TORRINGTON: As I prepare to roll up my sleave for the second Covid-19 vaccine later today, I am reminded that while this should protect me (after two weeks) from getting something that I have tried my best to avoid, I won’t be letting my guard down anytime too soon.
Nobody should have getting Covid on their bucket list and count me in that group so the mask will stay on a while longer.
Can’t wait for the regular season in high school sports to start so numbers will be visible. So hard to tell who’s who with masks on!
A few thoughts on what’s cooking in the sports world.
—The UConn women got beat in the semi-finals by an Arizona team that simply outworked them from start to finish.
What struck me was how the achievements of the team that won four straight championships behind Brianna Stewart and company was so remarkable.
Stewart came to Storrs and declared that she wanted to win four titles and went out and did just that.
This year’s team, behind freshman phenom Paige Bueckers had a tremendous year and the first-year player had a marvelous season, racking up multiple awards along the way but getting to that final game was not in the cards this year.
It shows just how hard it is to do what Stewie and company did during those four years.
—The Baylor men winning the National Championship would not normally be something that is on my radar but the simple fact that we got to see the title game after a year without felt great.
Gonzaga had a tremendous season that fell a game short but should never hang their heads after a remarkable season.
That early blitz by the Bears was fueled by something coaches preach all the time.
Offensive boards, following your shot.
Baylor had an astounding 16 offensive rebounds (38 total) to the Zags five (22 total).
That, and hot three-point shooting in the first half, is how you deliver an early knockout punch.
—Torrington Softball: Second year head coach Sara Arburr may just have something special this year with a team that lost a year in 2020 but brings back plenty of talent.
The Raiders will play their first scrimmage on Thursday at Bristol Eastern before opening their regular season on Saturday when they take on Watertown. I’ll be on hand to bring back the action.
—Torrington Baseball. Pat Richardson and his Raiders beat Shepaug last Saturday 8-7 in Washington Depot and take on the Spartans again on Wednesday at Fuessenich Park at 3:45.
Richardson liked what he saw last week and is optimistic that this group of coachable players will compete in 2021.
—The next LCS Magazine. Our next edition of the publication will feature stories on the
athletes around us who missed their respective 2020 campaigns when the world shut down.
The cover shot is being taken via drone by Luke Pepper, featuring this year’s spring athletes.
Should be a good one.