New Haven Football Foundation

CHAPTER MEMBER JOE LINTA TOP AGENT
SIGNS RAVENS JOE FLACCO TO RECORD CONTRACT

CHAPTER MEMBER JOE LINTA OF BRANFORD, COACH AT HAMDEN HALL AND NFL AGENT, NEGOTIATED A RECORD SETTING CONTRACT FOR HIS CLIENT JOE FLACCO QUATERBACK OF THE NFL CHAMPION BALTIMORE RAVENS. FLACCO SIGNED A NEW CONTRACT FOR $120.6 MILLION OVER 6 YEARS MAKING HIM THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN NFL HISTORY. THE SUPER BOWL MVP WILL RECEIVE A $29 MILLION DOLLAR SIGNING BONUS AND $52 MILLION DOLLARS IN GUARANTEED MONEY. LINTA PLAYED DEFENSIVE END FOR YALE HALL OF FAME COACH CARMEN COZZA AND HAS BEEN AN AGENT SINCE 1990. HE GRADUATED FROM YALE IN 1983. HE IS PICTURED ABOVE WITH JOE FLACCO AT A SUMMER CAMP HE RAN IN BRANFORD AND SPEAKING AT A CHAPTER MEETING IN 2011.

HEY FRIENDS GUESS WHO’S GETTING MARRIED? FORMER SCHOLAR ATHLETE (FORAN 1998), CURRENT ASSISTANT COACH AT HAND HIGH SCHOOL AND LONG TIME FRIEND DAVE MASTROIANNI IS GETTING HOOKED. THE LUCKY LADY IN THE VERY PRETTY CATHERINE KENNEDY FROM EAST LYME. BOTH ARE TEACHERS AT HAND. THERE WILL BE A STAG FOR DAVE ON SATURDAY APRIL 6 AT THE AMERICAN LEGION HALL POST 79 AT 23 BRADLEY RD IN MADISON FROM 6 TO 10 PM. TICKETS ARE $30. LET’S GET A STRONG SHOWING FROM THE CHAPTER FOR DAVE’S STAG. ANY QUESTIONS CALL DAVE’S STEP FATHER TONY CATAPANO AT 203-581-4017 OR HIS DAD DAVE MASTROIANNI AT 860-462-9332. GO FOR IT DAVE.

NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME

                              PRESS RELEASE

March 3, 2013

                                                                                                                 Prepared by Bill O’Brien
                                                                                                                 Home 203-488-7545
                                                                                                                 Cell 203-988-0241
                                                                                                                 Email obrienwt@comcast.net

The 53rd Anniversary of the Gene Casey New Haven County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame scholar athlete dinner will be held on Friday April 12 at Fantasia Banquet Facility, 404 Washington Ave., North Haven. A reception will begin at 5:30PM with the march to the head table at 6:30PM.

Twenty six high school and prep school scholar athletes will be honored for academic excellence and citizenship. In addition Branford native Jim Bell the Executive Producer of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic Games will receive the Distinguished American Award. Prior to his new position Bell was the Executive Producer of the Today Show on NBC. Chapter member Robert Rafferty of North Branford will receive the Chapter Award of Merit and long time football official Joseph McVetty of Hamden will receive the Official Recognition Award.

In addition Hand coach Steve Filippone will receive the Chapter Coach of the Year Award. The Tigers finished with a 14-0 record and won the Class L State Championship and were declared the #1 ranked team in the State. For the second straight year New Haven County teams won all four state titles. Championship Awards will be presented to Xavier LL. Hand L, Hillhouse M and Ansonia S.

Tickets can be purchased for $45 and can be ordered by calling Donna Limone at 203-481-8375 or by email at dpludlo214@aol.com. Anyone interested in placing a congratulatory ad can contact Paul Criscuolo at 203-231-3992 or at paul@rabassociates.net.   Information about the chapter can be found at www.newhavenfootballfoundation.com.

NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER
NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME

53RD ANNIVERSARY AWARDS DINNER

2013 SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARDS

                                                                                                 QUSAAN HOSKIE-WEST HAVEN
ELI BONADIES-HAMDEN                                                MATTHEW MARCARELLI-NORTH HAVEN
ALEXANDER BORKOWSKI-BRANFORD                  DILLON McMAHON-DERBY
JORDAN COLEY-HAMDEN HALL                                SEAN MERRILL-SHEEHAN
MICHAEL CONLAN-SEYMOUR                                    Je’VAUGHN MOORE-HILLHOUSE
TIMOTHY COVEL-CHESHIRE                                       RYAN O’CONNOR-ANSONIA
KEVIN DEAN-XAVIER                                                      ROURKE PHALON-HOLY CROSS
GARY FALANDA-NORTH BRANFORD                       KYLE RIVERA-PLATT TECHNICAL
JAMES FARRELL-SHELTON                                         ANTHONY SCIRPO-WOODLAND
MICHAEL FERRARA-GUILFORD                                 DeVANTe’SEALY- HYDE
PETER GERSON-DANIEL HAND                                   JAMES SEMMONELLA-AMITY
CHRISTOPHER GOLGER-FAIRFIELD PREP            MATTHEW SHUMAKER-NOTRE DAME
BUCKY GUMBREWICZ-OXFORD                                 DANIEL ZIEBELL-JONATHAN LAW

                                 AWARD WINNERS

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION AWARD: JOSEPH McVETTY, NEW HAVEN BOARD, HAMDEN

THE SCHOLAR ATHLETE DINNER WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY APRIL 12 AT FANTASIA, 404 WASHINGTON AVE. NORTH HAVEN. A PHOTO SESSION AND RECEPTION WILL BEGIN AT 5:30PM AND THE MARCH TO THE HEAD TABLE AT 6:30PM. FOR TICKETS CALL DONNA LIMONE AT 203-481-8375. FOR PROGRAM BOOK AD’S CALL PAUL CRISCUOLO AT 203-231-3992.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT WWW.NEWHAVENFOOTBALLFOUNDATION.COM

THE WALTER CAMP FOOTBALL FOUNDATION HONORED AND RECOGNIZED A NUMBER OF CHAPTER MEMBERS AT THEIR 46TH ANNUAL ALL AMERICAN WEEKEND ACTIVITIES ON JANUARY 12TH AND 13TH. THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE PRESENTATION OF THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS TO HAND, XAVIER, ANSONIA AND HILLHOUSE AND THE RECOGNITION OF HAND HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE JOSEPH KELLY AWARD AS THE NO 1 TEAM IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. THE PHOTO’S BELOW SHOW SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES INVOLVING CHAPTER MEMBERS.

CHAPTER COACHES RECEIVING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAQUES ARE L-R STEVE FILIPPONE (HAND), TOM DYER (HILLHOUSE), JOHN MARKS, WALTER CAMP PRESIDENT, TOM BROCKETT (ANSONIA) AND SEAN MARINAN (XAVIER).

COACH OF THE YEAR SPONSOR ED SCHOP OF STADIUM SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES TOM DYER AND STEVE FILIPPONE AS CO COACHES OF THE YEAR.

FORMER SCHOLAR ATHLETE MARTIN PARKER, ‘06 HYDE LEADERSHIP, SPEAKS TO THE OVER 2,500 STUDENTS AT STAY IN SCHOOL PROGRAM

CHAPTER PRESIDENT BILL O’BRIEN PRESENTS HIS BROTHER KEVIN, A CHAPTER MEMBER, WITH HIS LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP PLAQUE

COACH STEVE FILIPPONE OF HAND SPEAKS TO AUDIENCE.

COACH TOM DYER OF HILLHOUSE ADDRESSES THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.

ANSONIA’S ARKEEL NEWSOME WAS SELECTED CONNECTICUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

FORMER ANSONIA COACH JACK HUNT WAS HONORED POSTUMIETLY WITH THE WALTER CAMP LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE PRESENTATION WERE FAMILY MEMBERS KEVIN ROWLEY, JOE HUNT, JEFF HUNT, LORI HUNT SHORTELL AND JOHN HUNT.

JACK’S WIDOW DENISE HUNT RECEIVED FLOWERS FROM THE WALTER CAMP FOOTBALL FOUNDATION.

