By Chris Hunn, Register Staff
chunn@nhregister.com / Twitter: @Chris_Hunn

NEW BRITAIN — After adding to a rich history of success with another state title on Thursday, Hillhouse took its victory lap around the Willowbrook Park track.

Coach Gary Moore tagged along, too. Members of the Academics pushed him in his wheelchai

“We all want to compete for our coach,” junior Kellie Davis said. “We know he’s recovering, and we just want to make him happy.”

Well they certainly did.


Check out Hillhouse's day at the Clas MM meet.

By Mike Madera, Elm City Sports Writer
@ElmCitySports

MILFORD — As the outs continued to dwindle, the Jonathan Law softball team could see a special season slipping away. Trailing Suffield as the sixth inning began, senior Melissa Nelson was not ready for her season or high school career to end.

Nelson drove home the tying run in the sixth and capped the comeback by knocking in the winning run in the eighth as No. 5 Law defeated No. 12 Suffield 2-1 in eight innings in second-round action of the CIAC Class M state tournament Wednesday at Jonathan Law.

The Eagles will play at No. 4 Rocky Hill Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the Class M semifinals.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

By David Borges, Register Staff
dborges@nhregister.com / Twitter: @DaveBorges

Click to enlarge

MANCHESTER — With the possible exception of the pole vault, the triple jump has to be the most unique – and awkward – of all track events.

Think about it: you sprint down a runway, take off with your stronger leg, take a second step again with your strong leg and then finish by jumping off your weaker leg into a sand pit.

It takes a special kind of athlete to master the technique, and a pair of local athletes has done just that.

See how Cheshire's Jake Scinto and other area athletes performed at Wednesday's LL meet.

By Joe Morelli, Schools Sports Editor
jmorelli@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrJoeMorelli

Click to enlarge

NEW HAVEN — One lineup adjustment went a long way in deciding the Southern Connecticut Conference boys’ tennis championship.

Amity’s Jonah Schwartz had played at No. 3 singles throughout the regular season, but lost some tough matches to the league’s top teams late in the season. Spartans coach Chris Raffone hadn’t forgotten how good Schwartz was at No. 1 doubles in Amity’s run to the SCC title last season, which included clinching the deciding match in the final.

So Raffone returned Schwartz to that spot for this year’s SCC tournament with a new partner, Gabriel Betancour. On Friday, the duo clinched the deciding match for top-seeded Amity in a 4-3 win over No. 3 Cheshire to win its second straight league championship at Yale’s Cullman-Heyman Center.

HERE'S MORE ON AMITY'S WIN, ALONG WITH HAND'S WIN IN THE SCC

The CIAC has released its pairings for the girls' lacrosse Class L, M and S tournaments and some local New Haven area teams appear poised to make a long post season run.
In Class L, Cheshire is the No. 1 seed and has the talent and depth to get to the championship game this season led on offense by Maria Blois, Emma Farrel, Kathleen Kallbian and Alyssa Hague among others. But it won't be easy for the Rams in the upper bracket who could potentially face No. 8 Ridgefield in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Staples in the semifinals. No. 2 Newtown and No. 3 Greenwich are the top challengers in the lower bracket.
In Class M, defending champion Darien, the No. 9 seed, is the is the team to beat. The Blue Wave have five losses but they are the result of one of the toughest schedules in girls lacrosse in the state.
No. 1 New Canaan, No. 3 Wilton and No. 6 Barlow are the top challengers for the Blue Wave.
Hand, led by goalie Christy Forrest, and Guilford, led by high scoring Riley Smith and Leigh Rooney, have the talent to advance in Class M. But Hand would have to get by New Canaan and Darien just to get to the semifinals.
In Class S, Shoreline Conference powers No. 1 Haddam-Killingworth and No. 12 North Branford have a solid shot to get to the championship game, but only one could do it since both would potentially meet in the semifinals. The Cougars are led on offense by Kiley Anderson and the Thunderbirds are led by high-scoring Emmy Dulak.
The top challengers for the Shoreline teams are No. 2 Granby and No. 3 Weston.

