Local Stars Put On A Talent Show
Turgeon named MVP, Bono earns the save for District IV Team

By Owen Poole, Day Sports Writer

Published on 6/13/2007 by The Day

Plainville — For a trio of local high school baseball players less than a week removed from some of the most memorable days of their young lives, Tuesday's 34th annual Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Star Senior Game offered a chance to do something they hadn't been able to do in a while — exhale.

Matt Harvey, Rob Bono and Tyler Turgeon '07 helped the District IV All-Stars to a come-from-behind 3-2 win over District II at Plainville High School's Alumni Field. The team will play the winner of the District I-District III game at 5 p.m. today back at Plainville.

Waterford's Bono delivered the game-winning hit, a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth, and came on to pitch the seventh for a save. St. Bernard's Turgeon went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and a RBI double and scored the winning run on Bono's single up the middle.

“Last year (Waterford coach) Jack (O'Keefe) and I did the game and he said, 'Look at the dream class you've got next year,'” said Stonington coach Bill Buscetto, who was assisted by Windham's Ken Valliere. “He was right. These are some of the best players eastern Connecticut has seen in a long, long time. It's a recipe for a win.”

Fitch's Harvey, who was drafted in the third round with the 118th pick of Thursday's Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, pitched the game's first three innings. He allowed two runs, one on a solo home run, three hits and two walks. Harvey struck out four and is off to the University of North Carolina today for freshman orientation.

“I've been real busy with all that stuff,” Harvey said of the attention that comes with being the state's highest draft pick this year. “I haven't even picked up a ball in two weeks. Coming down here was just getting it back together and working on my mechanics a little bit, just kind of getting back into it.”

Harvey, who will graduate on June 22, is looking forward to moving on and said he and his family haven't made any decision about turning pro.

“I'm excited because I have what I'd call bigger and better things to go to,” Harvey said. “Obviously, UNC is the place that I know I'm going to next year. ... Right now, I'm going to school. If (the Angels) come up with something to keep me away from school that I like, then we'll look into it, but right now I'm going to school.”

Bono had a bittersweet day on Friday, learning of his selection in the 11th round (351st pick overall) by the Houston Astros, hours before Waterford suffered a 2-0 loss in the Class M state championship to Seymour. Bono had his senior prom the next day and will graduate on June 21. The senior finished 10-0 this season and was the winning pitcher in all four of the Lancers' state tournament victories.

“I'm just kind of taking it step by step and playing it by ear,” Bono said. “I'm enjoying my last couple weeks of high school and high school baseball. Then it's time to move on.”

Bono, who has a scholarship to UConn, said his family will meet with representatives of the Astros on Friday, but added no decision has been made. He was also appreciative of the opportunity to play with friends and other locals he's been playing with and against for years.

“You're not really too worried about going out and getting a win, necessarily,” Bono said. “It's more just going out and having fun, playing with the guys from your area.”

Turgeon had the biggest smile of them all after the win, clutching his Most Valuable Player trophy. After leading the Saints to their first state championship since 1982 on Saturday, Turgeon graduated on Sunday and had three of District IV's four hits on Tuesday.

“It's been a pretty good week,” said Turgeon, who will play at Quinnipiac next season. “I can't think of any other way I'd want it. I've been playing with these guys for years. ... It's just one thing after another lately. I haven't had much time to sit down and think about anything. I just keep getting in the car and going places. It's been great.”

Fitch's Jesse Hahn, who's headed to Virginia Tech, pitched three innings of two-hit relief, striking out three.

Old Lyme's Ryan Zrenda, one of just three non-Eastern Connecticut Conference players on the roster and the lone non-ECC starter, said Tuesday he will attend Brown University in the fall. Brown won the Ivy League, played in the NCAA tournament and is coached by former UConn catcher Marek Drabinski. Zrenda, who started at third base, is a two-time member of The Day's All-Area team.

Regional