Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 11/3

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Big East superlative tracker [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Predictions: Big East Week 10 [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

DC answered some questions in his mailbox [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Football Needs To Turn It Around At Home [Hartford Courant]

2011 Bowl Projections: UConn Huskies Predicted To Become Bowl Eligible [SB Nation Boston]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn Routs AIC in Exhibition Opener [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Drummond, Calhoun on Drummond’s Debut [David Borges – New Haven Register]

UConn 78, AIC 35: Wrapping Things Up [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Breaking Down UConn’s Opponents: Game 16, West Virginia [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

UConn men 78, AIC 35: the wrap [Ed Daigneault – The Republican-American]

UConn post-game breakdown: AIC [Gavin Keefe – The Day]

Thoughts from the AIC exhibition [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

Fresh Start [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn routs American International, 78-35 [UConnHuskies.com]

Napier leads UConn to exhibition blowout victory [CT Post]

UConn Has An Easy Exhibition Win Against American International [Hartford Courant]

Huskies roll over AIC in exhibition opener [New Haven Register]

Huskies are serious about their defense [The Day]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Freshmen looking forward to first “game” [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Tiffany Hayes Ready To Bring It For The UConn Women [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

The Irrepressible Geno Auriemma [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Mosqueda-Lewis Isn’t UConn’s Only Freshman, You Know [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

More From Geno Auriemma On The Big East [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Mosqueda-Lewis Poised To Finally Make Her Debut For Huskies [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Hayes Has Been Impressive During The Preseason For Huskies [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Hayes steps up her game, leadership for UConn women [CT Post]

Time For Tiffany Hayes To Step Up [Hartford Courant]

UConn women begin preseason tonight [The Day]

Other UConn related links

Field Hockey. No. 4 Field Hockey Set for 2011 BIG EAST Tournament [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Tennis. Men’s Tennis Concludes Fall Season at Connecticut Championships [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Cross Country. Andrea Grove-McDonough Reflects On BIG EAST Weekend [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Rowing. Rowing Wraps Up Fall At Head Of The Fish [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Men’s Soccer vs. DePaul Set For 6 p.m. Thursday [UConnHuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

2011-12 WTIC/UConn Radio Network For Basketball

UConn Huskies Radio Network

With the exhibition season kicking off tonight for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team, I figured now is the time to take a look at the stations on the WTIC/UConn Radio Network for the 2011-12 season.

Flagship station: WTIC-Hartford, (1080-AM)

  • WTIC-Hartford, (1080-AM)
  • WILI-Willimantic (1400-AM)
  • WLIS-Old Saybrook (1420-AM)
  • WMRD-Middletown (1150-AM)
  • WSUB-Groton (980-AM)

Joe D’Ambrosio (play-by-play) and Wayne Norman (analyst) have the call on the men’s basketball broadcasts while Bob Joyce (play-by-play) and former Husky Kara Wolters (analyst) have the call on the women’s broadcasts.

For those unable to pick up any of the signals, the games are streamed live on the internet at UConnHuskies.com or WTIC.com.

2011 AL & NL Silver Slugger Awards

While awards won’t ease the pain of what happened to the 2011 Boston Red Sox, it is nice to see some of them being honored.

Louisville Slugger Silver AwardLast night, three members of the 2011 Red Sox won AL Gold Glove Awards. And on Wednesday, three members of the Red Sox were presented with AL Silver Slugger Awards.

They are Jacoby Ellsbury (outfield), Adrian Gonzalez (1B) and David Ortiz (DH).

Here’s the release from the Red Sox:

Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and designated hitter David Ortiz have all been selected to the 2011 American League Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Team.

Silver Slugger Awards are presented annually to the top offensive players at each position in both the American and National Leagues by vote of managers and coaches.