BREAKFAST SPEAKER HERMAN EDWARDS MET WITH DENISE HUNT

AT THE PRE DINNER RECEPTION COACH FILIPPONE AND HIS CAPTAINS MEET HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER AND WALTER CAMP ALL AMERICAN JOHNNY MANZIEL OF TEXAS A&M.

COACH FILIPPONE AND HIS CAPTAINS RECEIVE THE JOSEPH KELLY AWARD SYMPOLIC OF THE NO 1 RANKED TEAM IN THE STATE AT THE 46TH ANNUAL WALTER CAMP DINNER IN YALE COMMONS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHAPTER MEMBER PETER ROSSOMANDO HEAD COACH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN WHO WAS CHOSEN THE LIBERTY MUTUAL DIVISION II NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR. OTHER WINNERS INCLUDE BRIAN KELLY D 1 NOTRE DAME, WILLIE FRITZ D IAA AND GLENN CARUSO UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS D III.

LIBERTY MUTUAL INDICATED, “IN HONOR OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO SPORTSMANSHIP, INTEGRITY, RESPONSIBILITY AND EXCELLENCE BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD, LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE WILL BE AWARDING EACH COACH $50,000 FOR THE CHARITY (S) OF THEIR CHOICE AS WELL AS $20,000 FOR THEIR SCHOOLS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION”. CONGRATULATIONS TO PETER FOR THIS GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

DIVISION II WINNER PETER ROSSOMANDO UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN

Coach Rossomando accepted the responsibility of rebuilding New Haven football after the program’s five-year absence. Since the Chargers first win of the 2009 season, Rossomando had amassed a four-year record of 35-9 against Division II opponents, including back-to-back perfect runs through the Northeast-10 Conference in 2011 and 2012. This year’s season saw New Haven win its third consecutive conference title to return to the Division II playoffs, and finished with a 10-1 record and #8 ranking in the national AFCA poll. Off the field, Coach Rossomando and his staff place a high priority on their players’ academic commitment, which has helped nurture two Academic All-Americans. Rossomando is well known for his charitable endeavors supporting local Habitat for Humanity projects, youth mentoring programs, and community clean-up efforts. He is dedicated to the memorial fund he created to honor his brother Nicholas, a New York City fire fighter who lost his life in the 9/11 tragedy.

Hall Of Fame Classic And Governors' Cup Evolve Into A Single All Star Game

The two annual all star games , the Hall of Fame Classic between New Haven and Fairfield counties and the Governors’ Cup between Connecticut and Rhode Island have merged into a single all star game in June.
This all star game will feature only Connecticut high school seniors, also named the Hall of Fame Classic and will take place at Rentschler Field on June 29, 2013.

The game is a joint venture between the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and the four state branches of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Each team in the Classic will feature 55 players with a head coach and 10 assistant coaches. The head coach will be allowed to pick two assistant coaches from his high school, and the remaining seven assistants will be head coaches from other programs.

The players will be chosen based on coaches’ recommendations and performance at a combine that will be held on March 24 at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.

The teams will then be selected via a draft held at Rentschler Field on a date to be determined. High school teammates may be drafted on opposing teams.

The name of each team and the announcement of coaches will take place on Jan. 12 at 9 a.m. at Anthony’s Ocean View in East Haven as part of the Walter Camp Breakfast of Champions.

The Classic will be the main event of a week that includes a golf tournament, a coaches clinic and a youth clinic.

THE NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER WON ALL FOUR STATE TITLES AT THE CIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS PAST WEEKEND AT RENTSCHLER FIELD FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR. THE ANSONIA CHARGERS BEAT NORTH BRANFORD 59-26 TO WIN THE CLASS “S” TITLE. IN THE CLASS "M" CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THE HILLHOUSE ACADEMICS BEAT BERLIN 34-12. IN THE CLASS "L" TITLE GAME THE DANIEL HAND TIGERS BEAT WINDSOR 23-6 AND IN THE CLASS "LL" CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THE XAVIER FALCONS BEAT NORWICH FREE ACADEMY 48-14. ANSONIA FINISHED THE SEASON 14-0 AND THE SCC CONFERENCE WON 3 TITLES THIS YEAR WITH DANIEL HAND FINISHING UNDEFEATED AND XAVIER FINISHING THE SEASON WITH ONE LOSS THIS YEAR (HAND) AND HILLHOUSE FINISHING THE SEASON WITH TWO LOSSES (HAND AND XAVIER). THIS IS THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE SEASON THAT THE SCC HAS WON TWO STATE TITLES OR MORE.

