Bits & Pieces

 

By Kim J. Harmon

As I head up to Cromwell and the TPC at River Highlands for a couple of days at the Greater Hartford Open (and its $5 hot dogs), I have just a few things to say about, well, this and that . . .

. . . watching the championship games (five of them for me) of the Newtown Babe Ruth softball and baseball leagues was quite a bit of fun, I must say, but there are a couple of things that have to be pointed out. First, the parents at all the games were SHOCKINGLY well behaved (only once or twice did I hear a comment about the umpiring and that was only in a half-hearted way). Second, it is clear that the coaches have to obey A LOT of rules about playing time and positions and it seems like working it all out requires a degree in calculus or something. And third, if I was running the show in the softball league (and by no means do I think I could), I would make stealing illegal because a single or walk turned into a pretty automatic double. . . .

. . . watching Joe Devellis of Nick’s Restaurant blast two home runs at Glander Field in the American League championship series (against the Newtown Car Wash) brought back a lot of memories. Not fond ones, mind you. I was 12, playing in a farm league at Chase Park in Waterbury, and because of my age I was allowed to pitch just one out an inning. There was this one game and the other team had a couple of guys on base and coach decided to bring me on to pitch. One pitch was all it took, too, as this big, hulking kid walloped a moon shot off of me – sending it over the trees in centerfield and on to the roof of a house down below the field. Hey, at least I got to pitch to another batter – and I think HE doubled . . .

. . . Aron Fay of the Newtown Car Wash threw a couple of pitches against Nick’s Restaurant that would have given ME the jelly leg if I was standing up there in the batter’s box. Sure, they were sorta slow, but they started up high and just kinda FLOPPED into the strike zone. Wow . . .

. . . all you basketball fans, don’t forget that the Rising Star Summer Basketball League is getting ready for its third season (starting Monday, July 9). It’s a fun league – a fun league to watch and a fun league to cover. Plus, I always - and I haven’t been able to figure out why – get GREAT photos up there at Treadwell Park. Go sign up today . . .

. . . when are the Red Sox going to start their inevitable slide for crying out loud . . .

. . . I really have to question my sanity sometimes – especially those times when I drop a nice six iron onto the green, about 15 feet from the cup, and quickly proceed to four-putt. “I got up at 5 am for this?” I yell. But neither the stupid ducks – nor my two brothers – care . . .