New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
What we’ve missed, what we’ll miss
U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Brooklawn Country Club
Fairfield’s Brooklawn CC was set host to a significant event, the third U.S, Senior Women’s Open on July 9-12. The club hosted the men’s 1987 U.S. Senior Open and the 2003 U.S. Girls Junior, so this would mark the return of another USGA Open championship.
State Championship Baseball at Palmer Field and Softball at DeLuca Field
We’re under two weeks away from the culmination of the high school baseball and softball season. Alas, the spring season was canceled, and it will be all quiet at Palmer Field in Middletown and DeLuca Field in Stratford. The June weekend of championship ball is always memorable — for players, parents, fans, and state media.
The Yankee Train
This was expected to be a training humming along to some October excitement. Connecticut’s Yankee fans were anticipating a fun summer from a team that added ace Gerrit Cole — Greenwich homeowner, by the way — to an already-strong roster. How many wins would Cole have as we close out May? How many celeberatory train rides back to Connecticut have fans missed?
Derek Jeter’s Hall of Fame Enshrinement
Imagine the caravan of Yankees’ fans traveling from Connecticut to Cooperstown for Jeter’s July 26 induction. The Hall of Fame was expecting a huge crowd, possible breaking the 2007 record of 80,000 for the induction of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. Instead, induction weekend was postponed until 2021. And with the possiblity of Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens being elected next year, Jeter’s 2021 Coopertown weekend might be the most star-studded in
history.
New England Little League Regional at Bristol
This has been an annual August event since 2001, with Connecticut’s representative winning the regional five times — most recently in 2017, when Fairfield American won. With a trip to Williamsport at stake, there’s always plenty of drama involving the six New England teams.
Corporate Row, 18th Gallery at TPC
Is there a better, more electric setting on the PGA Tour? The Travelers Championship is often defined by its crowd, especially the gathering around the final hole on the final day. The state’s biggest sporting event will take place June 25-28, but without fans in Cromwell. It won’t be the same.
Yale-Harvard Regatta
The oldest collegiate sporting event in the country does not draw the fans it once did along the Thames River in New London. But it remains an iconic event and has been a fixture on the sports calendar since 1859. First run in 1852, the regatta has been canceled during wars. But this will mark the first year without the regatta since 1945.
Special Olympics
The Connecticut Special Olympics Summer Games will be held virtually this June. There will still be a virtual opening ceremonies and dance party, tremendous work by the organization and countless volunteers. But few sporting events.
Road Races
The summer usually kicks off with the Big Three of Fairfield, Branford and Litchfield. There are plenty of virtual races unfolding, but the crowds and atmosphere will be missed.
Racing at Lime Rock Park
The Memorial Day Classic featuring the Trans-Am Series and Sportscar Vintage Racing Association often kicks off the summer in Lakeville. This year, the event has been postponed to Oct. 16-17. The Trans-Am Series offers Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers and Corvettes, while the SVRA includes Indy and Formula 1 cars as well as classic Jaguars and Porsches. The Northeast Grand Prix, scheduled for the second weekend in May, will be held Oct. 30-31, featuring Porshe, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ford Mustangs, Chevy Camaros and more in the IMSA event.
Tennis in New Haven
While the ATP/WTA stop here is now an Oracle Series Challenger event, it does mark the first time professional tennis does not hold a tournament in New Haven for the first time since 1989. The bigger loss could be the popular Legends event with the likes of James Blake, Andy Roddick, John McEnroe and more over the past few years. New Haven also held a USTA Challenger event from 1983-88 so this is just the second time in 37 years there will not be pro tennis in the city. The event was scheduled for July 27-Aug. 2 at the Connecticut Tennis Center.