Just thought I’d empty out my reporter’s notebook while hoping the Boston Red Sox and All-Star MVP Jarren Duran can keep things rolling in the second half of the season …
Award winners
As a long time member of the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance, I’m thrilled with this year’s slate of recipients for the prestigious Gold Key Award. This year’s honorees include longtime Windham High School wrestling and football coach Brian Crudden, former Daniel Hand High School and Yale University football coach Larry Ciotti, award-winning sportscaster George Grande, retired Pomperaug High School field hockey coach Linda Dirga, and Wesleyan University women’s basketball coach Kate Mullen.
I’m also happy to announce that Killingly wrestling coach Rich Bowen will be honored with the Doc McInerney High School Coach of the Year Award for a male sport. Bowen, who started coaching at Killingly in 1986, recorded his 700th dual meet victory during the 2023-24 season, the most in Connecticut history. The three-time hall of fame inductee also guided Killingly to the Class S championship, his seventh state crown. Bowen’s team is currently on a 60-match dual meet winning streak, fifth longest in state annals.
Bowen will receive his award at the 82nd Gold Key Dinner on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. Tickets are $75, and may be reserved by contacting CSMA president Tim Jensen at 860-394-5091 or tim.jensen@patch.com.
Other award winners include record-breaking javelin thrower Jordan Davis of Wallingford and Southern Connecticut State University (Bill Lee Male Athlete of the Year Award), standout lacrosse goalkeeper Shea Dolce of Darien, a key member of Boston College’s NCAA national championship team (Hank O’Donnell Female Athlete of the Year Award), Leigh Barone of Masuk softball (Doc McInerney High School Coach of the Year Award for a female sport), and U.S. Olympic bobsled designer Bob Cuneo (President’s Award).
All-Stars headed to Rose City
While the defending Futures League champion Norwich Sea Unicorns continue to battle for first place, all eyes will be on Dodd Stadium this week for Monday’s Home Run Derby and Tuesday’s All-Star game.
The festivities are a special treat for Rose City baseball fans. Norwich hosted the Double-A All Star game in 2002, the Eastern League All Star Game in 2007, and the New York-Penn League All Star game in 2013.
Yup, Dodd Stadium will be holding its fourth All-Star game on Tuesday. The best of the best in the Futures League this season has been split into Team Rose City and Team Three Rivers. Team Rose City will be managed by reigning Futures League Manager of the Year Kevin Murphy. Murphy’s roster will include players from his Sea Unicorns, the New Britain Bees, Westfield Starfires and Worcester Bravehearts.
Team Three Rivers will be managed by Matt Fincher of the Vermont Lake Monsters. Fincher’s team will be made up of his Lake Monsters, the Brockton Rox, Nashua Silver Knights and Futures League Road Warriors.
The Sea Unicorns All Stars are outfielder AJ Soldra (NJIT), infielder Nick Tomasetto (Rutgers), pitcher Jimmy Mulvaney (Fairfield), pitcher Gavin Hawkes (Rider), pitcher Gio Conte (UConn), utility Christian Stratis (UAB), and pitcher Liam Carroll (New Haven).
All-State track and field
Kudos to Norwich Free Academy track and field stars Chris Amy, Joal Barros, Lily Gilbert and Hannah Graham, and Killingly’s Everton Brown, all of whom were selected to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Track and Field teams.
Amy capped his spectacular season in the shot put and discus events by being named the CHSCA Field Athlete of the Year.
All Star MVPs
With the MLB All-Star Game MVP Award named after Red Sox legend Ted Williams, it seemed only fitting that a Boston Red Sox player was taking the trophy home to Yawkey Way.
Jarren Duran’s thrilling tiebreaking, two-run homer off Hunter Greene in the fifth inning lifted the American League to a 5-3 victory over the National League in last Tuesday’s night’s All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas. Duran, who fueled the Red Sox’s surprising first half, was voted the game’s MVP.
Duran became the fifth Red Sox player to win the Midsummer Classic’s MVP Award, joining J.D. Drew (2008), Pedro Martinez (1999), Roger Clemens (1986) and Carl Yastrzemski (1970).
Stuck in the '70s
On July 14, 1970, Yastrzemski tied the All-Star Game record for hits (4) in a game and singles (3) in a game during the National League’s 5-4 victory over the American League at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Despite being on the losing side, Yaz was named the game’s MVP.
The game featured one of baseball’s most historic plays when the Cincinnati Reds’ Pete Rose scored the winning run in the bottom of the 12th by crashing into Cleveland Indians catcher Ray Fosse. Fosse suffered a fractured and separated left shoulder.
This was the first MLB All-Star Game ever played at night. President Richard Nixon threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The game was broadcast on NBC with announcers Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek and Mickey Mantle.
Jimmy Zanor is a sportswriter for the Norwich Bulletin and can be reached at jzanor@norwichbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter@jzanorNB.
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