The CIAC released the pairings for the Class L, M and S boys' lacrosse tournaments and one noticeable item is Cheshire being in unfamiliar territoy - in a qualifying round in the Class L tournament.
No. 16 seed Cheshire, 8-10, hosts No. 17 Simsbury today (Friday) at 7 p.m. in the qualifying round game.
The Rams haven't had a complete team until recently with several players out due to injury and sickness. But the Rams have gotten healthy at the right time and should get to the first round where they would potentially face top seed Simsbury on Wednesday at Simsbury at 4:30 p.m.
The Rams have the talent front to back to pull off an upset or two. The wildcard could be goalie Will Devine who has talent.
Fairfield Prep and defending champion Ridgefield, both  among the top five in the Register's Top 10 poll all season, are the teams to beat in Class L. Ridgefield recently had a huge win against No. 1 ranked Darien (competing in Class M). Prep will be facing Hand today at 3 p.m. in the Southern Connecticut Conference final at Branford High.
In Class M, Darien is on a mission to win it all and will likely take no prisoners. The Blue Wave have nearly a dozen players headed to Division I-II colleges led by Case Matheis, ranked the No. 1 rectruit in the nation this season. Matheis has committed to play at Duke.
Locally, Guilford and Hand have the best shot to advance far in Class M but both are in very difficult brackets.
In Class S, Barlow, Weston and Granby are the teams to beat. Weston, ranked No., 10 in the Register's Top 10 poll the last two weeks, has the depth on both ends of the field to win it all.
Locally, Old Lyme and Notre Dame-Fairfield could pull off an upset or two in the first two rounds.

HAMDEN - Hamden Hall boys' lacrosse is experiencing one of its most successful seasons in the history of the Hornets' program and coach A.J. Raccio has been recognized by his peers for the success.
Raccio has been named the Western New England Secondary School Lacrosse Association Division II Coach of the Year as selected by the coaches in the league.
"I really haven't talked about it much, but it is a special honor," said Raccio in an interview at Hamden Hall on Thursday morning. "The thing is the honor really isn't about me. It's about every one of our players who have put in a lot of hard work and effort to make us successful this season. They play their hearts out every time they walk onto the field."
The Hornets are 11-3 this season and defeated fierce rival Hopkins 9-8 on Saturday. It was the second straight season they beat the Hilltoppers but only the fifth time in the last 30 years according to Raccio.
Hamden Hall has qualified for the WNESSLA D-II tournament and competes in the quarterfinals today at St. Luke's in New Canaan  for a 4 p.m. game. The Hornets also qualified for the Fairchester Athletic Association tournament and lost 13-4 to Kingswood-Oxford in the semifinals on Monday.

BASEBALL
Non-league
O’Brien Tech at Westbrook, ppd. to Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Morgan at Rocky Hill, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
North Branford at Lyman Hall, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.
NVL quarterfinals
Seymour vs. Ansonia, completion of suspended game, ppd. to Wednesday at Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, 5:45 p.m. (Seymour up 4-1 in bottom of 6th)
Derby vs. Torrington, ppd. to Wednesday at Naugatuck, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Seymour-Ansonia winner vs. Holy Cross-Wolcott winner, ppd. to Wednesday at Municipal Stadium, 7 p.m.
Derby-Torrington winner vs. Watertown, ppd. to Wednesday at Municipal Stadium, 6 p.m.
SWC tournament
quarterfinals
Oxford at Bunnell, ppd. to Wednesday, 4 p.m.
FCIAC tournament
Trumbull at St. Joseph, ppd. to Wednesday, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Shoreline
Old Saybrook at Cromwell, ppd., TBA
Non-league
North Branford at Southington, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at New Britain (Chelsey Park), ppd. to Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
FCIAC quarterfinals
Stamford at St. Joseph, ppd. to Wednesday, 4 p.m.
SWC
Lauralton Hall at Weston, ppd. to Wednesday, 4 p.m.
NVL quarterfinals
Woodland vs. Ansonia, resumption of suspended game in fourth inning, ppd. to Wednesday at Woodland, 3 p.m.
Naugatuck vs. Watertown, ppd. to Wednesday at Woodland, 4 p.m.
SCC Quinnipiac
Sacred Heart Academy at Hamden, ppd. to Thursday, 6 p.m.
CSC
Bullard-Havens at O’Brien Tech, cancelled
CCC
Platt at Maloney, ppd. to Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
NVL
St. Paul at Derby, ppd. to Wednesday, 4 p.m.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Shoreline
Old Lyme at Haddam-Killingworth, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Shoreline
Morgan at North Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Portland at Westbrook, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Shoreline
Valley Regional at Cromwell, ppd.to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC
Hillhouse/Career at East Haven, ppd. to Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Non-league
Stratford at Law, ppd., TBA
BOYS’ GOLF
SCC
Foran at Hillhouse (Alling Memorial GC), ppd., TBA
GIRLS’ GOLF
Cheshire at Sacred Heart Academy (Laurel View CC), 3:30 p.m.

