On Thursday the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, which governs high school sports in the state, published its post-season podcast and yours truly was one of three guests with moderator and CIAC spokesman Joel Cookson. I spent about 20 minutes breaking down the CIAC boys and girls lacrosse tournaments (interview done just prior to the girls quarterfinal round games). Dave Ruden of the Stamford Advocate is another guest and tells the story of a generous baseball player and talks softball and baseball and Timothy Gaffney of Litchfieldcountysports.com breaks down the top teams in his region. Here is the link to the podcast:
ciacsports.com/site/?p=3182

Southern Connecticut Conference commissioner Al Carbone has announced boys hockey teams in the SCC and SWC will combine to form one overall league for next season.
Athletic directors in the SCC voted to approve the SCC-SWC partnership earlier this month and the SWC athletic directors made the arrangement official when they voted to approve the partnership on Wednesday.
Starting next season, boys hockey teams in the SWC and SCC will compete in a Division I, II and III format complete with postseason playoffs for each division.
“I’ve been working on this since the winter and it really came to shape when we had an idea that there would be possible changes in boys hockey divisions at the state level,” Carbone said. “I floated the idea to coaches and administrators in both leagues, got some pretty good feedback and we were able to work together to come up with a proposal."
 The SCC-SWC Boys Ice Hockey League will consist of 25 teams (16 from the SCC and nine from SWC) in three divisions. Teams will play one regular-season “counting” game within their division. The leagues will also host postseason competitions in all three divisions following the regular-season. There will be four-team playoffs in Divisions II and III (March 6 and 8), and a one-game championship game in Division I (March 7).
Carbone said playoff sites and times will be determined at a later date.
Here is the breakdown of each SCC-SWC Division:
DIVISION I - Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame-West Haven, Xavier, Hamden, Notre Dame-Fairfield, West Haven, East Haven . Postseason: Top 2 teams in regular-season standings will play in a championship game (March 7)
DIVISION II - Branford, Daniel Hand, Guilford, North Haven, Cheshire, North Branford, Amity Regional, Milford co-op, Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury co-op, New Milford, Watertown-Pomperaug co-op. Postseason: Top 4 teams in regular-season standings will earn playoff berths (March 6 and 8)
DIVISION III - Sheehan, Lyman Hall, Joel Barlow, Masuk, Newtown, New Fairfield/Immaculate co-op, Shepaug-Litchfield-Nonnewaug co-op. Postseason: Top 4 teams in regular-season standings will earn playoff berths (March 6 and 8).
“I am encouraged that more types of partnerships will happen in other sports,” Carbone said. “We’ve seen it already in football with the SCC and FCIAC. The important point is that every sport is different, whether it’s the way you schedule or even in the levels of competitiveness. “Leagues need to be respective of these challenges and be ready to come up with new ideas that may be outside of the norm. Change is hard, but having these ideas and conversations does lead to good outcomes.”

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DIVISION I BOYS TENNIS

Top 2 seeds (#1 Amity and #2 Daniel Hand) get byes to the semifinals

Quarterfinals – Monday, May 20

#3 Fairfield Prep 7, #6 Sheehan 0

#4 Guilford 4, #5 Branford 3

Semifinals – Tuesday, May 21 @Yale University Tennis Courts – 2 p.m.

#1 Amity vs. #4 Guilford

#2 Daniel Hand vs. #3 Fairfield Prep

Championship Match - Wednesday, May 22 @Yale University Tennis Courts – 3:30 p.m.

DIVISION II BOYS TENNIS

Top 2 seeds (#1 Xavier and #2 West Haven) get byes to the semifinals

Quarterfinals – Monday, May 20

#3 East Haven 4, #6 North Haven 3

#4 Notre Dame 5, #5 Lyman Hall 2

Semifinals – Tuesday, May 21 @Yale University Tennis Courts – 4 p.m.

#1 Xavier vs. #4 Notre Dame

#2 West Haven vs. #3 East Haven

Championship Match - Wednesday, May 22 @Yale University Tennis Courts – 3:30 p.m.

DIVISION I GIRLS TENNIS

Top 2 seeds (#1 Amity and #2 Daniel Hand) get byes to the semifinals

Quarterfinals – Monday, May 20 - All matches at 3:30 p.m.

#3 North Haven 6, #6 Shelton 1

#4 Guilford 6, #5 Sheehan 1

Semifinals – Tuesday, May 21 @Yale University Tennis Courts – 2 p.m.

#1 Amity vs. #4 Guilford

#2 Daniel Hand vs. #3 North Haven

Championship Match - Wednesday, May 22 @Yale University Tennis Courts – 3:30 p.m.

DIVISION II GIRLS TENNIS

Top 2 seeds (#1 Cheshire and #2 Branford) get byes to the semifinals

Quarterfinals – Monday, May 20 - All matches at 3:30 p.m.

#3 Sacred Heart Academy 5, #6 Hamden 2

#4 Lyman Hall 4, #5 Jonathan Law 3

Semifinals – Tuesday, May 21 @Yale University Tennis Courts – 4 p.m.

