to play club golf if the opportunity presents itself. 

Either way, Sullivan said golf will remain a big part of his life. 

“What I love about golf is the mental challenge that comes with it,” he expressed.  “I love challenging my mind to stay positive and keeping my head in the game shot by shot — that is a great aspect of the sport.”

Cromwell High School tennis seniors (from left) Julia Drew, Aisling Gollareny, Kelly McTeague, and Olivia Lusitani helped the Panthers win 20 total matches over the last two years. 

For a second straight season, the girls tennis team at Cromwell High School made the state tournament.

Third-year head coach Lydia Murphy said the team showed incredible “resilience” after overcoming several setbacks the last few years. 

“I’m proud of this group,” added Murphy. “They’ve been through a lot.”

The current group of seniors had their freshman season wiped away because of the Covid-19 cancellation in 2020 and last spring the team was forced to practice indoors with pop-up nets as the outside courts were being renovated. 

Despite the obstacles, the Panthers won 20 matches (19 regular season matches and a tourney match) over the last two years.

“This group is amazing, on and off the court,” stated Murphy. “They are such hard workers.”

Murphy noted that her four departing seniors — Julia Drew, Aisling Gollareny, Kelly McTeague, and Olivia Lusitani — have helped lay the foundation and set a standard of excellence.

“These girls have stepped up,” Murphy said of her seniors. “They know they are helping build up the program.”

Each of the seniors played major roles this year with McTeague assuming the No. 1 singles spot, Lusitani serving as the No. 2 singles, and Aisling and Juliet primarily playing doubles. 

McTeague, Gollareny, and Drew were team captains and Lusitani earned all-conference honorable mention after winning 13 of 15 singles matches and her only double match this year.  

“They stepped in whenever I needed them; they are so good with the younger players,” added Murphy, who has also coached Unified Sports. “They are the most responsible set of girls that I have ever coached.”

Murphy, a math teacher at CHS, was a member of Westbrook High School’s 2012 state championship tennis team before graduating in 2015.

She noted that she uses a lot of the same principles and philosophies that she learned from her high school coach, Paula Fitzgerald, in Westbrook. 

“She has been an awesome mentor,” added Murphy, who also credited CHS principle Andrew Kuckel and athletic director Kelly Maher for allowing her the opportunity to build the program in Cromwell. 

​Entering her fourth year next spring, Murphy will lean on Julia Baymuradova, who will return after earning second-team all-conference. 

Morgan Peterson won a second straight Central Connecticut Conference title at Tunxis Country Club on May 30.

​It’s was a busy and fruitful couple of weeks for Glastonbury High School junior Morgan Peterson.

On May 30, Peterson repeated as conference championship, winning the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Championship for the second straight season.

Then, last Wednesday, she shot a remarkable (-2) 70 to easily win the Division I State Championship in Berlin. 

GHS head coach Ken Barse said that Peterson’s dedication to the game, along with her even demeanor, has allowed her to thrive and become one of the top players in the state.   

“She works at it and she plays a lot of golf,” added Barse. “She is on a different level because of her work ethic and her goal to play collegiate golf.” 

In the conference win, Peterson shot a 73, defeating a strong field at Tunxis Country Club in Farmington and beating her championship score of 77 from last spring. 

“I had my own goals coming into it. I went into wanting to beat my score from last year,” said Peterson, who finished sixth in the conference championships as a freshman. “I knew by winning it last year it is easy to put pressure on yourself, but I made sure not to do that and just have fun.”

Entering the conference meet, Peterson had both a championship confidence and an excitement from being paired with players she has competed with in junior golf events. 

“It was awesome. I knew the day was already going to be fun,” recalled Peterson. “I enjoy it because we are all friends and that drives up the competition as well.”

A week after capturing a second straight conference crown, Peterson had her best performance of the year in the Division I finals, blowing away the field and defeating runner-up Amanda Vigano of New Canaan by nine strokes at Timberlin Golf Club. 

Barse said that Peterson was “in the zone” during the 18-hole championship round. 

“As a golfer myself I have experienced it, but when you see someone that has worked so hard and put so much into the game it is so rewarding. It was a great day,” added Barse. 