By Sports staff


Twitter: @nhrsports



Cheshire football coach Mark Ecke said in an email to media outlets Monday night that he is stepping down.



“I am contacting you this evening to let you know that I have decided to step down from my duties as head football coach at Cheshire High School. It was a difficult decision, but one that I believe best serves my family, the football program and my players,” Ecke said in the email.



Ecke’s decision comes almost two weeks after being suspended due to an alleged incident at a junior varsity lacrosse game on May 3 in Glastonbury in which police were called to the field.



CHECK OUT MORE ON WHAT ECKE HAD TO SAY.

Just a handful of postponements on Monday as the regular season winds down and the league tournaments begin:
BASEBALL
Non-league
O’Brien Tech at East Windsor, ppd., TBA
SWC Tournament (at site of higher seed)
quarterfinals
No. 7 Oxford at No. 2 Bunnell, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
FCIAC Tournament (at site of higher seed)
 quarterfinals
No. 7 Trumbull at No. 2 St. Joseph, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Non-league
O’Brien Tech at Career (East Shore), ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.
SWC
Lauralton Hall at Weston, ppd to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
FCIAC Tournament (at site of higher seed)
quarterfinals
No. 6 Stamford at No. 3 St. Joseph, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Shoreline
Morgan at North Branford, ppd. to today, 3:45 p.m.
SCC
Sheehan at West Haven, ppd., TBA
Career at Law, ppd., TBA
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Shoreline
North Branford at Morgan, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC
Foran at West Haven,ppd. to Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Hillhouse/Career at East Haven,ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.

Southern Connecticut Conference commissioner Al Carbone has announced the pairings for the SCC girls’ lacrosse tournament and No. 1 seed Cheshire, which has strength and depth on both ends of the field, is the team to beat.

The top challenges to Cheshire should come from Guilford, Hand and Branford.
Carbone also said that he will take it one day at a time as far as the weather reports that predict heavy rain on Monday from tropical storm Alberto and showers on Tuesday-Wednesday.

PAIRINGS

Quarterfinals – Monday, May 21
#8 Shelton at #1 Cheshire – 5 p.m.
# 7 Amity at #2 Guilford – 5 p.m.
#6 Hamden at #3 Daniel Hand – 5 p.m.
#5 Sacred Heart Academy at #4 Branford – 7 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, May 23 @Hamden HS
Amity/Guilford winner vs. Hamden/Daniel Hand winner – 4 p.m.
Shelton/Cheshire winner vs. Sacred Heart Academy/Branford winner – 6 p.m.

Championship – Friday, May 25 @Branford HS – TBA

Southern Connecticut Conference commissioner Al Carbone has announced the pairings for the SCC boys’ lacrosse tournament and No. 1 seed Fairfield Prep is the team to beat.


The most interesting aspect of this season’s seedings is Cheshire and Prep could potentially meet in the semifinals as opposed to their usual face-off in the championship game.

Carbone also said that he will take it one day at a time as far as the weather reports that predict heavy rain on Monday from tropical storm Alberto and showers on Tuesday-Wednesday.

PAIRINGS

Quarterfinals – Monday, May 21
#8 Amity at #1 Fairfield Prep – 4 p.m.
#7 Shelton at #2 Guilford – 7:15 p.m.
#6 North Haven at #3 Daniel Hand – 7:15 p.m.
#5 Cheshire at #4 Xavier – 4:30 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, May 23 @Branford HS
Amity/Fairfield Prep winner vs. Cheshire/Xavier winner – 4 p.m.
Shelton/Guilford winner vs. North Haven/Daniel Hand winner – 6 p.m.