THE NEW HAVEN GRIDIRON CLUB HONORED CHAPTER MEMBER DAN MARTIN AT THEIR LEVI JACKSON DINNER ON DECEMBER 6 AT CASCADE BANQUET FACILITY IN HAMDEN WITH THE DAVE HOLDWRIGHT PROFILES IN COURAGE AWARD. DAN HAS SERVED AS A FOOTBALL OFFICIAL FOR THE NEW HAVEN BOARD FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND GAVE AN EMOTIONAL TALK ABOUT HIS DAY’S IN VIETNAM DURING THE WAR. THE CHAPTER IS PROUD OF DAN WHO HAS CHAIRED OUR SCHOLAR ATHLETE SELECTION COMMITTEE SINCE 1978. HE ALSO SERVED AS CHAPTER PRESIDENT. PICTURED ABOVE ARE FOOTBALL OFFICIAL KEVIN MOFFITT, DAVE’S WIFE BARBARA, DAVE, DAN AND DAN’S WIFE CAROL.

THE LAST FALL MEETING OF THE NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER WAS HELD ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20 AT THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PATRICK WITH A CROWD OF 75 IN ATTENDANCE. CATERER PAUL LUCIBELLO TREATED MEMBERS AND GUESTS TO A DELICIOUS PRIME RIB DINNER. THE SPEAKING PROGRAM CONSISTED OF SEVEN HIGH SCHOOL COACHES AND TWO COLLEGE COACHES. ED MCCARTHY, TOM SHEA, TOM DYER, TONY SAGNELLA, MEL WELLS, TOM BROCKETT AND STEVE FILIPPONE TALKED ABOUT THEIR SEASON AND THE UPCOMING PLAYOFFS AND MIKE MANETTI SPOKE ABOUT HIS SPRINT FOOTBALL PROGRAM AT POST UNIVERSITY AND PETER ROSSOMANDO OF UNH TALKED ABOUT THE CHARGERS UPCOMING NCAA PLAYOFF GAME. IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT TALKING FOOTBALL. CLICK ON THE MEETING DATE AT THE TOP OF THE HOME PAGE TO SEE DINNER PHOTO’S.

FORMER CHAPTER ‘COACH OF THE YEAR’ JACK HUNT OF ANSONIA PASSED AWAY ON THANKSGIVING MORNING AFTER A BATTLE WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER THAT WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED THIS PAST SUMMER. COACH HUNT HAD AN INCREDIBLE RECORD AT ANSONIA OF 193-26 WITH SEVEN STATE TITLES IN 19 YEARS. HE WAS SELECTED CHAPTER COACH OF THE YEAR IN 1995. HE IS SHOWN ABOVE RECEIVING A STANDING OVATION FROM CHAPTER MEMBERS AT THE LAST MEETING IN 2005 BEFORE SPEAKING TO THE GROUP.

THE NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER HAD ANOTHER GREAT MEETING ON OCTOBER 25 WHEN L-R GEORGE GRANDE, PAUL PASQUALONI AND GEORGE DELEONE CAME TO OUR MONTHLY DINNER MEETING TO SPEAK TO CHAPTER MEMBERS. GEORGE GRANDE ENTERTAINED US WITH A VARIETY OF BASEBALL STORIES ABOUT CURRENT PLAYERS OR SOME THAT ARE RETIRED. COACHES PASQUALONI AND DELEONE GAVE US AN UPDATE ON THE HUSKIES. ALL THREE HAVE MANY FRIENDS IN OUR CHAPTER RANKS. OTHER PICTURES FROM THE OCTOBER 25 MEETING CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING ON “CHAPTER MEETING PICTURES 2012” LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR WILL BE ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20 AT THE KNIGHTS OF ST PATRICK. SOCIAL AT 6:30PM, SIT DOWN DINNER AT 7:30PM WITH PROGRAM TO FOLLOW. FREE DRAFT BEER.