Following a bogey on the third hole, Peterson shot four birdies over the next nine holes to pull away from the competition. 

Peterson added that one of her goals this year was to be more aggressive off the tee on the longer holes, a plan that worked wonders in both the conference and state meets.   

The Guardians also had terrific showing during both events, placing third at conference and seventh at the state championships.

At states, junior co-captain Maya Manzotti (95) was the second Guardians name on the leaderboard. Sophomore Sofia Cirillo (104), freshman Annelise Manzotti (116), and junior Riley Savidge (119) rounded out the Glastonbury golfers. 

After playing nine holes all regular season, the young group of Guardians finished the year with a pair of 18-hole marathons. 

Peterson said that she was impressed with how the team played, particularly Annelise Manzotti, who was competing in championship meets for the first time. 
 
“I’m proud of my team for staying strong,” Peterson said following the conference meet.  “We play our whole season with nine-hole matches, so playing 18 holes can sometimes be a lot.” 

Peterson added that Barse’s encouraging nature allows the team to approach these end-of-the season meets relaxed and with the right mindset. 

“If you’re having a bad day, he can brighten it up,” added Peterson.

Without a graduating senior, Barse will have his entire roster back for another run next year  

“I’m so impressed with this group and how hard they worked. They supported each other and are great teammates,” said Barse, who just wrapped up his second season leading the program. “Every single girl improved their scores from last year and it’s great when your last bus ride how they are singing and dancing and having a great time. You know then that you’ve done something right.”

​Last Saturday, Peterson represented GHS in the State Open, placing third overall after shooting an 81 at Black Hall Golf Course in Old Lyme. 

Jodette Bentley sang at a Hartford Yard Goats game in May and is scheduled to do an encore performance on June 24.   

Glastonbury resident Jodette Bentley grew up around music, developing a love of singing that she carried with her into adulthood. 

But for nearly 40 years, Bentley worked in Corporate America and was unable to live out her “childhood dream.” 

That changed in August of 2021 when she retired from her corporate job to pursue a second chance in the music field.

Bentley said the career transition has now opened many doors for the lifelong Connecticut resident, who recently sang “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch of a Hartford Yard Goats game at Dunkin’ Park on May 2. 

“I thought I would be so nervous, but I wasn’t,” recalled Bentley, who added it was the largest crowd she has ever performed in front of. “I just put my heart into what I was singing. It felt so good”

Earlier this year, Bentley auditioned for a chance to perform during a game in Hartford and was one of a dozen people selected. 
Her original date was slated for late-June, but the organization had a cancellation and reached out asking Bentley if she could fulfill the May date with only five days’ notice. 

“I was like ‘oh my gosh, I really have to practice now’,” joked Bentley. 

Bentley is still slated to perform for her original June 24 commitment when the Yard Goats welcome the Erie Seawolves from Pennsylvania to the park for the fifth game of a six-game set. 

Her encore performance will take place during the team’s Military Appreciation Night, a connection Bentley felt from her first time performing.  

“We are very fortunate in this country,” said Bentley “These people were there because they love this country and they love baseball.”

Bentley’s journey to singing at the venue in the state’s capital has been over four decades in the making.

After being raised in a household surrounded by musicians, she attended The Hartford Conservatory.

Her father was a jazz musician and her mom was a classically trained musician. Her aunt also taught at the Hartt School of Music, where Bentley is now attending.

Following her graduation from The Hartford Conservatory in 1981, she planned to continue on the musical path, yet quickly realized it was a rocky road.

“It’s really hard to make a living as a musician,” stated Bentley. “I didn’t want to starve; that’s why I went the corporate route.”

Bentley, who grew up in Wethersfield and has lived in Glastonbury since 1986, is now in the phase of her life where she does what she enjoys — whether it’s honing her musical skills, teaching yoga, or simply making deeper connections with people  

“I get to do things that are fulfilling and have fun,” stated Bentley. “I get to pick and choose what I do in my life.”

Bentley noted that the turning point for her was a few years back when she attended a jazz camp and met an eight-year old violinist that she helped write music for. 

“That was more fulfilling than anything I had done in 40 years.” recalled Bentley. “Just being in that creative process and being able to do things that make you happy.”

After leaving her job in IT, she began performing and the gig kept coming in.

