Willington Vs. Ashford
On June 5th, 2012, my team Willington 2 took on Ashford, at Memorial Park. My team was on a six-game losing streak, and this was the game in which we wanted to break it. In the top of the first, my team didn’t score any runs. In my first at-bat, I struck-out swinging to end the inning. In the third, I grounded-out to third base. For the first three innings, my both teams were held scoreless, until the bottom of the third inning. Ashford’s second baseman hit the ball into the outfield, but the ball was missed by the our outfielder Larry, and the batter went all the way to third. The next batter hit the ball into left field, driving home the games first run. The very next batter hit the ball to me, and I flipped it to second for the forceout. In the fourth, my team got into a jam, getting the bases loaded and two outs, but we changed the pitcher, and Clark came in as a relief pitcher and struck-out the batter to get out of the jam.
The score stayed 1-0 going all the way into the final inning. Our very first batter was Clark and he flied out to left field. I was the next batter. I hit the ball to the first baseman, but the pitcher came over to cover the bag and started to get in his way. I slid into the bag head first, and I hit the glove just right to make the first baseman drop the ball. Then John came up to bat. On the third strike, the catcher dropped the ball, and John started running, and the catcher over-threw first, and threw it way into the outfield! I went to third, and came all the way home, and so did John just as the ball was thrown into the pitcher! I leaped into his arms, knowing we had taken the 2-1 lead, and my teamates were just as jubilant! However, my team got into a jam in the bottom of the inning, because ashford got men on first and second, and with one out. Clark responded by striking-out the next batter. Then he got the next batter to pop-out to him to end the game! Our losing-streak was over, as we won 2-1! I went 1-for-3 on the day, getting a key hit and run in the final inning! I was so glad my team won, and it was a game I’ll never forget!
Willington Vs. Willimantic Game 5
On June 2nd, 2012, my team, Willington 2 played Willimantic at Legion Field. I was the leadoff hitter and I grounded out to shortstop to start the game and my team didn’t score any runs. After a few innings, Willimantic had a 3-0 lead. However, in the third inning, we began to chip away, and started the inning by scoring two runs. Later on, I was walked with one out, and stole my way to third base. One out later, I stole home on a past ball, the first time I had ever done this, to tie the game at 3-3. In the bottom of the inning, a Willimantic batter hit one out into shallow center field, and I came in and made a sliding grab to rob the batter of a base hit. This was a nice feeling to have everyone congratulating me after the catch. After a fourth inning rain delay, the game stayed tied till the fifth when we scored a run on a past ball, putting us ahead 4-3.
In the bottom of the inning, Willimantic started to rally and scored four runs on two doubles, and one triple, and they had a 7-4 lead. When I came up to bat in the top of the sixth (the last inning), there were two outs. My team was doing a chant for me, and it worked because I walked on four pitches to get a man on third, and me on first. Clark came up to bat and he hit the ball in the air toward center field and the shortstop dove and missed the ball, so I hustled all the way to third. However, John grounded-out to the second baseman to end the game, and our first lost to this Willimantic team of the season. With the loss our record dropped to 3-8. I was the leadoff hitter and I went 1-for-4 on the game. We played well but it was the late rally that got to us to cause us to lose, but I hope we can break our losing streak at Ashford!
UConn Falls In Big East Playoffs
The UConn baseball team fell in the Semifinals of the Big East Playoffs, ending there season, and their playoff run. The Huskies played USF, in the First round of the playoffs. In the first inning, the Huskies struck for an early run, and scored another run in the third to take a 2-1 lead. In the sixth inning, after the Huskies’ shortstop Tom Verdi led off with a single, Designated Hitter Alex DeBellis plated him with a double to lef-center field to put the Huskies on top 3-1. DeBellis moved to third on a single by Senior catcher Joe Pavone, and later scored on Center Fielder Billy Ferriter’s RBI single. In the eighth inning, the Huskies led off with two singles, and Billy Ferriter hit a double to right field to plate Pavone, and this ignited a three run frame. The Huskies relief pitcher, Scott Oberg, got out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth, and struck-out two in the ninth for his eighth save and this gave UConn the 7-2 win. UConn’s starting pitcher, David Fischer, pitched 6.2 innings for the win, his fifth.
UConn advanced to play Louisville, the top-seeded team in the playoff, in the second round. The scoring started in the third inning, with two outs. Huskies’ first baseman Tim Martin delivered the first hit of the game, and second baseman L J Mazzili hit another single. Ryan Fuller drove home Martin with a single, and Tom Verdi plated Mazzili to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead. Louisville got a run back in the fifth, but UConn still had a 2-1 lead. L J Mazzili led off the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left field line, the 200th hit of his career. Mazzili moved to third on a flyout to right, and Tom Verdi was intentionally walked. While Alex DeBellis was batting, Verdi stole second, and Mazzili stole home, to give UConn to 3-1 lead. Verdi later scored on a single to left to give UConn the 4-1 lead, and they won by the same score. UConn’s starter went 8.2 innings for his first win since April.