THE NEXT CHAPTER MEETING IS SHAPING UP TO BE ANOTHER GOOD ONE. FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW UCONN HEAD COACH PAUL PASQUALONI AND OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR WILL BE ATTENDING OUR MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THE HUSKIES. IN ADDITION LOCAL SPORTSCASTER LEGEND GEORGE GRANDE WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE PROVIDED HE’S NOT CALLED TO DUTY WITH HIS TEAM THE CINCINNATTI REDS OR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DURING THE PLAYOFFS OR WORLD SERIES. SO MARK YOUR CALANDER AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO PLAN ON ATTENDING. ANOTHER PAUL LUCIBELLO DELICIOUS MEAL, FREE DRAFT BEER AND A TERRIFIC PROGRAM ALL FOR ONLY $15. IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THEN THAT.

West Haven coach Eddie McCarthy holds court before the meeting starts

Joann bring the rolls in to the meeting

Pre meeting get together Pete Rossomando, Tony Reno and Larry Ciotti talk about their first few games

It didn’t take long for the buffet lines to form. The Seymour Wildcats led the way

Caterer Paul Lucibello directs members to the “Italian Food”. Thanks Paul

Peter Rossomando kicks off the speaking program

Yale’s Tony Reno shares his plan for the Bulldogs

Rich Marazzi talks about his book regarding the 100th anniversary of Yale Bowl in 2014

ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6 LAST YEAR THE SPORTS WORLD LOST A DEAR FRIEND WHEN NEW HAVEN REGISTER COLUMNIST DAVE SOLOMOM WAS KILLED IN A CAR CRASH ON I-91 NEAR HIS HOME IN MERIDEN. DAVE WAS RETURNING FROM STORRS AFTER COVERING THE UCONN HUSKIES FOOTBALL PRACTICE. I RECEIVED A NOTE FROM HIS WIFE JUDY ABOUT THE LOVE DAVE HAD FOR HIS CAREER AND THE SPECIAL PEOPLE HE CAME TO KNOW AND RESPECT IN THE SPORTS WORLD. I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS IT ON. SHE INDICATED IN A SEPARATE NOTE THAT ANYONE WANTING TO HONOR THEIR MEMORIES OF DAVE THEY COULD SEND A DONATION TO THE DAVE SOLOMON SCHOLARSHIP AT UCONN. I SURE MISS DAVE VERY MUCH. BILL

AS MIKE PUCCI OF THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER WRITE’S IN HIS ARTICLE BELOW THE FAIRFIELD CHAPTER CAME OUT IN THE SECOND HALF AND RALLIED FOR A 23-13 VICTORY OVER OUR NEW HAVEN CHAPTER IN THE 16TH ANNUAL HALL OF FAME CLASSIC GAME PLAYED JULY 14 AT KEN STRONG AT WEST HAVEN HS. BELOW ARE SOME PICTURES FROM THE NIGHT OF THE GAME. THE CROWD WAS ESTIMATED TO BE IN EXCESS OF 1,800. NEW HAVEN TEAM CAPTAINS INCLUDED L-R ANTHONY MASUCCI, NOTRE DAME, TYLER VALLE, AMITY, JOE ORTOLI, SHELTON AND MICHAEL JOHN ECKE OF CHESHIRE. THE ACTION PHOTO SHOWS AMIHR BESS #1 OF NOTRE DAME RUNNING FOR A GAIN. GOOD FRIEND AND MEMBER DR. RICH DIANA AND CHAPTER CHAPLIN REV OWEN SANDERSON KEPT THINGS SAFE ON THE SIDELINE. AND THE MVP OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE MVP AWARDS WENT TO #31 KYLE PULEK OF CHESHIRE WHO KICKED TWO 30+ YARD FIELD GOALS AND #88 JAKE LAROVERA OF ANSONIA WHO BLOCKED A PUNT AND WAS IN ON 11 TACKLES IN THE GAME. THEY ARE SHOWN WITH GAME SPONSORS FROM THE WALTER CAMP FOOTBALL FOUNDATION, NFP SPORTS AND JL SPORTS. THE OTHER GAME SPONSOR WAS TOWN FAIR TIRE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OUR SPONSORS SUPPORT.

