Jen Rizzotti is being honored by the Fairfield County Sports Commission as one of six inductees in its 2009 Hall of Fame Class. Chris Elsberry of the Advocate writes about her roots in sports:

It wasn't quite a tantrum, but it was pretty close. The umpire for this back-yard, Wiffle ball grudge match between brother and sister had just called a potential game-winning home run ball fair and the fielding team screamed foul. Literally.

Jen Rizzotti wasn't about to lose. Not this way. It was dark outside. Very dark and if she couldn't see where the ball landed, then how could her dad, a.k.a., the umpire? But Tom Rizzotti called the ball fair and while older brother, Tommy, celebrated, Jen ran inside the house to get a flashlight. She then dragged both father and brother out to find the ball to try and overturn the "fair" call.

It didn't work. And Jen wasn't very happy about it.

"I always wanted to win. I had a horrible temper and was a really bad loser," Rizzotti was saying over the phone Friday afternoon. "I had to learn how to lose nicely or else I'd be grounded."