Blogs > NHRegister.com's The Batter's Box
The Batter's Box provides the latest baseball news coverage of the area's top teams, prospects and happenings from around Connecticut's diamond.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday's scoreboard
Bob DeMayo remains at 799
Indians coach Bob DeMayo remains at 799 career wins. He will go for win No. 800 Monday at home against Xavier.
YouTube Clip of the Week
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Going with the Pitch
Former Hopkins baseball player and Register All-Area selection Ken Jacobi has written a book about his experience as a collegiate baseball player.
It's titled, "Going with the Pitch: Adjusting to College Athletics"
Jacobi says, "it chronicles my four years as a Division I baseball player and student at Binghamton University."
Check out the book.
Throwback Thursday
Kyle Cummings, Southern Connecticut State junior
High school: Hamden
Pos: INF
Games: 35
Avg: .358
2B: 10
RBIs: 14
Runs: 33
SB: 10
For more on Cummings, click here.
Wednesday's scoreboard/Bob DeMayo column
Dave Solomon's column on legendary North Haven coach Bob DeMayo, as he goes for career win No. 800.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
High School Baseball Chat
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Esposito stepping up for Amity
A young and inexperienced rotation has forced the right-handed Esposito to see more innings on the mound. He has thrived so far, going 1-0 with two saves. He missed a start Monday against Branford because of a pulled hamstring. Until the sophomores come along, Esposito’s presence will be critical.
Keep in mind he started in the state tournament as a sophomore. He took on a lesser role last season with the emergence of Amity’s dynamic pitching the duo of Louis Concato and Joe Ciancola. Both are Division I pitchers now.
Esposito will play at Marshall next season and will likely pitch there. Amity coach Sal Coppola said he throws in the mid to upper 80s and a tremendous curve ball.
Weekly baseball package
In the spotlight: A look at Wilbur Cross, games of the week and top performances from last week.
Hopkins senior Matt Luciani's latest diary entry.
Register Top 10 poll.
Area Aces with Branford's Jeff Stoddard.
Monday's scoreboard
Monday, April 25, 2011
Area Aces: Jeff Stoddard
Register Top 10 poll
Diamond Gems
Keith Klebart, Amity: Had two hits and three RBIs in an 11-5 win over Cheshire on Thursday.
Johnny Johnson, North Haven: Had two hits, three runs and drove in the game-winning run on a suicide squeeze bunt in a 5-4 win over Shelton on Thursday.
Joe Zanghi, Foran: Homered twice in a 4-1 win over Hand on Wednesday.
John McCall, Platt Tech: Went 4-for-4 with two triples in a 9-6 victory over Barlow on Tuesday.
Connor David, Cheshire: Had two home runs and drove in four runs in a 12-11 win over Shelton on Monday.
Friday, April 22, 2011
YouTube Clip of the Week
Thursday's scoreboard
Thursday, April 21, 2011
High School Baseball chat
Derby beats Ansonia
At Derby
Recap: With the game tied at 3 in the third, Derby's Justin Olenoski drove in two runs with a single to right field to put the Red Raiders ahead. That highlighted a six-run inning for the Red Raiders. Ansonia committed six errors.
Derby: Olenoski went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Colin Haydu went 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI.
Ansonia: Ryan O'Connor homered. Bob Schryver tripled and scored two runs.
WP: Ray Kreiger (3-1) 7 IP, 5 hits, 5 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO
LP: Alex Chosczyk (0-2)
Team records: Derby 6-2, Ansonia 2-6
Throwback Thursday
Each Thursday, the Register will a former high school standout, who is now playing in college.
Conor Keniry, Wake Forest freshman
High school: Notre Dame-West Haven
Pos: INF/OF
Games: 29
Avg: .209
Hits: 16
RBIs: 5
Runs: 10
SB: 3
For more on Keniry, click here.
