Summer plans set for top local 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.
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 All-American 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.