Valley Sports Rewind

Greg Shpak was a three-sport star at Derby High School, playing football, basketball and baseball. He helped the Red Raiders football team win the Housy championship his senior year, as well as help the basketball team make the tournament. Shpak played wide receiver at Central Connecticut State University. 'Valley Sports Rewind' is a weekly podcast hosted by Derby's Mike Cannici and produced by the Valley Indy. It also airs 1 p.m. Mondays on WNHH-LP, 103.5 FM within the City of New Haven. Click here for past episodes. 

'Valley Sports Rewind' Mike Cannici welcomes former Derby High School football player Marcus 'Buff' Bartone. Bartone talks about what it means to be a part of the Red Raider 'family,' how he got his nickname, among many other topics. Press play to listen and please subscribe and rate this podcast on iTunes. 'Valley Sports Rewind' is brought to you by ValleyIndy.org, a nonprofit online newspaper in Ansonia, Conn.

In this episode of 'Valley Sports Rewind,' host Mike Cannici welcomes Ansonia High School Baseball Coach Mike Vacca, who achieved his 500th win this season. A humble Vacca reflects on more than four decades in Ansonia baseball, and repeatedly credits his players and fellow coaches for any achievements over the years. The City of Ansonia officially honored Coach Vacca during a ceremony in May. 

This week on 'Valley Sports Rewind,' host Mike Cannici sits down with former Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe -- but they're not talking local politics. Instead, Della Volpe reflects upon his nearly 40-years with Ansonia athletics -- specifically the football program. Click play to hear Della Volpe talk about his friendships with fellow coaches Jack Hunt, John Sponheimer, Robert Lisi and Bill McAllister. 'Valley Sports Rewind' can also be heard on iTunes, Libsyn and it airs Mondays at 1 p.m. on WNHH, 103.5 FM within the City of New Haven.

Derby's John DeFrancisco return to talk about the 1996 state championship baseball team, Charlie DiCenso, Nick DiRubba and his current position as an assistant football coach at Platt Tech. Hosted by Mike Cannici.

Kyle McIntosh was a four-year starter at running back at Cheshire, where he was a three-time state champion and the 1994 New Haven Register "Player of the Year." He then went to Syracuse University where he played with future NFL players Donavan McNabb and David Tyree.

Host Mike Cannici and guest host Jenn Moffat chat with Derby track and field coach Nick DiLuggo about how Derby schools are becoming annual contenders -- even though they don't have a proper running track. This episode was aired live on ValleyIndy.org and on The Valley Indy's Facebook page during The Great Give May 2. In addition to ValleyIndy.org, iTunes, and YouTube, 'Valley Sports Rewind' is also heard Mondays at 1 p.m. on WNHH, 103.5 FM in New Haven, CT.

This week host Mike Cannici welcomes long-time Derby High School softball coach Joseph DiMartino and assistant coach Jenn Moffat to the podcast. DiMartino, himself a Derby High School graduate, wrestled while in school under the tutelage of Coach Walter “Buster” Jadach while in school.  He reflects on those days, and coaching his daughters at Derby High. Then DiMartino and Moffat talk about the upcoming annual Derby-Ansonia charity softball game. It's coming up April 22, 2017. Proceeds benefit The Hewitt Center For Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital. Click here for more information on the game.

Derby native Andy Dunaj Jr. sits down with Valley Sports Rewind host Mike Cannici to talk about growing up and playing football in Connecticut's smallest city. Dunaj played football for the Red Raiders from 1984 through 1986. He's the father of two young children -- a boy and a girl -- and he talks about what it's like to see them get involved in organized athletics. After graduating from Derby High School, Dunaj spent a decade in the military before becoming a police officer in Milford.   He is currently a sergeant in Milford, closing in on 20 years with the department.

Mike Cannici welcomes Bill Manion to 'Valley Sports Rewind.' Manion was a football player for the Shelton High School Gaels from 2000 to 2003.  In that time he was an all-state linebacker in 2002 and 2003. His team was SCC Housy champs in 2002 and 2003, and the class LL state champions in 2003. 'Valley Sports Rewind' is a production of ValleyIndy.org, and is recorded at the Valley Indy office in Ansonia, Conn. The podcast is also available on YouTube, and is heard every Monday at 1 p.m. on WNHH, a community radio station in New Haven, Conn.

'Valley Sports Rewind' switches gears this week with an interview with Casey Kross, 17, of Derby. The Derby High School senior has been a cheerleader for about 11 years. In 2012 her Pop Warner cheerleading squad won a national championship. In 2015, she was a member of the varsity cheerleading squad that won a state championship.

In this episode of "Valley Sports Rewind," host Mike Cannici and guest Jenn Moffat talk about the Derby High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The second class is scheduled to be inducted in April 2017. A Valley Indy reporter serves as guest host for the episode. Valley Sports Rewind is a weekly talk show produced by ValleyIndy.org.

Jamie Burns loves football -- AND he can tell a story. Hear Burns, a former Seymour High School Wildcat football player who now coaches at the school, have a ball talking sports with host Mike Cannici. It's as if they forgot the microphones were on . . .     

In the latest Valley Sports Rewind, host Mike Cannici strolls down memory lane with John Oko, a former Derby football player and coach.   Valley Sports Rewind is a talk show produced by ValleyIndy.org. It also airs Monday at 1 p.m. on WNHH, 103.5 LP FM in New Haven.

Otis Jemal Baskins didn't have it easy growing up on Hawkins Street in Derby. His family struggled to make ends meet, and his mother passed away during his senior year of high school. Playing sports -- and being influenced by the community -- were hugely important for him. Baskins is now a Naugatuck police officer -- and the latest guest on "Valley Sports Rewind," hosted by Mike Cannici.  

On the latest Valley Sports Rewind:   John DeFrancisco won two Class S  championships as Derby's baseball coach --  1992 and 1996.   He also was an assistant football coach at Derby for 25 years.

Valley author/lawyer/baseball coach/raconteur Steve Reilly is the guest on "Valley Sports Rewind" with Mike Cannici.   Reilly's newest book, "Lord of the Infield Flies," is a prequel to "The Fat Lady Never Sings," which chronicled the 1992 Derby High School state championship baseball team.   "Lord of the Infield Flies" goes back to 1977 Derby, and a road trip Reilly arranged so his baseball team could play out-of-state.   Keep in mind the drinking age back then was 18 . . . 

Sean Morse and Mike Cannici will be doing live audio play-by-play online during the Dec. 5 playoff matchup between the Ansonia and Cromwell. In this podcast, Morse and Cannici talk about their plans -- the latest in a series of programming the guys have started to rekindle Valley football pride.

This week's "Valley Sports Rewind" features an interview with Kevin Rowley, the equipment manager for the Ansonia High School varsity football program for more than 30 years. Rowley was also an assistant coach with the junior varsity and varsity programs for a number of years. And he was a head coach with Ansonia Pop Warner coach for 20 years.

This week on "Valley Sports Rewind," Mike Cannici's guest is veteran Valley assistant football coach Andrew Mancini.   The Derby resident is currently an assistant coach with the Ansonia High School varsity football team.   In the episode, Mancini looks back upon his years coaching in Derby, Seymour, Amity and at Fairfield Prep -- and whether Ansonia looks at him funny given his past allegiance to the Red Raiders!   "Valley Sports Rewind" is a weekly podcast produced by ValleyIndy.org.   It is available on ValleyIndy.org, Libsyn, iTunes, and YouTube.   It also plays Mondays at 1 p.m. on 103.5 FM WNHH-LP in New Haven.