Printer Friendly Version - Hand Baseball Competed Through Adversity and Injuries

The Tigers’ baseball team competed furiously against the best clubs in the SCC and state in finishing 9-12 overall for its 2023 campaign, qualifying for a return trip to the Class L State Tournament. Photo courtesy of Travis LaPointe

The Hand baseball team grew in great length throughout the spring of 2023–garnering another playoff appearance while being a squad that truly made each club they faced earn their decisions after the final out was made.

Head Coach Travis LaPointe and the Tigers wrung out nine victories for their 20-game regular season run–missing qualification for the Southern Connecticut Conference Tournament, yet earning a bid into the Class L State Tournament. Once there, Hand suffered a hard-fought 5-4 defeat to No. 8 Bristol Central in the opening round as the 25th seed to conclude all 2023 affairs at 9-12 overall.

Even with a sub-.500 finish and early exit from the postseason, LaPointe pines with pride when he looks back on the efforts of his boys this spring–taking on the toughest competition in one of the most competitive conferences in the state and utilizing it as a chance to show their stuff rather than as a crutch.

“This year we finished 9-12 and competed in every single game,” said LaPointe. “I would still argue that we were one of the better teams in the SCC and across the state. In addition to having such a young team, we just couldn’t keep up with the demands of our schedule and some of the injuries that impacted our team.”

Speaking further to the slate of games the Tigers took on, they entertained a quartet of SCC clubs in the upper-echelon of the league and state title conversations. No matter the result, one thing you could never claim about this group was that they rolled over for their adversaries.

“We had two separate consecutive four game stretches of Fairfield Prep, Xavier, Notre Dame-West Haven, and Amity. We went 1-7 in those games, including an electric 12-11 walk-off win over Xavier,” LaPointe said. “Although we had a chance to win each of those games, we just did not have the personnel to win consistently against those types of teams this year. But it wasn’t for lack of toughness or competing. We gave everything we had all year and just came up a little short too many times, including in our 5-4 loss to Bristol Central in the first round of the state tourney.”

Senior first baseman and captain Troy Piascik was 30-for-66 with a .455 batting average on the campaign. He had two home runs, 20 RBI, and 17 runs scored to wind up on First Team All-SCC for his efforts. Additionally, junior shortstop Nick Antonetti maintained a .317 batting average. He scored 22 runs and had eight RBI.

Further bolstering the Hand offense, junior designated hitter, catcher, and left fielder Vinny Benevento had a .339 batting average (20-for-59) and roped in 11 RBI and eight runs scored. Sophomore right fielder Sam Markovitz was 13-for-34 for a .382 batting average with 11 RBI.

LaPointe also noted that juniors Tai Nuzzi (second baseman), Ben Kuja (in center field), senior Cole Daignault (at third), sophomore Alex Modica (outfielder), senior Jacob Rachler (outfielder), juniors David Quoka (outfielder), Braeden Simmons (second baseman), Nick Earl (in the outfield), freshman Nick Maynard (patrolling the infield) and sophomore Paul Calandrelli (catcher), “all were great contributors for us” and helped the Tigers overcome several setbacks throughout the roster.

“[Junior] Will Patla missed his entire junior season due to a hip surgery,” said LaPointe. “He would have been a huge piece in the middle of our order. He will be back and fully healthy next year, so we are really thankful for that. Cole Daignault, a senior captain, also missed over half the season with a hand surgery. Ben Kuja missed a big portion of the season with some lower body injuries. All of those injuries, plus a few more, made a big difference but many other guys stepped up.”

For the team awards, Calandrelli earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award and junior Brandon SanMarco was bestowed with the honor of Pitcher of the Year.

“Paul had excellent defense behind the plate. There is just no way to measure what he does for us back there. He also pitched some crucial innings for us,” said LaPointe. “Brandon SanMarco was our ace of the staff all year. He pitched in most of our biggest games and toughest opponents. Additionally, [sophomore] Sam Markovitz, Paul Calandrelli, [juniors] Owen Scarice, Johnny Reh, Payton Powell, and [senior] Kiran Pathy all gave us great innings on the mound this year.”

Led by 2024 captains Nuzzi and Kuja, Hand will welcome back critical pieces throughout the sophomore and junior classes that gained a breadth of experience and wealth of in-game instincts–paving a promising path for the Tigers to trek a little bit deeper into the states’ big dance and return to the league draw.

“I wanted to just recognize our four graduating seniors in Troy Piascik, Jacob Rachler, Cole Daignault and Kiran Pathy. Those guys all gave so much to our program throughout their careers,” said LaPointe. “Next year, we are going to be such a dangerous team. We will have so much talent up and down the roster, coupled with some big-game experience from our whole roster. We will have a chip on our shoulder, as we look to make a statement and be in contention for some titles in 2024.”

LaPointe, who finished his 11th season and has been at the helm of Hand’s dugout since 2012, was assisted by assistant varsity coaches Kyle Heins (7th year) and Justin Kaeser (6th year), JV Coach Tyler Michaud (3rd year), and rookie Freshman Coach Mike Spadaro.

The 2023 Hand baseball team roster was comprised of seniors Piascik, Daignault, Pathy, Rachler; juniors Antonetti, Benevento, Earl, Christian Kells, Kuja, Nuzzi, Patla, Derek Piascik, Powell, Quoka, Reh, SanMarco, Scarice, Simmons; sophomores Markovitz, Calandrelli, Modica, Cooper Burke, Griffin Byrne, Rob Marchese, Shailen Pathy, Rocco Zagami; and finally freshmen Maynard, Ayden Brennan, Drew Catala, Clay Cosgriff, Drew Horn, Alex Khacherian, Jonas Markovitz, Colin Menard, Robert Monday, Robert Reh, Brendan Riordan, Gavin Scarice, Finn Strabley, and Jack Tanner.