By Hal Levy, Executive Sports Editor
Shore Line Newspapers
Special to Max Preps
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The first test of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference's (CIAC) 50-point rule came in the first week of the season when Bridgeport Central defeated Bassick, 56-0.
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Central, which hung 52 points more on Trumbull (52-21 in week two) scored 35 points in the first quarter, including touchdowns on the opening kickoff return, a punt return and the team's first play from scrimmage.
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Coach David Cadelina had reserves in the game before halftime (49-0) and the touchdown, which put Central over the top, came from a third-stringer. The two teams had agreed early to play running time and Bassick coach George Loughery, whose team lost its 47th straight game, supported the claim that Cadelina was sportsman-like in his coaching and did not try to run up the score.
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The CIAC rule is that a coach faces an automatic one-game suspension for a 50-point win, but an appeal process was put into place after the rule drew nation-wide attention - and a good deal of scorn.
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A three-member panel, including CIAC Executive Director Mike Savage, Morgan School principal Bill Barney (chairman of the CIAC) and Leroy Williams, principal at Roberto Clemente Middle School of New Haven (chair of the CIAC football committee), exonerated Cadelina after examining statements by both coaches, referee Jim Carroll, Bridgeport city-wide athletic director Alan Wallach and the principals at both high schools.
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It helped, of course, that the coaches are friends and it helped more that Cadelina had the support of his principal.
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To Savage, the message the decision sent was simple.
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"What CIAC is trying to establish is a regulation that addresses sportsmanship," he said. "The question is if a coach is trying to run up a score. The evidence in this case is the coach did what the CIAC expected in trying to keep the score down. I hope that is the context in which we will move forward."
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Picard Case Concludes
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A lot of coaches are not happy with the punishment handed out in the Mark Picard case.
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Picard was convicted of hitting Sacred Heart Academy softball coach John Crovo with a bat in a dispute over the suspension of Crovo's daughter for attending a prom (not her own, by the way) rather than a practice.
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Crovo himself went on record as saying he did not want Picard to go to prison for his actions. The sentence handed down by judge Nicola Rubinow in Meriden Superior Court called for Picard to complete five years of probation with 650 hours of community service. He is not to attend athletic events of any kind - professional or amateur - for the period of his probation.
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Picard and Crovo also reached an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed amount of money.
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Picard, a 25-year teaching veteran, lost his job and is now working in construction.
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Coaches Reach Milestones
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Two state high school coaches reached milestones the same day.
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On Wednesday, Sept. 28, Patsy Kamercia recorded her 300th field hockey win and Paul Thees got his 400th in volleyball.
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Kamercia has coached field hockey at Haddam-Killingworth for 30 years and has a 300-131-72 mark. The Cougars, who are ranked third in the most recent state coaches' poll, defeated North Branford, 1-0, for the milestone win. H-K was a co-state champion in Class S last year.
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Lauren Bosse got the game's only goal, 22:20 into the first half.
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Thees, who has coached volleyball at several state high schools, got his 400th win at Amity Regional High as the Spartans Sheehan of Wallingford, 25-7, 25-12, 22-25, 25-14.
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Thees has 273 of his wins at Amity. The Spartans were led by the serving of Amanda Arulpragasam, who was 22-for-22 with five aces.
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In a matchup of the state's second and third-ranked boys' soccer teams, Cheshire defeated Shelton, 1-0, last week. The two clubs, who are in the same (Housatonic) Division of the Southern Connecticut Conference, will meet again in October. Since only the division winner goes to the SCC's post-season tournament, Shelton will have to win on the road to have a chance. Mike Caputo got the lone goal for Cheshire five minutes into the second half.
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Who's No. 1?
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There is a difference of opinion between state sportswriters and coaches as to which football team is best.
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The coaches voting in The Day of New London poll placed Greenwich (2-0-0) at the top, while media members voting in the New Haven Register poll listed West Haven (2-0-0) first. West Haven plays Wilbur Cross-New Haven Friday night while Greenwich travels to Danbury.