Baseball Overview

Hamden Hall Country Day School is an independent, college preparatory day school which challenges its students with a demanding academic environment focused on a strong sense of personal responsibility and integrity. The Hamden Hall baseball program has had a rich tradition of enthusiasm and success while embracing the educational wellbeing of the player. The many wins, League Championships, New England Small School championships, and College Players (and a few Professionals) illustrate some of the accomplishments of the program. Equally important, however, is that Hamden Hall players develop their physical and mental skills, learn how to play as a team, compete, and have fun. Hamden Hall players respect the game, play it with honor and integrity at a high level, and work to maximize their personal potential and future baseball opportunities.
While the varsity team is historically recognized as one of the top teams in the FAA each year, Hamden Hall boasts competitive teams at the Middle School and Junior Varsity level, as well. Hamden Hall's Junior Varsity program focuses on the development aspects of each player's ability. The school provides at least two coaches at each level of baseball, and the program is designed to provide an enriching baseball opportinity for all grades and skill levels to enjoy. The program is proud to mention that most Varsity players at Hamden Hall have worked their way up from the lower levels in earlier years.

Facilities: The baseball facility at Hamden Hall has been one of the finest fields in the Fairchester League. The Team uses a spacious locker room within the state of the art Beckerman Athletic Center, which includes a batting tunnel and portable pitching mound available during the season. This massive fieldhouse includes a fitness center which offers Hamden Hall athletes the opportunity to focus on strength and conditioning both during the season and in the off-season.

Schedule/League Competition: Hamden Hall is a member of the Fairchester Athletic Association League. The Fairchester AA League includes Hopkins, Greens Farms, King, Brunswick, Rye and St. Lukes. In addition, non-league opponents include Choate, Avon Old Farms, South Kent, Canterbury, Chase Collegiate, Forman, McDuffie, Suffield, Westminster and Kingswood-Oxford. Hamden Hall will play five pre-season games and twenty-one contests during the regular season.

Spring Trip: Hamden Hall Baseball attempts to go to Florida each March during the school’s semester brake for five games and five practices in Orlando, FL. Fourteen to eighteen players join three coaches for a week of intense baseball. The Team stays in the luxurious Disney Resort and play at the ESPN/Wide World of Sports Complex, the home of the Atlanta Braves spring training facility. If the spring trip is not scheduled, the team scrimmages local high school teams.

Varsity Baseball Record 2000 – 2019: 272 – 137

Hamden Hall Baseball College Athletes: Hamden Hall has a demanding academic and baseball program which prepares our athletes for participation in college baseball. Many of our premier players have met considerable success on college varsity teams. Below is an overview of the most recent players who have gone on to play at the college and professional level:

Mike Coggins 2021 - Husson University
Dennis Gamester 2021 - Sacred Heart University
Justin Lucibello 2020 - Trine University
Ryan Doherty 2019 -  Manhattan College
CJ Kuselias 2019 -  Babson College
Shawn Hillis 2018 - Iona College
Jack DeMatteo 2018 - UConn Avery Point
Ian Tollis  2017 - Bates College
Ian Fagan 2017 - Bates College
Zack Balabon 2016 - Salve Regina College
Austin DeFilippo 2016 - Endicott College
Marco Fontana 2016 - Ithaca College
Ron LoRicco 2016 - Endicott College
Will Rhone 2016 - Lesley College
Brandon Ginnetti - U Of Rhode Island
Michael DeMartino 2015- SCSU
Tyler Forgione 2014 - Trinity College
Nick Goglia  2014 UConn Avery Point
Justin Santiago 2014 - UConn Avery Point
Dylan Millhouse 2014 - Weslyan College
Austin French 2012 – Brown, LA Dodgers
Vin Teixeira 2011 – Manhattan College
John Lefeber 2010 – Bowdoin College
Pat Falkoff 2010 – Haverford College
Anthony Benvenuti 2009 - Nichols College
Nolan Rich 2009- Muhlenberg College
Tyler Mizenko 2008- Winthrop College
San Francisco Giants
Alex Biemesderfer 2007- Ursinis College
Jeff Piscitelli 2007- St. Peter’s College
Paul Arce 2007- Merrimack College
Casey Frawley 2006- Stetson College
Cleveland Indians
Colorado Rockies
Detroit Tigers
Josh Zeid 2005- Vanderbilt/Tulane
Philadelphia Phillies
Houston Astros
Detroit Tigers
Los Angeles Angels
New York Mets
Mike Damiani 2004- Albertus Magnus College
Sam Chotner-Gardner 2003- Carlton College
Roger Lincoln 1999- Stetson College
Cleveland Indians
Boston Red Sox
Joe Forte 1999- Babson College
Jon Beckerman 1999- Ithaca College
Zac King 1996 - Union College

Former Head Coach and Current Assistant Coach: Joseph Fontana
Coach Fontana has been a member of the Hamden Hall Faculty since 1987 and is currently the Assistant Athletic Director. He was named Hamden Hall Head Baseball Coach in 2000. Since taking over the program as head coach, the varsity team has compiled a record of 252 – 120, qualifying for the Fairchester AA League Championships in the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,  2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and winning the Championship in 2003, 2010, 2011 and 2014. In addition, the team has qualified for the New England School Championships in the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and winning the Championship in 2003, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Please be encouraged to contact Coach Fontana using his email at jfontana@hamdenhall.org or by phone at 203-752-2642.

Varsity Head Coach: Brad Chernovetz
The Hamden Hall baseball program prides itself on having experienced coaches that are truly involved in the lives of our players. Success can only happen with a shared vision and leadership. The thoughtful guidance of the entire staff is at the forefront of consistently making this happen.

Junior Varsity Coaches: Ralph Zona, Brian Rhone
Continuity in teaching and philosophy is essential to the growth and development of our baseball program.