This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/14/2015 12:00 AMThe situation was simple—and extremely intense. With one pitch, one swing of the bat, the North Haven baseball team could leave Palmer Field as the either the Class L state champion or the runner-up. That's because the Indians were one strike from the title and clinging to a one-run lead while East Lyme had the tying run at third base with the winning run at first in the bottom of the seventh. If Richie DePalma retires Miles Coe, North Haven hoists the trophy. If Coe goes deep, the Vikings claim the crown. In the end, the team that walked off the field as state champions was none other than your North Haven Indians.
DePalma froze Coe on a 0-2 curve to close out a 3-2 Indians' win in the Class L State Tournament final at Middletown on June 13, putting the exclamation point on a year that saw North Haven struggle in the regular season's home stretch, only to put everything together during a five-triumph state tourney surge.
DePalma saved the game for senior starter Mike Kurk, who wiggled in and out of trouble for five innings on two days' rest to notch his eighth win. Kurk allowed a run in the first and then North Haven plated three in the second on a two-run homer from junior Mike DeRosa, plus a RBI ground out by Hunter Iacobelli. The Vikings battled back with a run in the seventh before DePalma slammed the door.
The victory resulted in North Haven's fifth state crown and career win No. 856 for DeMayo, who's been at the helm for each title through his 57-season tenure. DeMayo said this particular collection of Indians' ballplayers was "probably the closest-knit group of all the teams I've had," and that they persevered through the late-season slump by believing they'd achieve something special when it mattered most.
"There was not one ounce of quit in them. They never doubted they could win a game. I told them that the first game in a tournament is the most difficult and that if we got that one, we could have a little journey. The longer you stay in, the more confidence you get, and the better chance you have," said Coach DeMayo, whose No. 22-seeded squad finished 16-10. "Our captains did a phenomenal job of keeping this group together. They were unbelievable all year long. It was a team effort. Everybody was always in the game and everybody felt like they were a part of the team."
One of North Haven's captains is DePalma and the other is catcher Nick Proto, who was pleased to see his team peak at the right time and win the state title for both themselves and their legendary skipper.
"We definitely had our ups and down throughout the season and Coach DeMayo was a great coach the whole way. We wanted to a win a state championship for him and for us. We knew how much it meant to him," Proto said. "We played our hearts out and went out with a bang."
Eleventh-seeded East Lyme (17-8) threatened to start with a bang by loading the bases in the first, but Kurk only allowed one run on a sacrifice fly.
The Indians came back by scoring all three of their runs in second. First, Proto tripled to right and then DeRosa took a 0-1 fastball from Dylan Feeney and lined it over the left field fence to put North Haven up 2-1. After a single by Dominic Fusco, Kurk reached first on a bunt and Joe Ireland sacrificed both into scoring position. Iacobelli followed with a grounder to second that brought home Fusco to make it 3-1.
Kurk worked out of a bases loaded jam in the third by inducing a grounder to shortstop Giovanni Torres, whose throw beat East Lyme's runner by an eyelash. Kurk faced another predicament in the fifth with runners on first and second, yet the righty was again true to the task by getting two fly outs.
"To go on two day's rest was tough, but a blessing. All I wanted was to pitch the final, regardless if my arm fell off," said Kurk, who hurled a complete game in North Haven's 7-2 semifinal win over Windsor that featured two doubles from DeRosa and two RBI by DePalma. "It was an electric atmosphere. I've never experienced anything like that."
Kurk allowed the first two to reach in the sixth and DeMayo called for DePalma, who hadn't pitched in a month. With runners at second and third, DePalma got a fly ball to left for what looked like sac fly. Instead, DeRosa unleashed a laser to home plate, where Proto tagged out Alex Tryon trying to score from third.
"As soon as the ball came, I was like 'I'm getting this guy if he goes on me,'" said DeRosa. "I threw as hard as I could and Nick made a great play by grabbing the ball in the dirt."
The Indians brought their 3-1 lead to the seventh, although East Lyme refused to go quietly. The Vikings advanced a runner to third and Sam Gonski singled to make it a 3-2 ballgame. Now with two outs, Tryon singled on a full count to put runners at the corners. Unfazed, DePalma got Coe to look at three pitches with final one a hook on the inside corner that cemented the state championship. As the Indians stormed the mound in a frenzy, their coach watched the celebration with a prideful smile.
"The major emotion for me was relief," Coach DeMayo said. "I didn't jump up, slap hands, or pump fists. I just was thankful for a great win and that the kids are happy. That's what went through my mind."
North Haven's complete championship roster consists of senior captains DePalma (pitcher/center fielder) and Proto (catcher), along with fellow seniors Iacobelli (second baseman), Dominic Fusco (pitcher/outfielder), Kurk (pitcher/first baseman), Erik Esposito (pitcher), Steve Rife (pitcher/designated hitter), and Louis Masselli (outfielder); in addition to juniors DeRosa (left fielder), Torres (shortstop), Ireland (outfielder), Kyle Scafariello (infielder), Geno Giano (infielder), Chris Tullo (first baseman), and Joe Balzano (pitcher/first baseman); plus sophomores Dominic Onofrio (third baseman), CJ Somma (outfielder), Preston Young (pitcher), Alphonse Fusco (second baseman), and Brendan Clark (pitcher/third baseman). DeMayo was joined on the coaching staff by varsity assistants Muchie Dagliere and Ray Degnan (pitching coach), as well as JV coach Justin Falcon and freshman coach Mike Proto.