Hamden Native To Be Inducted Into Local Baseball Hall Of Fame

HAMDEN, CT — Former Hamden High School and Quinnipiac University baseball standout Joe Roche will be inducted into the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club’s Hall of Fame this fall.

The Southern Connecticut Diamond Club, Inc., will hold its 15th Annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 12, at The Woodwinds in Branford.

The SCDC, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization whose stated mission is to foster and promote the game of baseball in greater New Haven, will recognize eight individuals in the Class of 2023. SCDC Hall of Fame members are selected by the group's Executive Board.

Roche came up through the Hamden Fathers Baseball Association. He participated in ice hockey and baseball at Hamden High School, during which time he played summer baseball for American Legion Post 88. Roche remained in Hamden to play both sports for the then-Quinnipiac College. He was a member of QC’s first varsity men’s ice hockey team in 1975-76, and in baseball he posted a career earned-run average of 3.13, still among the Bobcats’ all-time Top 10.

Roche played 19 seasons for McLean-Tiernan in the West Haven Twilight League, including 11 as a player/coach. He was a member of 12 league championship teams, was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1982, and was its top hitter and top pitcher twice each. Roche was a 1997 recipient of the WHTL Gold Bat Award.

Roche graduated cum laude from Quinnipiac in 1977 with a bachelor of science degree in accounting and earned an MBA from the University of Bridgeport in 1986. He spent nine years (1988-96) as a volunteer coach with Hamden Fathers Baseball and Hamden Youth Hockey.

Also being honored this year are West Haven High School co-athletics director and former head coach Mike Anquillare (West Haven HS ‘86), Southern Connecticut Conference Commissioner Al Carbone (East Haven HS '91), former New York Mets draftee Steve Kesses (North Haven HS '73), former MLB catcher/first baseman Matt Merullo (Fairfield Prep '83), and former University of New Haven All-American Jim Pascarella (East Haven HS '68). Kathleen Morrison of North Haven will receive the Andrew Gassira Memorial Umpire Award, and Denis Haley of Milford is the winner of the Tony Mentone Memorial Distinguished Service Award.

Tickets to the 2023 SCDC Hall of Fame dinner are $60 per person and will only be sold in advance. Tickets can be purchased online here or by contacting Rose V. Mentone, Executive Director, at RMentone@comcast.net.