Stratford Athletes Of All Ages Recognized At Council Sports Night

STRATFORD, CT — It was sports night Monday at the Stratford Town Council meeting, where officials honored several local teams and athletes.

Among those recognized were the Stratford Baseball Association's team for players 8 and under, which attended the Cal Ripken 8-Year-Old Player-Pitch Invitational World Series last month in New Jersey. The team finished eighth out of 16 teams at the event, and also won the 2019 state championship and took second place in the New England regionals, finishing the season with a 43-12 record.

"This is a very amazing group of kids that we have," team manager Carl Sakowicz Jr. said, adding that the team hopes to return to the Cal Ripken World Series next year.

Mayor Laura Hoydick lauded the team as "excellent ambassadors to the town of Stratford."

Another hometown team honored for its national accomplishments was the Stratford Brakettes, which won the 2019 Women's Major Softball Tournament, a national tournament that the team has won a total of nine times. The Brakettes enjoyed a 46-game winning streak during the 2019 season.

"Stratford's often been called the softball capital of the country," council member William O'Brien, R-District 9, said.

Also recognized by the town Monday was U.S. Women's National Soccer Team goalie Alyssa Naeher, who grew up in Lordship. The national team claimed its fourth World Cup victory in July. Naeher also plays for the Chicago Red Stars.

While she could not attend Monday's meeting, Naeher's parents, John and Donna Lynn Naeher, were present.

"She definitely would consider Stratford her hometown," John Naeher said.

Lastly, the council honored the Stratford Oldtimers Athletic Association, which raises funds for local athletic teams and provides scholarships to Stratford students.

Oldtimers President Bob Mastroni, who is also a former Bunnell High School football coach, was recognized twice over when the council later in the meeting approved a Board of Education vote to name the Bunnell turf field in his honor.

"I just want to thank the gentleman for his years of dedication and service," council member Greg Cann, D-District 5, said.

The council also approved a school board vote to name Bunnell's field house for the Wojnarowski family.