Connecticut Baseball Academy - East Hartford, CT & Berlin, CT

BOB HETU

General Manager

Bob is the founder of the Connecticut Baseball Academy and has been an amateur coach for over 20 years. He is also the Founder and General Manager for Team Connecticut Baseball. He has been a coach on six Top Ten teams, including National Championships in 1994, 1997, and 1999. In twelve national tournament appearances, his teams have a combined record of 65-25. Bob is the primary instructor at many of the Academy’s hitting and pitching clinics as well as the vacation camps.

DAN KENNEDY

Director of Baseball Operations

Dan has been instructing at the Connecticut Baseball Academy since 1994, where he is the Director of Baseball Operations. He is the director of the Academy’s Advanced Hitting and Advanced Catching programs. He is also the 18 and under Director for Team Connecticut Baseball. His teams have finished in the Top Ten each of the last eight years, including a dominating performance on the way to the 1999 USSSA National Championship. Kennedy played professionally in the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox organizations.

MIKE LEVANDOWSKI

Operations Manager

Mike has been instructing at the Connecticut Baseball Academy since 1999. He is the director of the Academy’s Advanced Pitching Program as well as the primary instructor for many of the academy’s pitching clinics and camps. Mike has also been coaching with Team Connecticut Baseball since 1999. He has coached on 6 teams that were Nationally Ranked (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005). Levandowski is the Fall Director for TCB, the program that is now Team Connecticut USA. Mike is also an associate scout for the San Diego Padres.

MATT MANDERS

Berlin Facilities Manager

Matt is entering his first season with the Connecticut Baseball Academy starting in November of 2008. He is originally from Avon, Massachusetts, where he attended Blue Hills Technical High School in Canton, Massachusetts. Manders played his collegiate ball at Massasoit Community College. Matt has 9 years of indoor facility experience with camps and clinics at the South Shore Baseball Club in Hingham, Massachusetts. Matt will serve as an instructor in many of the Academy’s camps and clinics. He will also serve as the Berlin Facilities Manager.

RICH ARMSTRONG

Rich has worked on and off at the Connecticut Baseball Academy and Team Connecticut Baseball since 1994. Rich was the manager of TCB's 1994 13u National Championship team that had 4 future Major League Draft picks on the roster. Rich coached numerous Little League State and District Champions as well as AAU State Champions. Rich does private lessons and is also an instructor at the Academy's many camps and clinics.

GEORGE BIRON

George is currently a professional baseball scout with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has also served as a scout in the Expos, Phillies, and Indians organizations. Biron has been an instructor at Big League Baseball Camp as well as the varsity baseball coach at Manchester Central High School. George played college ball at Keene State College where he was a four year starter and Captain his junior and senior seasons. Biron has appeared at a number of CBA camps as an instructor.

STEVE BLINN

Coach Blinn has been an instructor at the Connecticut Baseball Academy since 2000. He is a former collegiate pitcher at Division III powerhouse Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC and also at Division I University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT. During his 8 year coaching tenure with Team Connecticut Baseball, Blinn’s teams have finished six times in the National Top Ten including a National Championship in 2002 and a National Runner-up in 2003. His former players have gone on to play every level of collegiate baseball and also has over 25 former players currently playing professional baseball including three Major Leaguers and one 2008 Major League All-Star

STEVE BRAY

Steve is currently in the Milwaukee Brewers organization where he finished the 2006 season in Triple A Nashville. He posted a 2-0 record while pitching in relief, with a 1.25 ERA in 21 appearances. The Brewers were so impressed by Bray's performance this season, he was invited to the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Steve pitched for Team Connecticut for six seasons, where he was a member of two national championship teams. Steve is an instructor at several of the Academy's camp, including the Advanced Pitching Program.

JIM BRETZ

Jim is a currently the Northeast Regional Scouting Supervisor for the San Diego Padres. Prior to being with the Padres, Bretz was a scout for the Cleveland Indians. Through his work with those two clubs, Jim has had the luxury of talking hitting with Tony Gwynn and talking infield with Omar Vizquel and Robbie Alomar. Bretz is also a former college coach, with stints at Hartford and North Carolina-Charlotte. Bretz is an instructor at a number of the Academy's camps and clinics, and is a member of the Pro Baseball Academy Staff.

JIM DeFELICE

Jim began instructing at the Connecticut Baseball Academy in the fall of 2002, and has been instructing at the Academy ever since. Jim has a wide range of knowledge in teaching players of all age levels. He instructs at many of the weeknight hitting and pitching clinics, vacation camps, and is an instructor in both the Advanced Hitting and Advanced Pitching programs.