She recently sang at the world famous Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme and regularly performing tunes from the 50s and 60s at local Senior Centers

“It’s so fulfilling to have people start singing with you,” Bentley said of the senior center performances. “To watch these folks light up is something special. They love it; there is no great feeling that looking out and seeing people clapping, tapping their feet, and singing along with you.” 

Bentley will next be performing jazz on Father’s Day, June 18, at the 350 Grill Steakhouse in Springfield, Mass. 

It’s the next phase in what Bentley called a “second chance at music.”  

​“Opportunities keep opening up for me. It’s an amazing thing that makes my life happy every day,” added Bentley. “My new mantra is if somebody asks me to get up and sing I’m going to do it. My answer is always yes. It has forced me to get into situations that I used to shy away from for years.” 

Softball catcher Victoria Wiatrak and pitcher Lily Kenney embrace between innings during the Panthers 9-0 semifinals win over North Branford in Meriden last Monday.

Cromwell High School softball made the state championship game for a second straight season after blanking conference rival North Branford, 9-0, in the Class S semifinals at Dunn Sports Complex in Meriden on June 5.  

It was an extra sweet victory for the Panthers, who had lost the previous three meetings to the Thunderbirds this spring, including a conference tournament defeat and a pair of 2-0 losses in the regular season. 

“The girls had nothing to lose today and that’s the attitude we had. We are built for these moments,” said CHS head coach Angelo Morello. “The girls all along had confidence. We are a very loose bunch and you could see that in the pregame. You could tell they were ready.” 

Lily Kenney pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing only three hits and striking out 10. Kenney also sparked the team from the plate, connecting on a leadoff double and eventually reaching home following a line drive single from catcher Victoria Wiatrak.

Kenney, one of five seniors, said the team used the three losses to North Branford as motivation, particularly after the team failed to score in 14 innings in the regular season against their Shoreline Conference (SLC) foes.

“I think there was a fear of knowing what North Branford is capable of and I have so much respect for North Branford, they are an amazing team,” stated Kenney. “But that fear sparked something in us and our adrenaline was there the entire game, and once we got ahead there was no going back.”

Kenney added that she and Wiatrak have an extra special bond. Along with having the pitcher-catcher connection, they also bat first and second in the lineup. 

“She is amazing, no word can describe how much I trust her behind the plate,” Kenney said of her junior teammate. “Whenever I’m down, she picks me up and it’s awesome to have her right behind me.”

North Branford entered the game as the No. 2 seed in the state tourney and had only lost once all season, but the No. 11 Panthers were clearly the more motivated team from the opening pitch and broke the game open in the third and fourth innings, scoring four runs in each frame.  

In the top of the third, Wiatrak doubled to drive home Kenney and Grace McFarlin. Wiatrak and Marlena Signorello then scored following a double from Alyssa Brodeur. 

Wiatrak said it was “confidence” that allowed the Panthers to put the previous losses to North Branford behind them.

“We’ve been in these games before and we’ve been in these games against North Branford, and I feel like we wanted it more than them,” added Wiatrak, who drove three runs.  

McFarlin, Signorello, Emma Ribera, and Annika Peters added runs in the top of the fourth, turning the semifinal grudge match into a blowout. 

McFarlin, the team’s center fielder, was one of several Panthers to make noteworthy catches in the game, keeping the normally potent Thunderbird scoreless for the first time all year. She said that getting to the neutral site field nearly two and a half hours prior to first pitch allowed the Panthers to settle in. 

“Obviously it paid off,” McFarlin said of the early arrival. “Everything needed to be covered. We couldn’t make any errors because we knew that they could score off of any error.”

Following the program’s first state championship last spring, the Panthers had an up-and-down regular season in 2023, winning 13 of 20 games. 

For a second straight season, the Panthers lost to a North Branford team in the conference tourney. The Thunderbird went on to win the SLC for an eight straight conference title. 

However, just like they did a year ago, the Panthers got revenge in the state tourney. 

McFarlin said the team remained “positive” throughout the regular season struggles, adding “We picked each other up. It’s not a team, it’s a family.”

“We knew we had the potential,” added Kenney. “What I tried to tell the girls is that if we keep working hard, we will get to where we want to get.”

