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07/13/2022 12:00 AMBorn into a baseball family, Mike Anquillare always dreamed of playing the sport for his hometown of North Haven. During the past four years, Mike has turned those dreams into a reality by forging a career with the Nighthawks that saw him become a senior captain, an All-SCC and All-State honoree, and the recipient of this year’s Robert DeMayo Scholarship.
Mike started playing baseball from the time he could walk. Mike had three big mentors who helped him get involved with the sport in his grandfather John, uncle Dave, and father Mike. All three played baseball in college, while his grandfather also played USA Baseball. As he grew up through the sport, Mike’s three mentors helped shape him into the player that he is today.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have such great mentors. My grandfather was the pioneer for baseball,” says Mike. “They all played college baseball, they all played independent ball. Learning from them was awesome.”
At the age of six, Mike began playing for a North Haven Juniors team that his father had founded. Mike’s team didn’t lose a game in those first two years, and it was some of the most fun that he’s ever had playing baseball. The experience showed Mike that he could have a future in the game and made him want to pursue baseball further.
“I loved going out there and showing what I could do. Obviously, I was having fun while doing it,” Mike says. “I was with my friends. My dad was there, and he was helping me out. I was confident in myself that I could make an impact.”
Mike played with team through his 6th-grade year. He then played for the CT Edge from 7th grade into his freshman year. In 8th grade, Mike participated in the Juniors Futures Game in Grand Park, Indiana. As he played in Indiana, Mike felt that it was time to prove that he could make a name for himself on the ballfield.
As a freshman, Mike joined the North Haven baseball program and competed for the freshman and JV teams. Playing for the Nighthawks was a dream come true for Mike. His father used to be the head coach at West Haven High School, helping lead the team to a state title. Mike grew up around high school baseball players. Now that it was his turn, Mike was ready for the big stage.
“It was awesome. It’s something I dreamed about my whole life. My dad coached at West Haven and won a state championship in 2009. Being around high school guys prepared me for my moment,” says Mike. “Playing for your town and for your school is awesome. It’s something I’ll miss about high school—the pride you have for your town.”
Although his sophomore season was canceled, the subsequent year marked two crucial moments in Mike’s baseball journey. First, Mike spent countless hours with his father in the backyard using their home batting cage. He spent time hitting balls off a machine and would go to various fields around town with his dad to catch fly balls and take grounders. Mike wanted to do everything he could to be prepared for when he returned to the field as a junior.
Mike also had an opportunity to play in the Futures Game in DuBois, Indiana, competing against some of the best sophomores in the country. He also played for the Shoreline Breakers, coached by Trevor Brown, who runs Prep Baseball Report. Brown helped Mike get into contact with numerous colleges, one of which was Stony Brook University. After working his entire life to play in college, Mike committed to Stony Brook in the summer heading into his junior year, on Aug. 8, he proudly states.
“It was something I worked my entire life for. It has always been a dream of mine,” Mike says. “To think it’s actually happening is surreal. I can’t believe it. My father played at Fordham, and my uncle and grandfather played at New Haven. It’s such an honor to carry on the tradition in the family.”
When he returned to the North Haven baseball team, Mike joined the full-time varsity roster and served as the team’s first baseman in his junior year. He then moved to right field for his senior season. At first base, Mike knew that he had to be a commander and always stay on his toes and for the throw. Mike felt that he had bit more fun in the outfield with chasing down balls to try and make diving plays. Mike’s philosophy in right field was to make sure that no baseball hit the grass.
Entering his senior year, Mike and his fellow seniors were the same kids who had started for his North Haven Juniors team. Mike felt proud to play his final year with the Nighthawks alongside those teammates and says that he wouldn’t have traded his senior season for the world.
Mike had an opportunity to lead his teammates as a senior co-captain with Owen Pincince this year. Mike felt honored to be a named captain by his teammates and says that it was a storybook finish to his baseball career in North Haven.
“These are some of my best friends. When they elected me as a co-captain, I was so honored. I knew I had to step it up and lead by example,” says Mike. “I think I did that as best as I could. Being selected co-captain was just another honor. It was like a Cinderella moment for my senior year.”
As a senior, Mike posted a .375 batting average with 21 hits, including a home run, to go with 14 runs scored, 19 RBI, and an on-base percentage of .584. When the season came to a close, Mike was named to the All-SCC First Team and the All-State Class L Team. He was also an Academic All-State honoree.
After earning All-SCC Second Team accolades as a junior, Mike set a goal of making the First Team in his senior season. With his grandfather, father, and uncle all being All-State recipients at West Haven, it meant everything to Mike to follow in their footsteps as an All-State player for North Haven.
“It was always a goal to go First Team. When I found out about All-SCC, I was just astonished. I carried it into the playoffs, ready to represent the school. All the hard work over the years has gotten me there,” Mike says. “All-State was something totally new. My father, grandfather, and uncle were all All-State at West Haven. Being listed up there with them and some of the best players in the state was awesome.”
Mike was also selected as the recipient of the Robert DeMayo Scholarship this year. The scholarship is an award presented by Coach DeMayo and his wife Bette, recognizing a strong player in good academic standing who is a leader on the team and in the community. Mike says that words can’t describe how grateful he feels to have earned the scholarship. Mike wholeheartedly appreciates how much Coach DeMayo respects him and, in turn, Mike says he’s learned that DeMayo can outcoach anybody during the past four years.
Coach DeMayo says that Mike has provided a solid foundation at both first base and in right field for North Haven, while also bringing strong leadership to the Nighthawks. In awarding Mike the scholarship, DeMayo recognized everything that the senior captain has done to benefit both the North Haven baseball program and the town in general throughout his high school tenure.
“Mike was our right fielder, and he can also play a great first base,” says DeMayo. “He was a co-captain and a great leader and role model for our team this past year.”
Mike also served as a senior captain for the North Haven boys’ ice hockey team this year. Mike helped the Nighthawks win their second-straight conference title and advance to the Division II state final on their way to an overall record of 23-3. Mike made many memories with his hockey teammates and says that playing the sport taught him how to be hard-nosed no matter how tough the competition is.
Mike always wanted to be a high school baseball player, but not just any baseball player. Mike wanted to be a North Haven baseball player, competing for Coach DeMayo and representing his town. Mike got that opportunity over the past four years and, as he goes on to Stony Brook, Mike says that playing for the Nighthawks taught him how to play with pride every time he stepped on the diamond.
“Being a North Haven baseball player is something I’ve dreamed of since I was young. I’ve always wanted to play for Coach DeMayo, wear North Haven across my chest, and represent the town,” Mike says. “It’s the coolest thing in the world. It has taught me how to play with pride.”