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07/30/2017 12:00 AMThe North Haven baseball team has a long and storied tradition of success, and the 2017 campaign proved no exception for the Indians. Faced with a daunting schedule filled with fellow SCC powerhouses, North Haven wound up winning 18 games, a share of the Quinnipiac Division title, and then went on an exhilarating ride through the Class L State Tournament that culminated with a spot in the championship game. Although North Haven came up one victory shy of claiming the program’s sixth state title, Head Coach Bob DeMayo was proud of the way his players performed this spring, as well as they demeanor they brought to the diamond while continuing the Indians’ tradition of excellence.
“They were a great group to work with. They really thought that they could achieve all their goals, and I’m extremely pleased with what they did,” DeMayo said. “They were a very confident group that had a good understanding of the nature of way we play the game and their roles on the team. They were just that kind of gritty, tough kid that I love to coach, where you basically fight all the way. They had confidence that if the game is close, they can win it. They were a tight-knit group that enjoyed playing each one another and were very successful at it.”
After losing two of its first three games, North Haven rattled off seven straight wins and was on its way to another great year. The Indians then hit a little bit of a rough patch, but bounced back by winning their final five regular season contests for a record of 14-6. In that home stretch, North Haven posted a 4-3, 11-inning victory versus Xavier to earn a share of the Quinnipiac crown.
In the SCC Tournament, the Indians lost a 7-6 contest against East Haven in the quarterfinal round. Then as the No. 7 seed in the Class M State Tournament, North Haven recorded wins over Platt (3-2), Avon (3-2 in 9 innings), Notre Dame-West Haven (5-2), and Fitch (1-0) before taking an 8-2 defeat to Foran in the final.
Coach DeMayo said that his team received quality contributions across the board, but added that stellar pitching and defense were the hallmarks of the Indians’ success this year.
“When we played well, we were a good defensive team, and that means good pitching to stay in the game and win a close game at the end,” said DeMayo, who finished his 59th season as head coach with 884 career victories. “Our hitting was adequate, but our defense—infield, outfield, catching, and pitching—kept us in games, and the combination of that and some timely hitting brought us over the top. With the schedule we had, winning 18 games is not an easy thing to do. They all had a role, and we got excellent seasons from a number of players.”
No player had a bigger impact on the Indians than senior captain pitcher/third baseman Brendan Clark, who was called out of the bullpen in the middle innings to finish out games time and time again. Clark went 9-2 and had three saves with a 1.91 earned-run average and 68 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched this season. All nine of Clark’s wins came in relief, including four in the State Tournament. In the Indians’ 1-0 semifinal triumph versus Fitch, Clark came in during the third inning and escaped a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam on his way to tossing five scoreless frames. He also doubled home the lone run of the game.
Clark also proved a major threat at the plate by batting .391 with 15 walks, 22 runs scored, and 20 RBI. Clark, who posted all these robust numbers despite missing a few games due to an injury, was named North Haven’s Most Valuable Player, earned spots on the All-Quinnipiac Team, the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Team, and the New Haven Register All-Area Team. He was also selected to play in the Connecticut Senior All-Star Game.
“When Brendan got hurt, you could see the difference in the other kids’ confidence when he came back, and that’s what made them elect him to be the team MVP,” Coach DeMayo said. “He was a leader and, any time anybody got on and we got in trouble, we’d give him the ball, and he’d come through. Brendan really had an outstanding year and was one of our chief contributors. He was also our cleanup hitter and would come through in the clutch. People on the other team did not want to pitch to him.”
Clark captained the Indians alongside fellow senior Dom Onofrio, who displayed a great glove while seeing time at both second and third base. Onofrio, who hit .284, received the No ‘I’ in Team Award from the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club and was also presented with North Haven’s Rocci Ruggerio Award.
“Dom came through in clutch situations all year and did an outstanding job alternating between second and third base and was a real steady factor in the field,” DeMayo said. “He only made two errors for the whole year, and our infield as about as consistent as any I’ve had. His consistency was remarkable.”
Junior Peyton Farina had an exceptional season for North Haven in which he posted a .412 batting average, scored 21 runs, and tracked down just about every fly ball that came his way in center field. Farina made All-Quinnipiac, All-State, and was picked to play in the state’s Junior Select All-Star Game. He was also named one of the Indians’ senior captains for next year.
Catcher Kevin Lucey was voted as the other team captain for 2018 after hitting .338 with 12 walks and 13 RBI this spring. He singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning when North Haven notched its 3-2, walk-off win versus Avon in the second round of states. Coach DeMayo said that Lucey also did a great job when it came to blocking balls in the dirt and working with North Haven’s pitchers. Lucey was presented with the Indians’ Most Improved Player Award following his first season as the squad’s starting catcher.
One of the pitchers that Lucey worked with was junior Luca Lawrence, who burst onto the scene by pitching 64 innings in which he posted a 2.06 ERA and three victories. Lawrence, who worked all 11 innings when North Haven beat Xavier to win a share of its division, earned a spot on the All-Quinnipiac Team.
Senior utility infielder Matt Iovanne received the Indians’ Sportsmanship Award. Coach DeMayo complimented Iovanne for the enthusiasm that he displayed during every game, regardless of whether he was on the field or in the dugout.
Senior pitcher/outfielder Tom Myjak was presented with the DeMayo Scholarship, senior infielder Alphonse Fusco won the John Calamita Scholarship, and senior catcher Jake Tantorski earned the Max Sinoway Little League Scholarship for finishing with the highest grade-point average on the team.
Preston Young won four games on the mound for North Haven, while fellow senior Mark Tantorski recorded a pair of victories. Right fielder Craig Somma delivered one of the season’s biggest hits when he singled in the winning run in the pivotal Xavier victory, left fielder Chris Stevens drew 14 walks on the season, and first baseman Vinnie Anastasio batted .268 for the Indians. Coach DeMayo also noted the strong defensive play of all three of these seniors this spring. Fellow senior Griffin Bottomley also contributed to North Haven’s success by giving the team some quality innings in relief.
Junior designated hitter Steven Erbe hit .321 with 23 RBI for the Indians, whose two other juniors were first baseman Andrew Laudano and infielder Mike Salzano.
Sophomore Matt Solomon took hold of shortstop position and the leadoff spot in the batting order for North Haven. Solomon hit .276, drew 14 walks, scored 23 runs, and drove in the winning run when the Indians recorded their 3-2, walk-off win against Platt in the first round of states. First baseman/outfielder Hunter Garthwait was the other sophomore on the Indians’ roster, while freshman catcher/first baseman Dave Christoforo earned a late-season call-up to the varsity squad.
Coach DeMayo’s coaching staff featured varsity assistant Muchie Dagliere, pitching coach Ray Degnan, JV Head Coach Justin Falcon, and freshman Head Coach Mike Proto.