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05/20/2021 12:00 AMDanny Weinstein has unquestionably been one of the best players in the SCC this year, while helping the Hand baseball team establish itself as a powerhouse in the conference.
A senior captain first baseman, Danny is sporting a .451 batting average with two home runs for the Tigers, who have a record of 15-1 on the year. Danny has a pair of walk-off hits this season, including a three-run homer to win the game when Hand rallied from an 11-run deficit to get a 12-11 victory versus West Haven.
“This season has been incredible so far. My favorite moment was when I hit a walk-off home run to defeat West Haven, after being down by 11 runs earlier in the game. The amount of energy that was in the stands and coming from my dugout was truly unforgettable,” Danny says. “Our team’s record speaks volumes about how competitive and tenacious our team is. Going forward, I believe our team has a great chance of achieving both SCC and state titles.”
Head Coach Travis LaPointe believes that Danny is the heart and soul of his squad. LaPointe describes Danny as the epitome of tenacity and says that his positive energy has a big impact on the Tigers, especially in high-pressure situations.
“Danny is leaving a legacy that is going to live on throughout our baseball program for years to come. He loves being in the big moment and feeds off all of his teammates when he is on the center stage. He always believes that we are going to win and that we are going to be successful,” says LaPointe. “Danny goes out of his way to be a great teammate, and he has the ability to laugh at himself and make everyone around him even more comfortable. His value to our team is immeasurable, and I am going to miss him so much when he moves on next year.”
Danny and Coach LaPointe have grown close as the 2021 season has unfolded. Danny has the utmost confident that LaPointe can guide the Tigers to the highest heights this spring.
“Me and Coach LaPointe have gotten to know each other very well this season. I have huge trust in him to lead our team in the right direction,” Danny says. “He is somebody that inspires everyone to achieve their goals and work harder. His mentality has been immeasurable in helping our team’s success.”
Danny is an ultimate competitor on the diamond and hones his skills by competing in every practice as if it were a game. Baseball is the lone sport that Danny plays, and he dedicates a lot of time to it.
“To improve my game, I try to play each practice as if it were in a game situation. Giving maximum focus on all reps has helped me stay dialed in come game time,” says Danny. “I also have put in countless hours in the cage with my other teammates outside of scheduled practice, and this has helped everybody become better friends and ballplayers.”
Hand is finishing up its regular season this week, after which the Tigers will compete in both the SCC Tournament and the Class L State Tournament. Danny’s hope is to conclude his high school career on a high note by helping Hand bring home postseason hardware in 2021.
“My expectations for the rest of the season are to compete for the SCC and Class L state titles,” Danny says. “Our team is incredibly talented and has competed and beat other top teams in the state of Connecticut.”