Spring Brings Out Some of the Best Athletes in the Region

Spring sports in high school don’t have the same sense of tradition as their cousins in the fall and winter. There is no mythos to compare with football played under Friday night lights or the tiny, packed gyms of NCCC basketball.

Spring sports are frequently more precise, for one thing and the season is almost over before May brings the kind of weather suitable for baseball, tennis or golf.

Hot chocolate at a fall soccer game has a romance attached to it. Hand warmers at a spring lacrosse game is simply more evidence of the lingering winter.

But fans who are willing to take a look around, some of the best athletes in the region will be performing this spring.

E.O. Smith has two such athletes. Junior John Brvenik, who reached the third round of the Class M tennis tournament last season, begins his pursuit of a deeper run Wednesday when the Panthers visit Northwest Catholic-West Hartford.

Meanwhile, senior Dane Rosa, who shot 73 in the Division II boys golf championship at Fairview Farms in Harwinton will have to wait an additional week before beginning his quest for medalist honors.

Rosa isn’t the only one waiting. The area is crammed with top golfers. East Catholic-Manchester won the Division III championship last season and returns Erik Vivenzio, who shot 74 in the tournament at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron.

Suffield finished fourth in that meet and returns Andy Mai (72) but must replace Mike Masso.

And Enfield has Nick Smith, who shot 74.

But if standing out on a windy golf course in April isn’t your idea of a perfect afternoon, perhaps you would want to spent it at a windy baseball diamond.

Rockville, which went 15-7 last season and lost in the Class L quarterfinals, will look to make a deeper run. Coach Art Wheelock has senior leadership from Kevin Babcock, Taylor Botteron, Tyler Glidden, Bryan Leonard, Alex Mann, Kamyno Royal, Alex Schwarz-Grezak and Patrick Witham.

The Rams open Wednesday at Plainville.

Enfield reached the Class M tournament last season but lost in the first round. Coach Jay Gaucher will look to seniors Dan Cezus, Edward Lajoie, Jonathan Mastrangelo, Ian McDonald and Nick VanOudenhove to improve on a 12-9 season.

Then there is East Windsor, which simply hopes to reach the state tournament after a 6-14 record last season. Coach Todd DaCunha will look to Eric Blanchard, Chris Bana, Ryan Briggs, Joshua Canning, Connor Halloran, Jacob Kocum, Dan Laurian and Douglas Titus for leadership.

East Windsor’s quest begins Wednesday against visiting East Granby.

Perhaps you prefer a wind swept track for your early-April outing. In this case, Hartford Public will visit Tolland and it’s excellent corps of distance runners, which was led by Trevor LaFontaine a year ago.

In Ellington, they are no doubt waiting for the beginning of lacrosse season. Knights coach Dave Giordano must figure out how to replace Nate Tembi from a team that 15-3. The search begins Wednesday at Suffield.

And for those who think the timid April sun is too much, Windsor offers night lacrosse, a 7 p.m. game against visiting Catholic Memorial (Mass.)