Boston is the only team with three Silver Slugger winners in 2011 and it marks just the second time that three Red Sox players have won the award in the same year, previously accomplished in 2005 when Ortiz (DH), Manny Ramirez (OF) and Jason Varitek (C) were all selected. Boston has been represented on the AL Silver Slugger Team in each of the last 11 seasons beginning in 2001 and Red Sox players have won 36 Silver Sluggers since the award’s inception in 1980. Ellsbury and Gonzalez, who were also selected to the American League Rawlings Gold Glove Team yesterday, are the first Red Sox teammates to take home both awards in the same season. Dwight Evans (OF, 1981), Ellis Burks (OF, 1990), Jason Varitek (C, 2005) and Dustin Pedroia (2B, 2008) are the only other Red Sox players to accomplish the feat.

Ellsbury earned his first Silver Slugger Award after batting .321 (212-for-660) while setting career-highs with 46 doubles, 32 home runs, 119 runs scored, 105 RBI and 52 walks. The 28-year-old led the Majors with both 364 total bases, the most by any team’s primary leadoff hitter since San Francisco’s Bobby Bonds in 1973 (341), and 83 extra-base hits, and also ranked among American League leaders in hits (3rd), RBI (T-6th), runs (3rd), batting average (5th), slugging percentage (6th, .552), OPS (5th, .928), stolen bases (4th, 39), doubles (T-3rd), home runs (T-5th), multi-hit games (T-5th, 59), average vs. right-handers (3rd, .337), home average (6th, .326), road average (6th, .316), day average (2nd, .356) and average with runners in scoring position (4th, .366).

A first-time All-Star and the American League Comeback Player of the Year in 2011, Ellsbury was just the fourth player in Major League history to accumulate at least 200 hits, 30 home runs, 100 RBI and 35 stolen bases in a season. He became the first Red Sox player ever to compile a season with at least 30 homers and 30 stolen bases and also became the first player in franchise history with a 30 homer/100 RBI season while serving as leadoff hitter. Ellsbury is the eighth Red Sox outfielder to win a Silver Slugger Award, the first since Jason Bay in 2009, and is one of three center fielders in club history to be honored as a Silver Slugger, along with Tony Armas (1984) and Ellis Burks (1990).

For more on Gonzalez and Big Papi as well as the full list of the 2011 AL & NL Silver Slugger Award winners, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the homepage.

For Gonzalez, 29, this marks his first career Silver Slugger Award. The left-handed batter led the Majors with 66 multi-hit games and matched Texas’ Michael Young for the Major League lead with 213 hits, tied for the fourth-highest single-season total in team history. He finished second in the Majors with a .338 batting average (630 AB), trailing only Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (.344), and also ranked among AL leaders in RBI (3rd, 117), total bases (2nd, 345), doubles (T-6th, 45), extra-base hits (5th, 75), runs (5th, 108), slugging percentage (7th, .548), on-base percentage (3rd, .410), OPS (3rd, .957), intentional walks (3rd, 20), home average (3rd, .347), road average (3rd, .329), night average (4th, .348), day average (7th, .316), average vs. right-handers (2nd, .347) and average with runners in scoring position (6th, .337). Additionally, he finished second in the circuit with 30 go-ahead RBI and ranked third with 17 game-winning RBI.

An All-Star for the fourth straight season in 2011, Gonzalez was the only Major Leaguer to finish the year with at least 200 hits and 115 RBI. He is just the second Red Sox first baseman ever to win a Silver Slugger Award, along with Mo Vaughn in 1995, and is one of six players to win a Silver Slugger in their first season with the Red Sox, joining Carney Lansford in 1981 (3B), Don Baylor in 1986 (DH), Manny Ramirez in 2001 (OF), Bill Mueller in 2003 (3B) and Adrian Beltre in 2010 (3B).

