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Members of the 5th-grade state championship football team include (seated) Vincenzo Camera, Olivia
Petroccio, Max Delucia, Corey Millhouse, Vinny Paolillo, Jake Ferraiolo, Nate Lastomirsky, and Dominic Delbasso; (kneeling)
Brandon Depalma, Frank Longley, Joe Piscitelli, Corey Waselik, Giuseppe Minichino, Vin Franco, Hanlon Jones, Jimmy Christian,
and Nick Spadacenta; (third row) Sam Loda, Jack Scalesse, McClay Marshall, Justin Keish, Brandon Duryea, Rich Sartini, and
Nico Ragaini; (fourth row) Ryan Massimino, Anthony McSweeney, Ramir Brown, Albert Ackerson, Nick Kraszewski, Christopher
Mitchell, and Jonathan Browne; (fifth row) assistant coaches Bob Scalesse, Ron Marshall, and Jerry Keish, East Haven Mayor
April Capone Almon, assistant coaches Brian Duryea and Scott Mitchell, and Head Coach Gianni Ragaini. Missing from the photo
are players Joey Lorello and Christian Silvernale and assistant coach Jody Longley.
Under Head Coach Gianni Ragaini, East Haven Youth
Football's 5th-grade team compiled a 7-0 record in the Shoreline Conference, which included a hard-fought 13-6 victory over
Madison A at the Surf Club. In the regular season, East Haven outscored its opponents 159-34 (including three shutouts).
In the Shoreline Conference semifinal, East Haven defeated Guilford 31-7 setting up a titanic battle with North Haven in
the championship. East Haven defeated North Haven 13-12 after thwarting an extra-point try with seconds remaining to advance
to states. The American Youth Football (AYF) Connecticut state semifinals had East Haven facing
Meriden on Meriden's home field. Meriden came into the game undefeated out of the Mid-Conn Football Conference, but after
playing a superb game, East Haven won 19-0. The AYF state championship game was held at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk
where East Haven faced off against the Norwalk (Candlewood Valley League). East Haven dominated both sides of the line and
the running game and cruised to a 27-6 victory. East Haven's season came to an end the following week as it lost 25-6 to
Tyngsboro, Massachusetts in the AYF New England Regional Championship game. Despite the loss, the 11-1 Easties have much
to be proud of, including being Shoreline Conference champions, state champions, and No. 2 in New England. Information
courtesy of Jerry Keish
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