Tony Talks Sports

August 22, 2007

‘I am a Baseball Junkie and Can’t Get Enough’

By Tony Mentone

CHEERLEADERS HONORED

The Hamden Cheerleaders participated in the Universal Cheerleading Association Camp from July 5-8 at Southern Connecticut State University. Hamden garnered many awards, including first in the cheerleading competition.

Marissa Barletta finished as second runner-up out of 400 competitors in the jump-off, which grades the best jump.

Jaci Borelli won first place in the “Name That Tune” contest and second in the Extreme routine.

Named as All-Americans were senior captains Christina Nero, Borelli and Vicki Scirocco.

Hamden was also given the “Top Banana” award for being the most spirited group at the competition.

GRIDIRON BOOSTERS

The Hamden Gridiron Booster Association is off to a new year. The association provides support for various football projects.

Anyone interested in joining the group can contact president Gary Prosco at 887.4755.

The group meets weekly during the football season and plans special events including rallies, pictures, equipment and support for the Hamden High football program. Membership is open to all.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Richard DeMatteis (HHS ’73) played hockey for the Dragons’ state championship hockey team in 1973.

DeMatteis lives in Hamden and is co-president of the Hamden High School Baseball Boosters Association. His son Richard Jr. (HHS ’07) played baseball for Hamden High and will attend SCSU in the fall. Son Russell (HHS ’09) will be a junior at Hamden High in the fall.

DeMatteis works for the Connecticut Department of Transportation as a supervisor of highway operations. He has been active for several years as a youth baseball coach.

AMERICAN LEGION

American Legion is the premiere amateur baseball program for players under 19. The best high school and freshman college players usually combine to form the nuclei of the teams.

I have been following the Northeast Regional Tournament very closely for two reasons: One, I am a baseball junkie and can’t get enough at this time of the year; Secondly, my one nephew, Frank Mentone, who is going into his senior year at North Branford High, is on the Branford team that won the state title. How I squeezed that fact into “Tony Talks HAMDEN Sports” I am not sure, but I did.

Branford was 4-0 after winning last Saturday. Because of the format, it was advantageous for Branford to lose on Sunday. If they won, they would have had to play the championship game and maybe an “if” game on Monday. Losing on Sunday caused just one game for the championship against the winner of the 4 p.m. game on Monday. Never should a game be played that is to a team’s advantage to lose

BASEBALL CONFUSION

Due to vacations, the article I had planned to write as part two of the state of baseball will be presented next week. Sorry for those who were looking forward to it.

BACK TO AMERICAN LEGION

Branford Post 83 won the Northeast Regional Championship with a 12-8 win on Monday against Edison, N.J., on the campus of the University of Vermont. They now head to Oklahoma for the National American Legion Tournament.

In the first game of the tournament, the score was 4-0. I noticed that as they got further into the tournament, the hit total and runs scored got higher and higher. The Northeast semi-final game featured 37 hits and 22 runs. The finals had 30 hits and 20 runs scored.

Teams in Connecticut play seven innings in a regular season. American Legion officials tell me that is because many fields don’t have lights and they wouldn’t finish nine innings before dark.

However when they get to the state tournament, all games are nine innings. This means that for every three games played in the tournament, it would be equivalent to four games locally. Add to that time restrictions, and game days are back to back and sometimes doubleheaders are scheduled. Most teams just don’t have enough pitching, thus the high run-and-hit results.

American Legion should find a way to address this problem.

Tony Mentone is a game assistant at Hamden High School. He has been active in Hamden sports for over 40 years as both a volunteer and paid football, basketball and baseball coach. Tony is currently an assigning commissioner for the Greater New Haven Umpires Association and the assistant district administrator of Connecticut District 4 Little League. He also sits on the town's Parks & Recreation Commission. Please send info and announcements about youth sports or Hamden High sports to tonymentone@yahoo.com.

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HHS Hires Cheerleading Coach’s Daughter

By Tony Mentone

HAMDEN YOUTH BASEBALL – PART 1

What is the state of youth baseball in Hamden? Confusion. The purpose of this piece is to try to explain the different options available to players and where they will have the most fun and success. How do we get the maximum number of kids playing?

This is not about winning or losing, although that is certainly one measuring stick of success. We all know the old cliché: “It’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game.” I have always added to that, “However it’s a lot more fun to win.”