WEST HAVEN — In the locker room at halftime there weren’t any fiery speeches or extreme changes in strategy for Fairfield County despite trailing New Haven County by 10 points. Instead, Fairfield County focused on playing disciplined and mistake-free football as the second half commenced.

With 23 unanswered points in the final two quarters, Fairfield County emerged with a 23-13 victory Saturday at the 16th Hall of Fame Classic before an announced crowd of 1,849 at Ken Strong Stadium. Fairfield County, which has won the last two meetings, struggled on special teams in the first half, with a downed punt inside its own territory leading to a New Haven County touchdown. Fairfield County also had a punt blocked. But Fairfield County was nearly flawless in the second half.

“It was 10-0 (at halftime), and if it wasn’t for our mistakes, it probably should’ve been a 0-0 game at that point we thought,” Fairfield County coach John Svatik said. “We made some foolish mistakes early, and if we eliminated some of those mistakes, we thought we had a chance to win.” Bunnell’s J.J. Bivona returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown after New Haven County attempted a half-back option on the final play of the third quarter to give Fairfield County the lead for good.

“That was big, it was really big,” Bunnell wide receiver Jawad Chisholm said of Bivona’s interception. “That changed the game around.” Cheshire’s Kyle Pulek booted a 42-yard field goal for New Haven County early in the third quarter to give his team a 13-0 lead.

But that was all the scoring Fairfield County would allow. Matt Paola connected on a 27-yard field goal, and Chisholm caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Damien Vega to cut the New Haven County lead to 13-10 with under 2 minutes to go in the third quarter.

Chisholm later caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Boderick. Chisholm (eight catches, 97 yards) was named his team’s offensive most valuable player. Bivona was named defensive MVP. Pulek, who also kicked a 27-yard field goal, was named New Haven’s offensive MVP.

Sheehan’s Brodie Corless caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Amity’s Tyler Vallie in the second quarter. New Haven County turned the ball over twice on interceptions in the second half. Ansonia’s Jake LaRovera, who was named New Haven County’s defensive MVP, blocked a punt in the first half as part of his team’s quick start.

“We just came out strong in the first half, we were really ready,” LaRovera said. “They hit some big plays, and it was hard to come back from something like that.”

New Haven County leads the series 10-6.

COACH MARK ECKE AND HIS STAFF HAVE BEEN GETTING THE NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER TEAM READY FOR SATURDAYS (JULY 14) GAME AGAINST FAIRFIELD COUNTY. THE 16TH ANNUAL HALL OF FAME CLASSIC ALL STAR GAME

KICKOFF IS AT 5:00PM. THE TEAM HAS BEEN PRACTICING AT WILBUR CROSS AND WEST HAVEN WEEKDAY NIGHTS. ANYONE WANTING TO PURCHASE TICKETS CAN COME TO PRACTICE AT WEST HAVEN

ON WEDNESDAY,THURSDAY OR FRIDAY (July 11, 12, 13) AND SEE GAME CHAIRMAN TONYMORTALI. PRE GAME THE TICKETS ARE $5 AND DAY OF GAME $7.

COACH ECKE HOPE’S TO REBOUND FROM LAST YEARS LOSS WITH A VICTORY OVER FAIRFIELD. NEW HAVEN LEADS THE SERIES 10-5.

"CONGRATULATIONS TO CHAPTER MEMBER BOB RAFFERTY WHO TIED THE KNOT ON SATURDAY JULY 7 AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH IN BRANFORD. RAFF MARRIED COURTNEY CROSBY A TEACHER. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FLOYD LITTLE ATHLETIC CENTER WHERE WE HAVE OUR SCHOLAR ATHLETE RECEPTION EACH YEAR PRIOR TO THE DINNER AND IS ALSO THE TEAM LIAISON FOR OUR NEW HAVEN COUNTY ALL STAR TEAM. RAFF WON'T BE AT THIS YEARS GAME AS HE'LL BE ON HIS HONEYMOON IN HAWAII. BEST WISHES TO THE NEWLYWEDS."