The SCC was well represented at the 2023 Southern Connecticut Diamond Club annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on Oct 12 at the Woodwinds in Branford.
SCC Commissioner Al Carbone, along with former West Haven head baseball coach and current co-athletic director Mike Anquillare and former Fairfield Prep and major leaguer (and current Guilford HS volunteer coach) Matt Merullo were recognized.
The Southern Connecticut Diamond Club Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed to the game of baseball in the local area. The Hall of Fame includes players, coaches, umpires, broadcaster, journalists and community volunteers.
The HOF dinner is held annually in October, and features our inductees, as well as the Mentone Distinguished Service Award and the Gassira Memorial Umpire Award. Requirements for the hall include people who support our mission of fostering and promoting the game of baseball in the local area.
Click for the HOF Event Program
Mike Anquillare (West Haven HS ‘86; Fordham University ‘90) was a member of West Haven High’s state championship teams in both hockey and baseball in 1984. He owns a 236-162 record as a high school head coach, guiding West Haven to the 2009 Class LL crown.
Al Carbone (East Haven HS ‘91; Trinity College ‘95) has been the Commissioner of the Southern Connecticut Conference since 2004. He earned CHSCA All-State honors as a senior at East Haven High in 1991 and was named All-New England as a senior at Trinity College four years later.
Steve Kesses (North Haven HS ‘73; Duke University ‘80) was a high-school All-American in both football and baseball for North Haven High during the 1972-73 school year.. He played both sports at Duke University, was selected by the New York Mets in the January draft in 1976,
Matt Merullo (Fairfield Prep ‘83; University of North Carolina) was drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago White Sox following his junior year at the University of North Carolina in 1986. He played in seven major league seasons with the White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins. Raised in Ridgefield, Merullo was all-state in football and baseball at Fairfield Prep. Merullo serves as a volunteer assistant coach for his son, Nick, at Guilford High School.
Jim Pascarella (East Haven HS ‘68; University of New Haven ‘72) played three sports at East Haven High. He went on to a standout baseball career as a second baseman at the University of New Haven, earning All-America honors as a junior. Pascarella later spent many years volunteering with the Annex and East Haven Little Leagues.
Joe Roche (Hamden HS ‘72; Quinnipiac University ‘77) played for Hamden High, then stayed in Hamden to attend Quinnipiac College. He remains among the Bobcats’ top 10 in career earned-run average. Roche was a member of 12 championship teams in the West Haven Twilight League.
The SCDC will also hand out its two annual honors, the Andrew Gassira Memorial Umpire Award and the Tony Mentone Memorial Distinguished Service Award, at the dinner. Both recipients are considered members of the Hall of Fame.
Kathleen Morrison of North Haven is the first female winner of the Gassira Award. She is a 20-year member of the Greater New Haven Baseball Umpires Association and the head of officials for the national organization Baseball For All. A native of Somerset, N.J., she is a 2003 graduate of Quinnipiac.
Denis Haley of Milford, who is celebrating his 50th year of involvement in Little League Baseball, will be presented the Mentone Award. He has been the Connecticut District 4 Little League Administrator since 2019 after 28 years as the Assistant District Administrator
