Summer plans set for top players
The New England Collegiate Baseball League and Futures League are back in action with many former Connecticut standouts returning home to compete.
Here’s a look at some of the top local players who will be competing for Connecticut teams in the leagues this summer:
NECBL BRISTOL BLUES
Luke Garofalo, So., Pitcher, Central Connecticut State (Coginchaug): Garofalo attended both Xavier and Coginchaug as a Connecticut high school baseball player and hails from Middletown. He was named to the New Haven Register All-Area team in 2017, and this year went 5-1 with a 1.26 ERA while striking out 57 in 43 innings.
DANBURY WESTERNERS
Jack Bowery, Fr., Pitcher, Marist (Fairfield Prep): Bowery was a 2021 All-SCC selection out of Fairfield Prep and went on to pitch 44 innings as a freshman at Marist. Bowery was twice named the MAAC rookie of the week and was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team.
Harrison Feinberg, Fr., Outfielder, Southern California (Greenwich, King School): Feinberg was a preseason All-American in 2020 out of the King School in Stamford. The Greenwich native was ranked the second best outfielder in Connecticut his senior year and carried his talents to USC where he is awaiting his collegiate debut.
Aeden Finatery, Fr., Pitcher, Georgia Tech (Avon Old Farms):
The Watertown resident attended Avon Old Farms and was designated the third best high school Connecticut pitcher in the state in 2020 and was able to get in 33 innings of work as a freshman at Georgia Tech this spring.
Ryan Higgins, Fr., Pitcher, Duke, (St. Luke’s):
The Norwalk resident attended St. Luke’s and was a member of the Cane’s National program which won the 2020 Perfect Game 17U National Championship. Easily running his fastball into the 90s, Higgins got nine innings of work as a freshman at Duke this spring.
Jake Hyde, So., Infielder/ Outfielder, Georgetown (Darien, Brunswick): The Darien resident went to Brunswick in Greenwich where he led the team to two conference championships. Hyde hit well at Georgetown this year, slashing .282/.400/.462.
Korey Morton, So., Outfielder, UConn (Brien McMahon): The Norwalk resident was an All-FCIAC selection in 2019 and was a standout sprinter as well, claiming the FCIAC 55meter dash championship twice. This year as a sophomore at UConn, Morton slashed .411/.451/.661 with six home runs, 28 RBIs and 27 runs scored in helping the Huskies advance to the Super Regional before falling to Stanford.
Billy Oldham, Sr., Pitcher, Eastern Connecticut State (Brookfield):
Was a Class M All-State selection out of Brookfield as a senior, and just helped lead Eastern Connecticut through its Division III College World Series championship run. He finished the season going 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA while striking out 120 batters over 96 innings.
Braden Quinn, Fr., Pitcher,
UConn (New Fairfield):
Quinn was an AllState and All-SWC selection as a senior out of New Fairfield in 2021. As a freshman at UConn this spring, Quinn pitched 15.1 innings in relief to earn his first career win and save.
Kyle Roche, Sr., Pitcher, Franklin & Marshall (Newtown): The 2018 Class LL All-State and All-SWC selection out of Newtown was named a D3 baseball 2nd Team AllAmerican in 2021 after pitching 45 innings with a 1.00 ERA. In his four years at Franklin & Marshall he has pitched 127 innings, struck out 144 and holds a 3.90 ERA.
MYSTIC SCHOONERS
Bowen Baker, Jr., Pitcher, Fairfield (Wheeler): Baker was a two-time 1st Team All-ECC selection in baseball as well as soccer and basketball at Wheeler. At Fairfield this spring he pitched 21.1 innings with 19 strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA.
Jared Burrows, Jr., Pitcher, Bryant (Waterford): The 2020 Gatorade Pitcher of the Year led Waterford to the 2019 Class L state championship. The two-time state champion transferred from Hartford to Bryant and started eight games this spring.
Charlie Pagliarini, Jr., Infielder, Fairfield (Trumbull, St. Joseph): The 1st Team All-State and All-FCIAC selection is the all-time home run leader at St. Joseph with 21 and helped lead the Cadets to the 2019 Class M state championship. This season at Fairfield, Pagliarini hit .268 with 13 home runs.
Anthony Steele, So., Pitcher/1B/OF, Penn State (Shelton): An AllState selection out of Shelton and has played on both sides of the ball at Penn State. He appeared in seven games out of the bullpen this spring and got 97 at bats.
Futures NEW BRITAIN BEES
CJ Brito-Trinidad, So., Infielder, Bowdin (Kent): The prep school product has a tremendous year at Bowdin, hitting .382 with five home runs, 31 RBIs, and 47 runs scored. He also pitched 6.1 innings in relief, allowing just one earned run.
Ryan Daniels, Fr., Infielder, UConn (St. Paul):
The GameTimeCT All-State selection has been one of the best hitters in the state
over the past two years. Daniels helped lead St. Paul to a state championship this spring and will get a look at the next level of pitching this Summer.
Anthony Depino, So., Infielder, Rhode Island (Daniel Hand): The Hand third basemen was a GameTimeCT 1st Team All-State selection in 2021 after he hit .400 with five home runs to lead the Tigers to the first Class L state title in school history. This year Depino was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team and was rookie of the week three times. He slashed .281/.436/ .635 with 16 home runs, 39 RBIs and 42 runs scored.
NORWICH SEA UNICORNS
Tyler Kipp, So., Catcher, Fairfield (Masuk): Kipp was an All-State selection out of Masuk in 2021 while claiming All-SWC honors twice. The Fairfield Stag started four games and got 28 at bats in his first season.
Drew Kron, Fr., Outfielder, UConn (Xavier): Kron just finished his final season of high school baseball as captain of Xavier, which was ranked No. 1 in the state at a point. The AllState selection is committed to UConn and will get some college level reps at Norwich.
Alistair Morin, So., Pitcher, Siena (Norwalk):
The 2nd Team All-State selection in 2021 was a captain for the Class LL champion Norwalk Bears. He threw a no-hitter in the first round of the tournament and looks to debut for Siena next Spring.
Connor Podeszwa, So., Pitcher/Infielder, Tufts (Waterford):
Podeszwa was a 1st Team All-State selection in 2021 as well as Connecticut’s Gatorade Player of the Year. He appeared in nine games as a pitcher for Tufts, starting five of them to the tune of a 5-2 record, a 3.20 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. He also went 4-for15 at the plate.
Bo Yaworski, So., 1B, Mitchell (Killingly):
Yaworski pitched Killingly’s first no-hitter since 2003 two seasons ago as a senior, and was recognized as a GameTimeCT 1st team All-State selection. In his first year at Mitchell he slashed .393/.548/.593 with five home runs, 44 RBIs, and 42 runs scored. He walked (35) more than he struck out (18). He also pitched one scoreless inning.