Championship Game – Friday, May 25 @Branford HS – TBA

The Amity boys and girls will be trying to defend its Southern Connecticut Conference tennis title beginning Tuesday. Here are the pairings:




SCC Boys' Tennis Tournament
Quarterfinals
Tuesday 
No. 8 Guilford at No. 1 Amity, 3:30 p.m.
No. 7 West Haven at No. 2 Hand, 3:30 p.m.
No. 6 Branford at No. 3 Cheshire, 3:45 p.m.
No. 5 Foran at No. 4 Fairfield Prep, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Wednesday
at Yale University Tennis Courts, 3:30 p.m.
Final
Thursday
at Yale University Tennis Courts, 3:30 p.m.

SCC Girls' Tennis Tournament
Quarterfinals
Tuesday 
No. 8 Shelton at No. 1 Hand, 1 p.m.
No. 7 Sheehan at No. 2 Amity, 1 p.m.
No. 6 Sacred Heart Academy at No. 3 North Haven, 3:30 p.m.
No. 5 Guilford at No. 4 Foran, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Wednesday
at Yale University Tennis Courts, 3:30 p.m.
Final
Thursday
at Yale University Tennis Courts, 3:30 p.m.

By David Borges, Register Staff
dborges@nhregister.com / Twitter: @DaveBorges
ANSONIA — Expectations weren’t high for the Ansonia softball team to start this season, especially with the graduation of last year’s starting pitcher, Jessica Mooney.

“We’re known as a football town. Girls sports have struggled in the past,” Chargers coach Lindsey Wheeler said. “Since we graduated a pitcher, everybody thought we were down in the dumps.”

That outlook didn’t change a whole lot the first few games of the season, until a freshman emerged as Ansonia’s ace. Samantha Belenchia came on in relief against Derby on April 9 and has been the Chargers’ top starter ever since.

CHECK OUT MORE ON ANSONIA'S SEASON

The 28th annual Eli Youth Lacrosse Jamboree will take place this weekend (Saturday-Sunday) at the Yale University fields on Central Ave. in New Haven with a record 120 teams participatng. The event is for boys and girls in grades 3-8.
Organizer Jon Einhorn can't wait for the event to take place.
"This is the biggest year yet for our jamboree," Einhorn said. "The 120 teams we have coming makes it the biggest youth lacrosse jamboree in New England. We use eight fields simultaneously on Central Avenue with 15-minute games, 5 minutes between each game."
Many lacrosse vendors will be present.
Amistad Academy is sending two teams.

Here is a list of the Connecticut teams that have committed to the event:

Stratford, Newtown, Ticks, Clinton, Litchfield Hills, East Lyme, Groton-Mystic,  Milford, North Branford, Amity, Barracuda, Branford, Danbury, Bridgeport, Ridgefield, Stampede, Canondale,          East Lyme, Shelton, Greenwich, Newtown, Madison, Docs, Avon, New Fairfield, St. Bernard, RELAX, Weston, Wakeman, Southington, Eli, Rye, North Haven, Norwalk, Guilford, New Milford, Pomperaug, Amistad.

Youth lacrosse has helped with the expansion of high school lacrosse in the New Haven area and throughout the state. Here is a link to a feature story on that expansion - http://bit.ly/JTcMsZ.

Avery Giorgio and Krystina Reynolds, midfielders for the Hamden Hall girl's lacrosse team, have been selected to play in the Connie Walkwitz NEPSWLA (New England Prep School Women's Lacrosse Association) all-star game this Sunday at Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

Reynolds and Giorgio are among the top 10 girls' scorers in the area. Reynolds has 68 points (45 goals, 23 assists) and Giorgio has 65 points (49 goals, 16 assists). They have led the Hornets to a 7-3-1 record.

The all-star players are selected by the coaches in WNEPSLA (Western New England Prep School Lacrosse Association).

Giorgio and Reynolds also play soccer at Hamden Hall and are on the swim team and basketball team, respectively.

In related news, check out the Lacrosse Spotlight feature video on the Hamden Hall boys' lacrosse team at http://bit.ly/JsAtIT. Check out this other lacrosse feature on the expansion of lacrosse in the New Haven area at http://bit.ly/JTcMsZ.

