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08/29/2019 12:00 AMDave Christoforo put together quite a season for the North Haven Senior American Legion baseball team this summer. Post 76 had a great campaign that featured 29 victories and a State Tournament berth, and Dave played a heavy hand in that success as the starting catcher. Dave was named North Haven’s co-Most Valuable Player and also won the team’s Best Batting Average Award. Dave is entering his senior year at North Haven High School, where he plays baseball and basketball for the Indians.
Dave feels proud about what Post 76 accomplished this year. North Haven earned three victories in the State Tournament before losing to Stamford in an elimination game.
“We had 29 big wins this year, and that was the most wins since 2008,” Dave says. “We got to regionals in the State Tournament, and we had a hard battle against Stamford. It didn’t end the way we wanted, but we put up a really good fight.”
Dave was a monster in the batter’s box for Post 76. Dave led the team with a .393 batting average after getting 35 hits, including 12 doubles and eight home runs. He also had 27 RBI and recorded a .486 on-base percentage. Dave credits his father, Dave Chrisotoforo, Sr., for helping him develop a consistent approach at the dish.
“I’m getting a lot better with my plate discipline and, this summer, it really showed,” says Dave, who has verbally committed to play baseball at Division I UConn. “Just from seeing my size, my opponents think I’m going to pull the ball. Since I was six or seven, my dad has said, ‘Hit up the middle, aim for the pitcher’s hat.’ It’s a really great strategy for me.”
Dave has always brought a big presence to the field, even when he was a kid. Dave’s coaches had him pegged as a first baseman early in his career, but he wound up finding his home behind the plate.
“As far as I go back, I was always a bigger kid on my team. The bigger kid that can’t really move goes to first base, and I just fell in love with catching the ball,” Dave says. “I think my biggest thing going to catcher was that not many people want to do it. I like being able to see what’s going on. It’s like being a traffic cop. What I say goes. What pitch I call goes. I see everything, and I am involved in every play.”
Dave has worked hard to become a complete catcher. He’s learned a lot about how to call a good game as a result of playing for Indians’ Head Coach Bob DeMayo, who typically signals what pitches he wants Dave to call from the dugout. This summer, Dave applied what he learned from DeMayo while competing for the Senior Legion team.
“I think I’m a really good defensive catcher, and my arm is my biggest asset on my defense,” says Dave. “I also think I can call a really good game. During high school, Coach DeMayo would call pitches, and he did a really good job. I would study why he would call those pitches, and I think that’s what made us successful this season at Legion. Well, that and a really good pitching staff.”
Two of Dave’s proudest moments on the ballfield came while playing for Coach DeMayo’s club during his sophomore year. Dave not only helped DeMayo get the 900th win of his career that spring, he also hit a walk-off homer that gave North Haven a 9-6 victory versus Berlin in the second round of the Class L State Tournament.
“My sophomore year, we got so far in the playoffs, and I hit two home runs against Berlin in the second round of states. That was probably my favorite moment and my favorite year with the team,” Dave says. “Coach DeMayo is probably the best coach in Connecticut, and his legacy will go on in history. Coach loves effort and a good attitude. We’re just a bunch of fighters. That’s why we average 15 wins a season. I was thankful to be a part of his 900th win.”
Senior Legion Head Coach Tim Binkoski was impressed with how Dave performed this season. Along with his defensive skills, Dave became a powerful presence in the middle of the lineup for Post 76.
“Dave had the ability to change the course of the game with one swing of the bat, and he did that in many games for us this year,” says Binkoski. “He was very productive for us. He had great summer, and I look forward to watching him continue grow in the game like he did this year.”
Dave is already looking forward to his senior year on the high school diamond. He’s ready to take North Haven’s underclassmen under his wing, while guiding the Indians in their quest to claim a state title.
“I just want to help lead the team in the right direction for a state championship,” Dave says. “I really love helping the younger guys out. I love the satisfaction I get from helping those players.”