BEST OF SMSS 7-8-2023

Coach chats with Hamden Sr. Legion Coach Luke Devoe and UConn softball Head Coach Laura Valentino

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
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ninety six point nine. F MW E l I Luke Luke lou Oh

(02:13):
Luke loves this l u k ELuke. Yeah, l u k Luke
Luke. This guy gets me up. Hell yeah, baby, Luke DeVoe
is good friend Duke, and he'salso coaching of the Hampden Senior Legion team.

(02:38):
Yeah that get you going, Looke? Yeah, look, Devo,
you love this, don't you devote? Don't you love this? Idea?
That never gets old? Cook?I guess not, no coach before you
start the interview. I had toknow because last time we had Luke on,
he said he just found his newringtone. So I'm curious. Have
you up the ringtone yet? Luke? You know I didn't do that.

(03:00):
I seem to slip my mind,right, I gotta get on that.
I do that. Welcome aboard,Luke, Hampden's Senior Legion. How long
you been involved with Legion? God, it's gotta be on like eleven years.
I was with the junior program forseven years, and then when Lady
Ray went to the Bees, Itook over the nineteen years four years ago.

(03:21):
Four years with Okay, I wasyou gonna say so, Senior,
And let me ask you. Obviously, Hampden right now is in a playoff
position, top four to make it. What don't be year in fourth place?
Right now? Top four? MakeIt's overall record of six wins and
nine losses. Didn't have a goodnight last night in Naugatuck, but a

(03:42):
lot of people don't have good nightswhen they played Naugatuck. They have the
number one team in the league.But anyway, give me your overall.
Charlie Flangan was on a couple ofweeks ago. He left. You know,
Charlie doesn't meant say any words.What is your overall assessment of Legion
Baseball at the moment? I thinkyou can show up to the field on
one night and similar to what wedid last night, and you see some

(04:04):
really talented baseball players that look likeLegion of your and then I think you
could show up at the field onanother night it looks like Senior bab Roof.
You never know which games you're goingto get. I think teams are
really on pitching. I mean wedefinitely are. Therese games that we just
have to wave the white towel ofthe you know, second inning, just
because we know that we got threefour games coming up in four days,

(04:26):
and if we try to go afterone chase six runs in the first inning,
nothing good is going to come ofit for the rest of the week.
So I think there's the science betweenthe arms that teams have the talent
teams to have the disparity. Andthen, man, I got to tell
you it's the big issue we raninto this year is kids are just getting
pulled in every direction. You knowwho's going to play with this AAU program

(04:47):
muso in there. And then Ihad a really good team this year.
Feel like two varsity starters on ourteam this year where you're back in the
day when you know Raves coach andI was at the junior level, and
every single player playing on our team, and so it's tough, you know.
It's the funny thing is we've beenbegging for years and years for Leading
to give us this tournament. AndI would have killed to have today available

(05:10):
to play zone games things like thatinstead of quote have the Tourington for eleven
five o'clock, which is like Aulatorsaturd see my wife and kids on Sunday.
I mean, that's a shot day. That's like all those shot days
when they got to really they're goneand then they can do And you're right,
I don't mind the out of zonegames that they're playing this weekend.

(05:31):
I think it's a great idea.However, I would have said, listen,
these games are only scheduled, andthey do count against your overall record.
I found out, so if youlose, it counts. But uh,
I think if there was a chanceto play makeup games, call this
makeup weekend where all games I tellyou. The two of us talking to

(05:54):
Mike Bisseilla the other night North Havenand Andrew Lucy, I said, listen,
here's what I would have done.If I were in charge of his
own I would have gotten the field. I don't care where it was,
get one field. I would haveplayed makeup games at that field whoever want
all day long. If I couldget a field and say listen, okay,
I'm in hand and Milford is gonnaplay north Ave. Okay, come

(06:15):
out out here, we'll play here. I got the field all day and
let's just play makeup games to getthem all made up. And it just
won't happen now and this is thefinal coming up the final week of the
regular season. I don't know allthese games are gonna be played. I
don't think they're all going to getplayed in the forehead showing it every now,
yeah, at least a chance everyknow, I put it that way,