GARY DIAZ

Gary played his collegiate ball at Manhattan College, where he left as the school's career hits leader after the 2005 season. Diaz played for Team Connecticut for six seasons, including two National Championship teams and a National Runner Up. He was named the National Tournament MVP in 1997, and is TCB's only four time All American. Diaz also currently coaches in the TCB 18u program. He is an instructor at many of the Academy's hitting and fielding camps and clinics.

PAUL DUMAIS

Paul played his collegiate ball at Assumption College as a catcher, where he was Co-Captain & All-Conference in 1993. He started his coaching career with Manchester American Legion from 1993-1998. He also coached at Northwest Catholic High School from 1995-2003, where his teams held all but two school records upon his departure. Paul has been coaching with Team Connecticut since 1994 and has worked with all age levels. Paul instructs at many of the Academy’s camps and clinics, specializing in hitting and catching.

PAUL FREDETTE

Paul is a native Rhode Islander where he attended Lincoln High School. He was named to the All State team his senior year and left as the school's all time home run leader with 14. He went on to Eckerd College, where he played three years under present Eckerd Coach Bill Matthews and present Toronto Blue Jays third base coach Brian Butterfield. Paul is an instructor in the Advanced Hitting Program.

JIM GONZALEZ

Jim was a first round draft pick of the Houston Astros, the 40th player taken overall in the 1991 Major League Draft. He went on to play 14 seasons in professional baseball with the San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos, and New York Mets organizations. Gonzalez has played with players such as Mike Piazza, David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada, and Tony Gwynn and has been instructed by catchers such as Gary Carter and Dave Engle. Jimmy also spent 4 seasons of winter ball in the Dominican Republic, capturing 2 Caribbean Series Titles. Jimmy is a graduate of the Major League Scout School and is currently an Associate Scout for the Boston Red Sox.

MIKE LEONARD

Mike was named the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year his senior year at Rockville High School before attending the University of Connecticut. At UConn, Leonard played under legendary coach Andy Baylock for four seasons. Mike signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox, where he finished the 2006 season with Single A Greenville. During the offseason, Mike instructs at several of the Academy's camps, specializing in hitting and catching.

MIKE McGUIRE

Mike began his college career as a pitcher at the University of Miami before finished his career at the University of New Haven. He has been a coach for the past 20 years, include travel baseball and high school baseball. Mike has been instructing at the Connecticut Baseball Academy since 2002, the same year he joined the Team Connecticut coaching staff. Mike is currently the manager of the TCB 18u American team. Mike specializes in hitting and pitching instruction at the Academy's camps and clinics.

BILL NARDI

Bill has been instructing at the Connecticut Baseball Academy for ten years, as well as being a coach with Team Connecticut. A West Hartford native, he was a two year captain at Hall High School. Nardi then attended Amherst College, playing for the legendary Bill Thurston. Following college, Bill played professionally in Italy and Holland. His coaching experience includes time at the University of Hartford as well. Bill works many camps and clinics, specializing in hitting and catching.

LEW PAPPARIELLA

Lew enters his first year instructing at the Connecticut Baseball Academy in 2009. Pappariella pitched at Central Connecticut State University, where his career record is 16-9 with 9 saves in helping CCSU to 3 consecutive Northeast Conference Titles. In 1999, Lew was 11-0 with 97 strikeouts in his senior high school season in Pennsylvania, leading his team to the state championship and earning 2nd team All-State. Pappariella is currently the head coach at Cromwell High School where his team advanced to the state quarterfinals in his first year.

ERIC ROSARIO

Eric enters his third season instructing at the Connecticut Baseball Academy. He is a pitching and hitting instructor at the Academy's camps and clinics, and is also an instructor at the 12U Fall Grad Program, helping prepare players for the big diamond. Rosario played for Team Connecticut for four seasons, including being named First Team All American in 1998. Eric will enter his second season as an assistant coach with Team Connecticut in 2007.

KYLE WIRTZ

Kyle began his coaching career in 2006 after finishing his college playing career at Manhattan College. Kyle played five year in the Team Connecticut program, twice with National Championship teams and once on a National Runner Up. Wirtz was named the MVP on the 1997 National Championship team, and was named All American a total of three times. Kyle is currently a pitching coach in the TCB 18u Program. He is a pitching instructor at many of the Academy's camps and clinics.

PETE ZABROSKI

Pete played his college baseball at the University of Notre Dame, where he was a standout pitcher. He began coaching with Team Connecticut and instructing at the Connecticut Baseball Academy in 1997. Pete has worked in numerous age groups, instructing pitchers on proper mechanics and pitching strategies. Zabroski is a primary instructor in the Advanced Pitching Program, offering his knowledge on pitching and teaching players the nuances of being on the mound.