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05/31/2020 12:00 AMAfter winning 14 games last year, Head Coach Billy Mitchell and the North Branford baseball squad were excited to getting back on the diamond and build off of that success in 2020. The Thunderbirds’ roster featured a nice blend of veterans and underclassmen who wanted to prove they could thrive at the highest level.
North Branford came into the year with eight seniors, five juniors, five sophomores, and 12 freshmen in the program. Coach Mitchell was looking to rely on the leadership of his seniors to help bring along the T-Birds’ newcomers. Unfortunately, Mitchell never got to see that happen because of COVID-19.
“Obviously, it was very disappointing. All the kids, especially the seniors, worked really hard,” said Mitchell. “Our seniors last year and this year were a special group of guys. They were really looking forward to the season. A few guys didn’t play varsity a lot [last year], but probably would have started this year. It’s just very disappointing and very sad.”
North Branford was going to be led by senior captains Bret Fee and John Pollock, who were both pitchers on last year’s club. Coach Mitchell said that Fee and Pollock led by example and produced on the field in their junior campaigns. Fee posted a record of 5-2 with a 1.57 earned-run average and 68 strikeouts as a junior. Pollock went 6-3 with a 2.03 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Pollock also batted .293 on his way to making the All-Shoreline Conference First Team and the All-State Class S First Team.
“These two guys are probably the two hardest-working guys I’ve ever had. Even right now, they’re at the high school, throwing the ball and long tossing, while social distancing,” Mitchell said of Pollock and Fee. “They definitely would’ve been two of the top pitchers in the Shoreline [Conference] this year. John was All-State last year, and Bret was just dominant. They’re tremendously hard-working kids.”
Along with Fee and Pollock, North Branford’s roster also featured fellow seniors Steve Adamczyk, Nick Bonaldo, Tyler Capasso, Enrique Diaz, Sean Lucibello, and Jonathon Michonski. Diaz was once again penciled in to start at shortstop for North Branford. Coach Mitchell said that all of Diaz’s hard work helped him become “one of the best infielders in the Shoreline.”
Mitchell also said that Lucibello would have been a starter in the outfield. The T-Birds’ skipper added that Bonaldo, Capasso, Adamczyk, and Michonski were going to “get their shot” as seniors after having previously been role players for the team.
Even though North Branford was unable to play this year, the community still found a way to honor the team’s senior athletes. On May 27, the Thunderbirds celebrated their Senior Night in a unique way when current players, members of their families, people in the baseball community, and local firefighters met outside the North Branford High School auditorium for a parade that commemorated the seniors’ contributions to the program. The players received gifts and gave flowers to their families as people drove by to pay tribute to the T-Birds’ departing seniors.
“It was kind of bittersweet, because we didn’t get to actually play any games, but it made Senior Night more special,” said Fee. “Everyone came out.”
In addition to his seniors, Coach Mitchell was expecting a big season out junior Jadon Canelli, who was going to pitch and play first base. Mitchell thinks that Canelli has a future at the collegiate level following his time with the Thunderbirds. North Branford’s other juniors are Jeremy Bunnell, Patrick Mullen, Anthony Raffone, and Nick Tranquilli.
Coach Mitchell also pointed out sophomore Dominic Scalia, a pitcher who was also slated to play center field. Mitchell said that Scalia is drawing interest from colleges and expects him to be “dominant” as a junior next year. The other members of North Branford’s sophomore class are Ryan Anderson, Ryan Michonski, Ryan Nuzzo, and Michael Virginelli.
With 12 freshmen in the mix, Mitchell believed that the 2020 campaign was going to provide a great chance for those players to get significant varsity experience. North Branford’s freshmen are David Santiago, Rob Brennan, Drew Girardi, Nico Desisto, Cameron Garret, William Seward V, Ryan Chasanoff, Robert Dolzani, Ben Stagina, John Onofrio, Nico Falconi, and Jake Rispoli.
“The freshman class is really big. A lot of those guys would have gotten varsity experience this year,” said Mitchell. “Next year, they would have moved right in, and the transition wouldn’t have been as difficult for them. Now, they’re going to be pushed right into varsity experience, so it’ll be a little harder on them.”
Coach Mitchell felt that the T-Birds had a great shot at being serious contenders in both the Shoreline Conference and Class S state ranks this year. As North Branford looks ahead to next season, Mitchell is hoping that groundwork established by the graduating seniors will pay dividends for the program going forward.
“We’re going to lose a lot this year. We have a big freshman class with some great players, and we are going to work hard next year,” Mitchell said. “We are going to have to work hard with our young guys, especially those missing out on the varsity experience they would have gotten this year. But we have talent, we have pitching. We should be OK.”