This marks Ortiz’s fifth time as the designated hitter on the American League Silver Slugger team after earning the honor in four straight seasons from 2004-07. He passes Edgar Martinez and Paul Molitor, each of whom received the honor four times at the position, for the all-time lead in Silver Slugger Awards as a DH. The 35-year-old hit .309 with 162 hits, 70 extra-base hits, 40 doubles, a .398 on-base percentage, .554 slugging percentage and .953 OPS in 2011, all his best marks since 2007. He finished among overall AL leaders in average (6th), slugging (4th), on-base percentage (4th), OPS (4th), multi-hit games (9th, 51), extra-base hits (T-9th), walks (T-9th, 78), intentional walks (8th, 12), home average (4th, .342) and average vs. left-handed pitchers (8th, .329). Ortiz made all but two of his 138 starts this past season at DH, with two starts at first base during Interleague Play, and led all designated hitters in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, extra-base hits, home runs (29), RBI (96), runs (84), walks and total bases (291).

With his 29 homers in 2011, Ortiz recorded his eighth season with at least 25 home runs, passing Jim Rice (7 seasons) for the second-most 25-homer campaigns ever for a Red Sox batter behind only Ted Williams (14). He also reached the 20-homer mark for the 10th straight year since 2002, and joins Albert Pujols and Alfonso Soriano as the only Major Leaguers with at least 20 homers in each season in that time. Selected as an All-Star for the seventh time, Ortiz set the all-time mark for RBI as a DH on April 2 with his 1,004th at the position, passing Edgar Martinez (1,003). He ended the season with 1,094 career RBI as a designated hitter and also holds the all-time mark for home runs at the position with 333.

American League National League
Pos. Player Team Silver Sluggers Pos. Player Team Silver Sluggers
1B Adrian Gonzalez BOS 1 1B Prince Fielder MIL 2
2B Robinson Cano NYY 3 2B Brandon Phillips CIN 1
SS Asdrubal Cabrera CLE 1 SS Troy Tulowitzki COL 2
3B Adrian Beltre TEX 3 3B Aramis Ramirez CHC 1
OF Curtis Granderson NYY 1 OF Ryan Braun MIL 4
OF Jose Bautista TOR 2 OF Matt Kemp LAD 2
OF Jacoby Ellsbury BOS 1 OF Justin Upton ARI 1
C Alex Avila DET 1 C Brian McCann ATL 5
DH David Ortiz BOS 5 P Daniel Hudson ARI 1

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Whale’s Chad Johnson Named Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month

HARTFORD, November 2, 2011:  The American Hockey League announced today that Connecticut Whale netminder Chad Johnson has been named the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for October.

CT WhaleJohnson made five appearances during October and compiled a 3-0-2 record, tying for the league lead among qualified goalies in both goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.942), while helping the Whale to first place in the Northeast Division.

Johnson made his first start of the season on Oct. 9 and made 41 saves in a 1-0 shootout victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, his sixth career shutout. Following shootout losses to Albany (28 saves) and Bridgeport (23 saves), Johnson turned aside 27 of 28 shots in a 4-1 win over Springfield on Oct. 23, and closed out the month with a 28-save effort in a 3-2 shootout win over Worcester on Oct. 29.

Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2006, Johnson was acquired by the New York Rangers on June 27, 2009, and is in his third professional season after playing collegiately at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The 25-year-old native of Calgary, Alta., has a career record of 43-37-7 in 92 AHL games with Connecticut, and has also appeared in six NHL contests with the Rangers.

In recognition of his achievement, Johnson will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Whale home game.

The Whale return to action at the XL Center this Friday night, November 4, hosting the new St. John’s IceCaps in a 7:00 game.  That will be a special “Power Ghouls” Night, complete with an on-ice costume parade and a special buy-one-get-one-free ticket with costume.

Friday night’s game will feature a Halloween costume parade on the ice during the first intermission, and prizes will be awarded for best kid’s costume and best adult’s costume.  Also, fans who come in costume can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free offer on Upper Level tickets for Friday’s game.  That discount is available for both kids’ and adults’ tickets, through the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center only.

CL&P employees who present their company ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will also be extended the buy-one-get-one-free offer on Upper Level tickets for Friday night.

Tickets to Friday night’s game, and all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

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Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4, Connecticut Whale 3 (OT)

By Brian Ring

Bridgeport, CT, November 2, 2011 – The Connecticut Whale fell to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Wednesday afternoon, 4-3 in overtime, at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.

