Baseball Scoreboard Dedicated to East Haven Star Athlete Killed In Crash

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – While the East Haven athletic program is still reeling from last year’s tragic death of one of its star athletes there will be two constant reminders of Michael “Diesel” DeAngelo this season on the baseball diamond.

Through the generosity of the DeAngelo family, the Board of Education recently approved installing a new scoreboard, dedicated to Diesel, to be placed at the East Haven High School field.

Additionally, both the high school and middle school baseball teams this year will wear special caps, with the number 10 (Diesel’s number) sewn into their caps.

Michael DeAngelo died in a car crash last April. He was 19. (To sign up for East Haven breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

“It’s a fitting tribute to a great kid, from a great family,” said East Haven High School Athletics Director Anthony Verderame.

Verdarame said he was hopeful that the scoreboard would be up in time for this season’s first game, but the weather hasn’t cooperated.

“We’ll get it up as soon as we can,” Verdarame promised.

Diesel’s father, John DeAngelo, apologized for getting emotional when talking about what the scoreboard dedication meant to his family.

“He was such a good kid,” his father said. “Everyone who came into contact with Michael had a good story to tell him about. He had such a big heart.”

John DeAngelo said in addition to the scoreboard, which cost close to $7,000, and the hats worn by all the players, the East Haven High School team will also have a “special team bat” that it will use in the on-deck circle, again dedicated to Diesel.

DeAngelo was a 2015 East Haven High School graduate and star athlete on East Haven’s football, basketball, and baseball teams and the East Haven Senior American Legion 89ers.

He was a freshman at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) and was first baseman and designated hitter for the school’s baseball team.

DeAngelo played football, basketball, and baseball for the Yellow Jackets and was a senior captain in all three sports. He was an All-SCC selection.

Verderame wasn’t surprised that DeAngelo’s death touch so many in East Haven and beyond.

“He was one in a million,” Verderame said. “He was larger than life.”

Verderame said Michael’s tragic death “is a loss for our entire community. He was such a presence. When he walked in a room, everyone around him would just break out in a smile.

“He was simply,” the athletic director said, “a great person, a great captain, a great leader.”

John DeAngelo said those who are interested in donating to a scholarship fund in his son’s name can still do so by making donations to the scholarship fund at Key Bank in East Haven or by contacting the DeAngelo family at 203-469-8457.