Thank you for saying you saw it in The Rare Reminder 11/27/13

Check us out at www.RareReminder.com

Erika Leonard Signs National Letter of Intent

by Kathleen Pulek Erika Leonard has amassed a softball and academic resume full of achievements, accomplishments and awards in her 18 years. On Nov. 13, she added another to her growing list--further distinguishing herself by signing a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Maine and to play softball for the Black Bears--making Leonard the rst Rocky Hill High School female to commit to playing softball for a Division I university. Two years ago, she suffered what she terms a major setback-one that could have jeopardized her academic and athletic careers. I ended up getting mono and lost 15 pounds. I was out for a month. I didnt do anything. It was January, so I missed winter practices, Leonard said. When I came back, since I was so thin and weak, I had trouble swinging my bat. It took me a year to get back in shape, but that drove me to work harder and get better. I obviously would be a much different player if I hadnt had mono. I think I would be miles ahead of where I am now. But having mono taught me that when you have a setback, you work that much harder to get back to where you were. Leonards relentless work ethic paid big dividends during the 2012 softball season, when the sophomore shortstop helped Rocky Hill to a 22-1 overall record, the states top ranking and the State Class M championship. Wins over Tolland (1-0), Jonathan Law (3-2) and Seymour (1-0) set up the title meeting with Granby Memorial, which the Terriers won, 6-0. I get the chills every time I think about being 2012 state champs. That whole year was that season, all the girls ended up leaving the team. Coach George Windish suggested I check out the Connecticut Charmers. I didnt know what a showcase softball team was or how demanding it was at that time. Leonard and the Charmers became and remain a perfect t. Acknowledged as a top showcase team, the Charmers are scouted by more than300 of the countrys eminent Division I, Division II, and Division III college coaches, with over 250 Charmers going on to playcollegiate softball. Im not home at all on the weekends during the season, traveling to states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. We had seven tournaments this fall seven-straight weekends in different cities. Its mentally and physically tough, but I wouldnt change a single thing. I worked as hard as I could to get to where I am. Neil Swanchak, head coach of the Charmers 18U Gold Team said the shortstop/outelder has speed and power. Anything hit to Erika is tracked down. Shes also a very good hitter. Leonard attributes her success to striving to be the best in everything I do, not just softball, and the support of my family. My parents have come to every game and every tournament, from when I was little. They havent missed a single game. If my dads not there, my mom is. My [older] brother [Mike] is always encouraging me. My parents bring me to private batting lessons an hour away at The Clubhouse in Faireld so I can hit with Angel Echevarria. A Connecticut native, Echevarria enjoyed a 12-year professional baseball career that included a total of six seasons spent with the Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs and

Erika Leonard signs a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Maine and play softball for the Black Bears. Photo: Kim Leonard.

Injuries Continue to Plague Cromwell Football

by Josh Howard Just one month ago, the Cromwell Panthers were sitting at atop the Pequot-North and had just beaten four straight conference opponents in impressive fashion. It seemed that the young Panthers were headed for a spot in the playoffs after a sensational start to the season. However, thats when the injuries and misfortune started to mount for Cromwell and, ve losses later, leave them searching for answers. The latest loss was a physical 24-6 defeat at the hands of the North Branford Thunderbirds on a chilly, damp Friday night in North Branford. The Thunderbirds were celebrating their Senior Night at George A. Colafarti Field and had also struggled over the past month, losing four of ve games. The rowdy home crowd combined with a strong running game and key plays from backup quarterback Paul Pastet helped North Branford pull out the victory in a game that was closer than the nal score would indicate. The Panthers, who were also without their starting quarterback, used a unique rotating system at quarterback to ll the void left by Mavric Pelletiers injury. This strategy worked early in the game with Jarius Bailey starting the game under center and rotating with Emir Cirikovic, who would operate primarily out of a shotgun formation. The two-quarterback system fooled North Branford in the rst quarter, allowing the Panthers to drive into Thunderbirds territory with a chance to put points on the board, but kicker Mike McNallys 42-yard eld goal attempt drifted too far to the right. North Branfords punishing fullback Josh Melaccio ripped off a 36-yard run immediately following the missed kick, but the Thunderbirds fumbled on the following play and it was recovered and returned 25 yards by Cromwells defensive captain Joey Chaves. The fumble recovery was just one of Chaves big plays Friday night. The senior defensive tackle also recorded a sack, four quarterback pressures, and seven tackles. Two plays following Chaves recovery, and facing a third and 22, Cirikovic threw a beautiful rainbow pass down the right sideline that Byrd grabbed for a 32-yard touchdown. Byrd had rotated out to the receiver position on the play and beat double coverage for the games opening score, putting the Panthers up 6-0 with 3:23 to play in the rst quarter. The Cromwell sideline was ecstatic following the touchdown and their defense nearly caused a three and out on North Branfords next offensive possession, but a questionable unnecessary roughness penalty on the Panthers negated a third down sack and gave the Thunderbirds a rst down. The penalty seemed to swing the momentum in the direction of North Branford and they scored later in the drive when Pastet connected with Austin Calamita on an out route. Calamita beat man coverage on the route and raced down the sidelines for a 29yard touchdown reception. The touchdown and following two-point conversion gave North Branford an 8-6 lead and the home team never looked back from that point on. Cromwell did have a chance to take the lead heading into halftime, but McNally missed a eld goal from 36 yards out, this time pulling the kick to the left. Kicking conditions were challenging on Friday night due to the rain that had dampened the eld during the morning and afternoon. Following the miss, and rather than be content with a two point halftime lead, North Branford decided to open up their passing game and quickly marched into Cromwell territory with two long pass plays. The rst was a 38yard jump ball that Calamita hauled down between two Cromwell defenders and the second was a middle-screen that was caught by Melaccio, who turned the well-executed play into a 17-yard gain. The two plays set up North Branford at the 13-yard line with nine seconds to play. Without any time outs remaining, Pastet gambled and kept the ball for himself on a quarterback keeper. The gamble paid off as Pastet dove into the left corner of the end zone to score with only four seconds left to play in the half. The last-second touchdown energized the home crowd and gave North Branford a 16-6 lead at the break. The second half featured seven total punts and very little drama. The only score of the half was tallied by Melaccio, who burst up the middle and ran untouched for a 51-yard touchdown on the rst play of the fourth quarter. Melaccio, who runs like a bulldozer, nished the game with 178 total

