Field Of Dreams Comes to Life For St. Bernard Softball, 'Sis'

It was glorious, sunny Chamber of Commerce postcard day behind Saint Bernard High School Saturday - a perfect setting to honor the past, celebrate the present and wonder about the future.

The Saints unveiled a new softball field complex, a project that has been 25 years in the making and ultimately put into motion last summer after a donation by Saint Bernard athletic director Bill Buscetto and his family.

Prior to Saturday's game against Old Saybrook, the Saints had never played at Saint Bernard, traveling to Camp Oakdale for home games. Buscetto and contractors John DeMentini and Matt Kobyluck were ringleaders behind turning what was a grassy pasture into a college-level field with a backstop, benches, outfield fence and clay infield.

Buscetto and Co. went above and beyond to ensure the Saints, a Class S state finalist last year, and their future teams enjoy a first-class home facility. The finishing touch on the field was honoring with the a name of a living Saint Bernard legend - Carmella "Sis" Guerin.

A lifelong New London native, Guerin, 85, went above and beyond in her career as a coach and administrator to ensure girls' receive equitable opportunities in scholastic athletics. St. Bernard's field, named Carmella "Sis" Guerin Softball Field, was dedicated to the first "lay" teacher hired at Saint Bernard. Guerin was coach of nine different sports, including a state champion track squad, and the school's first and only female athletic director.

"We could not have ever asked for a better person to honor than Mrs. Guerin," Buscetto said. "It worked out perfectly. She's the pioneer of women's sports here at St. Bernard. She fought for gender equity, she fought for Title IX. She was a great advocate for women's sports and all sports. She's very revered here. She's the only person I thought of to name the field after."

Guerin addressed the gathering in a pre-game ceremony, christened the field with a ribbon-cutting and threw out the first pitch appropriately with an under-handed softball motion.

"I had the best years at this school and lots and lots of memories that I cherish," Guerin said. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for dedicating this field to me."

Guerin's career  achievements her induction into the Saint Bernard Athletic Hall of Fame as well as being honored by Boston University with the Twiness Award for her service to teaching and fighting for gender equity in schools.  She was the first women's coach and cheering advisor at Saint Bernard, also serving as the Chair for Cheerleaders in Connecticut for the National Association of Girls' and Women's Sports from 1958 to 1972.

During the ceremony, Buscetto read letters from former athletes who Guerin coached, including Ellen Hill Turner, the current Wheeler High athletic director who credits Guerin's influence for pursuit of physical education and coaching.

Montville Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz, whose children Kevin and Kim attended Saint Bernard, gave a tribute to Guerin during the ceremony and offered a lighter touch to the proceedings. He remembered back in the '80s when he was president of the SB Booster Club, saying "We  talked about a softball field project back then. I thought municipalities took a long time to get things done, but truly this is a great day."

The softball field rests on flat land at the top 0f the hill behind Dellaporta football field and next to the baseball field. Buscetto said a soccer field behind the softball complex is in the works.

"This area was cleared out 10-12 years ago and used as a practice field," Buscetto said. "After I became AD three years ago, I asked the administration about making additional fields here but there wasn't money in the budget. I talked to my wife Diana and we decided the time was right to make a one-time gift to get these fields done.

"I have a daughter and niece in the program now, and another niececoming in, the gift made sense," said Buscetto, a '91 Bernard graduate. "People have done a lot for me here and I'm glad I could give back.The girls are going to take a lot of pride in this field. This is a great day for Saint Bernard."  

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