#1 Cheshire vs. #4 Lyman Hall

#2 Branford vs. #3 Sacred Heart Academy

Championship Match - Wednesday, May 22 @Yale University Tennis Courts – 3:30 p.m.

BOYS' LACROSSE

Semifinals

Tuesday at Hand, Madison

No. 1 Fairfield Prep at No. 4 Hand, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Guilford vs. No. 3 Xavier, 7 p.m.

Final

Thursday at Ken Strong Stadium, West Haven High

No. 1 Fairfield Prep-No. 4 Hand vs. No. 2 Guilford-No. 3 Xavier winners, 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Semifinals

Tuesday at Hamden

No. 1 Cheshire vs. No. 4 Branford, 4 p.m.
No. 2 Hand vs. No. 3 Guilford, 6 p.m.

Final

Thursday at Ken Strong Stadium, West Haven High

No.1 Cheshire-No. 4 Branford winner vs. No. 2 Hand-No. 3 Guilford winner, 5 p.m.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL

Semifinals

Tuesday, 5 p.m.

No. 4 Shelton at No. 1 Cheshire
No. 3 Amity at No. 2 Xavier

Final

Thursday at site of higher seed

No. 1 Cheshire-No. 4 Shelton winner vs. No. 2 Xavier-No. 3 Amity winner, 6 p.m.

BOYS' TENNIS

DIVISION I

First round

Monday, 3:30 p.m.

No. 6 Sheehan at No. 3 Fairfield Prep
No. 5 Branford at No. 4 Guilford

Semifinals

Tuesday

at Yale University, 2 p.m.

No. 1 Amity vs. No. 5 Branford/No. 4 Guilford winner
No. 2 Hand vs. No. 3 Fairfield Prep/No. 6 Sheehan winner

Final

Wednesday, at Yale University, 3:30 p.m.

DIVISION II

Quarterfinals

Monday, 3:30 p.m.

No. 6 North Haven at No. 3 East Haven
No. 5 Lyman Hall at No. 4 Notre Dame-West Haven

Semifinals

Tuesday

at Yale University, 4 p.m.

No. 1 Xavier vs. No. Lyman Hall/No. 4 Notre Dame winner
No. 2 West Haven vs. No. 6 North Haven/No. 3 East Haven winner

Final

Wednesday, at Yale University, 3:30 p.m.

GIRLS' TENNIS

DIVISION I

Quarterfinals

Monday, 3:30 p.m.

No. 6 Shelton at No. 3 North Haven
No. 5 Sheehan at No. 4 Guilford

Semifinals

Tuesday

at Yale University, 2 p.m.

No. 1 Amity vs. No. 5 Sheehan/No. 4 Guilford winner
No. 2 Hand vs. No. 6 Shelton/No. 3 North Haven winner

Final

Wednesday, at Yale University, 3:30 p.m.

DIVISION II

Quarterfinals

Monday, 3:30 p.m.

No. 6 Hamden at No. 3 Sacred Heart Academy
No. 5 Law at No. 4 Lyman Hall

Semifinals

Tuesday

at Yale University, 4 p.m.

No. 1 Cheshire vs. No. Law/No. 4 Lyman Hall winner
No. 2 Branford vs. No. 6 Hamden/No. 3 Sacred Heart Academy winner

Final

Wednesday, at Yale University, 3:30 p.m.

By Mary Albl, Register Staff
malbl@journalregister.com / Twitter: @MaryAlbl

HAMDEN — Spend an afternoon with the Sacred Heart Academy track and field team, and it’s easy to see how much they care.

Not just about winning, but about each other.

The Register Team of the Week, the Pacers’ story this spring is one that blends a competitive fight with a rare rock-solid bond for one another. SHA is in the middle of one of its more successful seasons. Under the direction of second-year head coach Pat Redding, things have changed. Wins have more than tripled, the number of participants has doubled and there is a certain confident air among the girls.

SHA'S CAPTAIN HAS SPENT THE ENTIRE SEASON CHEERING FROM THE SIDELINE. HERE'S WHY.

And we have three more candidates to vote on for the new Team of the Week. Voting closes Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Joseph Canzanella, New Haven’s citywide athletic director, was named Athletic Director of the Year for 2012-13 by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association. He was honored for the achievement Thursday at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.
Canzanella oversees physical education and athletic programs for 47 schools in the district. He is a lifelong resident of New Haven.
During his time with New Haven Public Schools, Canzanella has worked as a physical education teacher, coach, principal and athletic director. He coached football at Hillhouse and Wilbur Cross high schools, as well as soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball at various schools. Canzanella helped create New Haven’s first Unified Sports Program in 1990.
Canzanella officiated boys’ and girls’ basketball for 31 seasons and officiated basketball and softball at the college level, including league tournaments, the NCAA Division 1, 2 and 3 regional tournaments and the Division 3 World Series.

BASEBALL

NVLAnsonia at Derby, ppd. to Saturday, noon

Shoreline

Portland at Hyde (Bowen),ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.

