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2022 New England High School Team Previews

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2022 Spring Team Preview: Hamden Hall

HAMDEN, Ct. - Brad Chernovetz is counting on a pair of senior captains to guide the Hornets of Hamden Hall on the ball diamond this spring.

“They are two great leaders,” Chernovetz says of Cam Maldonado and Christian Scanlon. “Never in 20 years have I had two better captains.”

Both Division I college commits, Maldonado will hit third in the order with Scanlon in the leadoff position for Hamden Hall.

“The ball flies off his bat,” Chernovetz said of Maldonado, a Northeastern commit who is not only slated to play shortstop but will also be the number one pitcher for the Hornets this season.

Scanlon, a Merrimack signee ranked 21st among 2022 outfielders in New England, is a left-handed hitter who will play center field for Hamden Hall.

Two sophomores are also being counted on heavily this season in Jaden Novak and Brady Chernovetz. Novak, a College of Charleston commit, is the third-ranked 2024 in New England.

“He’s the best defensive third baseman I’ve seen in awhile,” the Hamden Hall coach said of Novak, who can also catch.

But the position behind the plate is manned by Chernovetz, the son of the head coach who led the Hornets in hitting as a ninth grader.

A pair of freshmen will also have major roles this spring in Lucas Ametrano and Bennett Crerar, the third-rated 2025 shortstop in New England. Ametrano, the second-ranked Connecticut freshman who “can fly and swing it” according to Chernovetz, will be in a corner outfield position while Crerar, who started 12 games for Hamden Hall as an eighth grader, will be at second base and move to short when Maldonado pitches.

A third freshman, Asher Wasserman, will also be somewhere on the field after starting at quarterback in the fall on the Hamden Hall football team.

“They’ll need to grow up quickly,” Chernovetz pointed out about the freshmen. “There’s some pretty good talent in our league.”

Joining Maldonado in trying to shut down the opposition on the mound this season will be Gavin Lyons, Ryan Lynch and Noah Pakutka. Lyons, a right-handed sophomore, will also play outfield while Lynch, a 2024 southpaw, will be at first base when not pitching. Pakutka is a junior righty.

“We’re young on the mound except for Cam but we’re looking for big years out of these guys,” Chernovetz said.

The Hornets finished 6-6 a year ago and the third-year head coach, who was mentor at New Haven for 17 years prior, understands the difficulty of being such a young team.

“We need our sophomores and freshmen to grow up real quick if we’re going to compete in the Fairchester League,” Chernovetz said. “I think we can swing it, but we need to get a lot out of our freshmen and sophomores and our three young pitchers.”

The Hamden Hall coach admits his expectations are not low.

“I’d be disappointed if we’re not one of the top four teams in the Fairchester League,” Chernovetz concluded.

After all, there is a lot about this group that impresses the head coach.

“I like their work ethic,” Chernovetz noted. “They’re a hard-working team that never questions what they’re asked to do. They go get it done.”

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