CT WhaleThe Sound Tigers’ Tim Wallace tallied a hat-trick in the game, including the overtime winner, to lead Bridgeport to a come-from-behind win. The Whale received two goals and an assist from rookie Jonathan Audy-Marchessault.

The defeat snapped the Whale’s five-game winning-streak, but Connecticut did gain at least a standings point for the ninth consecutive game (7-0-0-2).

“It’s 3-1 and you’re giving up odd-man chances, that’s no good,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander.

“We were feeling good about ourselves going into the third period,” said Whale forward John Mitchell. It’s a couple mental lapses that ended up costing us the third period and eventually in overtime.”

The Sound Tigers had opened up the scoring with Wallace’s first goal of the season, as his wrist shot snuck past Whale goaltender Cam Talbot (27 saves) just 4:06 into the first period. Justin DiBenedetto and Dylan Reese assisted on the goal.

Audy-Marchessault tied the game 7:16 into the first, after breaking into the offensive end on a two-on-one with Mats Zuccarello. Zuccarello’s pass across the slot fooled Bridgeport goaltender Kevin Poulin (33 saves) and allowed Audy-Marchessault to beat the backstop high to glove side. Tim Erixon also assisted on the goal, his first AHL point coming in his first game with the Whale after starting the season with the parent New York Rangers.

The Whale took a 2-1 lead on Mitchell’s snap-shot at 16:32 of the period, his shot from the left circle beating Poulin high to the stick side. Audy-Marchessault tallied his second point of the afternoon with an assist on the goal.

Audy-Marchessault struck again with his second goal and third point of the game just 38 seconds into the final frame, scoring off of another quality pass from Zuccarello. The Whale’s first successful power-play conversion of the game gave them a 3-1 lead.

Wallace cut the Connecticut lead to 3-2 midway through the period with his second goal of the game, his shot going over the left pad of Talbot. Cizikas and DiBenedetto registered the assists on the score.

The equalizer finally came at 13:17, when Bridgeport’s David Ullstrom put his fifth goal of the season up and over Talbot, after the Whale had failed to get the puck out of their zone along the boards.

Wallace netted the game-winner, his third of the game, at 3:12 of overtime, breaking in on a three-on-one and ripping a shot past Talbot.  That came just after a Whale power play had expired.

During the game, it was announced that the Whale’s Chad Johnson has been selected as the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for October. Johnson made five October appearances and went 3-0-2, tying for the league lead among qualified goalies in both goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.942).

The Whale will finally return home this Friday, when Connecticut hosts the brand-new St. John’s IceCaps at the XL Center (7:00) on “Power Ghouls” night. The Whale will be hosting a special on-ice Halloween costume parade and offering  a buy-one get-one ticket deal to fans who come to the game in costume. CL&P employees who present their company ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will also be extended the buy-one-get-one-free offer on Upper Level tickets for Friday night.

To continue reading, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

  

Connecticut Whale 3 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4 (OT)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 – Webster Bank Arena

Connecticut 1 1 1 0 – 3
Bridgeport 1 0 2 1 – 4

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Wallace 1 (DiBenedetto, Reese), 4:06. 2, Connecticut, Audy-Marchessault 3 (Zuccarello, Erixon), 7:16. Penalties-Redden Ct (high-sticking), 10:58; Gillies Bri (roughing), 13:44; served by Romano Bri (bench minor – too many men), 17:16.

2nd Period-3, Connecticut, Mitchell 3 (Audy-Marchessault), 13:32. Penalties-Niederreiter Bri (hooking), 6:34; Nightingale Ct (delay of game), 14:30; Bickel Ct (fighting), 17:22; Haley Bri (fighting), 17:22; Backman Bri (hooking), 19:27.