(06:39):
But I just don't see it happening. I don't know. Now there's
a state tournament, Luke, Iknow you're more up on this than I
am. Sometimes is there a regionaltournament after that? Or no? Oh?
Yeah, yeah, no, Ithink nothing changed in that regard where
go regions and then the road toShelby, North Carolina. Yeah, okay,

(07:00):
don't think anything's changed in terms ofthat structure. Okay, So how
many teams? Have you got?Four teams from zones? How many teams
are going to make the state tournament? Well, I mean, what have
they done in the past. They'vedone like the thirty team and sixteen where
but the South the past couple ofyears has only had a couple They had
to move a North team down tothe South. Racking right, no one

(07:20):
tournament? Yeah yeah, you'd thinkI just thought i'd ask, So what
about this? Here you are nowsix and nine, but you're in position
for a playoff. Right now,you have a three game lead, certainly
over in the win Cow over NorthAvn, which has the same number of

(07:44):
losses. And again they've got they'veonly played twelve games. They got to
play ten games somehow, and thenit is impossible with any with any kind
of war, it's impossible. There'sno way. And they only schedule twenty
two games minus the two out ofzone games, really only twenty games,
and they still can't get them inright, which is kind of crazy.
But no, it's it's one ofthose things because we put ourselves where we

(08:07):
are and we losing two of thegames to Northam that we did, we
could have sewn up us and lockedup that for the spot, and so
losing those two games kind of leftthat door open. And then seeing that
Nugetuck team last night and realizing westill have them three times, Uh,
that's just kind of a dicey proposition. So we have some other wins on

(08:30):
the table. We have to goget them. But I'll tell you what,
and it's it was refreshing playing youlose thirteen to three. You don't
often leave the field in a goodmood. And I tell you what,
playing Naugatuck. Talk about a teamthat goes out there unlets their back do
the talking. I'm so sick ofsome of these other teams that, you
know, they're yap in the wholegame and lessen my team. We're no,

(08:52):
we're not necessary when it comes tothat too. But Nauga just went
out there and they just peppered thebaseball around the and the didn't say anything
in the process. And I justreally really good baseball team. Yeah,
you know, I saw them theother night when they played at North Haven,
and I've seen them before, butI had said, I how to

(09:13):
put it. I talked to,you know, my player of the game
and to the coach. I saidthe thing about this Naugatuck team, everybody
knows like their role, what theyhave to do. They don't try to
do too much. They don't tryto do too much. They do what
they have to do. The leadoffit or knows what he I mean,
he was four for four three arehe's you know, leadoff gets on base

(09:35):
number two men does his job.I mean, it just seems like everybody
knows what they're supposed to do,which is kind of key when you're playing
baseball. Got to know the situationand what's got to be done. But
anyway, Uh, that's just whatI thought of them. And I've seen
every team, and there's only sixteams in his zone. I've seen them
all. I think it's going tobe Uh. I think it's great that

(09:56):
there is Legion Ball at least,but I just think that Lee get over
the years because they've consolidated zones andthings like this. Uh. I don't
know, Luke, it could beit could be a problem, don't you
think the next couple of years.Yeah, I mean you're you're looking at
it now and you know, goneare the Hand in west Haven rivalry?

(10:16):
Yeah, you know for some someof these other towns to not have teams
kind of crazy and then you're reallykind of changing the talent pool, you
know, for Hamden to not beable to bring you know, other kids
in. You know, we triedto share to get kids from new Haven
and they put the kebaks on thatthose where the new Haven kids are playing.
But that would have been a greatopportunity for Hand and new Haven.
But at the same time, youhave no forgetting the kids from west Haven.

