Hornets Notes

Olt Signs Oversees, But Stays a Hornet

Former Branford High baseball standout Brad Olt has signed a contract to play professional ball in Europe. Despite playing across the Atlantic, Olt, who graduated BHS in 2003, is lucky enough to still be a Hornet.

 Olt, who also played at the University of Connecticut, recently signed a professional contract with the Bad Homburg Hornets, a professional club based outside of Frankfurt. The Hornets play in the highest division of  professional baseball in Europe. Olt said he leaves for Germany in the next few weeks, and he is excited about the prospects of playing oversees. He said the team found him because they were looking for some defensive help at catcher. One of his former coaches helped recommend him for the team, he said.

According to the Bad Homburg Hornets German language website, Olt joins a team that finished 17-11 last year. Their season opens on April 2. Since graduating from UCONN in 2008, Olt has been working with the coaching staff at UCONN-Avery Point.

Olt's younger brother Mike was drafted last year by the Texas Rangers and  expects to be playing in their minor league system this season.

Girls' Basketball Seniors Get a Nice Send Off

Last week's , featured a nice tribute to the team's five seniors. Coach Ted Kaczynski started all five seniors, including Kendra Frisbie who has been out injured all season. Frisbie, who injured her knee last spring during the lacrosse season, stayed in for the tip and then came out to a solid round of applause from the crowd. Other seniors honored that night were Kaitlin Kenney, Katherine Tickell, Kayla Miller, and Rory Zampano. All five were part of the team's SCC championship season last year.

Hackett's Penalty Shot Draws Cheers

Junior Hockey player Austin Hackett scored an exciting penalty shot goal last week during the team's game against North Branford. The goal, which came in the second period of a hotly-contested game, was the first penalty shot goal for a Hornet player in recent memory.

Hackett earned the penalty shot after he was pulled down from behind during a breakaway. At the time, Branford was behind 4-1. During the penalty shot, he took the puck straight at the North Branford goalie, darted left, and then snapped the puck high right into the back of the net. Branford eventually lost 4-3. .

Men's Recreation League Basketball

The Branford Recreation Department recently ended another successful men's league season. Several former Hornet standouts had notable performances. The two leading scorers during the season were Mike Tamsin and Craig Kenney. Both played football, basketball and baseball together at BHS from 2001 to 2004. Tamsin scoring 38 points in the championship game.