Printer Friendly Version - T-Birds Baseball Ready to Strike with Swarm of Talent

After earning Second Team All-Shoreline accolades in 2022, senior tri-captain and second baseman Cam Garrett is one of several sound senior leaders for the North Branford baseball team this spring. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Sound

John Onofrio, a senior tri-captain for the T-Birds’ baseball team, will be an infield leader for North Branford in 2023 at the shortstop position as the squad looks to claim a conference crown and go deep in states. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Sound

No matter the circumstances, such as injuries, or years and games of varying varsity experience amongst its members, the North Branford baseball team will attack all the challenges of its upcoming campaign with a plethora of talent and class guidance from its veteran ranks.

North Branford completed its 2022 season with an overall record of 16-9. The T-Birds finished on a hot streak by winning their last six games of the regular season before advancing to the semifinals of the Shoreline Conference Tournament and the quarterfinals of the Class S State Tournament.

After going 13-7 in the regular season, North Branford competed in the Shoreline Conference Tournament as the No. 5 seed and claimed a 6-5 win versus No. 4 Haddam-Killingworth in the quarterfinal round. The T-Birds then took an 8-3 defeat against top-seeded Valley Regional in the semifinals.

The Thunderbirds went on to participate in the Class S State Tournament as the No. 9 seed, earning victories over No. 24 Wamogo (19-2) and No. 8 Coginchaug (9-5) in the opening rounds of the draw. North Branford went on to take a 19-2 loss to No. 1 seed and eventual state champion St. Paul in a quarterfinal game.

North Branford started off 2023 by scoring an 8-1 decision over Morgan on April 3.

Head Coach Billy Mitchell noted that while the T-Birds bring back a bit more youthful of a bunch to the fold on the field for 2023, they are backed up by a bevy of clutch and quality senior leadership with seasoned skills and intangibles.

“The season will be a work in progress because we have a lot of younger players,” said Mitchell. “Yet the seniors on this team have taken on great leadership roles. If we play good defense, throw strikes, and pitch well, then we should be fine.”

At the center of that senior core are tri-captains of Nico Falciono, John Onofrio, and Cam Garrett. Second baseman Garrett comes back to North Branford after a Second Team All-Shoreline Conference selection for 2022, while Onofrio will anchor the infield at shortstop, and Falciono will be at first base.

“John is a very competitive guy, and he is one of the better infielders in the Shoreline Conference. He brings competitiveness and leadership to the team, and with injuries we have, he will also be called upon to pitch,” said Mitchell. “Cam is a great leader, and Nico is solid defensively and will bat third in the lineup. I am lucky to have three great leaders that take control of the team.”

One senior who the T-Birds will be without is Nico DeSisto, who will miss the year after tearing his ACL during basketball season, who Mitchell noted, “would have been one of our top pitchers.”

Still, North Branford counters with a solid sophomore foursome of outfielder Matthew Scalia, southpaw pitcher Jason O’Connor, third baseman/pitcher Kyle Stegina, and catcher Yamil Perez. Rounding out the remaining grades of players, Victor Castillo will spend time at second base as a junior, and freshman Charlie O’Brien will gravitate towards the grass of left field.

“Matt usually plays right field, but he will also play center when our center fielder pitches; he has a great arm, is a good hitter, a big kid, and a really good player,” said Mitchell. “Jason is a reliable lefty on the mound. He is a competitive guy, and we will rely on him. Kyle is a hard-throwing righty. Yamil will help us out a lot; he is tremendous defensively and a big plus for us. He’s a solid player and will also pitch a little bit. Charlie is way beyond his years; he is a good defensive player and hitter.”

The Shoreline Conference always offers the best of competition throughout its ranks. When glancing at the schedule, Mitchell is keen on a pair of nearby rivals and fellow conference crown contenders.

“Obviously, our big games are the regular ones, such as [2022 league runner-up] Valley Regional,” said Mitchell. “They were really good last year, and I think they are even better this year. We played them tough last year. Haddam-Killingworth is always a force in our league year in and year out.”

The Thunderbirds want to come storming right out of the starting gates this spring, as it will prove critical to their latter-season objectives towards attaining postseason glory. Mitchell concluded that it is also about the bigger picture in giving these young men the motivation necessary to excel beyond graduation.

“On the field, our goals are to get off to a good start this season, win the Shoreline Conference, and win states. We always set high goals, and the kids buy into it,” said Mitchell. “Off the field, we want to get these kids ready for college. We as coaches stress responsibility to them. I am blessed to have tremendous kids here.”

Mitchell is assisted in the dugout this spring by coaches Chris Hersom, Ron Ragozzino, Frank Mentone, and Nick Mancini.

The 2023 North Branford baseball team roster is comprised of seniors in Falciono, Onofrio, Garrett, William Seward V, Nicholas Beecher, DeSisto, Jake Rispoli, and Robert Dolzani; juniors of Castillo, Peter Ramada, Caleb Allen, and Christopher Olsen; sophomores with Adam Virginelli, O’Connor, Perez, Scalia, Stegina, Jason Cosgrove, Kyle Anderson, Ryan DeLucia, Jayden Giardina, Brody Minnocci, and Anthony Sullivan; and freshmen of Gavin Leone, O’Brien, Chase Cioffi-Smith, Gabriel Blyschak, Michael Budd, TJ Connelly, Nicholas Maher, Nicco Martone, Jacob Poston, and Calen Raymond.