Wednesday's scoreboard
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
High School Baseball Chat
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Warde much improved
Warde opened the season 5-0 after failing to qualify for the state tournament. Warde has already picked up quality wins over teams like Norwalk and Greenwich.
One through nine, Warde has a solid lineup that puts the ball in play and boasts good speed. Lead off guy Mike Garcia has been setting the bale, batting .400 with two home runs entering this week. Dario Pugliano (.526) and Will Halliday (.450) have also been key contributors at the plate.
Sophmore Mike Defillippis and junior Shane Goven are two young, solid arms and lead the pitching rotation.
"I thought we’d be much improved from last year,” coach Mike Caron said. “Our offense has been capitalizing on big innings. We’ve gotten key two-out hits and haven’t been stranding a lot of runners.”
Baseball package
In the spotlight: A look at Hamden
Games of the week here
And in case you missed it, check out the Top 10 poll.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Area Aces
Diamond Gems
Mike Georgalas, Shelton: Threw a one-hitter in a 9-1 win over previously undefeated Branford on Friday. He struck out five and also added two hits and two RBIs.
Nick Nieves: Career: Went the distance, allowing just five hits and struck out five in a 5-0 win over Lyman Hall on Friday.
Jeff Stoddard, Branford: His game-winning, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh lifted the Hornets to a 6-5 win over Xavier on Thursday.
Austin French, Hamden Hall: Went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, three runs and two homers in a 13-5 win over Hopkins on Thursday.
Greg Zullo, Notre Dame-West Haven: Had a three-run home run and five RBIs in the Green Knights 20-3 win over East Haven Thursday.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Georgalas pitches one-hitter
Georgalas went the distance and struck out five for the Gaels (3-2). He also added two hits and two RBIs.
Nick Dummar homered in the first inning for Branford’s only hit. The Hornets fall to 4-1.
Brennan back for Sheehan
Brennan, who missed Sheehan’s first three games with a hand injury, went 1-for-3 with a triple against the Academics. The Titans also beat Hamden 6-3 Friday with Brennan behind the dish.
“I expect him to be the same guy,” Sheehan coach Matt Altieri said. “He knows what he has to do. He’s got a good head and bat at the plate.”
The Marist-bound Brennan finished with seven home runs and 12 RBIs last season for the Titans, who won the Class L state title.
YouTube Clip of the Week
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Pitching woes continue for Amity
Junior Vin Siena has been absolutely crushing the ball and Nick Baviello, headed to Southern Connecticut State, is also hitting very well. Amity has some hitters.
Coach Sal Coppola said the concern lies on the mound. The Spartans have a very young and inexperienced rotation.
Sophomore Mike Concato struggled against the Lions. His command was off and he was relieved in the fourth by another sophomore Sam Nepiarsky. Amity will need Concato, Nepiarsky, and another sophomore, Max Ritchie to mature quickly. Until then, the Spartans will rely heavily on ace E.J. Ashworth (headed to Fairfield). Also, the Spartans may have to look to closer Mark Esposito to take on a starting role.
Throwback Thursday
Each Thursday, the Register will a former high school standout, who is now playing in college.
Dan Paolini, Siena junior
High school: Bunnell
Pos: 2B
Games: 32
Avg: .347
RBIs: 38
HR: 11
Runs: 26
Slg%: .661
For more on Paolini, click here.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wednesday's postponements
Kaynor Tech at Whitney Tech, ppd. to April 26, 4 p.m.
Bullard-Havens at Platt Tech, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
Abbott Tech at O’Brien Tech, 4 p.m.
Shoreline
Hyde at East Hampton, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Coginchaug at Old Saybrook, ppd. to Thursday
Haddam-Killingworth at Morgan
Portland at North Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
Old Lyme at Valley Regional, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
NVL
Seymour at Derby, ppd. to Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
Ansonia at Wolcott
SCC interdivision
Notre Dame-West Haven at East Haven, 3 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at West Haven, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Career at Hamden, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Amity at Foran, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Hand at Shelton, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Hillhouse at Sheehan, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Xavier at Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
Cheshire at Law, ppd. to today, 4 p.m.
