July 1, 2025 | by Jonathan Richter (jsrichter@ghbtl.org)
Tomorrow, July 2, the East Hartford Jets and Middletown Mets will face off at 7:00 PM in what might look like a typical GHTBL matchup, until you check the stat sheet.
The game features the league’s two top hitters: the Jets’ Jeff Criscuolo and the Mets’ Kyle Pileski. The last time these two met, Pileski stole the show by going 3-for-3 with a home run, double, and single. Criscuolo had a quieter, yet fine day, finishing 1-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch.
I had a chance to catch up with both Jeff Criscuolo and Kyle Pileski before Wednesday’s matchup.
Jeff Criscuolo is your typical baseball player-manager. He’s been in the GHTBL since 2012, having played in the beginning with the Ferguson Waterworks, then three summers with Ulbrich Steel (now the Middletown Mets, coincidentally) and playing with the Jets since 2019. Paired with his veteran status is his impressive career .322 batting average. Currently through 14 games, he’s one of the league’s most complete hitters with a .356 batting average (ranked #5 currently) and only 7 strikeouts in 45 at-bats.
While there’s certainly a lot of baseball left to be played, Criscuolo is about to surpass his hit total from last year, and there’s no sign of him slowing down. He simply credits a return to basics. “I just try to keep it simple; pick up the ball early, stay back, and hit it where it’s pitched,” he said. Like many players in the GHTBL I have chatted with, he admits he’s never been one to check the stats page (“I never look at them, messes with my head too much”), Criscuolo admitted last season he was a bit too passive, falling behind in counts and letting good pitches go by. “I probably drew a lot of walks, but I also started guessing and chasing late in the year.”
This summer, Jeff flipped the switch. “I’m just more aggressive, ready to swing every pitch, every count. Trust the hands and pull the trigger.” So far, this new mindset is paying off.
But then Kyle Pileski wanted to become a Middletown Met. This is Pileski’s rookie year playing in the historic GHTBL, and despite the smaller sample size, he has a .478 batting average and leads the league with a .870 slugging percentage. He has not struck out in 23 at-bats, and when he makes contact, the ISO of .392 suggests that the baseball is not coming back.
When I inquired about Pileski’s approach at the plate, I got a hilarious yet serious reply of “Think home runs to center.” This is the only thing that’s been on his mind since college baseball to now. “Staying up the middle helps me handle outside pitches, fastballs or off-speed,” he explained. Instead of over-adjusting to a new league (Pileski also plays in the CTL), he trusts his instincts. “Whether a guy’s throwing 70 or 90, my plan doesn’t really change,” he said. “Just stay through the ball and let the bombs come.”
As mentioned earlier, Pileski’s GHTBL rookie debut at Palmer Field was special, with a home run on the very first pitch he saw. “Obviously, pretty cool,” he said. Despite growing up in Connecticut, he hadn’t played much at Palmer, making the moment even more special. But to him, it wasn’t just about the final box score. “Even if I went 0 for 3 with three K’s, the guys on the Mets would’ve treated me the same,” he said, praising the close-knit Middletown roster.
Still, leaving a strong first impression and propelling the Mets on his season and GHTBL debut wasn’t lost on him. “At the end of the day, I’m just trying to help the guys win, whether that’s hitting a bomb or laying down a sac bunt.”
