The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Trumbull honors 1998 state champs
Few sports honor the past like baseball.
Prior to Trumbull High’s 5-3 win over Bunnell on Saturday, the school recognized the 1998 Class LL state championship team coached by the late Jerry McDougall with a ceremony originally scheduled for Friday night but pushed back a day by rain.
“We are very proud of the history and tradition of our program and when you have anniversaries like this come up, you have to celebrate them,” Trumbull coach Phil Pacelli said. “It really put a smile on my face to see all of the guys together, laughing and reminiscing. We had a really nice turnout. I saw a lot of faces that I haven’t seen in years. So, it was an allaround great day. It was also a great thing for my current team to see. I think they realized that this experience that they are having now will produce friends and memories for life.
“Also, it’s pretty amazing to think that this ’98 team produced two major leaguers (Craig Breslow and Jamie D’Antona), pretty amazing for a team from Connecticut.”
Those attending the ceremony Saturday were Abe and Ann Breslow (representing their son, Craig ), Donny Annicelle, Mike Buswell, D’Antona, Sean Dolyak, Ryan Komm, Peggy Metzger (representing her son, Greg), Tim Tvardzik, assistant coach Buddy Bray and assistant coach Mike Sciortino.
As part of the ceremony, the school retired D’Antona’s No. 16 jersey.
D’Antona went on to play at Wake Forest before being drafted into Major League Baseball by Arizona in the second round of the 2003 amateur draft.
He appeared in 18 games for the Diamondbacks in 2008.
In his MLB debut, July 22, 2008, D’Antona picked up a hit against the Chicago Cubs as a pinch-hitter.
He finished his professional career playing two seasons for the Yakult Swallows in Japan.
“It’s historical and special for all of us and this school,” D’Antona told Hearst Connecticut Media at the game Saturday. “It’s great to come back and honor that team.”
Breslow (17), Brian Tvardzik (25) and McDougall (44) are the others to have their numbers retired by the Eagles.
Breslow is currently a pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
With Fairfield Prep and Daniel Hand going down last week, only two CIAC schools remained unbeaten heading into Monday’s games.
In Class M, HaddamKillingworth is 11-0 after wins over East Hampton, Cromwell and North Branford last week.
Playing out of the Shoreline Conference, HaddamKillingworth will get its toughest test to date when it travels to league foe Coginchaug Friday for a 3:45 p.m. game.
Haddam-Killingworth defeated Coginchaug 4-2 at home April 20.
In Class S, Shepaug Valley out of the Berkshire League, now sits at 10-0 after beating rival Thomaston 7-3 last week.
Berkshire League opponent Nonnewaug (5-3) was to host Shepaug on Monday at 3:45 in a stiff test for the unbeatens.
Shepaug beat Nonnewaug 7-2 earlier in the season.
The Spartans have played eight of their first 10 games at home on Ted Alex Field in Washington.
Thursday saw two other undefeated teams, No. 1 Hand and Wolcott, drop their first games by the slimmest of margins.
Wolcott went down 8-7 to Seymour while Hand fell 7-6 to Wilton in the muchpostponed finale of the FCIAC-SCC Challenge.
Dillon Lifrieri and Jack Dinanno both hit home runs for the Warriors up in Madison.
SOGGY ST. JOE’S
After postponing games Friday and Saturday because of wet field conditions, St. Joseph was to give its home field another go Monday afternoon against Harding.
Until today, the Cadets have only been able to play one of 11 games on their home field due to all the rain this spring and a field that simply will not dry out.
Remarkably, the team is 8-3.
As of Sunday, the infield was muddy and the outfield grass was swamp-like, making it a dangerous environment to play games.
The Cadets not only had to play Stamford on a Sunday this past weekend, they had to move the game to Stamford High.