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07/27/2017 12:00 AMChris Ciarleglio has experienced a few setbacks as an up-and-coming baseball player in North Haven, but he’s never given up on himself, and that resiliency helped Chris become a key member of the Post 76 Senior Legion baseball team this summer.
Chris didn’t compete for the North Haven High School baseball program in either of the last two seasons. During his JV tryout as a sophomore, Chris suffered a broken ankle. Then this year, Chris broke one of his wrists prior to tryouts and sat out the season. While he was understandably upset that he didn’t get his chance with the Indians, Chris turned his time away from the game into a positive by contemplating different ways that he could stay healthy. When the recent summer season started, Chris was ready to go and ready to deliver on the mound for Post 76.
“I think it was positive. It was a positive thing, because it made me think about my body and my arm and keeping them healthier. It woke me up and kept me focused,” says Chris. “I ice my arm every day and I run. I don’t take anything for granted, so I’m always running to keep myself healthy for my next start. My arm used to hurt after games, but not this year, and I think it’s because I’ve focused on keeping myself healthy.”
Even though Chris hadn’t seen any recent time on the field, Senior Legion Head Coach Tim Binkoski gave him a chance this summer. Binkoski says that he immediately took note of Chris’s poise as a pitcher.
“I didn’t know what to expect of him this year. Right off the bat, he really impressed me with how he goes after batters and attacks the zone. If he gets in a situation, he’s a bulldog, where he works out of it,” Binkoski says. “He really pitched some great games. He did a hell of a job day in and day out. He kept us in a lot of ballgames.”
Ultimately, Chris’s pitching prowess helped Post 76 earn a third-place finish in Zone 2, the team’s first State Tournament berth in several years, and a first-place finish at the inaugural Dan Riccio Memorial Tournament. Chris has been pitching since he first started playing baseball and enjoys everything that accompanies toeing the rubber.
“I always loved pitching, and it’s all I’ve ever focused on. I took bits and pieces of what other players do to make my game better. I have a knack, and I just love it. I’m always focused on it, and it worked out,” says Chris. “I throw a curveball, fastball, and changeup. The curve is my main pitch, because I have the most control over that. [Former Senior Legion Head Coach Charlie Flanagan] showed me the spike grip and, ever since then, I’ve been very successful with it.”
Chris applauds North Haven’s fielders for playing some great defense behind him this year. He brings a cerebral approach to the hill and likes to keep opposing batters guessing by throwing any pitch in any situation.
“I clear my mind and focus on each and every batter. My coach gives me information about the opposing batter that I keep in the back of my head,” Chris says. “I always switch up counts, so I’ll throw fastballs in curveball counts and curveballs in fastball counts.”
On the heels of his solid summer season, Chris is hoping to play for the high school team next spring. The next stop on Chris’s quest will see him compete for North Haven’s fall ball squad during the coming months.
“I pitched in front of [Indians’ Head Coach Bob DeMayo] against West Haven a few starts ago. It would be a dream come true to play for the high school, because I’ve always wanted to play for DeMayo. I just want to be a part of the team and I want to make a difference, also,” says Chris. “It’s very exciting to know I have a chance to pitch. I want to give my team a chance to win every game.”