3rd Period-4, Connecticut, Audy-Marchessault 4 (Zuccarello, Mitchell), 0:38 (PP). 5, Bridgeport, Wallace 2 (Cizikas, DiBenedetto), 9:24. 6, Bridgeport, Ullstrom 5 (Wishart), 13:17. Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period-7, Bridgeport, Wallace 3 (Cizikas, Reese), 3:22. Penalties-Wishart Bri (high-sticking), 0:50.

Shots on Goal-Connecticut 11-8-14-3-36. Bridgeport 11-9-10-1-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 1 / 5; Bridgeport 0 / 2.
Goalies-Connecticut, Talbot 3-2-0 (31 shots-27 saves). Bridgeport, Poulin 2-3-0 (36 shots-33 saves).
A-7,696
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Marty Demers (79), Kevin Redding (16).

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Ryan Boatright Will Not Play Due To NCAA Investigation

This is definitely not the start that UConn Huskies men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun was hoping for in kicking off the 2011-12 season.

UConn Huskies men's basketballHere’s the release from the UConn Athletic Communications Department:

Storrs, Conn. – University of Connecticut men’s basketball freshman Ryan Boatright will be held out of intercollegiate competition while the school works cooperatively with the NCAA in a review of his eligibility, a review that is not related to academics.

Boatright will continue to practice with the team and may sit on the bench during games, but will not dress or see action while the joint review takes place.

The University and Athletic Department will not be making any further comment during this ongoing process.

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Bloguin Heisman Trophy Poll – Week 9

Bloguin Heisman TrophyEach week a group of Bloguin college football bloggers get together and put our votes in for the top Heisman Trophy candidates. Then after the votes are tabulated by Kevin over at College Football Zealots, the poll is released on Wednesday.

Here are the results for week nine of the 2011 college football season. Be sure to head over Crystal Ball Run for a full look at the results for the week for more insight on the poll.

  1. Andrew Luck (QB-Stanford) – 32 Points, 42.67%, 10 1st Place Votes
  2. Trent Richardson (RB-Alabama) – 22 Points, 29.33%, 1 1st Place Vote
  3. Kellen Moore (QB-Boise St) – 7 Points, 9.33%, 1 1st Place Vote
  4. Brandon Weedon (QB-Oklahoma State)- 6 Points, 8.00%, 0 1st Place Votes
  5. Case Keenum (QB-Houston)- 4 Points, 5.33%, 0 1st Place Votes
  • Also Receiving Votes: Ryan Broyles (QB- Oklahoma) 3 pts, David Wilson (RB- Virginia Tech) 1 pt
  • Dropped Out: Robert Woods (WR- USC), Russell Wilson (QB- Wisconsin), Sammy Watkins (WR- Clemson), Tahj Boyd (QB- Clemson)

I did not vote in this week’s poll. I was without power on Saturday and was unable to watch any college football obviously.

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 11/2

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Video: UConn’s offensive line falls short [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Pasqualoni prepares for a taste of Orange [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

QB Scott McCummings Says QB Nebrich “Is Staying Positive” [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Coach P at the podium: Syracuse edition [Ed Daigneault – The Republican-American]

Syracuse week [Joe Perez – Norwich Bulletin]

Kashif Moore quotes [Joe Perez – Norwich Bulletin]

Johnny McEntee quotes [Joe Perez – Norwich Bulletin]

Tuesday presser, Pasqualoni Bowl edition [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Blidi for MVP [Owen Poole – The Day]

Storm a distraction for UConn football [CT Post]

LB Sio Moore Takes Some Blame For UConn’s Poor Performance At Pitt [Hartford Courant]

Focus On Future Has Us Missing Out On UConn’s Present [Hartford Courant]

Paul Pasqualoni going forward, not looking back [Norwich Bulletin]

McCummings patiently waiting for a larger role in offense [The Day]

The Syracuse-vs.-Connecticut football game could really be called the Coach P Bowl [The Post-Standard]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Drummond Could Play vs. AIC [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Breaking Down UConn’s Opponents: Game 13, St. John’s [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