On Saturday, the Panthers bid for a second straight title fell short, losing to Coventry 3-2 at the University of Connecticut. 

It marked Coventry’s first state title and prevented the Panthers from repeating.

Despite the loss, the handful of graduating seniors — Kenney, McFarlin, Signorello, Broduer, and Alyssa DeLucco — leave a historic
mark on the program.

After the 2020 season was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Panthers won 45 games over the next three seasons.

Over that time span, Cromwell also won 9 of 11 state tourney games, including a 3-0 win over North Branford in the 2022 state title, hanging the initial state championship softball banner inside CHS. 

Grace Gorreck and Ryan Moores were selected as Bacon Academy’s Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Grace Gorreck and Ryan Moores were selected as Bacon Academy’s Scholar-Athletes of the Year for the year 2022-2023 school year. 

The Scholar-Athlete Program annually recognizes two high school seniors from each member high school of the Connecticut Association of Schools/Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CAS/CIAC) whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary, whose personal standards and achievements are a model to others, and who possess high levels of integrity, self-discipline and courage.

The pair was honored at the 40th annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington last month.

“Rock Steady” Gorreck     

Along with being the Class of 2023 salutatorian, Gorreck was a four-year member of the school’s volleyball team, playing on the varsity team since her sophomore season and serving as an outside hitter for the Bobcats.

In the fall of 2022, Gorreck earned Eastern Connecticut Conference (ECC) Scholar-Athlete recognition on the courts and was also a standout her junior season when the team won an ECC Division II title in 2021.  

Gorreck stated that volleyball has “helped me grow mentally, socially, and physically more than any other activity I have participated in.”

Bacon Academy volleyball head coach Scott Dumond called her “rock steady”, adding that Gorreck was an “extremely smart player and powerful player.”

“She demonstrates her leadership through action. I could count on her for anything and that rolled into her being a great captain,” added Dumond. “The same effort that she puts into her school work and in life, she would put into volleyball.”

Gorreck was also instrumental with helping the volleyball program grow, organizing and leading a week-long clinic for middle schoolers last spring and also running two charity games that raised more than $2,300.  

Dumond said that Gorreck’s dedication to the program was evident from the first day she stepped onto the court.    

“Grace was always looking to help,” added Dumond. “If I needed fliers printed out or something done for the team, Grace was the one I went to. She would spread the word and communicate with other girls.” 

Dumond added, “She was always doing what she was supposed to do. I am going to miss her completely.”

Gorreck, who was also a volunteer coach for youth basketball in Colchester, will attend Marist College and study environmental science as part of the college’s honors program.   

Moores Goes the Distance

Moores was ranked No. 1 in his class academically, earning the school’s valedictorian distinction, and was also one of the state’s top distance runners. 

Along with a slew of academic achievements, Moores was a three-season runner, competing on the cross-country trails in the fall and the outdoor and indoor tracks in the winter and spring seasons. 

Moores was three-sport captain his senior season and earned all-conference multiple times in all three. 

He won dozens of events during his tenure at Bacon Academy, including an Eastern Connecticut Conference (ECC) title in the 1600 meters during indoor track and followed his conference title with a 3rd place finish at the Class S championships, running a personal-best time of 4:24.99 in February. 

Track and field head coach Steve Browning said that Moores’ work ethic is second to none. 

“He has done a lot for the program,” added Browning. “It’s been a real pleasure to coach him.”
Browning noted that Moores was able to juggle his extensive school and volunteer schedule with his desire to become an elite runner. 

“He’s really bright, really dedicated. He is pretty much anything you would want in an athlete,” added Browning. “He’s very independent and he’ll do the work when you’re not looking, which is a good influence on younger kids.” 

This past fall, Moores placed 3rd in the Class M cross-country championships to wrap up four productive years on the local trails.

Moores was also capable of excelling at a variety of distances during track season, competing in the 400, 800, 1600, and the 3200 meters, along with participating in several relay teams. 

“Kids fed off his energy,” stated Browning. “Knowing how good he was, the other kids would work harder and Ryan could pull us through the toughest events. I can’t tell you how many meets we won because of him.”