UConn then played USF in the third round, having already beaten them in the playoffs, 7-2, in the first round. Brian Ward was on the mound facing Derrick Stultz, who pitched a shutout win over the Huskies during the regular season. This time the result was much closer, but USF won again with Stultz on the mound. Brian Ward gave up only one hit, over 5 innings, but unfortunatly, that hit was a solo home run. Stultz gave up three hits, but scattered them, and they were all singles. The Huskies bullpen was dominant in kepping the game a one-run game, but the Huskies offense could not come through against Stultz, as the Huskies fell 1-0. With the loss, the Huskies moved to play USF for the elimination game.
In the elimination game, the game remained scoreless until the sixth inning. Tim Martin lined a two-out double off the right field wall, and L.J. Mazzili drove him in with a RBI single into left field. Carson Cross pitched a career high 5.2 innings, allowing just four hits. Dan Feehan came on in relief for Cross, and got UConn out of a man on second and third jam in the sixth. However, in the seventh, USF had men on second and third and no one out, and Feehan threw two passed balls to give the USF the lead. UConn never tied it up, and UConn was eliminated. Mazzili drove in the lone UConn run and finished the day with two hits, helping get on the All Big East Tournament Team. UConn finished the year with a 31-27-1 record. UConn, having had 15 players in the programs history go pro, had four players get selected in this year’s MLB draft. The players are closing pitcher Scott Oberg, second baseman L.J. Mazzili, third baseman Ryan Fuller, and starting pitcher David Fischer. UConn also had six seniors on the team. Despite losing some top talent, I think UConn will be just as good next year. 
The Secret Defenders #1
I recieved this comic last year, and have read a few times; enough to say that this is probably one of the better comics made in the ’90’s. It has a pretty good story line, and I would give it a 3-out-of-5 rating. The main charcters are Wolverine, Doctor Starnge, Darkhawk, Nomad, and Spider-Woman, which make up the Se
cret Defenders. The villians are two unnamed super-villians, and Dreadlox, who appears at the end. This comic is suprisingly only worth $2.75, considering it is the first comic of a series. This is a good comic, and about par for how good a comic from the 90’s is. While this is a good comic, it is not my favorite comic, and one I would suggest running out and buying.
Willington 2 vs Mansfield
On May 19th, 2012, my team Willington 2 played Mansfield 2 at SE-A field. In the first inning, my team did not get on base at all. Mansfield unlike us got three runs across home plate to take an early 3-0 lead. One ball was hit into center field, but the center fielder let it drop in front of him even though he had plenty of time to get to it. Another time, the ball was hit down the third base line and I had to slide across to stop it from being a double. Another frustrating play was when Jason almost caught the ball but didn’t, but still could have got the out if not for it being called a foul ball. When I came up to bat, there was one out in the second, and still no one on our team had gotten a hit. I hit the ball to third, and it should have just been a simple routine groundout for the other team, but I beat out the throw by a step for an infield single! However, nothing good came out of it though because the next two batters struckout swinging. Mansfield scored two more runs to take a 5-0 lead, but they almost scored more. On the third strike, the ball was dropped, and Austin threw the ball to first, but Joe wasn’t ready since he had thought it was the third strike, so he dropped the ball. However, we got out of the inning.
In the third inning, Mansfield scored another run to take a 6-0 lead. In the fourth inning, my team got men on second and third and I came up to bat and struckout, but the pitcher threw a ball past the catcher on the next batter, allowing Clark to score, cutting Mansfield’s lead to 6-1. Unfortunately we did not score any more runs in the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Mansfield got the run right back to stretch their lead to six runs again. In the fifth inning, my team got the bases loaded, with no outs. Our batter John hit the ball down the line but the pitcher threw it home to get the forceout, and that brought me up to bat and once again I struckout swinging. However, our next batter walked with the bases full to force in a run to make the score 7-2. Our next batter struckout swinging, to end the inning with the bases loaded. In the bottom of the inning, Mansfield once again got the run back. In the sixth inning, my team had to make up six runs in one inning to tie the game. However, my team never even reached base, as all three of our batters. As a result we lost 8-2. My team’s record is now 3-5, and I went 1-3 on the day for batting. My team is awesome at fielding, but most of my teammates have trouble making contact. If we could hit well, we would be unbeatable! 
