| DK Academy Staff |
| Nelson Samboy |
- Signed by Houston Astros in 1993
- Northern League Champion, New Jersey Jackals, 2000
- .312 career hitter in 13 professional seasons
- SEL All Star and Batting Champion, 2003
- Dominican Summer League Batting Champion, 1994
- 1998 Florida State League All-Star
- Stole 48 bases in Class A FSL, 1998
- Dominican Republic National Team Second Baseman, 2000-1
- Astros top prospect at 2B until injuries forced his retirement
- Appeared as NY Yankee in 2006 ESPN Miniseries, "The Bronx is Burning"
- Head Baseball Coach, Lewis Mills HS, Burlington, CT
- Lewis Mills, 2006 Berkshire League Champions, First Title in School History
- Sacred Heart University Varsity Assistant Coach and Head JV Coach, 2001
- Four year starting shortstop for the Division I Sacred Heart University Pioneers in Fairfield, CT from 1997-2000.
- Rinaldi appears in the top ten of five career offensive categories.
- His 23 stolen bases are fourth best single-season mark in school history.
- Played against Cuban National Baseball Team, Havana, Cuba, 1996
- Joined the Pioneer Coaching Staff in fall of 2001.
- B.S. in Psychology and Sports Management, SHU 2000
| Vic Rinaldi |
| Mike Church |
- Director of Player Procurement and Baseball Operations, Bridgeport Bluefish, 2007-Present
- Manager, New Haven County Cutters, Can Am League of Professional Baseball 2404-2007
- 2006 Can-Am/American Association All Star Game Manager
- Northern League All Star Catcher, 2001
- Two time Northern League Champion w/Adirondack Lumberjacks, 2000 and New Jersey Jackals, 2001
- Selected to New Jersey Jackals 5th Anniversary All-Star Team in 2002
- Played professionally from 1995-2002
- Assistant Baseball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Central Connecticut State University, 1995-1999
- Played collegiately at Central Connecticut State University
- Catcher, New England Collegiate Baseball League’s Inaugural All-Star Game at Muzzy Field, Bristol, CT 1994
- New England Collegiate Baseball League’s 10th Player Award Winner and all Star Game, Inaugural Season 1994
- B.A. English, CCSU 1996
- Appeared in 2006 ESPN Miniseries, "The Bronx is Burning"
Jarrett Stawarz
- Sioux City Explorers, American Association of Professional Baseball, 2008
- Pitcher, New Haven County Cutters, CAN-AM League of Professional Baseball, 2005-2007
- Selected by League Managers and Media as 2006 CAN-AM League Rookie of the year
- Career Strikeout Record Holder, U of Hartford
- American Legion World Series All Tournament Team
- 4 year starting pitcher at the University of Hartford
- M.A. Communication, U of Hartford, 2004
- Played 2000 summer season for the NECBL Manchester Silkworms and led the team in wins
- Won the 1997 state and regional championship with Bristol American Legion Participated in 1997
Legion World Series in Rapid City SD. finished 3rd nationally - Voted Most Valuable Player 1999 Bristol Legion
- All State selection in 1998 and 1999 at St. Paul HS
- Voted captain and MVP his senior season at Saint Paul Catholic HS, Bristol, CT
| George Tsamis |
- Manager, St. Paul Saints, American Association
- Team USA Pitching Coach, Pan-Am Games, 2002 and World Cup 2003
- Led the St. Paul Saints to the Northern League championship in 2004. Prior to the Saints and New
Jersey Jackals to consecutive Northern League championships in 2001-2002. - Named Northern League East Manager of the Year by media and fellow managers
- Pitched in 41 games with the Minnesota Twins in 1993. He was 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA and one save
as a middle reliever.