Moores, who is the Vice President of the Class of 2023 at Bacon Academy, will attend Princeton University to study neuroscience.
​He will use his first year at the university as a gap year and study abroad in Indonesia through the Novogratz Bridge Year Program. 

Bacon Academy girls lacrosse team after winning the program’s first state tournament game last Tuesday. Senior Katie Graham scored four goals during the historic victory, earning a Standout of the Week recognition. 
 
It’s a double dose of Rivereast Standouts of the Week for the week of May 29 - June 4:
           
Katie Graham - Bacon Academy (Lacrosse): Graham, a senior, scored four goals as the Bobcats defeated Tolland 13-11 at Bacon Academy in the first round of the Class S state tournament on May 30. It marked the program’s first state tournament victory in program history. Marissa Nudd also scored four goals, while Maddox Burton netted a pair of goals and had three assists and Anna LeGault scored a goal and dished out a team-high four assists in the historic win.    
           
Josh Ambrose - Bacon Academy (Baseball): Ambrose, a senior, pitched a gem in the opening round of the Class M state tournament, striking nine and shutting out Seymour 3-0 on May 30 at French Park. Ambrose’s effort from the mound propelled the No. 21 ranked Bobcats to an upset over the No. 12 ranked Wildcats. To provide support for Ambrose, Mason Pingree connected on a pair of hits and scored a run, while Steven Laliberte also had two hits for the Bobcats.   
           
Aubrey Brainard - RHAM High School (Softball): Brainard, a freshman, drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run in extra innings when she doubled on an 0-2 count, driving home Abigail Pace as the Raptors defeated Tolland 3-2 in the second round of the Class M state tournament on May 31. Brainard’s RBI cemented the Raptors second upset victory of the tourney, also defeating Stonington (6-0) in the opening round. Senior pitcher Hadley Marchand was spectacular in the two tourney wins, combining to strike out 26 batters and allow only seven hits and two runs.       
           
Rachel Bartolucci - RHAM High School (Track and Field): Bartolucci won a state championship, finishing first in the 800 meters with a time of 2:18.99. Bartolucci, a senior, soundly defeated runner-up Ripley Penney of New Fairfield by more than three seconds to capture the event’s crown at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on May 30. The soon-to-be graduate will run cross-country and track at Central Connecticut State University.    
           
Emily Jovel - East Hampton High School (Softball): Jovel, a sophomore, had three hits, driving in a run and scoring another as the No. 29 Bellringers upset No. 4 ranked Wilcox Tech 7-3 in the opening round of the Class S state tourney on May 30. Jovel connected on a single, double, and triple as the Bellringers scattered 11 total hits, including three from freshman Jocelyn Gustavsen, who also scored two runs.     
           
Brian Collisson - East Hampton High School (Track and Field): Collisson won a state championship in the pole vault, taking first place at the Class S state finals at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on May 30. Collisson, a junior, also won the Shoreline Conference Championship the previous week, clearing a personal-best height of 12’ 00”.  
           
Andrew Johnson - Portland High School (Track and Field): Johnson won a state championship in the javelin, finishing with a meet-best toss of 151‘04” at the Class S state finals at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on May 30. Johnson, a senior, also teamed with Parker Thompson, Sam LaMalfa, and Cole Bates for a runner-up finish in the 4x400 meter relay. The foursome would later break the school record in the 4x4 relay at the State Open, running a time of 3:29.29 on June 5.  
 
           
​Lillian Tabellione - Portland High School (Track and Field): Tabellione won a state championship in the 1600 meters and was the runner-up in the 3200 meters at the Class S state finals at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on May 30. Tabellione, a junior, ran a time of 5:19.36 to defeat Stephanie Burzynski of Somers by more than two seconds to capture the 1600 meters crown. Fellow junior Meghan McPhee also took home a state championship, winning the 800 meters with a time of 2:21.08.

Senior goalie Drew Hazard made ten saves during the Guardians first round state tournament win over Fairfield Ludlowe last Wednesday.  

After falling behind 2-0 in the first quarter, Glastonbury High School’s boys lacrosse team reeled off nine straight goals during an 11-5 win over Fairfield Ludlowe in the first round of the Class L state tournament at GHS on May 31.

The Guardians scoring spurt started in the first quarter and bled over into the fourth quarter. 

