Fittingly, Central Connecticut won its NEC title among us
Norwich — Fittingly, they made some history Sunday among us, their people. Coincidence? Hardly. The Blue Devils of Central Connecticut have ties here that run like currents throughout the roster. And coaching staff.
So, sure, Central’s permanent home is New Britain. But its favorite haunt is our corner of the world, where the Blue Devils won the Northeast Conference baseball championship and earned a trip to the NCAA tournament, right there on the lawn of Dodd Stadium, amid so many friends.
Central’s 6-3 win over Sacred Heart resulted in a jubilant pile of humanity near the mound, a water bucket dousing of coach Charlie Hickey, photos, photos galore and the overwhelming sense that there is no more loyal lot of alumni than the Central guys.
From the top:
TT Bowens, Montville High graduate. The Big Fella was magnificent — the God of Dodd over the weekend — finishing 7-for-11 with three homers. His name pulsated over the public address system when it came time to announce the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Buddy Dewaine, Montville High graduate. Dewaine, who hits sixth in the order behind Bowens, had two hits and an RBI in Central’s first win of the tournament. More importantly, his coaches can’t say enough about his transformation … into a man.
Rob Bono, assistant coach, Waterford High graduate (and grossly underrated local basketball official): Bono, who is head coaching material, stood stoically watching the kids celebrate Sunday. He does stoic a lot. But deep down in there, he was thrilled.
“This means everything to the kids,” Bono said. “We hadn’t made the tournament in seven years. These kids, especially the seniors, have worked their butts off every day since September 1st to get here. This is what it’s all about. It’s a lot easier playing than it is coaching, I’ll tell you that.”
Hickey, the head coach, former assistant at Avery Point: Hickey won his fifth NEC title in his 18 years and 500th game overall Sunday. He is forever one of former Avery Point coach Roger Bidwell’s favorite subjects. (And a Xavier High grad, by the way).
Pat Hall, assistant coach: Hall isn’t from around here, but he spent Saturday night at the Birdseye with the other coaches, which ought to count for something.
There’s also Montville grad Jeremy Sagun and Avery Point alums Nick Landell and Andrew Hinckley, too.
Alas, the weekend was about Bowens and Dewaine, the very best of Phil Orbe’s program at Montville. And their demeanor is a byproduct of what they were taught and experienced.
Bono on the two of them: “Those kids show up in the big game. They’ve had to grow up a little bit and they’ve both done a very good job of getting better. From the classroom to the field. You can see the way they show up for practice every day. You don’t need to tell them anything. That’s where you really see it.”
Bowens said, “Getting thrown into the deep end as a freshman at Montville helped me grow up when I was young. It helped me come here as a freshman and act more mature and not be a freshman that acts nervous all the time.”
Hall on Dewaine: “He’s contributed in big spots. He doesn’t get nervous in big spots. He competes.”
There’s no greater compliment to a kid and his high school program than that. Unless it’s what Dewaine has wrought off the field, too.
“We didn’t know what he was going to be, a pitcher or hitter,” Hall said. “We knew he was a great athlete. To his credit, he’s hung around with a couple of guys who go about it the right way. (Leadoff hitter) Dean Lockery is one of his best buddies on the team and obviously TT, too. He has played first, third and left. That’s hard to come by when you are a 19-year-old kid. I’m proud we gave him the opportunity and he’s really thrived with it.”
And so all the angst of the college baseball season around here — the rotten weather, what feels like anonymity sometimes because it’s too cold to watch — has become The Season Of Their Lives for so many of the Blue Devils. Bowens has overcome an oblique strain and something far more important. Hickey playfully referenced a 3-1 curveball he saw at Oklahoma earlier this season as a reminder this isn’t high school anymore.
Dewaine, meanwhile, is growing up before us, a tribute to his inner toughness, friends, family and coaches who have cared enough.
Now the Devils are about to dance, awaiting their assignment. All their pals here in our corner of the world will be watching.
“We’re up for a challenge,” Rob Bono said. “We’ll play some competitive innings, I guarantee you that.”
This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.
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