A few games are off for today due to wet field conditions:
BASEBALL
ShorelineHyde at Westbrook, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Hale-Ray at Old Saybrook, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
SCC interdivisionEast Haven at Law, ppd.to Monday, 3:45 p.m.
Sheehan at Hamden, ppd. to Saturday, 2 p.m.
SWCMasuk at Stratford (Penders Field), ppd. to Friday, 7 p.m.
Non-leagueO’Brien Tech at Westbrook, ppd.to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
NVLWoodland at Ansonia, ppd. to Saturday, 11 a.m.

SOFTBALL
CSCBullard-Havens at O’Brien Tech, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
NVLKennedy at Ansonia, ppd. to Saturday, 1 p.m.
St. Paul at Derby, ppd. to Monday, 4 p.m.
ShorelineHale-Ray at Old Saybrook, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
SCC interdivisionGuilford at Wilbur Cross,ppd. to Monday, 3:45 p.m.
Sacred Heart Academy at Sheehan, ppd.to Thursday, 4:45 p.m.
SWCLauralton Hall at Weston, ppd. to Monday, 4 p.m.

Here is the complete list:


BASEBALL
Non-league
Platt Tech at Career (West Rock Park), ppd. to Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
O’Brien Tech at Westbrook, ppd. to Wednesday, 4:45 p.m.
NVL
Ansonia at Kennedy (Municipal Stadium),ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
Seymour at Watertown, ppd., TBA
Derby at St. Paul, ppd., TBA
SCC Housatonic
Sheehan at Shelton, ppd. to Thursday, 5 p.m.
SCC interdivision
Branford at Fairfield Prep, ppd. to Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Foran at Law,ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
SOFTBALL
NVL
Kennedy at Ansonia, ppd. to Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Naugatuck at Crosby, ppd. to Friday, 3:30 p.m.
St. Paul at Derby, ppd. to Wednesday, 4 p.m.
Watertown at Seymour, ppd. to Wednesday, 5 p.m.
Non-league
East Haven at Platt Tech (Foote Field), ppd. to Wednesday at East Haven, 5 p.m.
Morgan at Wilcox Tech, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
Berlin at Hale-Ray, 7 p.m.
SCC interdivision
Lyman Hall at Foran, ppd. to Wednesday, 5 p.m.
SCC Quinnipiac
Sacred Heart Academy at Hamden, ppd. to Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Shoreline
Old Saybrook at Westbrook, ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
SWC
Pomperaug at Stratford (DeLuca Field), ppd. to Friday, 4:15 p.m.
FCIAC
St. Joseph at McMahon, ppd. to Thursday, 2 p.m.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
SCC
Cheshire at Xavier, ppd. to Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Non-league
Morgan at Stonington, ppd., TBA
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Shoreline
Old Lyme at Haddam-Killingworth, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
SCC
Cheshire at Hand, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.
BOYS’ OUTDOOR TRACK
SCC West Sectional at Amity, ppd. to Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
Shoreline
Hyde, Westbrook at Morgan (Peters Complex), ppd. to Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK
SCC West Sectional at Amity, ppd. to Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
Shoreline
Coginchaug, Cromwell at Valley Regional,ppd. to Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Hyde, Westbrook at Morgan (Peters Complex), ppd. to Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Preps
St. Luke’s at Hamden Hall, ppd., TBA
SCC
Foran at West Haven (Painter Park),ppd. to Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Shelton at North Haven, ppd. to Monday, 3:45 p.m.
Shoreline
Portland at Westbrook, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
NVL
Watertown at Seymour, ppd., TBA
Non-league
Stratford at Law, ppd.to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
East Lyme at Guilford, ppd., TBA
SCC
Branford at Shelton, ppd., TBA
West Haven at Hillhouse/Career (East Shore), ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS’ GOLF
CSC
O’Brien Tech at Goodwin Tech (Stanley GC), ppd., TBA
SCC
Xavier at Cheshire (Farms CC), ppd., TBA
Hand at East Haven (Alling GC), ppd., TBA
Hamden at Shelton (Brownson CC), ppd. to Thursday, 2:45 p.m.
Lyman Hall at Foran (Grassy Hill CC), ppd. to Wednesday, 3 p.m.
Guilford, Foran at Branford (Pine Orchard CC), ppd., TBA
Fairfield Prep at Amity (CC of Woodbridge), ppd., TBA
GIRLS’ GOLF
Haddam-Killingworth, Sacred Heart Academy at Canton (Tower Ridge CC), cancelled

