The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Reception for Olympian Skarupa a great success
The picture was taken last Saturday afternoon in the lobby of Torrington’s Warner Theatre, during a reception for Olympic hockey player Haley Skarupa. The photographer was Tony Skarupa, a Torrington native and Haley’s dad.
Everyone in this day and age owns a hand-held phone that will do anything but wash the dishes, including taking bright, clear, excellent pictures.
“I’ll shoot this over to Steve, and he’ll see that you get it,” Tony said, his phone/camera at the ready. Sure enough, the next morning there it was on my computer, with a short note from son Steve.
I was one of dozens that day who had their picture taken with Haley, a member of the U.S. women’s Olympic team that won the gold medal in February in Pyeongchang, South Korea. She wore her Olympic team sweater and, on a ribbon around her neck, her gold medal.
I don’t think she had one minute to herself. Not a problem. That was the idea. Haley’s grandmother, Barbara Skarupa of Torrington, arranged this reception, wanting this city to meet the skater, because while Tony and Haley’s uncle Tom Skarupa are natives of the city, Haley was born and raised in Maryland, where her dad has his business. Haley’s mother Penny and brother Dylon were also in attendance Saturday.
All the above-named Skarupas had made the trip to South Korea to witness the glorious moment as Haley and Team USA won the gold. Saturday, they were all here at grandma’s party to help introduce the gold medalist to Torrington. It was a high success.
When on Monday I spoke on the phone to Barbara Skarupa, and mentioned the very steady turnout that moved through, she said, “Well, I wanted to do something for her; she’s such a lovely girl.”
She’s all of that, and in so doing, Barbara did something nice for Torrington, too; not just old friends of the family, but fans who wanted the chance to introduce them-
game with the Yankees against Boston. The big slugger connected for leadoff homers in the second and fourth against Pomeranz, who shook off a cracked nail early in the game following a manicure on the mound from head athletic trainer Brad Pearson.
LONDON CALLING
Earlier in the day, Major League Baseball announced the Yankees and Red Sox will play two regular-season games against each other at the Olympic Stadium in London next season. Boston will be the home team for both of MLB’s first games in Europe on June 29-30, 2019.
WELCOME TO TOWN
David Fizdale, just hired as coach of the New York Knicks, threw out the ceremonial first pitch in pinstripes wearing a Yankees cap and No. 12 jersey.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: LHP David Price was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday night and sent back to Boston for medical tests after experiencing a tingling sensation in his pitching hand again. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Price felt tingling in his hand Sunday while throwing a bullpen that was cut short, the same symptoms that forced him out of an April 11 game against the Yankees at Fenway Park. … Boston reinstated utilityman Brock Holt from the 10-day disabled list and optioned infielder Tzu-Wei Lin to Triple-A Pawtucket. … Betts was back in the leadoff spot after leaving Sunday’s game at Texas with a bruised right shoulder.
Yankees: 1B Greg Bird, recovering from March 27 surgery to repair a broken spur on the outside of his right ankle, played in an extended spring training game in Florida for the second consecutive day. It shouldn’t be long before he’s sent to Class A Tampa or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a rehab assignment, manager Aaron Boone said. … OF Jacoby Ellsbury, sidelined all season by oblique, foot and hip injuries, is doing baseball activities in Florida and is “fairly healthy” besides feeling under the weather, Boone said.