It has also been my experience that winning teams get a lot more exposure from college coaches and scouts. How many college coaches go to a game between the seventh and eighth ranked team in the standings, as opposed to the championship game?

But enough rambling. Let’s start at the beginning. The player wants to play baseball. Let’s say it again -- THE PLAYER wants to play baseball. Not his father wants him to play or his next-door neighbor wants him to play so you can carpool or his grandparents want him to play because he looks good in a baseball uniform. NO, NO, NO. The kid wants to play.

Hamden Fathers’ Baseball/Softball Association has a league called Pebbles and Bam-Bam for 4- and 5-year-olds. I was one of the skeptics when I first heard about it, but it works. It probably should be expanded to the older leagues. It really doesn’t have teams or standings but just a group of young kids getting together to participate in baseball-type activities. The players seem to have fun; there is no pressure to win or perform. There are all kinds of safety precautions and is a great introduction to team sports.

Hopefully the budding Mickey Mantle still wants to play when he reaches 7. Now the parent must make the decision that influences the kid’s life. Which league? Which level? Which coaches?

Part 2 next week.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Cliff Johnson (HHS ’71) was captain of the 1971 swim team and still holds several records. He was also an All-State swimmer and was named to the All America High School Medley Team in 1970.

Johnson lives in Guilford and still coaches swimming at various youth levels. He graduated from the University of Vermont and works for Benco Dental as a sales technician.

NEW COACH NAMED

The Hamden Board of Education has approved the appointment of Kimmie Wilson as assistant cheerleader coach at Hamden High. Kimmie joins her mother Chris Wilson, the head coach.

Kimmie is a 2004 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy and has lived in Hamden her whole life. She is a senior at SCSU majoring in elementary education.

She actually started cheering when she was 2 as a mascot for Pop Warner cheerleaders. She was a cheerleader at St. Stephen’s and Sacred Heart and later at SCSU. Kimmie teaches cheerleading at several after-school programs and is a member of the American Association of Cheerleaders and Administrators. She was awarded a leadership award from the National Cheerleading Association.

CHEER NEWS

Tryouts for Hamden High cheerleading will be held Sept. 4-6 at 3:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.

TOP LADY DRAGON

Last week I asked who you felt was the top softball pitcher in Hamden High history. Several people mentioned Allison Parmelee (early ’90s) and others mentioned Jen Brenner (early ’00s).

My personal pick is Candace Giordano. Giordano pitched in the late ’90s and went on to star at Albertus Magnus College. I remember her pitching a no-hitter in the state tournament against a highly-touted Daniel Hand softball team.

Tony Mentone is a game assistant at Hamden High School. He has been active in Hamden sports for over 40 years as both a volunteer and paid football, basketball and baseball coach. Tony is currently an assigning commissioner for the Greater New Haven Umpires Association and the assistant district administrator of Connecticut District 4 Little League. He also sits on the town's Parks & Recreation Commission. Please send info and announcements about youth sports or Hamden High sports to tonymentone@yahoo.com.

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Arcade Gets the Gold

By Tony Mentone

STRANGE, BUT TRUE

In a Western Conference AA Minor League baseball game, there was an unassisted triple play.

With runners on first and second and no outs, the coach called a hit and run. The runner on first base broke, but the runner on second never moved. The batter hit a high popup near the second-base bag. The umpire called the infield fly rule -- one out.

The runner on first passed the runner on second -- two outs. The runner on second panicked, went off the base and was hit by the ball on the way down. Out number three.

All putouts were credited to the second baseman, who was closest to the play

ARCADE REIGNS

Arcade Metal, under the leadership of coach Bill Rhone, won its sixth straight Hamden Fathers Little League Major Gold Championship in a best two of three series.

Regan Realty, the regular season champion with a 15-2 record, came out with guns blazing in the first game.

Matt Hoff hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and followed up with two more hits. Drew Catalano, Adam Olyszk and Mark Sparapani had two hits for Regan in its 12-5 victory. Briana Mustel and Dan Mathews led Arcade at the plate with two hits apiece.

In the second game, Mastel, pitching for Arcade, cooled the Regan bats by tossing a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts. Mathews and Paul Monaco had two hits each for Arcade and Steve Monaco hit a grand slam homerun. Hoff again hit a first-inning homerun for Regan, which lost 5-2, tying the series at one game each.

