Norwich Narwhals for 2011

The CT Defenders have headed for warmer weather, becoming the Richmond Flying Squirrels (did I ever tell you about Jen and I chasing the flying squirrels that used to get into the house at night? Tough to catch, as they would just glide down the stairwell, eluding the net...but that's a different story). Great name for a team, as the Connecticut Defenders lacked a certain appeal with the 3-15 year-old fan base (they used to love the Gator...which reminds me that former SP swimming pool employee Chris Chastang has become a Norwich police officer, but that's a different story also, as I think he was Gator one summer, but I may be wrong). Meanwhile, back at the farm, it looked like Norwich might be without a minor league baseball team for 2010, but they have swept in and stolen the Oneonta Tigers (sorry if you are one of the 691 fans who used to attend games there). Unlike the SF Giants AA Eastern League affiliate, this is the NY/Penn Rookie League, and is a much shorter season (no need to deal with 50 fans sipping hot chocolate in April). Mid-June through Labor Day, with many players being those recently selected in the yearly draft...so you will get to see some heralded, raw prospects. Also, there are Red Sox and Yankee teams in this league (Lowell, MA and Staten Island). Since this relocation is happening so late, the team will retain the "Tigers" name for 2010, but the push has begun to name the team for 2011. Years ago, when Norwich first landed a minor league team, they had a naming contest...and the Navigators won. Not a bad name, and a decent mascot (Tater the Gator, based on "tater" being a nick-name for a home run, and Gator being an abbreviation of Navigator, in case you had not figured that one out. Starting to think the server is down again, aren't you? Nope). I submitted the Norwich Narwhals and I am resuming the campaign for 2011. It would be great horned hats, a tribute to the Defenders (the USS Narwhal was a sub built in Groton in the 60's), and the alliteration of Norwich Narwhals. How can you beat that? Of course, I would enlist local artist Pamela Zagarenski to draw the official logo (she is from Preston and used to work at Strawberry Park, and was just honored with a Caldecott medal for her illustrations in the book "Red Sings from Treetops"--see image above--which reminds me of another story, but I have digressed enough today). So remember, when you come camping, support the local team...and when the time comes, vote for the Norwich Narwhals.