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06/19/2022 12:00 AMHead Coach Butch Johnson was proud of the athletes on the East Haven baseball team for battling until the final out as the Yellowjackets persevered through numerous injuries this year. With many of the starters returning for next season, Coach Johnson envisions the Easties progressing into a team that feels confident every time they step on the diamond.
East Haven completed the 2022 season with an overall record of 4-16. The Yellowjackets finished the year strong by winning three of their last four games, posting victories over Wilbur Cross (8-1), Hillhouse-Career (10-4), and Branford (2-1).
Before the season even started, East Haven saw several of its top pitchers suffer injuries. Coach Johnson then had to scramble to find enough players who could pitch. Despite that setback, Johnson said that the Easties never got down on themselves and worked together to pick each other up.
“We were throwing freshmen and sophomores, anybody that could throw the ball. To their benefit, they played hard,” Coach Johnson said. “They competed and they never hung their heads. Some games we were getting crushed, but they kept trying.”
East Haven’s pitchers returned for the home stretch of the season, helping the Yellowjackets win three of four to close out the year. Those pitchers included junior Aaron McIntyre and sophomores Mason McCarroll and Peyton Torre. McCarroll was slated to be the team’s No. 1 starter this year, while McInytre and Torre were also expected to hold high-leverage roles. All three pitchers will be fixtures in the Yellowjackets’ rotation next year.
In their absence, East Haven turned to junior Jack Angelo, who was the starting pitcher in all four of the team’s victories this season. Angelo finished the year with a 4-2 record and a 2.85 ERA on his way to being named the Yellowjackets’ Most Valuable Player. Coach Johnson said that Angelo was a workhorse for the Easties and always wanted the ball in his hand when given the opportunity.
“He was incredible. We utilized Jack as much as we could,” said Johnson. “He pitched us to victory or kept us close. He was a horse out there. He never wanted to come out. He was a competitor through and through.”
The Yellowjackets also relied on a few other players to fill their pitching vacancies. Junior Rocco Lombardi, sophomore Joel Alvarado, and freshman Janvier Diaz all saw ample time on the mound for East Haven. Diaz served as one of the team’s primary starters. Coach Johnson said that all three players will be training hard during the offseason in preparation to take on bigger roles next year.
One area where Coach Johnson feels that the Yellowjackets need to improve is their hitting. There were definitely some highlights, such as the performance of junior captain Ryan Vallie, who posted a team-high batting average of .411 on the season. Diaz followed with a .345 average, sophomore Jason Kapinos batted .285, and fellow sophomore PJ Carangelo hit at a .270 clip. Still, Johnson said that there needs to be some growth for the squad on offense. Johnson believes that the experience his returning players gained this spring, coupled with some work during the offseason, will help the Easties take better at-bats every time they step up to the plate.
“They’ll all be seniors and juniors, a few sophomores next season, so they’ve all got experience. They all were getting better. They all know that,” Coach Johnson said. “Most of them are playing AAU over the summer. They’re going to come into next year with the confidence that we can win. They’re going to be ready to go.”
East Haven was led by two captains this year in senior Dom Golia and Vallie, a junior. Golia won the team’s Sportsmanship Award, while Vallie took home the Coaches’ Award. Senior Marcello Proto won the No ‘I’ Team Award that’s presented by the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club.
Coach Johnson said that his captains provided excellent leadership and helped guide the Yellowjackets through any murky waters throughout the season. With Vallie and Angelo having been named the captains for next year, Johnson knows that tradition is going to continue moving forward.
“We had great leadership. They all got along on and off the field. Dom and Ryan kept their heads up. They encouraged the kids to just keep trying,” said Johnson. “They led by example. I couldn’t ask for anything more from the two captains. Ryan and Jack are just going to continue it.”
With so many people coming back, Coach Johnson expects East Haven to be a competitive team next season. Johnson wants the Yellowjackets to believe that they can succeed when they hit the field in 2023. The Easties’ skipper said that his players have embraced that mentality and are ready to get back to work.
“We want to go out there and have a can win attitude rather than, ‘I hope we can win.’ We’re going to go out there and win next year,” Johnson said. “That’s their attitude. I think we’re going to have a pretty good year next year.”