Head coach Scott Hinchey said once the team’s nerves settled, his team was laser focused on the goal at hand. 

“It was about feeling these guys out,” Hinchey said of the playing the visiting out-of-conference Falcons from Fairfield, “We learned from [our mistake] and our defense got better. This is a resilient group.” 

Hinchey added, “We were very unselfish on offense today and that has been our goal. Our guys stepped up and made plays, and I thought our unselfishness was a big reason we won today.” 

Brady Stone led a balanced offensive attack with four goals and an assist. He was one of four Guardians to find the back of the net.
Luke Lavery tallied three goals and Liam Doyle scored a pair, while Parker Wallace and Braeden Saunders each scored once.

“It was a full team effort. I think we had a couple of great practices leading into [the game],” said Stone. “It was about playing team offense and sharing the ball. It’s not just one guy, it’s about the whole team being in the right spots and that is how we got it done.” 

Senior goalie Drew Hazard made ten saves, leading a defensive unit that banded together following a pair of quick strikes from the Falcons. 

“We just tried to rally and continue playing hard for the whole 48 [minutes],” Hazard said of shaking off the early struggles. “It doesn't matter the score, it’s just about playing hard and playing good defense.” 

Hinchey called Hazard the “backbone” of the team and credited him for staying calm following the early setback. 

Trailing 9-2 heading into the fourth quarter, Fairfield pulled out all the stops in an attempt to rally, using an aggressive offensive approach.

Yet Hazard stood tall and made four key saves in the fourth.

“Drew had a stellar game today; he bailed us out a couple of times,” Hinchey said of his most-seasoned goalie.

Hazard assumed a majority of the minutes late in the season after splitting time with junior Cayden Infantino throughout the season. 

Hinchey noted that both goalies have played well all season, heading a defensive unit that allowed double-digit goals only once in 16 regular season games.

The state tourney win came on the heels of a conference championship loss to Simsbury from a few days prior. 

After falling short of a second straight Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Central title, Hinchey said the team had exceptional practices leading into the state tourney. 

“This is a mature group. They were ready to go,” added Hinchey. “Our guys were pretty locked in, they had that fire in their eye.”
Stone added, “We were hungry; we had a sour taste after last week and that fueled us.”

It turned out to be the last time that the senior players would play on their home turf. 

Following the win, the No. 7 Guardians traveled to Westport and lost to Staples, the defending Class L champs and the No. 2 ranked team in the tourney. 

Hinchey called his eight departing players a “great group of guys.”

Stone, Hazard, Wallace, Doyle, Jack Anglim, William Meigs, Jack Carducci, and Ryder Harmon all graduated Monday. 

“They are all great leaders and they love being out here competing,” added Hinchey.  “They’ve been a pleasure to coach.”
The seniors were freshmen during the Covid-19 cancellation season in 2020 and over the last three years they helped the program win a total of 34 games and a conference title. 

Stone, who will continue playing lacrosse at Endicott College, called the seniors a “tight-knit group.” 

“It starts with the bond that we all have from when we first started playing in the Rising Stars days,” added Stone. “All the boys have been playing since we were little and we’ve created that comradery.”

Hazard, who will play collegiately at Salve Regina University, agreed with Stone. 

​“It’s a great group of guys and we’re all friends. It’s been awesome to play with these guys.”

Rayah Snyder, a senior shortstop, hit a home run during her final swing at GHS on May 30.
​
Senior Rayah Snyder’s final at-bat on her home turf was a memorable one. 

Playing in her final game at Glastonbury High School, Snyder sent a walk-off home run to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Guardians defeated Fairfield Warde, 5-2, in the first round of the Class LL state tournament. 

Snyder’s three-run smash drove home Bella Derench and Morgan Page to end a wild game in which all seven runs were scored in the final frame.

After Fairfield Warde scored a pair in the top of the seventh to break a scoreless tie, Derench doubled to send home Reilly Cotter to cut the deficit in half. Page then singled to drive home Nabia Crawford and set the stage for Snyder’s heroic sky-high shot.     

Pitcher Gabby Lambert earned the win, going the entire way and striking out eight. 