UConn Men: Time To Take The Floor [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Retirement Was Right for La Russa, But Not Yet In The Cards for Jim Calhoun [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Drummond expected to play Wed., and other news [Gavin Keefe – The Day]

Former UConn star Chris Smith honored by CFF [John Nash – The Hour]

Drummond may play Wednesday vs. AIC [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

UConn’s Napier back with first unit [CT Post]

AIC Will Be UConn’s First Opponent Since Championship Game [Hartford Courant]

UConn won’t mask talent [Journal Inquirer]

Andre Drummond may play in exhibition [New Haven Register]

UConn’s Napier improving with practice [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn men begin exhibition season tonight [The Day]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Caroline Doty won’t play against Assumption but Tiffany Hayes sure will [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Geno Auriemma gives his thoughts on latest Big East rumors [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Doty injured again [Joe Perez – Norwich Bulletin]

Doty Out Again; This Time It’s Her Ankle [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Doty Battling Sprained Ankle; Will Not Play vs. Assumption [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

UConn’s Oft-Injured Caroline Doty Out With Sprained Ankle [Hartford Courant]

Tiffany Hayes steps up for Huskies [New Haven Register]

All eyes are on UConn’s freshman trio [Norwich Bulletin]

Other UConn related links

West Virginia lawsuit one worth watching [Kristi Dosh – ESPN.com]

Commissioner John Marinatto Comments Following BIG EAST Presidents Meeting [BigEast.org]

AP source: Big East to invite Boise St., 5 others [CT Post]

Big East Presidents vote to extend invitations for league [New Haven Register]

M. Golf. Husky Golf Finishes Play at Kiawah Island [UConnHuskies.com]

Field Hockey. Angelini and Heistand Selected to Play in 2011 Senior Game [UConnHuskies.com]

The University of Connecticut Extends 20-Year Partnership With Paciolan [Market Watch]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

2011 AL & NL Rawlings Gold Glove Teams

As a fan of the Boston Red Sox, we haven’t really had any feel good moments since late August. But that changed on Tuesday night as the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were announced as three members of the Red Sox picked up the award.

They are Adrian Gonzalez (1B), Dustin Pedroia (2B) and Jacoby Ellsbury (CF),

Here’s the release from the Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA- Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox have been selected as center fielder, first baseman and second baseman, respectively, on the 2011 American League Gold Glove Team, as announced tonight on ESPN2 by the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company. The voting was conducted by American League managers and coaches.

Rawlings Gold Glove AwardThis marks just the third time that three Red Sox players have won Gold Gloves in the same year, a feat previously accomplished by Boston in 1968 (George Scott, 1B; Reggie Smith, OF; Carl Yastrzemski, OF) and 1979 (Rick Burleson, SS; Dwight Evans, OF; Fred Lynn, OF). The last time multiple Boston players earned Gold Gloves in a season was 1990, when Mike Boddicker (P) and Ellis Burks (OF) were selected. The Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers were the only teams with three Gold Glove winners in 2011.

Ellsbury is the first Red Sox outfielder to earn a Gold Glove since Ellis Burks in 1990. This was the first year since 1960 that specific outfield positions were awarded Gold Gloves rather than grouping all outfielders into one pool of candidates. Previous Red Sox to win Gold Gloves as the club’s center fielder include Jimmy Piersall (1958), Reggie Smith (1968), Fred Lynn (1975, 1978-80) and Burks (1990).

In 2011, Ellsbury became the first qualifying Red Sox outfielder to turn in an errorless campaign while serving as the club’s primary center fielder. He was one of four qualifying Major League outfielders that did not commit an error and led that group with 394 total chances. His 1,358.1 innings in the field were the most by a Red Sox player at any position in an errorless season and the most ever by an AL center fielder in an errorless campaign. He led the American League in starts (152), innings and putouts (388) at center field and ranked second in the circuit in games (154) and total chances at the position.