BOYS’ TRACK

Amity prevails: Nathan Arndt, Mike Wenke and Brian Dunleavy swept the 3200 for Amity, which beat Cheshire to win the SCC East Sectional meet at Woodbridge. Arndt won with a time of 9 minutes, 59.16 seconds to help the Spartans finish with 139 points

FOR MORE ON BOTH THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' TRACK MEETS, READ HERE!

By Mike Pucci, Register Staff
mpucci@nhregister.com / Twitter: @MikePucciNHR
Due to the close proximity between the schools, Guilford and Hand are natural rivals.

Recently, Hand has been Guilford’s nemesis on the lacrosse field.

The Indians followed up wins over Sacred Heart Academy and Hamden, for which Guilford was named the Register Team of the Week, with an overtime victory over the Tigers, winning 10-8 last Monday.


Check out more about Guilford this season and a video!



And you can vote for the next Team of the Week here!

By David Borges, Register Staff
dborges@nhregister.com / Twitter: @DaveBorges


GUILFORD — Sometimes, sports are about more than just wins and losses, home runs and touchdowns, bounty programs and beanballs.

Sometimes, sports can reaffirm all that’s good about people, while also putting life in better perspective. Like when a group of high school athletes takes in and accepts a kid with learning disabilities as one of its own, makes him feel a part of something positive and forges a special bond that words, quite literally, can’t describe.

Alex Beckett has never played lacrosse. Basketball’s more his game, and he’s pretty good at it, too. Got a pretty nice jump shot. But Beckett, a junior at Guilford High, doesn’t play hoops for the school, either.


Read more on this touching story.

By Luther Turmelle and Joe Morelli, Register Staff


lturmelle@nhregister.com / jmorelli@nhregister.com / Twitter: @LutherTurmelle @nhrJoeMorelli


Cheshire High School football coach Mark Ecke has been placed on suspension from his position pending a hearing due to unspecified conduct issues, Gerry Brittingham, chairman of the Cheshire Board of Education, said Friday.

Brittingham declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the suspension or when it initially took affect. Brittingham also said the hearing has not been scheduled yet.

“We are waiting to get the schedule of (board labor attorney) Floyd Dugas,” he said.


Read what Ecke had to say about the situation.

Overnight heavy rains postponed some contests for a second straight day:

BASEBALL
SCC Hammonasset
Foran at Law, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Hand at Guilford (Yale Field), ppd.to Friday, 7 p.m.
CSC
Norwich Tech at Platt Tech, ppd. to Saturday at Norwich, 1 p.m.
FCIAC
Stamford at St. Joseph, ppd. to Friday, 3 p.m.
NVL
Derby at Ansonia, ppd. to Saturday, 11 a.m.
Shoreline
Old Saybrook at Westbrook, ppd. to Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
Valley Regional at North Branford,ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Morgan at Coginchaug, ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.

SOFTBALL
SCC Hammonasset
Hand at Foran, ppd. to May 19, 11 a.m.
FCIAC
St. Joseph at McMahon, ppd. to Tuesday, 3 p.m.
Shoreline
Valley Regional at North Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Morgan at Coginchaug, ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.