crazy. Head coach Gil Gioia had gotten sick, so our two assistant coaches had to take over. Being on that team, with all of the girls, we were a family. We all enjoyed going to practice. We went for ice cream twice a week after practice to Ritas and Pralines. We bonded so well, said Leonard, who admitted a fondness for Ritas Swedish Fish Ice. As a junior, she hit .519 with 17 runs batted in, made good on all eight stolen base attempts and earned a spot on the All State First Team. Winning the Class M title and making All-State have been the highlights of my high school softball career. We lost a lot of key players after the 2012 season, so last year we were rebuilding, and we didnt do as bad as I thought we would. A lot of the freshmen came in, held their own and did well at their positions, Leonard said. The 2014 season can only get better. Last years freshmen will step up again and work hard. I dont think winning a state championship is out of the question. Everyone asks why I chose

the University of Maine. I looked at Florida Atlantic, Fordham, Albany, Binghamton and UMass. When I visited FAU, it didnt feel like home. I like the cold; I love the season changes. Id feel homesick if I didnt have fall and winter, Leonard said. Maine softball coaches Lynn and Mike Coutts are wonderful people. They want to motivate you and see you do well. Thats what drew me in. I just love everything about the beautiful campus and the people there, said the high honor student. It wasnt until a couple of years ago that I realized that I wanted to play Division I softball and I wanted to be a nurse. If you have goals and motivation, you can accomplish anything. Thats why Im so proud of getting a scholarship to the University of Maine. Her afnity for softball was born in Rocky Hills Little League Softball Division some 13 years ago, where she learned the basics and fundamentals up to age 14, when I graduated Little League and moved on to play 14U Mirage Softball for a year. At the end of

two playing in Japan. I hit with Angel twice a week during the season. I try to go twice a week in the off-season, but sometimes I like to take a bit of a break and go once a week. I also try to be a normal kid - to go to as many school events and hang out with my friends as much as I can. I used to hit with Ashley Waters, who recommended Angel when she accepted an assistant softball coaching position at Harvard. After I get out of college, maybe Ill do nursing in a hospital intensive care unit for a while, and then if I was approached to be a coach, Id do that in a second. Coaching softball would be my dream job. I wouldnt be who I am now if it werent for the coaches I had in Little League. I think that giving back to the community you grew up in is really important, so theres a really good chance that Ill come back to Rocky Hill and give back to the people who gave to me.

The Terriers Erika Leonard at the plate. Photo: Dave Burnahm www.esnapsport. wordpress.com

yards and was successful of all three of his two-point conversion runs. Despite his troubles on place kicking, McNally did have a great night punting the football. The senior nailed three punts inside the North Branford 20-yard line, including a 52 yard blast that seemed to hang in the crystal clear night sky for ve seconds. McNally is one of only a handful of seniors on the Cromwell roster. Fellow senior Antwaum Burney also had a solid game in a losing effort. The 61 Burney blocked very well as a receiver and came up with four tackles and two pass deections from his cornerback position. McNally, Burney, and the rest of Cromwells seniors will have a chance close out their high school careers with a victory when they return home to host the Coginchaug Regional Blue Devils (8-2) on Thanksgiving. Cromwell has won the last three meetings between the two teams, but the Blue Devils are currently on a seven game winning streak and a win against the Panthers would most likely earn them a spot in the Class S playoffs. Despite the daunting task, Cromwell will be highly motivated in an effort to send their seniors out on a winning note. Bundle up, bring the family, and celebrate Thanksgiving morning at Pierson Park. Kickoff is at 10 a.m. Comments? Email josh@rarereminder. com