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06/30/2016 12:00 AMClinton resident Matt Sommo recently began his first season as the new head coach of the Madison Junior American Legion baseball team. Matt, who played high school baseball at Morgan, collegiately at the University of New Haven, and also jumped around the independent professional circuit, felt that coaching was the next natural step of his baseball career.
“Last year, I coached in the fall for Madison 14-U. The program is great from the young kids through Legion. They do everything together as far as the kids that come up through the program, so they’re playing together forever,” says Matt. “I’m a new coach, so it took maybe a week for them to get used to me and then we play baseball. It’s not a bunch of kids from different towns, so we can get on the field and just play baseball.”
Matt was a shortstop and also pitched when he played for Morgan. Matt was part of some great teams with the Huskies and loved the time he spent with the program.
“For Morgan, I played shortstop and pitched every other game, essentially. High school was pretty good and we had successful teams every year,” Matt says. “We went 20-0 and lost in the quarters one year, but made the quarters or semis every single year. We always had a good team, so it was fun to play in that program.”
Matt became a pitcher because he liked having such a big impact on a contest each time he took the mound. Due to his effectiveness, Matt earned the chance to play in the college ranks.
“Starting pitching was great. I loved to be in control of the game. Going to UNH was great. I didn’t know much about college baseball or the school itself, but playing a sport in college was great because it kept me focused,” says Matt. “Building the team camaraderie was great. Having 25 guys to hang with and who loved the game was great. We had a lot of success and the atmosphere was unbelievable.”
Matt then competed on the professional level and enjoyed his time in the independent circuit. Matt got the opportunity to both start and pitch out of the bullpen, while traveling across the country.
“I played all over the country. I played for Sioux Falls, London [Ontario], Bridgeport; Somerset, New Jersey; and Sussex County, New Jersey. It was unbelievable getting to see the whole country. Before that, I went to Florida and North Carolina, so being able to travel to the Midwest, Texas, Canada, and all over with a great group of guys, experienced players, and other veteran guys, you learn about all different cultures and get to see the world. It was a great opportunity,” says Matt. “I bounced back from being a starter to the bullpen, so I could get a feel for the whole game. The dugout, game charts, being around the whole game will benefit me as far as coaching goes.”
Matt appreciates how the transition to coaching allows him to stay in the game, although he admits that he misses being out there on the field.
“Some days it’s tough because you want to go out there and play, but I have to pass on knowledge of what I’ve learned and seen through other professional players,” he says. “I can pick up tips here and there, listening to other coaches, and pass on baseball knowledge. If they have an idea of why they’re doing certain things, that’s when they’ll start to succeed.”
Madison Senior Legion Coach Jeff Buck says Matt has been a welcome addition to the Post 79 program due to his tremendous knowledge of the sport.
“He is a great addition to our program. Last fall when he first started, he had a good group of guys he managed very well. He was able to make the kids play better,” says Buck. “He presents himself well and expects the best out of each player day in and day out, which we try and harp on in our program. His knowledge of the game only increases that expectation and the talent level is only increasing due to that knowledge.”
Matt feels that his vast amount of pitching experience is helping him in his coach’s role with Madison.
“I think it’d be tough to coach if you didn’t have a pitching background. You need to repeat mechanics and pound the zone. You have to be a bulldog on the mound and adapt to adversity,” says Matt. “I think pitchers and coaches primarily see more in the game. They understand hitter’s tendencies, know what to do on the mound, and know where to back up. Being a pitcher benefits in every aspect.”
Last week, Madison picked up its first two Zone 3 victories this summer and is 2-6 in zone play through the early portion of the campaign. Despite his team’s slow start, Matt has established Post 79’s goals and is pleased to see his players getting better every day.
“We’ve started off slow, but played competitive games and learned from our mistakes. Within the three weeks I’ve been coaching them, they’re picking up things,” says Matt. “They’re learning situations and [comprehending] the game of baseball—not just going out there to have fun. They’re learning situations to improve their overall game and that’s what I’m happiest about.”