SCC Quinnipiac

Hamden at Xavier (Palmer Field), ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
West Haven at Fairfield Prep, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

SCC Hammonasset

Law at Hand, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

SCC interdivision

Notre Dame-West Haven at Branford, ppd. to Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Foran at Amity (Old Tavern Complex), ppd. to Tuesday, 7 p.m.

CSC

Capital Prep at Whitney Tech, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.

SWC

Newtown at Stratford (Penders Field), ppd.to Thursday, 7 p.m.

Preps

Kingswood-Oxford at Hamden Hall, ppd., TBA

SOFTBALL

CSC

Platt Tech at Kaynor Tech, ppd.to Friday, 4 p.m.
Whitney Tech at Capital Prep, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.

NVL

Sacred Heart at Naugatuck, ppd. to Friday, 4 p.m.

Shoreline

North Branford at Valley Regional, ppd., TBA
Coginchaug at Old Saybrook, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Westbrook at East Hampton, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

SCC Quinnipiac

Hamden at Sacred Heart Academy, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

SCC Housatonic

Sheehan at Lyman Hall, ppd.to May 20, 3:45 p.m.

SCC Hammonasset

Guilford at Hand, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

SCC Oronoque

Branford at Career (East Shore), ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

SWC

Barlow at Oxford, ppd. to Thursday, 4:15 p.m.
Newtown at Stratford (DeLuca Field), ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.

Preps

Marianapolis at Hamden Hall, ppd., TBA
Hopkins at Hotchkiss, ppd., TBA

BOYS’ GOLF

SCC

Xavier at Notre Dame-West Haven (Race Brook CC), ppd. to Thursday, 2:45 p.m.
East Haven at Foran (Grassy Hill CC), ppd. to Tuesday, 3 p.m.

Preps

Hamden Hall at Fisher’s Island Tournament, ppd., TBA

BOYS’ TENNIS

Shoreline

Valley Regional at Old Lyme, ppd. to May 16, 3:45 p.m.
North Branford at Morgan, ppd., TBA
Portland at Old Saybrook, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.

SCC

Amity at Fairfield Prep, ppd. to May 17, 3:45 p.m.
Hand at Branford, ppd. to Thursday at Veterans Park, 3:45 p.m.
Shelton at Guilford, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Foran at Sheehan, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Xavier at North Haven, ppd., TBA
Lyman Hall at Notre Dame-West Haven (Yale), ppd. to May 16, 3:45 p.m.
Law at Career (Edgewood Park), ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

CSC

Platt Tech at Wilcox Tech, ppd., TBA

Preps

Kingswood Oxford at Hamden Hall, ppd., TBA

GIRLS’ TENNIS

NVL

Seymour at Woodland, ppd. to Thursday, 3:30 p.m.

Shoreline

Old Lyme at Valley Regional, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Morgan at North Branford, ppd., TBA

SCC

Foran at Amity, ppd.to May 17, 3:45 p.m.
Sheehan at Shelton, ppd. to Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Cheshire at Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Hamden at East Haven, ppd., TBA
Hillhouse/Career at Lyman Hall, ppd. to May 16, 3:45 p.m.
Law at West Haven, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.

Preps

Westover at Hamden Hall, ppd., TBA

Chris, Herren, the former schoolboy star from Massachusetts who played briefly for the Boston Celtics, will be speaking at the Amity High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Herren wasted his career due to his variety of addictions. He has been both drug- and alcohol-free since 2008. and now speaks to both high school and college audiences across the country about his addiction. He spoke at Southern Connecticut State University earlier this year.

Doors open to the free show at 6 p.m. Seats are first-come, first-served. For any questions, contact Matthew Milner at (203) 927-7273. or at amitycommunityactionclub@gmail.com.

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

MILFORD — Law softball coach Melanie Paolini thinks for a moment. It’s hard to single any one player out, so she rattles off name after name.

There’s pitcher Jenna Bernard. She isn’t the overpowering type, but she’s been quite effective with her finesse and command. Steph Peloso has done well defensively at third base with her speed and strong arm. Amanda Leone has been a threat at the plate and Paolini considers her one of the top catchers in the Southern Connecticut Conference.

The list goes on.

“We don’t have one player that we ride the coattails of,” Paolini said. “We have solid pitching, solid defense. We hit one through nine.”

Check out more on Law's season and a video presentation.

 Three more good candidates to vote on for the next Team of the Week!

The Register's All-Area gymnastics team will run in Sunday's editions.

The bios and the MVP story on Hand's Stefani Taschner, along with a slideshow of all the gymnasts, can be found at www.nhregister.com.

In addition, the All-State hockey team will be re-run for Sunday's editions in color. A computer malfunction printed the page in black and whit last Sunday, April 28.

The rematch between the Law and Foran baseball teams is Saturday, part of a doubleheader with St. Joseph and Trumbull at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

Law will try to sweep the season series beginning at 4:30 p.m., followed by St. Joes vs. Trumbull. All proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs and services to severely injured members of our military service during the time between active duty and their transition to civilian life.

For more on the project, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.