BASEBALL
CSC
O’Brien Tech at Kaynor Tech, ppd., Thursday, 3 p.m.
NVL
Derby at Ansonia, ppd. to Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Shoreline
Old Saybrook at Westbrook, ppd., Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Hyde/Hillhouse at Portland, ppd., Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Valley Regional at North Branford, ppd., Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Morgan at Coginchaug, ppd., Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Oronoque
East Haven at Career (West Rock Park), ppd., Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Hand at Guilford, now Thursday at Yale Field, 7 p.m.
SCC Quinnipiac
Hamden at Xavier (Palmer Field), ppd., Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at West Haven, ppd., Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC interdivision
Notre Dame-West Haven at Law, ppd., Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
Branford at Amity (Old Tavern, Orange), ppd., Saturday, 11 a.m.
SCC Housatonic
Lyman Hall at Cheshire, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
Sheehan at Shelton, ppd., Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SWC
Pomperaug at Stratford (Penders Field), ppd. to Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.
FCIAC
McMahon at St. Joseph, ppd. to Thursday, 4:15 p.m.
SOFTBALL
FCIAC
St. Joseph at McMahon, ppd. to Thursday, 3 p.m.
CSC
Kaynor Tech at O’Brien Tech, ppd. to Monday, 3:30 p.m.
NVL
Woodland at Seymour, ppd. to Thursday, 5 p.m.
Shoreline
Old Saybrook at Westbrook, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Valley Regional at North Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Morgan at Coginchaug, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Old Lyme at Hale-Ray, ppd. to Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
SCC Housatonic
Lyman Hall at Shelton, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Oronoque
North Haven at Wilbur Cross, ppd., TBA
Career at Branford, ppd. to Saturday, 11 a.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Foran at Hillhouse (Blackmon Field), ppd. to May 18, 4 p.m.
Law at Guilford (Bittner Park), ppd. to Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
SCC interdivision
Cheshire at East Haven, ppd. to May 21, 4 p.m.
Hand at West Haven, ppd. to May 17, 7 p.m.
SCC Quinnipiac
Sacred Heart Academy at Hamden, ppd. to Tuesday, 6 p.m.
SWC
Pomperaug at Stratford (DeLuca Field), ppd. to Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.
Preps
Hotchkiss at Hopkins, ppd., TBA
BOYS’ LACROSSE
SCC
North Haven at Wilbur Cross, , ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
SWC
Pomperaug at Lauralton Hall, ppd. to May 17, 4 p.m.
Non-league
Shelton at Watertown, ppd. to May 16, 7 p.m.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Shoreline
Old Saybrook at North Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Portland at Westbrook, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Old Lyme, ppd. to May 17, 3:45 p.m.
Cromwell at Valley Regional, ppd. to May 17, 3;45 p.m.
SCC
Notre Dame-West Haven at Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Hamden at Fairfield Prep, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Guilford at Cheshire, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Hand at Amity, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Shelton at North Haven, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Lyman Hall at Foran, ppd. to May 19, 9 a.m.
Sheehan at West Haven, ppd. to May 21, 3:45 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at East Haven, ppd. to Saturday, 10 a.m.
Career at Law, ppd. to May 21, 3:45 p.m.
CSC
Wilcox Tech at Platt Tech (Eisenhower Park), ppd. to Monday, 4 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Preps
Hamden Hall at Westover, ppd., TBA
NVL
Woodland at Seymour, ppd. to Friday, 2:45 p.m.
Shoreline
North Branford at Old Saybrook, ppd., TBA
Old Lyme at Haddam-Killingworth, ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
Valley Regional at Cromwell, ppd. to May 22, 3:45 p.m
SCC
West Haven at Hillhouse/Career (East Shore), ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Branford at Cheshire, ), ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
North Haven at Amity, ppd. to Monday, 3:45 p.m.
East Haven at Hamden, ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
Foran at Sacred Heart Academy (Hamden Middle School), ppd. to May 17, 3:45 p.m.
Lyman Hall at Shelton, ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
SWC
New Fairfield at Lauralton Hall (Eisenhower Park), ppd. to Saturday, TBA
BOYS’ GOLF
Shoreline
Hale Ray at North Branford (Tradition GC, Wallingford), ppd., TBA
East Hampton at Morgan (Clinton CC), ppd., TBA
SCC
Foran at Hillhouse (Alling Memorial GC), ppd. to May 22, 2:30 p.m.
Preps
Hamden Hall at Fischer Island Tournament, ppd. to Thursday, 12:45 p.m.
GIRLS’ GOLF
Avon at Cheshire (CC of Southington), ppd. to Thursday, 3 p.m.

