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07/25/2023 11:18 PMQuite often in sports, a simple game can create friendships for a single season, or even multiple campaigns. Yet when it comes to America’s pastime in the town of East Haven, those bonds have been unbroken for quite some time dating back to the formative ages and stages in the game.
Within the 2023 Yellowjackets’ baseball team roster, there are three sets of brothers that have all played in the town’s youth baseball programs at different junctures since Little League. Class of 2023 graduate Aaron McIntyre with incoming sophomore sibling Adam; plus a pair of now senior and sophomore brethren PJ (senior) and Joey (sophomore) Carangelo and Mason (senior) and Griffin (sophomore) McCarroll wrapped up a lengthy tenure this past spring of all six playing and competing alongside one another on the Yellowjackets while they all went through the various ranks of the East Haven ball program throughout their individual careers.
Prior to playing for EHHS together, the three older individuals in each sibling coupling played on the same Little League club prior to the three younger brothers following in their footsteps.
“To be able to play with these guys for so long is an absolute honor. They are great players and, more importantly, great people,” said Aaron. “And to be able to play with my brother is a dream come true. It’s just a great thing when you get the younger guys in your practices and your dugout and you can help them out with whatever they need.”
Aaron added that, despite being the elder statesman of the sibling sextet, he is never too old to learn new tips and tricks through working alongside his brother.
“Being teammates with my brother has strengthened our friendship cause it helped me understand how he thinks when he’s on the field, so it just helps me understand what he needs help with when we go to the field together and just put in work,” Aaron said. “What I’ve been able to learn from playing with my brother is to have fun and not take anything for granted. Watching these guys play in JV just showed how fun you can have while on the field. And then watching them get in as many innings as they can and get a little bit of varsity time showed me to not take anything for granted, because when they got their chance, these guys played their hearts out.”
PJ recalled that some of the biggest rewards of playing baseball with close acquaintances come simply from having a front row seat to their biggest personal accomplishments–such as a grand debut for his brother at EHHS.
“It means a lot to me that we are all still playing baseball together and that we were able to continue to grow our friendships and bonds on and off the field,” said PJ. “The teamwork in baseball allows us to grow not only on the physicality level but also the mental standpoint of the game. I try to teach my younger brother Joey all I can from the game that I have experienced. It is nice to see him doing well and always having fun on and off the field. In his first varsity at-bat at EHHS, he came up to the plate and got a hit; we were all so pumped for him!”
Griffin conveyed that the game of baseball itself shines a spotlight on team accountability and the symbiotic relationship that exhibits itself within each squad’s members when it comes to everyone coming together in order to get any given job done.
“Baseball and all sports increase and strengthen relationships between teammates and coaches,” said Griffin. “You meet a lot of new people who rely on you to do a good job, and you rely on them to do the same. I have enough trust in my teammates to know they’ll play hard when I’m pitching, and that you also have to play well for your teammates when you’re in the field.”
Mason added that baseball with your brother can be a beneficial brainstorming session for both parties involved while learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses and addressing each category.
“Being able to have someone so close develop their game at the same time as you opens up an opportunity to have someone you can constantly practice with, bounce ideas back and forth with, and learn from each other which significantly improves my game mentally and physically,” said Mason. “In many cases, one will be successful in an area where another struggles and you have your brother there to help you out and tell you what works for him.”
Adam recollected that one of his most prideful moments and feats through his forays in baseball was when he served as an understudy for his sibling Aaron in travel ball before he earned a varsity slot with the Yellowjackets and saw his brother generate a gem on the mound in 2023.
“One of my best memories on the field with my brother was when I was nine years old and I filled in on his travel team,” said Adam. “I will never forget the way he cheered me on as I walked up to the plate, and then this year being able to suit up for a varsity game as I watched my brother pitch a complete game shutout against our rival Branford in our season opener. One of the benefits of playing with my brother on the high school team is I know how he plays and what to expect of him in every situation. It was truly an honor to be on the field with my brother this year.”
Being alongside a sibling can demonstrate the personal responsibilities and obligations that entail attaining peak performance on the field.
“I’ve learned a lot of things from my brother over the years whether good or bad,” Griffin said. “I’ve learned that taking care of your body is incredibly important, especially when you are on a playing schedule. And I’ve learned things that have improved my game as well, whether it be tweaks to my swing or just the dos and don’ts of baseball.”
Joey expressed that not only can having it all in the family within the dugout bolster newfound friendships with squad mates, it can enhance and tighten the connections between the brothers themselves.
“It meant a lot having support from my older brother being able to follow in his footsteps. It was an easy adjustment for me, because my older brother had relationships with everyone on the team it was easy for me to make friends,” said Joey. “Being able to have my brother around on and off the field has helped me throughout my years of baseball. Due to us playing high school baseball together, our relationship has grown more and more over time.”
Having the benefit of mentoring each of them this spring, East Haven baseball skipper Butch Johnson mentioned that they all house incredible individual attributes combined with insurmountable toughness and all the ideal intangibles a coach could covet.
“Aaron McIntyre was a captain for us last year and was an extremely hard worker and led by example. His younger brother Adam is a carbon copy of Aaron. He attended all the preseason workouts and did whatever he was told and played all over at the JV level,” said Johnson. “PJ Carangelo is a captain for our team next year. PJ does whatever is asked of him and is one of the best catchers that I have had the pleasure of coaching. Joey Carangelo is always into the game and keeps everybody loose with his enthusiasm. Mason McCarroll is also a captain next year. He overcame Tommy John surgery and finished the year very strong. Expecting a big year from Mason next year as a pitcher, first baseman, and possible outfielder. Griffin has a very strong arm and saw time at the varsity level last year. Griffin could work into the starting rotation next year.”
For these boys through the various leagues and ranks they competed in and the wins and losses, they emerged from all the travels along the basepaths with a rewarding sense of accomplishment.
“A benefit that I see from playing with not just my brother, but also Joey and Griffin is that I believe that they all have great potential as players,” said Aaron. “And to be able to take them under our wing and show them what it takes to compete at this level is just a great feeling.”
Johnson explained that the younger crop of competitors have emulated their senior counterparts very well and have exhibited only their best qualities as all six have morphed into great role models for the community.
“Each younger brother has learned from their older brothers,” said Johnson. “The older brothers all do whatever it takes to win and their younger siblings have followed suit. They all have represented their school, team, and town as outstanding young adults.”