Lyman Hall at Guilford, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
FCIAC
St. Joseph at Ridgefield, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
SWC
Bunnell at New Fairfield, ppd. to Thursday, 4:15 p.m.
Preps
Loomis-Chaffee at Hopkins, 4:15 p.m.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Teixeira leading Hamden Hall
Cheshire starting to hit stride
Romano tosses no-hitter
Read the game story here.
Monday, April 11, 2011
A promising season for North Branford
North Branford fell 8-7 in nine innings to East Haven Saturday. Even though North Branford lost the game, it shows the Thunderbirds potential this season. They hung with East Haven, a strong team coming out of a powerhouse conference in the SCC. The Easties brought in Mike Anastasio in the sixth to close out the game. But North Branford had other plans, crushing the ball against the Easties ace.
North Branford already has the pitching. Senior Taylor Gamache and junior Matt Scavo, along with sophomore Kyle Johnson pitched against the Easties. Mitchell said they all threw well. It was some uncharacteristic errors (North Branford committed five) that cost them the game.
Gamache, Scavo and Johnson aren't even the Thunderbirds go-to arms. That would be seniors Dan Esposito and Mike Damone. Mitchell was holding them for today's Shoreline Conference showdown with Haddam-Killingworth. So if Gamache, Scavo and Johnson continue, that will give North Branford some real pitching depth.
Look for North Branford to be a real conference contender this season.
Diamond Gems
Jeff Stoddard, Branford: Struck out 11 and allowed just three hits and no earned runs over six innings in a 3-2 win over Law on Wednesday.
Vin Guglietti, East Haven: Hit a grand slam in a 14-6 victory over Guilford on Wednesday.
Vin Teixeira, Hamden Hall: Went 3-for-4 with a home runs, two runs and four RBIs in a 8-7 win over Rye.
Bobby Moretti, West Haven: His two-run double with two outs in the seventh lifted the Westies to a 4-3 victory over East Haven on Friday.
Alec Jannotta, Branford: Went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, and also knocked in the game-winning run Friday in a 7-6 11-inning win over Notre Dame-West Haven.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Branford edges Notre Dame-West Haven
Recap: Alec Jannotta’s single to left field drove in Buddy Shea for the game-winning run in top of the 11th inning at Quigley Stadium. Branford trailed 6-1 entering the fifth inning and scored five runs in that frame to tie the game.
Branford: Jannotta went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Shea went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.
Notre Dame: Mike Panza went 2-for-7 with two doubles, an RBI and a run.
WP: Nick Dibroi (1-0) 6 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
LP: Mike Terzi (0-1)
Team records: Branford 2-0, Notre Dame 1-1
Thursday, April 7, 2011
West Haven notes
- Stone also said sophomore Bobby Moretti has been pitching well. Moretti was the ace for the Shelton Little League team, which reached the Little League World Series four years ago. Stone said Moretti may start against Platt Tech on Saturday.
- The Westies opened the season, playing with heavy hearts. West Haven assistant coach Shane Russell, 35, suffered a stroke last week, but is home now. Head coach Mike Anquillare said he was unsure if Russell would return this season. Following the win over Cheshire Wednesday, the team bus stopped Russell’s house to present him with the game ball.
Throwback Thursday
Each Thursday, the Register will a former high school standout, who is now playing in college.
Jason Esposito, Vanderbilt junior
High school: Amity
Pos: INF
Games: 30
Avg: .310
RBIs: 26
2B: 7
Slg %: .425
For more on Esposito, click here.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Season Preview
Top 10 poll
Team-by-team capsules
Conference previews
Top 25 players to watch
10 of the season's best games
5 storylines to look for this year
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Preseason poll
Zahornasky looking good for Shelton
Zahornasky hit .422 last season as a sophomore.
Sunday, April 3, 2011