The following night, the Guardians season came to an end in round two, falling to Fairfield Ludlowe 3-2 in extra innings on May 31. The tourney loss ended the high school careers for Snyder, Natalie Lessard, and Molly Doherty.

Snyder, a University of Connecticut commit, was selected all-state for a third straight season and was joined by junior teammate Lily Woodworth on the Class LL All-State team. 

Rocky Hill senior Zach Meyers struck out eight as the Terriers defeated Morgan in the opening round of the Class M state tourney on May 30.

After stranding three runners in the first inning, Rocky Hill High School baseball made sure to capitalize the next time the bases were juiced.

Facing two outs in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Brady Holzmiller connected on a bloop to short right, sending home Brendan Whalen to break a scoreless tie. 

Holzmiller’s RBI opened the floodgates as the Terriers scored eight total runs in the sixth inning before holding on for an 8-1 win over Morgan in the first round of the Class M state tourney last Tuesday at Griswold Middle School.  

“I wanted to get a pitch that I could hit and make a play,” Holzmiller said of his mindset prior to the bases loaded knock. 
Following Holzmiller’s clutch hit, the next six Terriers reached base.

Daniel Lin singled, sending home Robert Gwara and Ben Centurelli, before Jaiden Reyes tripled to score Holzmiller and Lin. Next, Tyler Carlstrom connected on a single to drive in Reyes. 

Whalen then returned to the plate and connected on a single before Gwara sent home Carlstrom and Whalen to cap the eight-run explosion. 

Once the dust had settled, the Terriers had turned a nail-biter into a blowout heading into the final frame. 

Head coach Eric Frank said the difference between the first inning disappointment and the six inning scoring explosion was simple. 

“We got the big hit; Brady came through,” a smiling Frank stated. “We had opportunities early in the game and we didn’t get that big hit, but Brady has been coming through for us all year. He’s a mentally tough kid.”

Frank added, “Once our guys see an opening, they usually break right through it.”

The sixth-inning fireworks from the plate highlighted the win, yet it was Zach Myers’ magnificent work from the mound that set the stage. The senior lefty struck out eight, pitching into the seventh inning before Centurelli relieved him for the final two outs to earn the save.

The Terriers entered the tourney as the No. 4 seed and were playing at home against the No 29 seeded Huskies from Morgan, but
Myers said the team was laser focused and wasn't concerned with rankings.   

“We knew it was going to be a dog fight,” added Myers. “Everyone comes in 0-0 and the lower seed could be a tough matchup. We knew we needed to play our best.”

Myers added that he had success early in the contest with the fast and curve balls before mixing in his change-up as the game aged. 

“Zach pitched unbelievable today. He was pounding the zone and had command of all three pitches,” said Frank. “He has been doing that all year for us. He is a confident kid and we’re glad he’s on our team.”

Holzmiller said that Myers’ brilliance over the first six innings allowed him the opportunity to be “the man” in the sixth. 

“Zach was pitching a heck of a game and I wanted to have his back,” added Holzmiller. “The entire team wanted to have his back.”
The day following the win, Rocky Hill’s season came to an end with a 3-2 loss in extra innings to Conard in the second round. 

It wrapped up the program's most successful season since the 2014 state championship season. 

The Terriers won 18 total games, scoring 202 runs and allowing only 48 runs over 22 games. They earned a conference title after winning 10 of 13 conference games to finish atop the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) North.

Frank, who took over the program last spring, has guided the team to 33 wins over his first two seasons in the dugout. 

“We want to build a culture of resilient, mentally tough players that are trying to get better every single day,” Frank said following the win over Morgan. “This is a group that loves to compete. We have a group of eight seniors on this team that are making sure we play the right way. It’s been a pleasure to coach these guys.”

Myers, who is one of the eight departing seniors, added that the key to the success has been the unbreakable bond. 

“It’s a family,” stated Myers. “Everyone respects everybody. If someone is down, we pick them up. That’s how we play.” 
Myers, Whalen, Carlstrom, Centurelli, and Reyes were each selected all-conference and the handful will be graduating next week along with fellow seniors Gwara, Tyler Turner, and Brett Kwiatkowski.   

Brandan Whalen scored twice in the sixth innings as the Terriers broke the game open with eight runs in the decisive frame.