(10:41):
You got North Haven getting a bunchof kids from walling and so you
know, I understand the whole populationthing and all that and everything that they
fall back on, but it justdoesn't work. It's an archaic rule that
just doesn't make any sense anymore.Handen might have a lot of kids,
but I'll tell you what, there'snot a lot of kids in Hamden that
played baseball a number of You're right, you know, the number of people

(11:01):
in an area doesn't equate to howmany people play a certain specified sport.
I think that that rule is ajoke, to be honest with you.
I mean that's right. They havenowhere to play. I mean I would
say this, and they want theywant to encourage kids to play. Well,
you're not encouraging them by doing it. Well, there's too many populations

(11:22):
to can't mix these two cities.What are you talking about? These kids
just want to play baseball. Cany'll let these three or four kids play
baseball? Please? I mean thatthat didn't make any sense, makes no
sense at all. I'll never understandit. Never. Uh. It's a
rule that they you just do awaywith. You know, you got kids
that don't have a team, Letthem play with the No, I admit,

(11:46):
can't go anywhere, but we're neighboringtown. I understand. Wallingford,
North An makes sense. Okay,that's great. Uh west Haven going to
Milford, Okay, or Orange actuallyfor that matter. But some things just
can't happen. I just think it'sin trouble. I really do. And
if they don't, if they thinkthey're encouraging kids to play by making all

(12:11):
these rules, there are sadly mistaken, sadly mistaken, I'm sorry to hear
that. Anyway, So what doyou think You got a double header today?
Where are you going? Torrington?Yeah? So we're in Tourington at
eleven o'clock playing tour hosts Tourington.Yeah, and then we have a break
and then we're supposed to play ourct the powers that they are five o'clock.

(12:31):
But it is supposed to rain laterin the day. So I got
to you're hoping games weather permitting.Yeah, and these games, I'm assuming
these are two games or at leastgames that won't be necessarily made up,
and won't you know, don't haveto make them up. Well, it
could be kind of hard to youknow, if we got a neutral site.

(12:52):
Yeah, games, So we'll seewe do it tomorrow open Conely,
but it's supposed to be that Alantomorrow. Hopefully we've got them in.
I got my pitching lined up today, you know, ready to go.
We know we need to win somegames. We have to turn this around.
You know, it's one thing tolose baseball games of the last two
days, last two games. Weknow what we can do when we have
our best nine out there and we'replaying. Can anybody Yeah, I know

(13:15):
year we had a four from Milford. Yes, you did. I know
that. I know you know.Uh. And the other night I saw
I got to see your team inStratford, and I kept saying, you
know, my wife came with me. I kept saying, and somehows saying.
I was gonna tell, uh Staveyour assistant coach there was to tell.
I was going to say, listen, you can tell your team the
game started. Now you could tellthem that go ahead. Yeah, that

(13:39):
was weird. That was a weirdone. You know, when they got
hit in traffic, they didn't youknow, they got right. But you
know, you can only use thatcrutch for so long. You're at some
point, you're you're a seventeen andeighteen year old kid. You should be
able to get out there and playbaseball and not have this whole incapacity to
do that just because you get tosee that in track for a little while.

(14:00):
You know, it's amazing, Luke. And just talking about years years
ago, I got to remember andHampden was so big and allegian that you
had two teams. You had HamdenPost one fifty and Hampden Post eighty eight
had two teams two combined into one. And now and you've been fortunate to
keep this this program afloat, whichI think is great. Uh, you
and the Steve and all the guys. Uh. I mean, I don't

(14:26):
know. I think things have tobe changed, they're done to improve this.
But anyway, I wish you nothingbut success, your great friend,
great guy. I always love havingyou on and I wish you success today
in Torrington. Better leave now toget there. Goodbye, kids, Tell
mommy to put my picture on themantle because I'll be I'll see. I'll

(14:50):
see what time you going to bed? Keep them up. If you can't
hunt, I can't know it.See him tomorrow Torrenton. I mean,
give me, come on, whenyou could be easily making up games,
let me actually, but you're oneof the teams that it's actually pretty for.
You don't have a lot of makeupgames, do you. Yeah,
the only one we had to leaseschedule was the other one was Anita.
But now we're going back there foran eight o'clock starting next the thing.

