Season: 2020

Tyler Repoli

Born in Hartford, August 25, 1992. Repoli graduated from RHAM High School in 2010 where started 4 year as a varsity pitcher and first-baseman. At RHAM he received 3 All-Conference laurels and an All-State election in his senior season. During high school Repoli played summer ball for Tri-County 19U American Legion for five straight summers under coaches Len Lampugnale and Mike Susi. He was recruited as a pitcher by Southern Connecticut State University and earned an Exercise Science degree in 2015. As a medical redshirt recovering from Tommy John surgery, Repoli journeyed with the Owls for a historic season, including a 22-game win streak, a regional championship and a 4th place finish in the DII College World Series. After college, Repoli was an Assistant Coach for the Tri-County Legion Program. In 2016, he revitalized his baseball career in the GHTBL as a first-baseman for the Manchester-based franchise. Repoli assumed the manager role for Rainbow Graphics in 2019 with assistance from his father, Steve Repoli.They operate a contracting business named Repoli Quality Homes LLC, renovating houses in the Hartford area. In 2024, Tyler took over as General Manager of the club. He currently lives in Marlborough, CT with his wife, Lindsey, who is said to be Rainbow Graphics biggest supporter.

Charlie Hesseltine

Born in Meriden, CT, on January 19, 1985. Hesseltine graduated from Maloney High School and was named an All-State pitcher in 2002 and 2003. He was drafted in the 42nd round (1,245th overall) of the 2003 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers – the only CT player chosen that year. Hesseltine chose to attend Pensacola Junior College in Florida seeking a higher draft pick, however tore his ulnar collateral ligament during the second week of the 2004 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, AL. After rehabbing, Hesseltine played in the GHTBL during the summer of 2005. By 2006, he signed to play professional baseball for the Atlantic City Surf of the Atlantic League. He ended his professional career with the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2008 and was inducted in Maloney High School Hall of Fame in 2014. Hesseltine has worked as a pitching instructor at Home Run USA in Cheshire and has continued his role as ace pitcher in the GHTBL. He stepped up to manage the Record-Journal Expos in 2017. Hesseltine is a carpenter for Central Connecticut Acoustics Inc and lives in Hamden, Connecticut with his wife Karla.

Jeff DeMaio

Born on July 29, 1972, DeMaio grew up in East Haven and graduated from East Haven High School in 1990 as class salutatorian. He was 2-sport captain in both basketball and baseball and gained 2nd team All-Housatonic and 1st Team All-New Haven Country in basketball and 2nd team All-Housatonic in baseball. After high school he pursued a career in teaching and coaching. DeMaio has a Bachelor’s in History and Teaching Certification from Southern Connecticut State University (1995) and later a Master’s degree in History (2005). He is currently pursuing an additional degree in education administration. DeMaio has been coaching high school basketball since 1992 and also coached baseball as an assistant varsity coach for two years at North Haven High School und Bob DeMaio (unrelated). He has taught social studies at North Haven High School for more than 25 years. DeMaio was awarded Teacher of the Year at North Haven at High School three times was named SCC Coach of the Year on two occasions and was inducted into the North Haven High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. He resides in Wallingford for the past 23 years with his wife and two children.

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Weston Ulbrich

Born July 10, 1987, in Middletown, CT. Ulbrich first learned the game of baseball at Porky Vieira’s summer camp at the University of New Haven. He attended The Gunnery School in Washington, CT, and played under Jeff Trundy, longtime Head Coach for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2004, Ulbrich manned third base as Gunnery won the Housatonic Conference championship and was a member of the Middletown Post 75 American Legion baseball team. He joined the GHTBL in 2007 as an infielder for the People’s Bank franchise. Then he played as a walk-on at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida while earning a degree in Political Science. As shortstop for GHTBL’s Ferguson Waterworks franchise, he helped win three championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Ulbrich assumed leadership of the franchise and became GHTBL Secretary in 2015. He established GHTBL.org and has worked with President Holowaty and managers to develop the league. He is a Realtor and a baseball writer who resides in Milford with his wife, Gabriella and their son, Harvey.

Taylor Kosakowski

Born 1987, Kosakowski is a GHTBL veteran pitcher turned championship manager. He grew up in New Britain, CT. After his family moved to Berlin, CT, Kosakowski played for Berlin High School and American Legion Post 68 under Leo Veleas. Connecticut Connecticut State University recruited him to pitch. Kosakowski had his best season for the Blue Devils during his Junior year and competed in the Northeast Conference for four consecutive seasons. During this time, Kosakowski spent his summers in the GHTBL on the Middletown-based Bill’s Sports Shop team (later becoming RMR Construction and then Ferguson Waterworks). He won 3 straight championships as an effective closer for Ferguson Waterworks. In 2019, Kosakowski took over as manager of the East Hartford Jets. The following season, he led the Jets to the 2020 Playoff championship. Kosakowski is also a school psychologist who lives with his wife, Elizabeth in Newington, CT.

