This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

H-K Baseball Was Poised for More Success This Year

Mark Brookes has been head coach of the Haddam-Killingworth baseball team for the past 44 years, but the spring of 2020 marks unprecedented territory for the veteran skipper. Last week, all spring sports were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coach Brooks felt confident that the Cougars once again had the makings of a competitive ball club if the season commenced.

“This was a very strange spring for sure,” said Brookes, who has led H-K to 44-straight winning seasons. “Initially, I thought we that we may be delayed a few weeks, so I kept messaging the players to keep working out, and I would work out a plan to return when given the green light.”

Unfortunately, that green light never came for H-K. Coach Brookes feels bad that his athletes, especially the members of the senior class, won’t get their final opportunity to take the diamond in the Cougars’ uniform.

“The more I learned about the virus, I soon realized that the pandemic would not end quickly,” Brookes said. “My heart goes out to all of our players, but for these seniors in particular, it is a difficult time. My advice to them has been to keep looking forward to the new experiences ahead of them.”

Brookes is the only head coach in the history of H-K baseball. He was hired to teach and coach when the high school was in the process of being built and given the opportunity to build the program from scratch. Brookes remembers how much baseball has meant to him all the way from childhood to playing college ball at Maryville College in Tennessee.

“I was never away from the game. I love everything about baseball, in particular the energy I get from the players every year,” said Brookes. “Relationships have been built with umpires, groundskeepers, opposing coaches, and people who have worked the concession stands. It’s been a big part of my life for a long time.”

These relationships have proved meaningful for Brookes as he’s guided the Cougars to numerous winning seasons through the years. In 2019, H-K finished with an overall record of 18-7 and advanced to Shoreline Conference final, where it lost to Portland. The Cougars also made it to the quarterfinals of the Class M State Tournament.

“Beating East Catholic in the Class M State Tournament was definitely my favorite moment from last season, because they were heavily favored, and a lot of people were saying they could win the whole thing,” Coach Brookes said. “[Carmelo] Rosa pitched that one and did a great job. We were able to scratch out some runs and came away with a hard-fought win.”

H-K was primed to be led by senior captains Mike O’Toole and Sam Erksine during the 2020 campaign. O’Toole, a first baseman, posted a .317 batting average with 20 RBI last year. Erksine, a catcher, batted .333 and had 14 RBI. Other notable players include senior pitcher Rosa, who went 2-1 with a 1.91 earned-run average in 2019, and senior backup catcher Peyton Frolich.

“Carm pitched in our biggest games late in the 2019 season,” said Brookes. “All of these guys had a tremendous impact on our team, and they will be missed. This is something that I never saw coming in my 45 years as a coach.”

In terms of what’s next for H-K, Coach Brookes said there will be an adjustment period for the Cougars in 2021. Both the incoming freshmen and the sophomores will come into the campaign with no varsity experience under their belts. Consequently, Coach Brookes knows that it will be up to the upperclassmen to lead the team by example.

“By missing a season, half the players in 2021 will be new to our program. This means that our coaching staff will need to introduce the players of 2023 and 2024 to our culture,” Brookes said. “I am looking forward to the coaching challenges next year.”

While he’s been on the ballfield for several decades, Brookes said that he still has plenty more left in the tank. The longtime coach has no intention of retiring any time soon.

“I’ve got no plans of retiring yet. I feel good, and I’m able to do it,” said Brookes. “My wife loves it, and it makes everything simple. The kids and her are what keep me motivated to do my job, and it doesn’t even feel like a job for me. It’s just a good time.”