(15:13):
So how we're going on? Ohyou're going today double so you have one
okay, Uh, let me knowwhat's going on with the schedule. Make
sure everything is up. Uh,and I'll take care of you know,
helping you out. Okay, soundsgood, buddy, Look always a pleasure,
pal, Stay in touch, allright, take care. That's sports
on nine to six am and ninetysix point nine F M W E L

(15:35):
I. Hey, I don't thinkLauren's dancing with this on. Hey a
name Mike Callentino. What else canyou do? Hey? Yeah, let
me tell you something. If Iare the coach that looked as that looked

(16:00):
as like I'd play my darnedness off. I'd play my tail for this coach's
she's said, nice young lady.I had the fortunate, the fortune,
good fortune to meet her at thesoftball Championship. She actually did a couple
of innings with me. I dida little color with me and I loved

(16:21):
her. And her name is LauraValentino. She is the head softball coach
at the University of Connecticut. Hadloathed there. Good morning, Laura,
Good morning, and coach. Howare you. I'm doing just great.
I hope you're doing well, andthank you for coming aboard the show today.
What a year, What a yearfor this Yukon softball team. By

(16:41):
the way, congratulations on your stadium, which is just not I wish it
was a little bigger, but gorgeousfield. The softball championships were there.
I think everybody had a good time, so congrats on that. But what
a season thirty four and fifteen,Wow, and five in the conference you
are basically unbeatable at home. Wewere what fifteen and four? You had

(17:06):
some neutral sites too, but that'sa great home record. And in the
Big East Tournament where you finally werebeaten. But what a great year thirty
four and fifteen. I know lastyear won thirty eight games, which is
I know, school record. Socongrats on all this. You're just turning
this program all over the place.That's great. Thank you so much.

(17:27):
I really appreciated it. It's reallycredit to the players and we're going into
year five. Yeah, on myselfand my daff so excited about the future
of the program and the goals thatwe said and where we're headed. So
you're recruiting now, is all doneright? Your team is ready to go.
We have four incomers coming in thisyear and two transfers. We're busy

(17:52):
recruiting this entire summer. So Iactually just got back from Colorado for a
week it's one of the biggest tournamentsof the summer, and then headed up
the California in a couple of weeksfor Nationals, headed to a local tournament
in Connecticut. So busy on theroad recruiting this summer. But yes,
we have our class for the upcomingyear. And you told me that day,
of you Khan, you said,that's one of the parts which thank

(18:14):
god, you love it. Iknow if I were a head coach and
I'd have my staff do a lotof it. One of the things you
love about this You told me thatday, you said, you like the
recruiter. You love going around seeingall the kids. Huh. Absolutely,
I think it's something really special aboutour profession. I'm sure you feel this
way as an educator yourself. IsYes. My dad always taught me that

(18:34):
you never know who you're going tomeet along the way in your journey,
so why not, you know,talk to people or different people. And
that's what recruiting is. You getto meet different people across the world and
know their story and get to knowamazing paths and journeys and what makes people
who they are. So I reallyenjoy that part of the job. And
they get to impact me in fouryears of their important life. It's some

(18:59):
of the best years of your lifein college. So just an exciting thing
for me to be a part ofis that I really enjoy. Good for
you. The thing that really getsme is that you can make trips and
see a player, and you makemore than one trip, talk talk talk,
and then you come to find outwhen when you know the distressing news
is when they say, well,coach, I've decided to go somewhere else

(19:22):
or go to another school, right, And I'm sure that happens. I'm
sure you hear that. You knowwhat I mean, because they're not all
You're not going to get them allanyway. But when they say, you
know, I did all this andand I didn't get her, oh man,
you know what I'm saying that wantsto be distressed. I understand,
but you can't stop. You gotto keep going. You got to pursue,

(19:44):
you know. And me the kindof guy am if I did this
part of it? I want everybody, you know what I mean? I
want everybody. I don't want anybodyto get anybody. I want everybody.
But boy, what what a season? Uh? Did you have a feeling
when this season, this past seasonstarted, that this was going to be
a I won't say magic, buta magical a great year coming in.