- Chicago Cubs 10th-round selection in 1999 Amateur Draft
- 2005 Member, Torrington Twisters Hall of Fame
- Florida State League All Star and Home Run Derby Champion, 2001
- FSL leader in HR and RBI in 2001
- Current record holder in NECBL batting average with a .429 mark
- NECBL All Star and 10th player award recipient
- Played collegiately at Brandeis University
- Current leader in all offensive categories, Brandeis University
- New England Player of the Year,1999,
- All New England Selection, 1998,99
- First Team All American, SS, 1999
- Runner-up, Gatorade Connecticut Player of Year, 1995
Jim Deschaine
| Scott Martin |
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| Chris Sawyer |
| Orlando Encarnacion |
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MATT HACKNEY
- Catcher, Nashua Pride, Can Am League, 2007-present
- Catcher, New Haven County Cutters in Can Am League, 2006-2007
- Appeared in 2007 ESPN “The Bronx is Burning” Miniseries as a number of role characters and
baseball stuntman. - 2004 ACBL all star Catcher, Stamford Robins
- Played in prestigious Cape Cod League in 2002 for the Chatham A’s
- All New England 2004 selection, WNEC, Sprigfield, MA
- Record holder in numerous offensive categories at Western New England College, Springfield, MA
- BS, Business Administration, Western New England College
| Laura DiNapoli |
- 4 year starting pitcher at Post University in Waterbury,CT
- 3 year pitching coach at Watertown High School
- 1997-98 High School All American Watertown High School
- 2001-02 CACC All Conference
- 2000-2002 CACC ALL Tournament team
- Led the Eagles 2002 to CACC Regional Runner-up
- 2002 CACC All Regional Tournament team
- Career ERA 1.46
- B.A in Finance from Post University in Waterbury,CT
| Our professional instructors are all current or former collegiate baseball and softball coaches and a majority have played professionally in the United States or overseas. More importantly, they all share in the belief that an exceptional work ethic and a positive attitude, coupled with the highest level of professional instruction facilitate self confidence in each player’s on-field and off-field abilities. You deserve and can expect qualified, consistent full time baseball professionals unlike any other facility in the area. Diamond Kings is the only baseball and softball academy in Connecticut to have the same ownership and core staff since its inception in 2002. Our ONLY job has been and will always be to set the standard for baseball and softball instruction in the Northeast. |
| George Tsamis |
- Drafted in the 28th round of the 2007 amateur draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Pitched 4 years at Central Connecticut State University
- Holds CCSU records for career wins and saves
- Selected to Northeast Conference in 2006
- Part of the 2004 Northeast Conference championship team as a freshman, and named tournament MVP
- Played High School ball at Shepaug Valley High School in Washington, CT and was a 2003 All-State
Selection
Evan Scribner
- A Winsted, CT, native, Piechowski is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University
(Bristol, CT), where he played for three years. - In 2006, he made 16 appearances and pitched a total of 67.0 innings. He held an ERA of
4.16, with a winning record of 5-1, and also collected 53 strikeouts. - In 2005, his first season at Central, Piechowski pitched 47.0 innings in 13 appearances. He
struck out 32 batters and recorded an ERA of 4.79. - Piechowski played his freshmen year, 2004, at Philadelphia University where he held a 4-4
record and a 4.50 ERA in 62.0 innings pitched. He also posted 54 strikeouts. - Piechowski, 22, currently resides in Winsted, Connecticut.
| Adam Piechowski |
- Gene was originally drafted out of Taylor-Allderice High School (Pittsburgh, PA) in the 32nd
Round, 677th overall, by his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1976 amateur entry draft. - Gene’s professional career spanned a decade as he played with Boston, Pittsburgh, and
Oakland from 1977 to 1987. - Gene also spent time coaching in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization just after his playing days
in the late 80’s - Geno patrolled the outfield for the Bristol Red Sox during the 1980 and 1981 seasons and for
the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1982 and 1983. - Gene resides in Bristol, CT.
- Los Angeles Dodgers 17th Round Pick in 1999 amateur draft
- 5 yr professional career
- Head Baseball Coach, Stafford Springs High School 2006-present
- Assistant Coach, Manchester Community College, 2001-2006
- Asst. Coach Farmington High School, 2001
- 27-17 career professional record with 3.60 career ERA in 4
- Sioux Falls Canaries, Northern League Team Record 12 wins, 2001
- 2000 Class A California League Championship with San Bernardino Stampede (CA)
- Played in Arizona Fall Instructional League, 2000
- Pitched 4 yrs Collegiately at CCSU, New Britain, CT 1995-1999
- All Conference Selection 1998 and 1999
| Gino Gentile |