early season thoughts

I've gotten to see two local teams so far (Berlin and Newington softball) and I'm going out to see a very good Southington volleyball team tonight. So I don't have a lot to say yet.
The only thing I think I can say, and this really has nothing to do with the outcome of those two games, which were both losses against good competition, is that for the first time in a few years area baseball teams appear to have surpassed area softball teams in terms of quality. In fact, the girls have been dominating the landscape across all sports recently, from soccer to basketball to softball to tennis to gymnastics. But the guys on the diamond appear ready to make a ton of noise next month.
Plainville looks to be a legit M title contender, if not the favorite. Berlin is back as usual (coach Veleas always gets the best out of his players, as does coach Freimuth, who has had a couple down years before last year). Also in the NWC, Farmington looks like a potential surprise conference contender, and Rocky Hill appears significantly better, off to a 2-0 start against non-conference teams.
The CCC is as expected, a lot of talent in New Britain, Southington and Newington, all who may eventually have trouble in an always-loaded LL bracket. But all are good teams. And Wethersfield is poised for another possible run in Class L. I expect all eight teams to make the postseason.
On the girls side, Southington is back and has its best lineup since the team that won the state title in 2004 (at least in my opinion). It might be even better. Masuk has the best pitcher in the state, but if anybody can hit Fico it is this team. The Knights defense has to step up and help pitcher Sarah Lempicki for this team to stay in the top five all season as usual.
Newington, despite a loss yesterday, has a very good team, with a deep lineup. Now, LL is stacked of course, so a title is probably too lofty a goal. But these Indians could go deep if things go right.
New Britain is 2-0 and looks solid again. The Hurricanes are probably what they've been for a couple years, a good team that can upset somebody in the tournament.
I don't know what to think of Wethersfield. They've got most of the team back from last year, but they've always gotten a big boost from a weaker division, so you never know what to expect.
And then there is the NWC. The conference is balanced, but I'd say down a bit this year. Plainville's score against Cromwell, a 16-3 win, looked promising, and that lineup is potent. But Sara Forcella was an ace on the mound, and no slight to Missy Jandreau, but those are big shoes to fill. They're still a good team though.
Berlin could be good as well, but a very shaky opening performance means the Redcoats still haven't solved some of the problems that have plagued them for years.
I don't know at all what to think of Farmington and Rocky Hill. I'll have to see them play first. They could go either way.

But there's no question. The baseball teams are better as a whole.

I love spring season. So I'll probably be on here to post thoughts on tennis, golf and volleyball as more results start coming in. Now all we need is some warmth.

opening day memories

Well, I got out to St. Louis to be with my fellow Cardinals fans for Opening Day festivities, in a year fraught with fear and trepidation of just what may come. For the record, it appears Cards fans are torn between those who buy all the hype that has had them picked to finish last in the division by some outlets (Sports Illustrated among them), and those like me who believe there is potential for special stuff in this team. But that didn't stop the fans from coming down to the park, which is spectacular, for the opener.
Things were even going really well for the Cards, holding a 5-1 lead over defending NL champ Colorado in the third inning, with ace Adam Wainwright on the mound, and the bad taste of last year quickly leaving... and then...
Allow me again to be a fan, and inject some of my, shall I say, charming personality traits (superstition chief among them) into my otherwise well-grounded blog. The baseball gods struck again.
The gods just could not deal with a 5-1 Cards lead, obviously still mad that they allowed a mediocre-at-best team to win its 10th World Series title in 2006, and sent the rains. What was supposed to be a drizzle, or on and off showers, turned into a downpour, and I was treated to the sight of what 10,000 Cardinals fans look like huddled under the left field stands. It was a pretty beautiful sight, I must say, but the game, my pilgrimage to St. Louis, was rained out. (For the record I brought a sign to the game, and managed to get on the big screen as a part of the left field seating section known as "Big Mac Land", sponsored of course by McDonald's. The sign read: Connecticut Cards Fan on Opening Day Pilgrimage. But very few people seemed to understand or care.)
I had to fly back to Connecticut to prepare for spring season here, and did not get to go to the makeup game, but here's how it went. Kip Wells, the pitcher who destroyed the Cardinals' season a year ago by not just being mediocre, not just bad, but at times worse than some high school pitchers I cover, picked up the emergency makeup start for his new team the Rockies. Ironically, he pitched six innings and allowed only one run, and to make matters worse than ever for Cardinals fans, the Rockies came back to win the game 2-1.
Now, I'm left asking myself this question: Are the baseball gods merely playing a one-day trick, sort of a last laugh because the situation presented itself and they just couldn't resist, or is this a sign of what is to come the rest of the season?
Well, wins the following two days seemed to brighten the picture, and I don't care if it's April 4, I'm enjoying a four-way tie for first place. We will see.
But I have to give it to those baseball gods. They've got a hell of a sense of humor.

I hope I haven't taken up too much of your time.