The West Haven Hall of Fame Committee has announced its newest inductees to be honored, Saturday, Nov. 23 at Amarante’s Sea Cliff, 62 Cove St., New Haven.
The new soon to be inductees include Joseph Morrell, Sr. (Tinker Blake Community Service Award), Kelly Last McLaughlin, Tommy Lawrence, Todd Williams, Tom DeMorro, Kelly Stratton, Nicole Pacapelli, and Diana Pimer Ross.
With eight new members, there will now be 211 inductees in the prestigious club since the start two decades ago.
Known for his work in volunteering for the community, Morrell has quite an impressive resume. Morell was a founding member and vice-president of the New Haven Night Hawks traveling sports club, as well as a founding member of the West Haven Dugout Club.
Morrell dedicated time as a member of the West Haven Penalty Box Club, as well as a member of the New Haven Hill Section Reunion Committee.
Morrell was involved in Shore Haven Jr. Baseball for 43 years, 15 as a coach and 28 as the commissioner of the league. The Shore Haven baseball complex is named after Morrell.
Pacapelli is a 2010 graduate and was a four-sport athlete at West Haven High. As a four-year varsity letter winner and team captain for soccer, Pacapelli was a two-time All-SCC Quinnipiac Division honoree, a two-time New Haven Register All-Area honoree, and a Connecticut High School Coaches All-State selection.
Pacapelli was a team captain and three-year letter winner in basketball, a two-year letter winner in track, and she ended her high school sports career lettering in lacrosse.
Pacapelli played one year of collegiate soccer at Stonehill College, before transferring to the University of New Haven. During her three-year career at New Haven, Pacapelli was a two-year captain and helped lead the program to 31 wins as she started all 55 games of her career.
Pacapelli capped off her career with an All-Northeast-10 Conference selection, All-East-Region Selection, and an All-New England Selection.
DeMorro is a 2003 graduate who starred on the football field and on the basketball court as the team’s point guard for three years. A 3-year varsity starter in football and captain in 2002-2003, DeMorro was known for his elite skills and sure hands.
Offensively, DeMorro was a threat each time the West Haven passing attack got going. Defensively, DeMorro holds the single season interception record with 10 in 2001, and career interception record with 24.
DeMorro was named to the New Haven Gridiron Club Levi Jackson All-Area Team, Connecticut Post All-Area Team, and was a Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Selection. The football star was also named the New Haven Register Area Most Valuable Player, was named to the New Haven Register All-Area and All-State teams, and he was part of the 2002 state champion team.
DeMorro went on to play at the collegiate level at Santa Monica College, where he was also a member of the track team. The West Haven star was part of the 2003 conference champions, playing in the California Beach Bowl.
Lawrence is a 2009 graduate who starred on the baseball diamond, leading the Westies to the state title that same year.
A 2009 Preseason Perfect Game All-American, Lawrence did not disappoint as he finished the campaign with several individual awards to go with the state title. Those 2009 honors included Under Armour All-American, New Haven Register All-Area Most Valuable Player and All-State, Hartford Courant All-State and Most Valuable Player, and Connecticut Post All-State and Most Valuable Player.
Lawrence was an All-Southern Connecticut Conference selection his sophomore through senior seasons, and was a key figure in the 2009 state championship team on the mound, where he finished with a team-record in strikeouts with 124.
Lawrence went on to play collegiately at the University of Maine, where he was the America East and ECAC Pitcher of the Year in 2013, was selected to the America East First Team in 2013 and 2014, and was on the All-New England First Team in 2013.
Lawrence went on to play in the Cape Cod League, before playing for several professional programs, including the Tampa Bay Rays.
Pimer Ross is a 2011 graduate who starred in swimming and track and field, while also playing four years in the band. Swimming for coaches Bob Pimer and Erin McCauley, Pimer Ross is the first in school history to earn two All-State swimming titles in one season.
In 2010, Pimer Ross was named a team captain, was named to the New Haven Register All-Area team, and was a big part of West Haven’s Southern Connecticut Conference regular season championship.
Pimer Ross was part of five program records in 2010, two individual and three relay events, was All-State in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM, and was a Class LL State runner-up in the 100 breaststroke. In 2011, Pimer Ross was a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.
Playing for Hall of Fame coach Modestine Vaughn, Pimer Ross was part of the record-setting 4 x 800 relay team in track and field. A 2011 team captain, Pimer Ross was a Connecticut Class LL State championship qualifier in the 1600 and 4 x 800 relay.
Pimer Ross attended Keene State College, where she was a 9-time NEISDA (New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association) Conference individual champion, and a conference record holder in the 200 IM, a record which still stands.
Last McLaughlin is a 2009 graduate who went on to study Exercise Science and Physical Therapy at Simmons College.
Last McLaughlin was a 3-sport star at West Haven as part of the cheerleading, volleyball, and tennis teams. The talented Westie was also a 4-year band member.
A 4-year cheerleader, Last McLaughlin was named All-State in 2009, becoming the first All-State cheerleader at West Haven High School. Last McLaughlin was also an Academic All-State selection for cheerleading in 2009, and a Southern Connecticut Conference Athlete of the Month selection for cheerleading in December of 2008.
Last McLaughlin was a 4-year volleyball player who was named captain her junior and senior years, and was a 3-year tennis player and captain her senior season.
Last McLaughlin played in the CIAC girls doubles tennis tournament in 2009, and was named to the Division II All-Conference doubles team in 2009 with Shelby Harris.
Williams is a 1987 graduate who was a key player on West Haven’s last boys basketball championship team that same year.
One of many key players on that championship team, Williams was a 1987 All-District selection, as well as a Second Team All-Area selection that same year.
Williams went on to star on the hardwood at Sacred Heart University, graduating in 1991 with 1,800 points and 700 rebounds. In 1990, Williams was a Second Team All-Conference selection, and a First Team All-Conference selection in 1991.
Williams continued to show off his basketball skills with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1993, before playing overseas through 2007.
Stratton is a 2000 graduate who was a 4-year soccer player and a member of the initial girls lacrosse team her sophomore campaign.
A midfielder on the pitch, Stratton was a key player in directing the success of the team.
A goalie on the lacrosse team, Stratton was an All-Southern Connecticut Conference selection all three years. Stratton was an All-State selection as a senior, becoming the first girls lacrosse player to do so.
Stratton went on to play lacrosse at the University of New Haven.
For information regarding the induction ceremony, please contact West Haven athletic directors Joe Morrell and Mike Anquillare at joseph.morrell@whschools.org and Michael.anquillare@whschools.org.