Chris Kehoe

Born February 2, 1967, Chris Kehoe came of age in East Hartford, Connecticut and graduated from East Hartford High School in 1985. He matriculated to the University of Hartford where he earned his degree in 1989. Kehoe has been a key contributor to the twilight league since 1991. He began as a player on the Jets franchise and became manager in the year 2000. Kehoe managed the East Hartford Jets until 2017, when he stepped into the General Manager role. Kehoe has also served as interpreter of the GHTBL By-laws and helped revise them in 2019.

Gary Burnham Jr.

Born on October 13, 1974, in Hartford, Connecticut. Burnham is one of Connecticut’s most prolific baseball players of all-time. Though selected in the 22nd round of the 1993 MLB Draft out of South Windsor High School by the Chicago Cubs, he opted to play at Clemson University. In 1995, he was named a third team All-American by Baseball Writers of America. The Oakland A’s chose Burnham in the 40th round of the 1996 MLB Draft; but again, did not sign. During the summer, Burnham played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for Orleans and then Falmouth. He was an All-Star both years and earned MVP of the 1995 Cape League All-Star Game. Returning for a senior season at Clemson, he hit .391, tied for 5th in the ACC. Burnham was chosen by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 22nd round of the 1997 MLB Draft and signed. By 1999, he was first baseman for the Reading Phillies of the Eastern League with the best batting average in the Phillies farm system. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays during Spring Training of 2002, proceeded to hit 17 home runs and 88 RBI and won team MVP. His 2004 season was split between the St. Louis Cardinals’ Memphis Redbirds affiliate and the Cincinnati Reds’ Louisville Bats. In 2006, after a hot stat with the Bridgeport Bluefish, Burnham returned to the Phillies system. He led the 2007 International League in OBP for the Ottawa Lynx and was named team MVP. In 2010, the Reading Phillies named Gary Burnham to their All-Decade team as an outfielder and was later inducted into the Reading Phillies Hall of Fame. Burnham continued to play professional baseball in Taiwan, Japan and Europe and once hit a game-winning homer off Masahiro Tanaka in 2009 as a member of the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Baseball League. In his return to Connecticut, Burnham has worked in medical device sales and owns a property management company. He has been a contributing sponsor, player and General Manager of the South Windsor Phillies since 2018. He lives in South Windsor with his wife Rachel and three children.

Ron Pizzanello

Born on October 13, 1954 in Hartford, Connecticut, Pizzanello is one Hartford’s top catchers of all-time. He led Hartford to Connecticut’s Little League championship in 1967. Pizzanello was a star catcher for the city’s Jaycee Courant and American Legion programs. He was captain of the Bulkeley High School varsity baseball team, named All-CDC catcher and graduated in 1972. At Eastern Connecticut State University, Pizzanello was elected captain, played in two DIII National Championships, selected to the All-New England Team and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1976. During this time, he played summer ball in the GHTBL from 1971 to 1989, mostly with the Vernon Orioles. In 1977, he was signed to catch for Nettuno of the Italian Baseball League. After his professional stint, Pizzanello focused on coaching in the Town of South Windsor, Connecticut including Little League, Jaycee Courant, Senior League and American Legion. He worked for 37 years at Hartford Insurance Company and IBM in information technology and technical services. In 2017, after being inducted into the Bulkeley High School Athletic Hall of Fame, he became the first manager of the South Windsor Phillies club and won the 2020 GHTBL Regular Season championship. He lives in Eastford, Connecticut with his wife Charlene and have three children.

Jack Ceppetelli

Born on  January 27, 1965, Jack Ceppetelli was raised in East Windsor, CT. He attended East Windsor High School, class of 1983 and played baseball at Assumption College for four years. Ceppetelli competed in his first GHTBL season in 1985 and returned in 1991 as a pitcher. He also pitched for s years in the Tri-County Baseball League in Massachusetts. Ceppetelli earned GHTBL’s Most Valuable Playoff Pitcher in 1999. He has been manager of the Vernon Orioles since 2001, winning twelve league titles in the last 20 years. In 2003, he was inducted into the East Windsor High School Hall of Fame. Ceppetelli lives in South Windsor, CT, is a tax accountant and certified CPA.

Tom Abbruzzese

Born on August 11, 1943, in Hartford, CT, Tom Abbruzzese is the longest serving manager in GHTBL history. He is a graduate of Wethersfield High School and Fairfield University (1965). Abbruzzese coached the Junior and Senior Division of the Jaycee Courant League from 1971 to 1978. He entered his first twilight team, Society for Savings, into the GHTBL in the summer of 1976. Abbruzzese’s franchise was also sponsored by Bank Boston Bank and then became People’s United Bank in the summer of 2000. His franchise has amassed 15 Regular Season Titles and Playoff Championships. Abbruzzese earned a Doctorate of Education from the University of Connecticut (1996). His current profession is as Director of Adult Education, in Newington, CT.  Previously he was a Vice Principal of Ledyard High School Ledyard High School (1974-1995) and before that, Recreation Leader for the City of Hartford (1963-1976), According to Abbruzzese, he is, “thankful not only for the outstanding players I have had the privilege of coaching and continue to have, but most importantly for their exceptional character as well. These two qualities are the ingredients for success.” Abbruzzese resides in Wethersfield, CT.