Three Hamden Residents Inducted into Southern Connecticut Diamond Club Hall of Fame

Eight members of the of the Greater New Haven baseball community, including three prominent Hamden residents, were honored last night at the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club's Hall of Fame induction dinner. 

The event, held at Monticello's restaurant in Meriden, honored numerous local figures who have had a profound impact on the baseball culture of Southern Connecticut. 

Originally founded as the Greater New Haven Diamond Club, the organization was founded in 1980 by Sam Burrell, George Wadley, Quinnipiac University baseball coach Dan Gooley and Jim Ryan. 

Amongst the inductees were three Hamden residents: former NBA and UConn basketball star Scott Burrell, attorney Edward C. "Ned" Burt Jr. and the Rev. Owen J. Sanderson.

Longtime baseball umpire and football official Bill Riccio, West Haven Twilight League president Vin DiLauro, former West Haven pitcher Joe Guglielmo, former Shelton baseball coach Ed Marocco and former Choate baseball coach and New York Yankee minor leaguer Tom Yankus were also honored. 

"It's an honor, and it's funny because I've been honored for basketball so many times but the last time I got honored for baseball was probably in little league or high school," Burrell said. 

Known for his accomplishments on the hardwood, Burrell was one of the most accomplished tri-sport athletes in Connecticut high school history. He led the Hamden High School Green Dragons to two District League baseball championships under then-Coach Vin Virgulto and led the football team to the Class LL state finals.

Burrell is the only athlete in major professional sports history to be drafted in the first round in two sports after being drafted by both the Seattle Mariners and the Charlotte Hornets. 

"I think baseball might be a forgotten sport nowadays with the young kids, because you need so many kids to play it, but it's a great sport," Burrell said. "The Diamond Club promotes it and keeps it alive, and they're keeping people involved and that's what you need."  

Burt, a life-long Hamden resident, served as the master of ceremonies for the awards dinner, and was this year's recipient of the Tony Mentone Distinguished Service Award.

Within the community, he has served as a coach in the Hamden Fathers Baseball and Softball leagues for more than 35 years, and has been instrumental in the operations of the Diamond Club. As a player, Burt had a .325 batting average during his high school career as a former captain of the Green Dragons. 

"Baseball is such a part of American culture, and the Diamond Club was started to foster and promote this great game," Burt said. "Over the last 25 years, the club has run free clinics and honored people at every level of the game." 

Rev. Sanderson was honored for his years of dedicated service to the Hamden community. Amongst his contributions, Sanderson has served as chaplain for the Hamden police and fire departments, as well as chaplain for all of the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club's events. He is also involved in various sports programs at Hamden High School, and in 2004 was inducted into the Hamden High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The evening's festivities were opened and closed with prayer led by Sanderson. 

Also in attendance was Diamond Club Hall of Famer and Connecticut baseball legend Bob DeMayo, who owns the state record for the most high school victories by a coach with 806 and counting as coach of the North Haven Indians. 

"It's been a tremendous organization right from the beginning," DeMayo said. "They do so much for the high school kids, and I'm very proud to be part of the organization."

For more information on the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club, visit their website at www.southernctdiamondclub.org.