In the championship game, Arcade opened up with five straight hits and five runs in the first inning, holding on to win the championship 9-8 in one of the most exciting championship series in many years.

Members of the championship team include Zack Iannone, Marc Masciantonio, Will Rhone, Joe Guandalini, Adam Matthews, Anthony Capasso, Briana Mastel, Paul Monaco, Steve Monaco, Matt Barnett, Greg Castaldi, and Dan Mathews.

WHO’S ON FIRST

Last week, I asked you to name the best first baseman you had ever seen in high school baseball. Answers were interesting.

Neil and Augie Garbatini were chosen. They both played for West Haven in the late ’60s. The Garbatinis were left-handed brothers who switched between pitcher and first base.

Also mentioned was Terry Lee, who played at Naugatuck and then went on to play for SCSU just a few years ago.

A friend of mine from Milford said the best he saw was Chris Borelli, a Hamden player in the early 2000s. Borelli “could hit and field,” my friend said. Borelli also played college ball at SCSU and is currently the assistant baseball coach at Guilford High School, the state baseball champion this spring.

My pick is not known for his baseball playing, but rather for his basketball skills. Roland Jones of Wilbur Cross High School was a 6-foot-5-inch left-hander who could catch the ball wherever it was thrown. Jones had the sweetest swing I had ever seen. He only played baseball for two years and quit to concentrate on basketball in the early ’70s. Jones played basketball for four years at Duquesne University.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Frank Sandillo (HHS ’77) was a running back on the Hamden High football team. He graduated from SCSU and is now a state marshal. He is married to Donna Afragola (HHS ’79).

Frank lives in Hamden and has a son, Francesco, who plays hockey at Notre Dame-West Haven, and a daughter, Mia.

Brother Mark Sandillo (HHS ’79) played football and track. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Marines where he served for three years. Mark is a public adjuster and lives in Orange with his wife, the former Maria Apicella.

He has two children -- David, also a hockey player at Notre Dame-West Haven, and a daughter, Amie.

Sister Laura Sandillo (HHS ’81) is a member of the Hamden High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She played basketball and softball at Hamden. She graduated from Plymouth State in New Hampshire.

Laura lives in Southington and is an assistant manager of programming at ESPN.

SOFTBALL PITCHERS

Many of my female friends say I don’t write enough about female athletes. Well, here goes. Name the best softball pitcher we ever had at Hamden High. (Click here to send your nomination.) We will discuss it next week.

Tony Mentone is a game assistant at Hamden High School. He has been active in Hamden sports for over 40 years as both a volunteer and paid football, basketball and baseball coach. Tony is currently an assigning commissioner for the Greater New Haven Umpires Association and the assistant district administrator of Connecticut District 4 Little League. He also sits on the town's Parks & Recreation Commission. Please send info and announcements about youth sports or Hamden High sports to tonymentone@yahoo.com.

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Sports Tryouts Just Around the Corner

By Tony Mentone

BABE RUTH 13-YEAR-OLDS ELIMINATED

After winning the District Tournament and the first two games in the State Tournament with bats booming, the bats fell silent against the eventual winner, Norwalk. In their game against Norwalk, Hamden got three hits and lost, 8-0.

R.J. Ugolik, Eric Sullivan and Brian Sweeney had Hamden’s only hits. In the finals of the loser’s bracket, Hamden fell to Simsbury 13-12 in a seesaw battle.

Hamden was led at the plate by Matt Altieri and Brian Rhone with two hits each. Brandon Daddio had two innings of hitless relief.

Hamden finished third in the state.

GOLDSMITH HONORED

The Greater New Haven Baseball Umpires Association presented an award to longtime Hamden umpire Wendell Goldsmith. Although Goldsmith is a resident of North Branford, he umpired in Hamden Fathers’ Baseball Little League and in the Babe Ruth League for many years. He has umpired for close to 50 years.

The association presents the award in the name of Fred Ghirardini for dedication and service to the umpires association. Hamden residents Arnie Mann and Tony Mentone have received the award in the past.

