Monthly Archives: September 2015

September 19, 2015 · 12:10 pm

Newtown gets easy 45-7 win over Notre Dame-Fairfield in home opener

Plenty of end zone celebrating for Newtown as they crossed the goal line six times against Notre Dame – Fairfield

Jared Pearson (2 touchdowns) single one for teammate Declan Sullivan

Jared Pearson (2 touchdowns) signals one for teammate Declan Sullivan

(Newtown CT) No one expected otherwise in this one.

Newtown (2-0) finished off visiting ND-Fairfield (0-2) in the first half and played reserves thereafter in a 45-7 win over the Lancers on Friday night.

No crystal ball was required in assuming that ND would be overmatched against Newtown. Why? The Lancers from Division S have not won more than one game in each of the last four seasons. Last time ND came to Blue-and-Gold Stadium they were down by 36 points after one period! You get the idea.

The Hawks slowed themselves down early in their home opener with penalties. Still they came away with two scores in the first quarter.

At 7:43 Ben Mason took a short pass from QB Justin Dunn into the end zone. Ben’s TD started an evening in which Hawks’ runners got into the Lancers’ secondary in the first half with regularity. Tackling Newtown’s big/fast/elusive ball-carriers was a first-half nightmare for ND.

Ben Mason takes a Justin Dunn pass for first Hawks score

Before the next TD, defender Jared Pearson leveled Notre Dame pass receiver Ryan Celini. Ryan was looking back toward passing QB Micah Brantley as the ball reached him. When he started to turn and look upfield, Jared put a full-speed hit on him. Credit Ryan for holding on although when he got up he walked as if he wasn’t sure whether he was on foot or horseback.

Ryan Celine takes a big hit from Jared Pearson

Just before the first period ended (:07) Jared Pearson carried tacklers into the end zone. Ryan Kost added the extra point.

Jared Pearson carries tacklers to the end zone

Trailing 14-0, ND needed to put together a drive and avoid mistakes. Neither got done and the Hawks rolled up four more touchdowns in the second period.

The Newtown defense was clearly tuned into the presence of senior Hakim Fleming. Hakim tallied twelve touchdowns in 2014 including 1251 yards gained. The Hawks starting defense kept the 5’11” (255 pounds) back from even getting into their secondary. Therefore, sustaining a drive wasn’t going to happen for ND.

Miscues kill teams. In the fatal second quarter the Lancers were intercepted and lost a fumble. They also chose to fake a punt from their side of midfield and failed at it.

Ethan Carpenter (10:49) swept right and followed blockers into the end zone.

Blockers in place for Ethan Carpenter score

Jared Pearson (8:41) carried defenders straight ahead for a score from the ND 5.

Jared Pearson dives into the end zone

QB Justin Dunn tossed a pass that Declan Sullivan (4:27) caught at the ND 5 and carried in. Justin’s pass may have been underthrown because Jared Pearson was about ten yards deeper in the end zone.

Declan Sullivan gets the corner

Elusive Hunter Cobb (1:52) used a good collection of blockers to get around right end and in for six after ND’s fumble gave good field position.

Hunter Cobb sweeps right

The halftime show at Blue-and-Gold is always a pleasure to watch. This is being said by someone who almost always takes his eyes off of the field during halftime. Not at Newtown!

rifles in the air

flags flying

I was hoping for running time in the second half. Newtown did their part by benching starters and having the reserves use running plays almost exclusively.

The only time the Hawks’ starters showed up was when kicker Ryan Kost successfully attempted a 33-yard field goal. Isn’t that 33-yard distance the same as the NFL extra-point distance?

Ryan Kost 33-yard field goal

The Lancers broke the 45-0 shutout in the fourth quarter. They also had a punt block in that frame by Klyde Auba. Hakim Fleming (3:56) tallied the TD after getting into a north/south running route in the Newtown secondary. Several reserve Hawks bounced off the defending Class S heavyweight wrestling champ on his way to the end zone.

Klyde Auba blocks a punt

Hakim Fleming eyes the end zone

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Micah Brantley chases a fumble

Ethan Carpenter runs to the right

Jared Pearson gets opening to the end zone

Declan Sullivan leaps for QB Justin Dunn pass

Hunter Cobb scores

Justin Dunn

Declan Sullivan

Jared Pearson (right)

Hakim Fleming finishes his run for a TD

Hakim Fleming

Ben Mason

Ethan Carpenter

Lancers QB Micah Brantley helped off the field

Justin D’Orlando and Jack Kingdon score in Bridgton Academy’s 2-0 soccer win in opener versus Southern Maine Community College

Bridgton Academy passing was key to win over SMCC. Here Lucca Rodrigues (14) looks to pass to teammate victor Lage (7)

Jack Kingdon lines up his goal

(Bridgton ME) Bridgton Academy opened its 2015 soccer season with a 2-0 win over Southern Maine Community College on Thursday afternoon on BA’s new turf field under cloudy conditions.

The Wolverines (1-0) scored goals midway through each half and used their speed and accurate passing to advantage often.

The Seawolves (1-2-1) from South Portland had few scoring chances but trailing by just a goal through 20+ minutes of the second half they nearly tied it on a shot by DJ Cloutier.

Shortly thereafter Jack Kingdon (Nonnewaug High CT) split two SMCC defenders for a clean look and whizzed a shot past defenseless GK Drew Martin to give BA a 2-goal cushion for the rest of the game. That 2-goal lead looked to be in potential difficulty during the final twenty minutes of the match as the Wolverines played one player short and later two players short due to injuries and an empty bench. Noticeably good passing and unselfishness by BA kept SMCC from capitalizing on their plus numbers.