Ellsbury has committed just two errors in his career and holds a .998 career fielding percentage (1,212 TC), the best ever mark by a Major League outfielder with at least 250 career games, 500 total chances or 2,000.0 innings. He is the first ever Red Sox to compile two errorless seasons as an outfielder (also 2008) and owns the two longest errorless streaks by an outfielder in team history, including a franchise-record 236 games and 588 chances since his last miscue on 7/28/09.

For a full look at the AL & NL Rawlings Gold Glove teams plus more on Gonzalez and Pedroia, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

For Gonzalez, this is his third career Gold Glove Award and his first in the American League, having been named to the National League squad while with San Diego in 2008 and 2009. He is the third Red Sox first baseman to win a Gold Glove, joining George Scott (1967-68, 1971) and Kevin Youkilis (2007), and is the first player to win a Gold Glove at any position in his first season with the Red Sox.

“(Winning a 2011 Gold Glove) feels great,” Gonzalez said tonight on ESPN2 during the awards ceremony. “It’s pretty awesome hearing that Dustin won it as well. It’s fun playing alongside him and we had great communication this year. It’s pretty special that I’ve been able to win one in both leagues now. I’m very grateful for everyone that voted for me. It was a lot of fun playing defense this year.” He added, “Playing defense is a very important part of playing and being a complete player, so I take a lot of pride in it.”

Gonzalez finished second among AL first basemen last season with a .997 fielding percentage (4 E/1,351 TC), trailing only Tampa Bay’s Casey Kotchman (.998), and led American League first sackers in games (156), starts (155), innings (1,352.2) and assists (125). It was the third-best fielding percentage at the position in team history after Stuffy McInnis (.999 in 1921) and Kevin Youkilis (1.000 in 2007). His four errors were the second fewest ever by a Red Sox first baseman who made at least 140 appearances at the position after McInnis’ 1921 season (1 error).

For Pedroia this marks his second career Gold Glove, having also received the honor in 2008. He is the first Red Sox to win multiple Gold Gloves since 1985. The only other Red Sox ever to win the award as a second baseman was Doug Griffin in 1972.

Last season, Pedroia finished with a .990 fielding percentage, second among qualifying American League second baseman behind only Los Angeles’ Howie Kendrick (.992). He made just seven errors in 722 total chances, including a span of 62 errorless contests from June 26-September 3, 11 shy of Bobby Doerr’s single-season club record of 73 games from June 23-September 19, 1948.

Pedroia set single-season Red Sox records with 159 games and 1,392.1 innings as a second baseman last season, both of which led the AL, and he also topped the Majors with 158 starts at the position. Additionally, he ranked among AL leaders at second base in putouts (2nd, 290), total chances (3rd, 722), assists (3rd, 425) and double plays (4th, 81).

Boston’s three Gold Glove Award winners in 2011 doubles the team’s total over the last 20 years (beginning 1992), which had been limited to second baseman Dustin Pedroia (2008), first baseman Kevin Youkilis (2007) and catcher Jason Varitek (2005) prior to tonight’s announcement.

In addition to Boston’s 2011 Gold Glove winners, Youkilis was also a finalist at third base but lost out to Texas’ Adrian Beltre.

Fans can vote for the first-ever Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winner, given to the top defender among the nine Rawlings Gold Glove winners in each league, at Rawlings Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rawlings) until 11 p.m. on Monday, November 7.

The 2011 American League Rawlings Gold Glove Team:
C-Matt Wieters, Baltimore
1B-Adrian Gonzalez, Boston
2B-Dustin Pedroia, Boston
SS-Erick Aybar, Los Angeles
3B-Adrian Beltre, Texas
LF-Alex Gordon, Kansas City
CF-Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston
RF-Nick Markakis, Baltimore
P-Mark Buehrle, Chicago

2011 National League Rawlings Gold Glove Team:
C-Yadier Molina, St. Louis
1B-Joey Votto, Cincinnati
2B-Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati
SS-Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
3B-Placido Polanco, Philadelphia
LF-Gerardo Parra, Arizona
CF-Matt Kemp, Los Angeles
RF-Andre Ethier, Los Angeles
P-Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles

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