Players step up for teammates off the field

Baseball players all over the state step up for each other on the field every day.

Recently, two teams stepped up off the field, showing that teammates really do become like family.

Last week, the grandmother of Cheshire senior pitcher Mike Pepe Jr. died suddenly.

Pepe’s grandmother was a prominent figure in his life and news of her passing hit him hard.

He told his coach and teammates he would not be able to attend the team’s game against Sheehan on Friday to attend her wake.

What Pepe was not ready for was for his teammates and coaches showing up at the wake in full uniforms after beating Sheehan 13-1.

The players lined up with the coaches behind them and each paid their respects at the casket before greeting the family.

Cheshire coach Bill Mrowka told the family at the wake “that the team wanted to be here,” according to the family.

BROTHERHOOD

The players at Notre Dame-West Haven proved that the concept of team as family extends to those players who have come before them.

Last fall, former NDWH player Matt Maler (Class of 2000, member of state championship team) was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

The team stepped up, making bracelets with #Allin, #Faith, and #Believe printed on them. Those slogans have become rallying cries for the team this season.

It went beyond the bracelets.

The varsity players each took the time to write Maler personal letters offering him support and positive thoughts. The players took turns, mailing one letter a week to Maler.

Maler was named the team’s honorary captain for the opening game this season and tossed out the first pitch in the opener.

“Notre Dame’s baseball program is all about brotherhood, so when we heard about Matt’s battle, we wanted to rally around him,” NDWH coach Don Martone said in a press release. “Whether during our weightlifting sessions, our workouts or during our games, Matt has been a major part of our motivation for our season. His fighting spirit is fresh in our minds as we give our best.”

COMING IN CONFIDENT

Last season Staples faced lofty expectations, with the Wreckers being voted either No. 1 or No. 2 in the preseason polls.

The team stumbled out the gate, falling out of the top 10 and not returning until after making a run all the way to the Class LL championship.

This season, the team came in with similarly high expectations, garnering all but one of the No. 1 votes opening the season.

This season, however, the Wreckers (6-2) did not get tripped up early, winning their first five games before dropping two games last week to Trumbull and Masuk, falling to No. 6 in the latest GameTimeCT poll.

NO-HITTER WATCH

Two no-hitters were tossed last week.

Henry Williams and

Jackson Vaught of Darien combined, no-hitting McMahon. Williams pitched five innings and Vaught the last two in the 6-0 victory.

William Homar of New Britain pitched a complete game, striking out two in a 3-0 victory over then-unbeaten Windsor.

GametimeCT only counts 7-inning games for its nohitter list, but one player who did not make the official list gets his well-deserved credit here.

John McDonald of Westhill threw a perfect game, though it only lasted five innings, as the Vikings defeated Danbury by run rule 10-0 last Wednesday.