HAMDEN HIGH/ HAMDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL FALL TRYOUTS

FOOTBALL PRACTICE - Aug. 20, 5-7:30 p.m., at HHS Turf
Tryouts for football are for incoming freshmen and new students only. Starts Aug. 20, 5-7:30 p.m. at HHS turf
GIRLS’ SOCCER – Aug. 25, 9-11:45 a.m., and 4:30-6:45 p.m. at Legion Field
GIRLS’ SWIM – Aug. 25, 9 a.m.-noon. HHS pool
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL – Aug. 25, 9 a.m.-noon. HHS gym
BOYS’ SOCCER – Aug. 25, 7-9 a.m. HHS turf field, and 1-4 p.m. at Westwoods School
FIELD HOCKEY – Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. HHS turf field
BOYS’/GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY – Aug. 25, 9-11:30 a.m. at Brooksvale Park
CHEERLEADING Fall Tryouts – Sept. 4, 5, 6 & 7, 3:30-7:30 p.m. HHS cafeteria
BADMINTON Signups – Aug. 27, 2:15 p.m. HHS gym (back bay)

Hamden Middle School:
FOOTBALL, BOYS’/GIRLS’ SOCCER – Sept. 5, 2:30 p.m. Site TBA

WHO IS THE BEST?

I received a lot of comments about the article on Hamden’s best baseball players. People seemed to enjoy it, and it created a lot of discussion at summer barbecues and bar conversations.

So here’s another one for you. Who is the best first baseman you have ever seen in high school or youth baseball? Remember, this doesn’t have to be a Hamden player. I will give you my answer next week.

UMPIRES

A recent article in the local press about a player ejection in an American Legion game criticized an umpire for having a “quick thumb” in ejecting a player. I wasn’t at the game, so I am not criticizing the writer, the umpire or player. I do want to point out, however, that the relationship between umpires and the game is unique.

Baseball is the only sport where the coach or manager can come on the field. In fact, it is sometimes encouraged. You will often hear a coach say he came out screaming to help fire up his team.

There are very few ways to slow down an irate coach or player in baseball.  In basketball, you can call a technical foul; in football, a yellow flag for unsportsmanlike conduct; hockey has a bench penalty; soccer, a yellow card. Federation baseball does have a situation where you can banish the coach to the bench, but it really doesn’t seem to help much.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Kathleen “Katie” Donohue (HHS ’96) played soccer, basketball and tennis at Hamden. She was a four-year starter in three sports. Donohue won numerous awards in various sports and was the Women’s Sports Federation Sportswoman of the Year in 1996.

She played three years at Lafayette College, and finished her senior year at SCSU.

She lives in West Haven with her husband, Tim Gunning. Donohue is employed by the state of Connecticut as a juvenile probation officer. She coaches girls’ basketball and tennis at Hopkins Country Day School.

SIGNUPS FOR HAMDEN FATHERS’ FALL BALL

Signups for Hamden Fathers’ fall baseball teams are now being accepted for all ages. Contact Steve Pacelli at 287.9290.

Tony Mentone is a game assistant at Hamden High School. He has been active in Hamden sports for over 40 years as both a volunteer and paid football, basketball and baseball coach. Tony is currently an assigning commissioner for the Greater New Haven Umpires Association and the assistant district administrator of Connecticut District 4 Little League. He also sits on the town's Parks & Recreation Commission. Please send info and announcements about youth sports or Hamden High sports to tonymentone@yahoo.com.

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HMS Diver Going West

By Tony Mentone

13-YEAR-OLDS ADVANCE

Hamden Fathers’ 13-year-old Babe Ruth All Stars have advanced to the finals in the winners’ bracket of the state play downs. Under coaches Ray Richo and Burt Leventhal, the team has shown an offensive force. In six games in the District State Tournament, Hamden has scored 86 runs averaging 16.2 runs a game.

Last Saturday, Hamden beat Shelton 9-5 with C.J. Carrigan getting the pitching win and Brian Murphy finishing up. Starring at the plate were Matt Altieri and Max Coassin.

On Sunday in Trumbull, Hamden beat Waterford 11-1. Erin Moskul pitched for Hamden with help from Carrigan and Murphy. Hamden unleashed an 18-hit attack led by Vin Purgatore, Altieri, Carrigan and Eric Sullivan with three hits each.

Hamden will play Norwalk tonight in Trumbull. A win in this game will put Hamden in the championship round on Friday. If Hamden loses, it will play Thursday and could still qualify for the championship round on Friday with a win.

HAMDEN DIVER HEADED TO CALIFORNIA

Peter Cyr, a 12-year-old Hamden Middle School student, earned a spot in the Speedo National Olympic Junior Diving Championships in Mission Viejo, Calif., from Aug. 7-11.

