Pointers join Fitch Unified for some fun

With regionals on the horizon, Avery Point takes time to give back

Groton — The UConn Avery Point baseball team showed up in full uniforms at Fitch High School Wednesday afternoon. The Pointers were ready to play. Only they played volleyball and kickball in the gymnasium instead of baseball.

They teamed up with the Fitch Unified Sports team for a friendly competition, exchanging their share of fist bumps and smiles.

The visit was the idea of Avery Point coach Mike Aldrich, a special education teacher at Fitch.

"These guys are young college students, we just want to get them to understand there is more to life than just baseball or academics or their social life," Aldrich said.

Avery Point sophomore and Fitch graduate Cooper Robinson understands the value of being involved with Unified sports at his alma mater.

During Robinson's junior year, baseball coach Marc Peluso asked him to participate in Unified basketball. He didn't know what to expect, but quickly embraced it.

Robinson enjoyed it so much he remained involved during his senior year and formed a bond with the Unified athletes.

"It was a great time playing with the kids and just seeing them having a blast after school," he said.

On Wednesday, Robinson saw some familiar faces, including Fitch teacher Christina Scala who helps supervise the Fitch Unified Sports program.

"It's good to come back and see the kids and some of the partners that were here as younger kids and now they're seniors and working with the kids," Robinson said. "It's cool to see them get older and de-

velop as people."

Robinson's participation has had a lasting impact on him. He hopes his teammates benefit from Wednesday's visit. "It gives you perspective on life," Robinson said. "It tells you how good you have it and how privileged we are as a team being able to play college baseball. You have to give back to the community."

Unified sports programs are growing in the state of Connecticut. About 90 percent of elementary, middle and high schools participate, according to Scala.

At Fitch, the program started with 16 partner athletes and now has 38.

"They absolutely love playing," Scala said. "It brings them out into the community. It gets them super-excited to know people in the community know about them."

Aldrich's plan is for the Pointers to volunteer with the Fitch Unified Sports program three times a school year.

"It's something that we want to keep doing, for sure," Aldrich said.

• When the Pointers left Fitch on Wednesday, they shifted their focus to preparing for this weekend's NJCAA Division II Northeast District Tournament in Valhalla, N.Y. They face host Westchester Community College and Mercyhurst North East in a three-team double elimination event.

They open play Saturday against Westchester, a team they beat two out of three times this season.

"I've been trying to preach to these guys all year that it's really not about who we play, it's about how we play and how we handle our business," Aldrich said.

Nine-inning tournament games will test Avery Point's pitching depth. East Lyme's C.J. Leindecker (6-1, 2.53), Waterford's Josh Vincent (4-4, 4.35) and Daniel Garofalo (5-2, 2.97) anchor the staff. Robinson (.393, two homers, 23 RBI), Vincent Pallisco (.359, six HRs, 35 RBI), Mike Corso (.346, five HRs, 43 RBI) and Mike Chiovitti (.413, 3 HRs, 25 RBI) power the offense.