My first Game at Legion Field
On May 14th, 2012, my team Willington 2 played Willimantic at Legion Field, my first time ever playing at Legion field. In the first inning, my team went down in order and didn’t score any runs, and I struck-out swinging. That same inning Willimantic scored three runs to take a 3-0 lead. My team didn’t score any runs the next inning, but Willimantic scored three more runs to take a 6-0 lead. Two errors were a throwing error over my head to make a single a triple, and a sacrifice fly was thrown into me and I threw it home but missed the catcher. In the third inning, we got our first run when Jason hit an RBI single to score Clark. We didn’t allow any runs in that inning, and we scored two more runs in the fourth, to make it 6-3, and I got walked but never got off first. After Brett pitched a perfect inning, it set the stage for our at-bat.
In the fifth inning, with a man on third, the other pitcher threw a past ball and Josh E. ran home. The throw to the pitcher covering was in time, but Josh E. slid so hard that he kicked the ball out of the pitcher’s glove. Another past ball led to another scored run, and we cut the deficit to 6-5. I struck-out, and Max later got walked. After he stole all the way to third, the pitcher threw a past ball, and Max came home to beat the throw to tie the game! From 6-0 down, we had tied it up! Austin with two out later got walked and he to stole his way to third, and after a pitch, he was leading off the base, and the catcher threw it to third, and he slid back, but the third baseman missed the ball! Unfortunately, he could not get back up in time to run. A few pitches later, the pitcher threw a past ball, and Austin came running home. The catcher threw the ball to the pitcher, who was at the back of the plate leaving the front of the plate wide open, and he tagged Austin, but after he touched the front of the plate. Even though he was clearly safe, the umpire called him out! Later that inning, my team allowed Willimantic to score so our tie didn’t last for long. When we came up to bat, it was 7-6, and it was the last inning after two walks and two outs, and a couple of steals, there was men on second and third. There were two strikes and two balls on Clark, and he swung and missed as we lost 7-6, and left men stranded. Even though we lost we had an incredible comeback and played well. Our next game is against Willington 1 at River Road, and even though they have beaten us twice before, I think that are playing much better now, and we can win. 
Veteran Talk on WWII
On May 14th 2012, the South Windsor Library hosted a talk by two veterans talk about World War II. They were both Lieutenant Colonels in the U.S. Air force during World War II, both were pilots. Their names were James and Walter. James fought in Europe and France against the Germans. Walter fought in the Pacific against the Japanese. James was the first to talk and he told about his service in the military. When he graduated high school, the war had already started. He received a draft notice to join the army, when he was getting ready to sign up for college. He didn’t want to go in the army, so he applied for the Air Force and was the only one out of ten people to pass the test. He later became a pilot and fought in France. One of the battles he fought in was the Battle of Germany. He flew a B-24. He also received the highest France military award for his service in WWII. He also said that both served in the Air Force even after the war was over for about 30 more years.
Walter did not talk much about his service. He spoke more about the planes. He showed a few short films about some different military planes taking off and landing. He showed us a B-24, which he flew, and told us there was always a crew of 10 on the plane. This plane weighed 30,000 lbs, and it’s wingspan was 102 feet long. This plane is not flown in action anymore. This plane was run on gaseoline, where as ones today run on oil.
He and James both said that there was nothing to do during off duty time. Pilots had it “easy” because they had no off-duty duties when they weren’t flying. James had pretty good housing and actually had a pool. Walter and his comrades lived in huts or tents. After the talk, they both answered question. I got to take a photo with them and thank them. I felt sad about what these men and all the other men who fought in WWII for what they had to go through. Many died for their country. It is also sad to think that almost every moment in combat they were probably thinking they were going to die. I really enjoyed the talk. I learned that while being a pilot has its benefits, it is a very difficult and dangerous job.
Willington 2 vs Willimantic Game 3
On May 12th, my team, Willington 2 played Willimantic for the third time this year. Willimantic got the first run of the game in the first inning off our pitcher Max. With the bases loaded, and one out, one of the Willimantic batters hit the ball to Max. Instead of going for the double play, he went for home and the tag wasn’t applied. After our first man got on base, Clark hit an inside-the park home run, to give my team the 2-1 lead. When I got up to bat, I got walked, and ball four went past the catcher, so I sprinted to first and stole second. I later stole third, but our batter struck-out swinging to end the inning. The next inning, Max pitched a shutout inning, and I got a play at second, fielding a ground ball for the out. My team scored a run that inning making it a 3-1 game. The third inning was an exact repeat as Max and Clark pitched a shutout inning. We scored another run to make it 4-1. I got hit with a pitch with no outs which led to a pitcher change, and the new pitcher struck out the next three batters. It was the first time I had ever gotten hit by a pitch.