The Wolverines style of play set up plenty of scoring chances during the even strength portion of the game. Only thing missing was finishing but the longer you watched the better you liked the chances for that to happen.

SMCC was forced to do a lot of chasing and had limited chances to move forward using short passes. The Seawolves used the long ball to set up their scoring chances. BA goalkeeper Andrew Mortarelli had several dangerous shots to deal with but he was able to stand his ground and get the shutout.

BA’s Justin D’Orlando (Masconomet Regional MA) was excellent on defense. At 6’6” he had a head on several lobs that came close to the BA goal.

Justin had a fluke goal (in my opinion) in the first half. He was set up for a direct kick close to the left sideline about 25 yards out. SMCC had a 3-man wall in place but it didn’t have the entire goal covered. Justin kicked a hard grounder past the wall. Defender DJ Cloutier just missed intercepting the ball and Justin’s grounder rolled into the far corner past GK Drew Martin. How often does a direct-kick grounder get into the goal untouched?

Justin D’Orlando lines up direct kick that became first BA goal

Ball goes past wall

Ball continues untouched

Ball slides by GK Drew Martin into corner as Luis Felipe Delaye (8) looks for rebound

I was impressed with SMCC defender Hughes Bakunda. He was tireless with a strong foot.

Hughes Bukunda shields the ball from Nathaniel Campbell

The Wolverines weren’t shy about pressing the attack and were disciplined enough to never be called for an offsides.

SMCC’s next game will be at home on Sunday against UMaine-Machias. On the same day BA is in Newark, New Jersey playing St. Benedict’s Prep.

The new turf field is real nice. The fast surface certainly showcased the speed of Bridgton Academy.

Surprised that BA had no one available to chase balls that left the field. That arrangement was certainly an advantage for the home team in the lead and the game ball rolling into the woods. Solution? Either have people chasing the balls or have twice as many soccer balls available.

A baseball game was going on at the same time.

Why is this report so late? I attempted to put this story with pictures together while watching the Patriots. The Patriots won but the timeliness of this story lost.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Jack Kingdon celebrates goal

Sean Jackson

Victor Lage

Justin D’Orlando

postgame

Bridgton Academy goalkeeper Andrew Mortarelli

DJ Cloutier gets some advice

Jack Kingdon fires a shot (wide)

Seawolves defense as Noah Medeiros kicks a corner kick

GK Andrew Mortarelli (orange) slides to block shot

Justin D’Orlando (21) skies to clear corner kick

Brandon Ford

Justin Kingdon puts a move on Jacob Coffey

Noah Medeiros leaps to get by SMCC defender Jacob Cavacas

Noah Medeiros (4) looks to pass

Drew Martin saves in traffic

Top Prospects Manuel Margot (Red Sox) and David Dahl (Rockies) at Hadlock Field today

Manuel Margot hit for the cycle versus New Britain driving in five runs

David Dahl heads for the New Britain dugout

(Portland ME) Four years ago I was chasing the 18-year-old phenom of the Washington Nationals. Today it was David Dahl of the Colorado Rockies.

I did get pictures of both of them despite the fact that both of them were out of uniform on the day that I saw them at Hadlock Field in Portland.

It helped that I had looked at several pictures of the player. Interesting, both players wandered from the clubhouse to the dugout at the last minute.

Today I was blessed to have a photographer near me in the New Britain dugout who has been covering the Rock Cats for twelve years. He told me earlier that he had been at Hadlock when the team bus arrived and didn’t see David Dahl get off. However, later when a player strolled into the Rock Cats dugout just before game time I asked him if it was David Dahl and he confirmed that it was.

Today was Field of Dreams day at Hadlock. The cornfields were set up in center field and the Portland players did come out from the fields as narrator Mike Antonellis told the story.

The idea of having the cornfields as part of an event at Hadlock began in the ‘90’s when efforts were being made by Eastern League teams to celebrate the league’s 75^th anniversary. One of the Portland owners suggested the cornfield idea and it has become an annual event ever since.

Portland players were in the stands today wearing their 2926 Portland Eskimos uniform

Portland players were in the stands today wearing their 1926 Portland Eskimos uniform

Thirteenth sellout of the season for Portland. The team will finish last in the Eastern League eastern division. Fans show up anyhow. Why? Prices are low. Plenty of entertainment during the game. Good view of the action.

I go there to try and get an early glimpse of future stars. Once I got Bryce in 2011 I have done homework to try and photograph others with big futures.

David Dahl is listed as Prospect #3 in the Colorado system. David is 21 and was selected in the first round in 2012.

The Number 3 prospect in the Red Sox farm system put on a huge show today. I’m talking about Manuel Margot. The 20-year-old hit for the cycle in today’s game and drove in five runs.

Very unlikely Manuel Margot will be in the Portland dugout next season

Manuel has all the skills needed to be a star. His home run today was to the opposite field.

Manuel will start next season in Pawtucket but then what? You look at the Red Sox outfield (Mookie, Rusney, and Jackie) and wonder which one Manuel could replace. Trade bait??

The New Britain franchise will be moving to Hartford (CT) next year to a new stadium. An independent league team will be playing in New Britain’s park.

The Sea Dogs win today ended New Britain’s eight-game winning streak.

It was a beautiful day with plenty of September sun.

Many thanks to Chris Cameron for arranging my visit today.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)