(20:06):
When did something happen during the seasonor when did you say, hey,
you know what, we got somethinggoing here. Really it's all about the
culture. I did feel that wewould have something special going this year.
Naturally in year four, different standards, different expectations when you take over a
program and turning things around, andreally I felt something different about this team

(20:30):
and these players and their love foreach other and also their commitments of the
game and the goals of the program. So I did feel that early on,
and just a really special group ofyoung ladies. We had some great
leadership. Only one player graduated,which is which is crazy, a big
one. Obviously, she was ourstarting center fielder to hitter, a great

(20:53):
leader in the program, Asia games, but a lot of experience coming back
and the culture will continue to grow. Yeah. Now, and it's such
a quick season, and you're playinga lot of games in a lot of
days, and I know some gamesalong the way are not played and if
you cancel the game, I mean, and some of years we're canceled,

(21:15):
I mean against teams from other states. That's it. You don't get a
chance to, you know, makethose up. Generally, just move on
to the next game because you're playingall the time, and then you get
back home and you start Big Eastplay. What was your take on the
Big East this year in terms ofthe competition of the Big East Softball?
What did you think about the leagueitself. I'm excited about the league.

(21:41):
I really feel that Big East Softballis getting better and better every year and
that's a credit to the coaches andthe players that we're bringing in. And
you know, it's always an excitingtime of the year. And Villanova is
always a great program. They've hadcontinued success. Respect Bridget very much,
just knew her in my playing theseas always a great host in the Northeast

(22:03):
area. So they always have arespectable program, and then other teams are
continually pushing and performing well at thetop of the conference. So it's exciting
time for Big East Softball. Andhave two new head coaches coming in this
year in the conference, so excitedto see what they bring. We're the
new coaches, laar ah. Sowe have a new head coach at Providence

(22:26):
and a new head coach at well, not hired yet at Saint John's.
At Saint John's, okay, Andof course you got to the Big East
tournament, right, you got theirbiggest championship, and you beat Saint John's
your first game, I remember,and then and then lost to Seton Hall,
still a close game, and thenfinally lost to Villanova. But it
seems like even and yet again thirtyfour and fifteen. I mean all your

(22:51):
games and I'm going through all yourscores last night. I mean, even
when they're all close games, coach, right, I mean you just you're
in every ball game here, yes, one nothing, five to Chase.
I mean, it's not like you'regetting killed there. Uh three to two
you lost, You know what Imean? It seems like this Yukon team
is in every game, every game. Thank you. We work part of

(23:15):
what we do and our kids havea lot of fight, So I appreciate
that. Oh no, and it'sall because of the coaching staff. I
know that. Uh, you gotto buy into the culture. You got
to buy into what the coach isdoing or forget it. Uh is this
a game COVID softball and I'm watchingup of it on TV? For sure?

(23:38):
Uh? Is there small ball playedhere that you can I think there's
a time and a place for it, Okay, I really do. I
think that you have to have certainplayers that know how to stuck, can
do it well. I think yourun into trouble when you're asking kids that
don't do it well to play smallball. I don't. I like to

(24:00):
put kids in a position to besuccessful for the team, and I think
there's a few players in our lineupthat can do that, and then there's
some others that do other things reallywell for us, situationally hitting. So
I wouldn't say we're, you know, crazy all over the board. We're
going to do it when we needto. Is it something that you work
on in practice? Absolutely? Justasking so you do that? Sure?

(24:29):
Sure, I think you have to. I think you know, being prepared
and being confident to be able toexecute a steel is is about doing it
in practice, and our players needto feel like they can be able to
execute if it's called in the game. You know. One of the things
and I played baseball you know herein high school and uh my coach was
was one of the best in thearea, and we used to do and

(24:52):
I don't imagine you go over,but we did, like at the end
of practice every day. Part ofit was game situations because you used to
yell out the word anticipation, boys, anticipate what am I going to do
with the ball before? Don't waittill I get it. It's what I'm
going to do if I get it. Why do I you know, do
you go over situations and things likethat in practice? You know, it's

(25:15):
funny. We call it pre pitchpreparation, prepatch. I like that,
all right, yeah, I likethat our players are thinking about what they
are doing before the pitch and ifthey already get the ball and on all
those good things. And we callit situational hitting. So we put them
in certain situations where everybody gets runnerat two, everybody gets runner at three,