Cyr competed for the Regional 1 Championship in New Canaan. He finished fifth and qualified for the USD East National Diving Championships in Maryland. There, Cyr finished 12th and qualified for the 13-under Junior Olympic Championships in the 3-meter diving competition in California. The meet will match 12 divers from both the eastern and western sections of the United States.

HDN STILL NEEDS YOUR HELP

The Hamden Daily News still needs your subscription and ads. If you enjoy this column and want to read the latest on the Hamden political scene, please consider a subscription or an ad. Contact editor@hamdendailynews.com, or click above where it says “Please Help Support This Site!”

THE STATE OF YOUTH BASEBALL

If you have any thoughts on the state of youth baseball, please share them with me. I am preparing an article on the subject. Please e-mail your comments to me.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Frank Raio (HHS ’78) played soccer, basketball and baseball. He was captain of the soccer team and was named All-District and All-State. He continued his soccer career as captain at Brandeis University and as an assistant coach at Albertus Magnus College for 18 years.

Raio lives in Hamden and is a partner in the law firm of Biller, Sachs, Raio and Zito.

Tony Mentone is a game assistant at Hamden High School. He has been active in Hamden sports for over 40 years as both a volunteer and paid football, basketball and baseball coach. Tony is currently an assigning commissioner for the Greater New Haven Umpires Association and the assistant district administrator of Connecticut District 4 Little League. He also sits on the town's Parks & Recreation Commission. Please send info and announcements about youth sports or Hamden High sports to tonymentone@yahoo.com.

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Altieri Twins Still Into Sports

By Tony Mentone

DUGOUT COLUMNS

13-YEAR-OLD BABE RUTH ALL-STARS

Hamden Fathers’ Baseball 13-year-old Babe Ruth District 7 All-Stars are undefeated, beating Cheshire, South Meriden and Berlin (twice).

In the championship game played on July 14 in North Branford, Hamden defeated once-beaten Berlin, 8-6. Berlin would have had to beat Hamden twice to win it all, but Hamden took care of that in the first game.

Sean Murphy pitched six strong innings for Hamden and Mike Frankel came in the seventh to get the save. Eric Sullivan got the winning RBI with a two-run double. Sullivan. RJ Ugolik and Murphy each had two hits.

Hamden will continue its quest for the state championship when it plays this Saturday at 4 p.m. at Unity Park in Trumbull.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? DOUBLE TROUBLE

Tricia Altieri (HHS ’01) was a member of the volleyball, basketball and softball teams at Hamden High. She is also a member of the Professional Skating Association and is a certified figure-skating teacher.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Quinnipiac University. She is currently a teacher at Hamden Middle School. She lives in Hamden and plans to marry in July ’08.

Twin sister Kristen (HHS ’01) was a captain of the volleyball, basketball and softball teams. She graduated from Endicott College in Massachusetts where she was a three-year captain of volleyball and graduated with a degree in sports management. She lives in Hamden. Kristen was a sports intern at SCSU for two years and will serve in that same role at UCONN starting in September.

HAMDEN LL ELIMINATED

Defending District 4 Little League champion Hamden finished second in this year’s tournament. Hamden lost the first game in the round-robin format to Milford International, 10-0. After that, Hamden caught fire and defeated Milford National, West Haven and Orange. Hamden now needed another win over Milford International. Hamden beat Milford 9-6 to earn a berth in the double elimination final.

In the first round, Hamden beat Max Sinoway (North Haven) 8-7, to advance in the winners’ bracket against Annex.

Annex scored early but Hamden fought back and finally lost, 9-6. Jeff Lotto pitched one and two-thirds innings of hitless relief and had a two-run homer.

In the losers’ bracket final against Orange, Hamden’s Adam Olszyk pitched four innings of shutout and had five strikeouts. The win put Hamden into the finals against undefeated Annex. Dan Mathews had two hits for Hamden, but Hamden was unable to hold off the champion Annex team.

Tony Mentone is a game assistant at Hamden High School. He has been active in Hamden sports for over 40 years as both a volunteer and paid football, basketball and baseball coach. Tony is currently an assigning commissioner for the Greater New Haven Umpires Association and the assistant district administrator of Connecticut District 4 Little League. He also sits on the town's Parks & Recreation Commission. Please send info and announcements about youth sports or Hamden High sports to tonymentone@yahoo.com.

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July 5, 2007