The 48th Annual Coach of the Year Dinner will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $46. Contact John Fontana at 860-628-4122 for further details.
The area coach recipients are as follows:
Baseball: Sal Coppola, Amity
Boys' tennis: Karen Kean, Coginchaug
Football: Tony Sagnella, North Haven
Girls' basketball: Ted Kaczynski, Branford
Girls' swimming: Fran Pfeiffer, Lauralton Hall
Girls' tennis: Kitty Palmer, Hand
Unified Sports/Special Olympics: Paula McGovern, New Haven Public Schools

Longtime CIAC baseball tournament director Fred Balsamo, former athletic director at East Haven High who now works for the CIAC, will receive the Joe Fontana Award.

By Henry Chisholm, Register Staff
hchisholm@nhregister.com / Twitter: @NHRHenryC
WOODBRIDGE — On Wednesday, the Amity softball team suffered its second straight loss. Prior to the two-game slide, the Spartans had won nine straight, earning it the New Haven Register Team of the Week award.

The ups and downs of a 20-game season are to be expected. However, the seniors at Amity make sure they keep everyone’s spirits high, even their coach.

“They keep me young and they make me old at the same time,” said coach Bobby Purcell jokingly. “

READ MORE ABOUT WHERE SOME OF THE PLAYERS ARE HEADED TO COLLEGE NEXT YEAR.

BASEBALL
Shoreline
Cromwell at Haddam-Killingworth, ppd. to May 12, noon
Old Lyme at Hyde/Hillhouse (Bowen Field), ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Oronoque
North Haven at Career (West Rock Park), ppd. to Saturday at North Haven, 2 p.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Foran at Guilford, ppd. to Saturday, 4 p.m.
SCC Quinnipiac
West Haven at Xavier (Palmer Field), ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Notre Dame-West Haven at Hamden, ppd. to Saturday, 2 p.m.
SCC Housatonic
Amity at Lyman Hall, ppd. to Thursday 3:45 p.m.
SCC interdivision
Fairfield Prep at Hand, ppd. to Saturday 3 p.m.
East Haven at Shelton, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.
CSC
O’Brien Tech at Norwich Tech, ppd. to Monday, 4 p.m.
FCIAC
St. Joseph at Bridgeport Central, ppd. to May 12, 3 p.m.
SWC
Stratford at Immaculate, ppd. to Saturday 3 p.m.
SOFTBALL
SCC Hammonasset
Law at Foran, ppd. to Saturday, 4 p.m.
SCC Oronoque
Wilbur Cross at East Haven, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:30 p.m
SCC interdivision
Guilford at Sacred Heart Academy, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
CCC
Maloney at Tolland, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
FCIAC
Bridgeport Central at St. Joseph, ppd. to Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
SWC
Lauralton Hall at Bunnell, ppd. to Thursday, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Non-league
West Haven at Notre Dame-Fairfield, ppd. to May 16, TBA
BOYS’ TENNIS
SCC
Fairfield Prep at Xavier (Watrous Park, Cromwell), ppd. to May 17, 3:45 p.m.
Sheehan at East Haven, ppd.to May 15, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
NVL
Ansonia at Watertown (Crestbrook Park), ppd. to Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.
SCC
Foran at East Haven, ppd. to May 19, 9 a.m.

The New Haven Register's winter sports all-area section will be in Friday's print edition of the Register. It will include all of the area MVP stories and an additional three pages for the Register All-State teams in boys' basketball, girls' basketball and boys' hockey.

The annual CIAC High School Scholar-Athlete Banquet is Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Aqua Turf in Southington.
The Scholar-Athlete Program annually recognizes two high school seniors - one boy and one girl - from each member high school whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary, personal standards and achievements are a model to others, and possess high levels of integrity, self-discipline and courage.


 343 students are being honored. The complete list of honorees by school can be found at:


http://www.casciac.org/schath/

Meghan Pattyson-Culmo, a former UConn Womens' Basketball player and coach and current sports announcer and lobbyist, will be the keynote speaker.


For more information contact Stephanie Ford at 203-250-1111 or sford@casciac.org.

Only a handful on the area schedule:

BASEBALL

FCIAC
St. Joseph at Norwalk (City Hall Field), ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL

NVL
Crosby at Seymour, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS' TENNIS

Shoreline
Portland at Coginchaug, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC
Branford at Fairfield Prep, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.



GIRLS' TENNIS

Shoreline
Haddam-Killingworth at North Branford,ppd.to May 15, 3:45 p.m.
East Hampton at Westbrook, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.