(25:36):
and full defense up and we're workingthrough a different situational things. So
just being having this background and teachingand education and planning practice is one of
my favorite things to do. Ilike to get super creative and you know,
really foster an environment of learning.So I just love being able to
do different things of practice. No'sthat's where you got to do them because

(25:59):
when game time comes, you know, practic you can't work on it then
because you know it's game time.You know what I'm trying to say and
makes sense? Well, no,yeah, it's just it's practice. You
got to put it into the game. What does it look like then?
For this coming season? Now,when do you start? You don't you
don't wait did you start? Youdo fall ball too? Yeah, So
we'll play eight games in the fall. The fall game is September twenty fourth

(26:23):
against Boston College, so they arecoming to Yukon this year. We'll play
eight games, and we practiced offfall pretty much from the start of the
school semester to right after Thanksgiving,and then the players will go home for
about a month and then we haveour first practice on January tenth. Oh
really, no, yep, yep. We practice for probably about four weeks

(26:48):
and then we hit the road andwe're starting playing first week in February,
and we'll play, you know,like you said, twenty games pre season
down South, and then we'll startour twenty seven games or twenty four game
Big East schedule when we come backsecond week in March. First home game
next year's March fifteens against the Pallas. Oh wow, yeah, but I

(27:11):
know, I see you do getdown South, well, you must,
and you're out a great seas youmust see some great teams down there.
Huh. I mean, I loveit. I love to play a strong
schedule. I mean, we're justlike jimpenders over at baseball. We're trying
to be the best program in theNortheast and compete nationally. So I love

(27:33):
to play as many still called Powerfive schools as possible, and I truly
believe that we can hang with themand we can beat anybody. So I
love doing that. It's a greatopportunity for us to play some great competition.
And then also if we you know, when we make regionals, we
are able to you know, havethe confidence and belief that hey, we

(27:55):
can we can do this. Wecan hang with these teams because we've played
them before you know, Oklauma prettygood, weren't they absolutely? Oh my
yeah, roll the balls, I'llgo okay. They know what to do,
and you know, I think aftera while and as and you've been
there now a few years, itmust make things easier. They know you,

(28:15):
they know your style, they knowwhat they have to do, and
there's no messing around when you playcollege soft. I mean you're hustling all
the time. There's no messing aroundhere because you can be replaced. It's
just that simple. I think theyobviously know that, and I'm sure they
hustle and everything, but it's adifferent it's a different world, different atmosphere

(28:36):
there, and you really got toyou got to put out and put out
your best effort every game, whichI think is so important. And that's
a tribute to you. With theseason you had and your coaching staff that
has made this team a powerhouse herein the Northeast. That's good for you.
Should be proud of you, ofyour staff and of this team.

(28:56):
Well, thank you. I appreciateit. I I love what I do.
I love my kids, I lovethis program, I love Yukon.
I think it's an amazing atmosphere andfull of competitive excellence and amazing mentors around
me and administrators and staff. SoI'm just really grateful to be a part
of Yeah. And where's home foryou? Norm Where are you from originally,

(29:18):
Laura, I'm originally from Mistown,New York Town, New York.
Yeah, yeah, No, I'mjust like you could have said anything,
I would have settled like that withthat New York listen. Uh, thank
you for the for the few minutes. I appreciate it. I wish you
nothing but success. And by theway, uh, there's always a spot

(29:41):
in the booth for you too,because you did great color analysis with me.
Uh those innings you were you werewith me in the booth that they
enjoyed having you, that they enjoyedmeeting you, and uh, it was
just a great day. Really,continue success. Please stay in touch with
me, promise and let me knowall things that go. And you're welcome
anytime you want to come on.You have an open invite. Awesome.

(30:03):
Thank you so much, coach.I'll be back in the book with you
next year. You can count onme to be in the tournament every time.
Well, you got I can onlypromise you this. You get the
same rate to pay you got thisyear, okay? Is that all right?
All right, Laurie, you takecare all right. Thank you so much,