In the fourth, Clark pitched a shutout frame, and we scored three more runs. In the fifth, Clark pitched our fourth straight shutout inning, and we scored two more runs to take a 9-1 lead. Almost all the runs in the game had come due to the pitcher throwing the ball past the catcher, except for our first two. In the sixth inning, which was the last inning, I was assigned to left field, and John was going to be on the mound. Coach Miller put me on the mound for the first time all year! The very first batter I faced hit a pop up to center field, and the center fielder and dove and caught it but it popped out of his glove. After I walked two, the next batter hit it right to the second baseman; he caught it, but didn’t turn two. Two infielders made diving stops, one was a stop by Jason to save a double, but the out was never made, and each play led to a run. With two men on base, the batter hit the ball on the ground but I snagged it, and threw it to first for the out but a run scored and the runner moved to third. The score was now 9-4. With two outs, and a man on third, the next batter hit the ball on the ground, and I missed it. Luckily, Clark stopped it at second, but it rolled between his legs, and he was fumbiling to get it! He finally grabbed it and threw it to first to just get the out. I leaped into the air, because my team had won. With the win my team’s record improves to 3-2. Our next game will be at Legion Field in Willimantic. With the big win, we all want more, and if we play that way again,
I think we’ll win. 
Binky Rudich
On May 11th, I went to see a play in which Sarah and Rachel Ayers were performing in at the Ashford School. We hadn’t seen the Ayers in quite some time, so it was nice to see them again. I got to see my friend, Jacob Ayers for the first time in a while and I got to talk to him before the show started. There were two shows, the first was called “The Young King”, neither Rachel nor Sarah were performing in this play. This was a short play performed by the younger kids in the school. Even though it was short, it was still a good play. There was a little break before the next show started. The play’s title was “Revenge of the Space Pandas”, but it could also be called “Binky Rudich and the two-speed clock”. It was about a boy named Binky Rudich, who invented a two-speed clock, and you could travel anywhere in the universe using it. When you came back, time would have stayed still. He had two friends; Vivian, and a sheep named Bob. Sarah played the part of Binky Rudich. Rachel played the part of the King’s court jester.
In the play, the two-speed clock sent them to a distant plant in a distant galaxy. There they met the king of the planet, and when he found out that they were from Earth and that Bob was a sheep, he wanted to capture them so he could make a sweater out of Bob’s wool. After a cool fight scene, the three friends escaped, but Binky was later captured. Rachel got to sing a funny song as the court jester during this part, before the king came and took her away. The King said that if Vivian and Bob didn’t turn themselves in, they would drop a huge pumpkin on Binky’s head! That was funny! They got captured in the end, and Vivian and Binky were put under a big pumpkin. Just as it was about to be dropped on them, they were saved by a famous actor that they had met earlier. He freed them, but no one noticed because they were to busy trying to get his autograph. They used the two-speed clock to get back home time hadn’t moved and everything was the same. But it ended with suspense and humor. When they went downstairs to get lunch, the king stepped out of the shadows and looked at the two-speed clock sinisterly, and flipped over a chalkboard. The chalkboard said The End? Rachel played a jester in the King’s court when the three friends had been captured. After the play, we got to talk to the Ayers, before we left. We all had a great time and really enjoyed the play!
A Day At UConn Baseball
On May 6, 2012, my family and I went to the UConn baseball Stadium for a baseball clinic where I would get to work with some of the players. The baseball team had a game later on, so I watched them practice for a while. After we got a photo of all the people who had come for the clinic, we went on to the bleachers so the UConn coach could talk to us. He talked about what we would be working on during the clinic, and about having a good attitude, even when you make errors or don’t play well, and about how your mistakes make you a stronger player. After the pep talk, we went over to the field behind the stadium, to do the clinic.
The drills we did in the clinic were outfielding, infielding, and pitching. In outfielding, I didn’t miss any balls and I think the clinic might have helped with that, because sometimes I miss fly balls, or I miss-judge them. The next drill we did was infielding. Once again, I think the clinic helped me because I worked on charging slow rollers, which I usually have a problem with. After that, my group did pitching drills, and we got to see how fast we each pitched. My average speed was 45 mph. After the clinic finished, the three pitchers that worked with us signed some balls for us.
Before the game started, I got to meet a UConn player that I had e-mailed last summer and is my favorite player, Billy Ferriter. I got to talk with him, and he signed my ball and I got a picture with him. After that, we stayed for some of the game, and when we left it was 0-0. UConn was playing Cinncinati. We saw a base hit for UConn and some good hitting, and the UConn pitcher strike out three batters in an inning. The only play I didn’t get was when Billy Ferriter attempted to staeal a base and was called safe and then the Umpire switched the call! In the end, UConn won it 13 innings, 6-4, due to a walk-off homer. I wish I had seen the entire game, but I had a great time at the clinic, and learned a lot, and I think it helped with my baseball skills. It was also fun meeting some players. I had a great time!