The Southern Connecticut Diamond Club, Inc., will hold its 16th Annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at The Woodwinds in Branford. Among the honorees are West Haven natives Mark Consorte, Tim Shea and Vincent Siena Jr.
The SCDC, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization whose stated mission is to foster and promote the game of baseball in the southern Connecticut region, will recognize eight individuals in the Class of 2024. SCDC Hall of Fame members are selected by the group’s Executive Board.
Tickets to the 2024 SCDC Hall of Fame dinner are $60 per person and will only be sold in advance. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.southernctdiamondclub.org/hall-of-fame.html or by contacting Rose V. Mentone, Executive Director, at RMentone@comcast.net.
Consorte was an all-state player at Notre Dame High School and is the career home run leader at Wesleyan University in Middletown. An All-New England selection as a senior at Wesleyan, he is a member of the school’s baseball Wall of Fame. Consorte played 32 years in the West Haven Twilight League and earned the WHTL Gold Bat Award in 2022. He possesses a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Wesleyan (1992), a master of science in education from the University of New Haven (1998), and a sixth-year degree from Southern Connecticut State University (2001). Consorte is a teacher and the social studies chair at West Haven High School.
Shea is the all-time leader in coaching victories at Southern Connecticut State university. He has been on the Owls’ baseball staff for 34 years, spending 11 as an assistant before being promoted to head coach for the 2002 season. Shea owns a won-lost-tied record at SCSU of 567-388-8, is a three-time regional coach of the year, and has led the Owls to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Division II World Series berths. An all-state player at Notre Dame High School, Shea owns bachelor’s (1987) and master’s degrees in special education from SCSU. He was presented the WHTL Gold Bat Award in 2006.
Siena was a prominent slugger at West Haven High, Quinnipiac University and in the WHTL. An all-District League selection in both baseball and soccer for the Westies, Siena played at then-Quinnipiac College from 1983-86, departing as its all-time leader in home runs. He still sits third on the school career lists for homers (34) and runs batted in (137). A member of the WHHS and Quinnipiac Athletic Halls of Fame, Siena played 25 years in the WHTL, capturing three Most Valuable Player Awards. He was awarded the league’s Gold Bat in 2012.
Also being honored this year are former Guilford High School coach Pete Civitello (North Haven HS ‘94), two-time Derby High School all-stater Joe Lizza (Derby HS ‘95), and former New York Mets draftee Michael Moras (Amity Regional HS ‘04). Frank Pallone of Shelton will be presented the Andrew Gassira Memorial Umpire Award, and Matthew F. Mentone of Durham is the winner of the Tony Mentone Distinguished Service Award.