BASEBALL PREVIEW

Hamden High School's baseball team has an abundance of players, but it is very short on experience. Coach Tony DeAngelo says that only two positions are secure. Capt. Russ DeMatteis will play short and junior Will Hindinger will nail down center field. Co-captain Max Ginter will play at either second or third base or on the mound. All the other positions are wide open.

Coaching DeAngelo likes to use a three man pitching rotation. Nothing is set yet, but vying for the three spots are senior Ginter and left-hander Dan Cusano. Juniors. Pete Baranski, and southpaw Hal Hansen are strong contenders, along with sophomore P.J. Scott.

Behind the plate there will be a three-way battle among David DiCosimo, hard-hitting Matt Bundy and sophomore C.J. Carignan.

The infield can have many possible combinations. Besides DeMatteis at shortstop, Dave Findley, Ginter, Cusano and Sam DeCapua will vie for the other infield positions.

All conference center fielder Hindinger has a secure spot in center but left and right fields are wide open. Steve Teague,Findley, Cusano, sophomore sensations Jordan Teague and Carignan are all candidates.

Replacing last year's leading hitters Kyle Cummings, Dante Blackmon and Rob Davis will be a major task. Hoping to fill in the DH spot will be Matt Spilka and Kingsley Birdsall.

The Dragons play one of the toughest leagues in the state. They open on Wednesday, April 8 at Wall field against Lyman Hall.

FIELD OF NIGHTMARES.

When Hamden Middle School was built, the athletic community was promised athletic fields to help with the shortage of fields in town.

Here we are going into the third year, and we still don't have a baseball field on line. There is a baseball field at the middle school that is so bad it can't be used. The grade is uneven and there is a drain in center field. The middle school baseball team must be bused to Rochford Field to play their home games.

I have asked a number of people what the problem is. Frankly I am tired of the excuses and the reasons given as to whose fault it is. etc. etc. It's time to figure out how to get a field that is playable. Excuses and placing blame just doesn't do it at this point. Where is the field that we were promised?

OOPS!!

Last week I reported that Dave Findley had been declared medically ineligible for the rest of the hockey season. Fortunately, we were given the wrong information. Findley was declared ineligible, but has returned for the end of the hockey season.

Billy plays for the love of the game and his school and deserves any break he can get.

AGAIN.

Many of the long-time “rink rats” tell me it was one of the best games they've ever seen at the Lou Astorino Rink. For the second time this year, the Hamden boys’ hockey team defeated number one ranked Fairfield Prep.

Hamden stuffed the puck in the net with one minute remaining in the game to clinch the 3-2 victory. I purposely have not used any names, because it was just a brilliant game by many players on both teams.

GIRLS BASKETBALL.

Hamden girls basketball under coach John Ceneri qualified for the SCC tournament.In the first game in the tournament, Hamden beat Cheshire High to advance to the next round. Eventual finalist career High School dumped Hamden.

The Lady Dragons have no seniors on the team, but they could be a tough out in the state tournament.

WHERE ARE THEY?

A reader would like to know what happened to former Hamden High hockey players Jeff Lombardi and Bobby DeLauro. If you know, let us know.