Page 44 - North Haven Magazine Issue 39 Summer 2025

North Haven Varsity
N or th Haven Varsit y

Baseball Team
Baseb all T eam by Mike Proto

Celebrates and Honors the 1975, 1985, and 2015

State Championship Teams

On May 15th, 2025, the North Haven Varsity Baseball Team honored the 1975, 1985, and 2015 State Champion-
ship teams before their scheduled game against Hamden. As part of the ceremony, Frank LaMonaca, a Captain
on the 1975 team was asked to say a few words to commemorate the occasion. Written below is the text of the
inspirational speech which he gave to all those in attendance.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 50th ANNIVERSARY

COMMENTS – MAY 15, 2025

Good evening, everyone, than some of the players on that 2015
team… what I do remember is the
For those who don’t know me, I’m feeling — the energy, the comradery,
Frank LaMonaca, Class of ’75. the determination to keep that season
going. And, yes, it really was a lot of
I know, 1975, 50 years ago. Back then fun along the way. Then again, if you
we wore our uniform pants high, our haven’t noticed, winning streaks are a
bats were made of wood, and our lot of fun. And I bet every guy from the
hair was… well, let’s just say we had 1985 and 2015 teams would say the
hair…! It’s a privilege to be here to- same: when you’re chasing a cham-
night, standing in front of current and pionship, time slows, everything on
former players, coaches, families, and the field sharpens. Every out matters.
friends – with a special shout-out to Every pitch is personal. The team gets
bette demayo, who is representing closer, as you realize you’re reaching
Coach Bob DeMayo, who couldn’t be for something special, together. Bob DeMayo’s coaching career
with us this evening. spanned eight decades, yes, eight! –
Now – these state championship 1959-2022, for those counting, and
Tonight, we celebrate something truly teams didn’t just win titles. They today we stand here on the field that
special: the 50th Anniversary of the helped build a legacy —a legacy that bears his name, a testament to his be-
1975 State Championship, the team’s echoes through this program even to- lief in a system that transcended the
first — along with the 40th Anniver- day. generations of young men who put on
sary of the 1985 team, and most re- that
cent, the 10th Anniversary of the 2015 And that legacy has a name: Robert E.
champions. DeMayo. Uniform. A system based on personal
character, sound fundamentals, team
Three teams. Three generations. One Coach DeMayo didn’t just lead us to discipline, and yes, I have to say it, on
standard: excellence. those championship games. He in- the chaos created by a timely, well-
spired us, he pushed us, hard. He de- placed bunt! That was the foundation
Now, I’d love to say i remember ev- manded the best from us. And he nev- in ’75, it carried through to ’82, ’85,
ery detail of our incredible run in ’75 er let us settle for anything less than 2003, and 2015, and it is still alive to-
when we won 22 in a row to take the what we were capable of — often day.
title away from New Britain at Yale before we even knew what that was
Field… but, well… ummm… maybe ourselves. Now, a little story. Members of the
not. Let’s be honest, I have socks older 1975 team will tell you that we were

44 North Haven Magazine - Summer 2025