Page 28 - North Haven Magazine Issue 33 Spring 2024

Coach Bob DeMayo

and His Not-So-Secret Formula for Success in Baseball and Life

by Mike Proto
When Coach Bob DeMayo stepped down after 64 years at the helm of the Baseball
Program at North Haven High School, he had amassed 937 victories, won numer-
ous Housatonic league and SCC Division championships, and won five state cham-
pionships. While there are some who may attribute the astounding number of wins
his teams recorded simply to his longevity, when the number of wins is divided by
his number of years coaching, it works out to an average of nearly 15 wins a sea-
son. For a public school to achieve such success over this extended period of time,
especially when playing against much larger schools, is amazing. During his tenure
at North Haven, the baseball program was a force to be reckoned with year in and
year out, a model of consistency.

How was Coach DeMayo able to achieve the bunt, he again was putting pressure
such lofty results over such a long peri- on the opposing team’s defense. His
od of time? What was his secret? At the strategy in any given game was simple
outset, it must be acknowledged that – Get them on, move them over, and get
North Haven has had many talented them in. The result in many cases was
athletes through the years. While there that North Haven made fewer mistakes
have been only a handful of players than their opponents, and, hence, came Coach DeMayo was an intimidating presence
good enough to play at the Division 1 out on top by the end of the game, even on the field.
level and even fewer that were drafted when facing a superior team. track flyballs because realized that any
by Major league clubs, the town has had time an outfielder bobbled the ball, it
a steady flow of talented, hard-working, Coach DeMayo recognized early in his meant that the opposing baserunner
and tough athletes. Nevertheless, from career that the teams who were most would be able to advance to another
my perspective as someone who first successful had strong pitching and sol- base. And, he insisted that his outfield-
played for Coach DeMayo as a 12-year- id defensive play. Therefore, he placed a ers always throw to the cutoff man be-
old in little league, played baseball at the great deal of importance on these two cause he knew that opposing baserun-
high school level under his tutelage for aspects of the game. Much of his prac- ners would advance at least one base
three years and was by his side as an as- tice focused on developing a strong de- when a ball was overthrown. He also
sistant coach for 44 of those 64 years, I fense. Over the years, his teams spent a emphasized that his outfielders needed
can confidently say that there was some- great deal of time performing in game to be aware of backing up bases in case a
thing more at work. In the final analy- situations. In this way, he ensured that ball was overthrown.
sis, while it is true that Coach DeMayo no matter what situation might arise
was blessed with many excellent players during a game, his team would be well In regard to infield play he continually
through the years, it was the force of his prepared. He also focused on finer as- reminded us to “look the ball into your
personality coupled together with his pects of the game. glove”, and to think about getting one out
unique approach to the game that led to at a time. When receiving cut-offs from
such unparalleled success. the outfield, he insisted that we always
catch the ball by our throwing shoulder
Coach DeMayo’s formula for success and that we use a short, quick throwing
was really quite simple. In regard to motion by bringing the ball to our ear
his own team, he would place a maxi- as opposed to winding up to throw. He
mum amount of pressure on his players recognized that catching and releasing
during practice sessions as prepara- the ball quickly was often the difference
tion for the pressure they would face at between a baserunner being called safe
game time. In regard to North Haven’s or out. In fact, one of his most import-
opponents, he would strive to place ant drills was one he called quick warm-
a maximum amount of pressure on up. In this drill, his players had to catch
them during the game, forcing them to Coach DeMayo embracing one of his players and release the ball as quickly as possi-
make play after play in order to defeat after winning his 800th game as a coach. ble. He also developed a unique form
his team. For example, by having his of infield practice by having one of his
players take pitches, he forced the op- pitcher’s soft toss the ball to him while
posing pitcher to throw more pitches, In regard to outfield play, he spent as he sprayed the ball around the infield in
and, hence, increase the chances that he much time having his outfielders field a random manner. The result was that
would make more mistakes. By utilizing groundballs as he did on having them we fielded more ground balls in a short-

28 North Haven Magazine - Spring Issue 2024